Iraq Sands Shifting Under McCain Position

Move by Bush, Maliki toward timetable is 'devastating blow'

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:40 PM CDT

(Newser) – Republican presidential candidate John McCain is stuck in an awkward position after both President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki moved closer to a withdrawal timetable favored by Barack Obama, Politico notes. McCain has opposed such a measure, but in 2004 asserted that if a sovereign Iraqi government asked US troops to leave, the American government should comply.

“It’s a devastating blow to the McCain campaign — not just that Maliki moved to Obama’s position but that Bush did as well,” a former adviser to Bill Clinton said. McCain officials, meanwhile, jumped to tweak his position. “John McCain supports reducing troop levels based on the conditions on the ground and the security of Iraq and if, and only if, that is consistent with a ‘time horizon’ then of course he would support that policy,” a spokesman said.

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain talks on his cell phone as his campaign plane sits on the tarmac in Romulus, Mich., Friday, July 18, 2008. (AP Photo)

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., waves as he boards his campaign plane at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., Sunday, July 20, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain makes a campaign stop at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Mich., Friday, July 18, 2008. (AP Photo)

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Iraq Sands Shifting Under McCain Position

Move by Bush, Maliki toward timetable is 'devastating blow'

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Maliki Pegs Obama as the Most Pliant: Krauthammer

Iraq PM thinks Dem can be manipulated, writes Krauthammer

Mac: Maliki's 'Pretty Good Timetable' Beats Obama's

Blogosphere up in arms at candidate's parsing of Iraq plans—both for 16 months

Bush Hand: Maliki Nod 'Incredibly Damaging' to Mac

Iraqi PM's virtual endorsement of Obama plan may be 'game-changing event'

Best Iraq Policy Would Mix Mac, Obama Plans

Friedman: Timetable is a political must, but with a little wiggle room

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Iraq Sands Shifting Under McCain Position

Move by Bush, Maliki toward timetable is 'devastating blow'

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • Barack Obama • John McCain • Nouri al-Maliki • US troops • troop withdrawal • timetable • Election 2008 • time horizon

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Maliki Pegs Obama as the Most Pliant: Krauthammer

Iraq PM thinks Dem can be manipulated, writes Krauthammer

Mac: Maliki's 'Pretty Good Timetable' Beats Obama's

Blogosphere up in arms at candidate's parsing of Iraq plans—both for 16 months

Bush Hand: Maliki Nod 'Incredibly Damaging' to Mac

Iraqi PM's virtual endorsement of Obama plan may be 'game-changing event'

Best Iraq Policy Would Mix Mac, Obama Plans

Friedman: Timetable is a political must, but with a little wiggle room

Obama Beefs Up Foreign Policy Cred in Iraq

Maliki's endorsement of withdrawal timetable a stroke of luck

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