综合一区欧美国产,99国产麻豆免费精品,九九精品黄色录像,亚洲激情青青草,久久亚洲熟妇熟,中文字幕av在线播放,国产一区二区卡,九九久久国产精品,久久精品视频免费

WORLD> America
Iraq sees hope of US troop withdrawal by 2010
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-22 00:03

BAGHDAD - Iraq's government welcomed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday with word that it apparently shares his hope that US combat forces could leave by 2010.


Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (R) and US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama shake hands as they pose for the media in Baghdad July 21, 2008. [Agencies] 

The statement by Iraq's government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, followed talks between Obama and Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki - who has struggled for days to clarify Iraq's position on a possible timetable for a US troop pullout.

Al-Dabbagh said the government did not endorse a fixed date, but hoped American combat units could be out of Iraq sometime in 2010. That timeframe falls within the 16-month withdrawal plan proposed by Obama, who arrived in Iraq earlier in the day as part of a congressional fact-finding team.

"We are hoping that in 2010 that combat troops will withdraw from Iraq," al-Dabbagh told reporters, noting that any withdrawal plan was subject to change if the level of violence kicks up again.

Obama made no public statements following the talks with al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad's heavily protected Green Zone. Obama also plans meetings with US military commanders who will outline recent progress in the war he has opposed from the start.

Related readings:
 Barack Obama begins first-hand inspection of Iraq
 Obama spends less in June; Clinton $25.2M in debt
 Obama promises long-term support to Afghanistan
 Obama meets Karzai in Kabul

This was the third stop on a foreign tour designed to gather information while burnishing the Democratic contender's foreign policy credentials. National security issues are the one issue area in which Obama trails Republican John McCain in the polls.

The Iraqi government comment on troop withdrawals could be embraced by the Obama campaign, but may irritate White House officials. The Bush administration has refused to set specific troop level targets and only last week offered to discuss a "general time horizon" for a US combat troop exit.

The Iraqi stance also is another wrinkle in a confusing series of remarks and denials in recent days.

Al-Maliki was quoted last week by the German magazine Der Spiegel appearing to endorse Obama's 16-month timetable. The Iraqi leader's aides have since said his comments were misunderstood, and he is not taking sides in the US election.

The US military also took the unusual step of translating and distributing the Iraqi government reaction to the Der Spiegel article.

The meetings with Iraqi officials came after Obama began his first on-the-ground inspection of Iraq since launching his bid for the White House.

It marked the second major leg of a war zone tour that opened in Afghanistan. The contrasts in tone and message were distinct.

   Previous page 1 2 3 Next Page  
广元市| 东城区| 嘉善县| 盖州市| 台北市| 崇仁县| 南通市| 鞍山市| 鲜城| 梁山县| 林芝县| 册亨县| 朝阳市| 无锡市| 星子县| 合作市| 迁西县| 霸州市| 金昌市| 滕州市| 尼勒克县| 尚义县| 夏河县| 广德县| 迁安市| 浦城县| 谢通门县| 营口市| 武城县| 广西| 罗源县| 通州市| 冀州市| 晋州市| 沙雅县| 卢龙县| 丰城市| 赤壁市| 交城县| 沁水县| 金溪县|