McCain Dismisses Iraqi Idea of Troop Withdrawal
By Michael Cooper
NYT blog
PITTSBURGH – The Iraqi government’s decision to raise the possibility of making a scheduled withdrawal of American troops a part of an agreement on their future status in Iraq poses special complications for Senator John McCain, whose opposition to a timetable for withdrawal is central to his candidacy.
During a stop at Primanti Brothers, a Pittsburgh sandwich shop famous for stuffing French fries into its sandwiches, Mr. McCain sounded a dismissive note when asked about the latest statements by the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
Mr. McCain said it was the same as when Iraqi officials said recently that they doubted an agreement with the United States could be struck over the status of American forces. “Prime Minister Malki, is, has got his, he is a leader of a country,’’ Mr. McCain said, according to a pool report. “And I am confident that he will act, as the president and foreign minister have both told me in the last several days, that it will be directly related to the situation on the ground, just as they have always said. And since we are succeeding and then I am convinced, as I have said before, we can withdraw and withdraw with honor, not according to a set timetable. And I’m confident that is what Prime Minister Maliki is talking about since he has told me that for the many meetings we have had.”
Asked if he thought Mr. Maliki was aiming his statements at a domestic political audience, Mr. McCain said: “I don’t know. Ask him.’’
(Continued here.)
NYT blog
PITTSBURGH – The Iraqi government’s decision to raise the possibility of making a scheduled withdrawal of American troops a part of an agreement on their future status in Iraq poses special complications for Senator John McCain, whose opposition to a timetable for withdrawal is central to his candidacy.
During a stop at Primanti Brothers, a Pittsburgh sandwich shop famous for stuffing French fries into its sandwiches, Mr. McCain sounded a dismissive note when asked about the latest statements by the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
Mr. McCain said it was the same as when Iraqi officials said recently that they doubted an agreement with the United States could be struck over the status of American forces. “Prime Minister Malki, is, has got his, he is a leader of a country,’’ Mr. McCain said, according to a pool report. “And I am confident that he will act, as the president and foreign minister have both told me in the last several days, that it will be directly related to the situation on the ground, just as they have always said. And since we are succeeding and then I am convinced, as I have said before, we can withdraw and withdraw with honor, not according to a set timetable. And I’m confident that is what Prime Minister Maliki is talking about since he has told me that for the many meetings we have had.”
Asked if he thought Mr. Maliki was aiming his statements at a domestic political audience, Mr. McCain said: “I don’t know. Ask him.’’
(Continued here.)
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