Silly Kevin Drum…doesn’t he know that a signed agreement with the Iraqi government for American troop withdrawals is excellent news for John McCain?
Forget occupying Iraq (like it was Germany or South Korea) for the next 100 years as McCain advocated this spring. The pact calls for the removal of Coalition troops from Iraqi cities next summer, with a goal of total withdrawal of ‘combat’ troops by 2011.
The security deal came together after the Bush administration made concessions on several long-held positions. The White House softened its stance over a pullout date after it became clear that Mr. Maliki was adamant that the agreement contain at least a vague timetable for a U.S. withdrawal.
The administration also dropped its insistence that American contractors remain immune from Iraqi law. Western contractors — especially those working for Blackwater, which is under investigation for a deadly shooting last year — are deeply unpopular in Iraq.
One of the last remaining roadblocks had been whether U.S. military personnel would enjoy immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law. Mr. Humood, Iraq’s chief negotiator on the agreement, said joint committees of U.S. and Iraqi officials will be formed to resolve such issues when cases arise.
Of course, this is still a draft document. The Wall Street Journal reports that President Bush is almost certain to sign it, but that the Iraqis will have more trouble coming to a consensus.
The draft agreement must be approved by several layers of Iraqi political leaders. Several members of Mr. Maliki’s cabinet have voiced opposition to elements of the deal. The Iraqi Parliament, which also has to sign off on the deal, is in recess until the beginning of September.
South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu once asked Alexander Haig, “Have you ever seen any peace accord in the history of the world in which the invaders had been permitted to stay in the territories they had invaded?” It is considerations like this that will complicate efforts at consensus within Iraq’s leadership. The fact that Iraq is attempting to function as a representative government makes this process more complicated, as the issue of any American presence at all is easily demagogued.
As Kevin Drum points out, this news sets up a dueling argument. John McCain will say that only he had the wisdom to support the surge that made this pact possible, while Barack Obama will say that the pact is exactly what he has been advocating all along. Republicans will heave a sigh of relief that the issue of Iraq is at least partially taken off the table, but John McCain will be concerned that the public’s focus will turn more to domestic issues and the economy.
To win this argument, it is important for Obama to hammer home that everyone but John McCain has come to the conclusion that it is not in our national interests to try to occupy Iraq for the next 100 years, and that Iraq does not want permanent military bases in their country. When McCain tries to take credit for the surge, it’s vital to respond that he said Iraq would be a cakewalk and that this agreement is a repudiation of his 100 years policy. McCain needs a fist in his mouth at all times. No let up.
But, obviously, any news is excellent news for John McCain. Mr. Drum should know that by now. Just ask Andrea Mitchell, or someone.
is that your messiah gets to win, not the soldiers and their families or the Iraqis caught in this. You are such a jerk.
I understand that talking about news like this in purely political terms is unseemly, but I have a long record on this war and you should not read this post in total isolation. This is a post about the political implications of this announcement. The decision to pursue this pact cannot be separated from the GOP’s own inner drive for self-preservation.
calm down, take heart and be happy. At this date, McCain is their man. Obama will not be allowed to win.
Pity the uninformed.
Newsflash: less than 1/3 of the world is of pure caucasian descent…whiteness in decline.
Look east. The 21st century belongs to Chinindia…and their uppity friends in Africa, Euroasia and South America. All happening before 2042 with our eyes wide shut.
Actually, I do think this is good news for McCain. He will simply claim that the surge led to victory, while if we had withdrawn in 2006 it would have been a defeat. That’s a simple argument that anyone can understand.
In the long run, though, I agree with Drum that it is good for democrats to have the withdrawal started under Bush. It will save us from 20 years of “who lost china?”
yeah…because the Republicans care about historical accuracy. If Iraq goes to hell, the Dems will be blamed. But at least the argument will be significantly less convincing.
“But, obviously, any news is excellent news for John McCain. Mr. Drum should know that by now. Just ask Andrea Mitchell, or someone.”
Yes, because with the GOP, Wet is Dry and Wet includes Oil
The economy won’t be a problem for John McCain. The Iraq accord will be spun..now we can get down to drilling.
The economy is looking up. No matter the costs, the unfolding economic collapse will be hidden until after November. Hank and Ben will do the magic…and Oil will be manipulated quite easily since oil contracts are held in the hands of Vitol and a few other speculators who dominate oil trading
What a surprise how easy it really is!
(HT Laura Rozen)
more on Vitol and payments to warlord and a war criminal
Disheartening.
obama won’t do that. he’s reluctant to attack his opponent. High road and all that. Above the fray. I’m sure it will work out fine in the end, and we can all say “what happened??”
maybe he can get Biden or Bayh to make some noise about it. Oh wait, they voted for the war too.
McCain can’t remember how many houses he owns, so Dems attack him on this, rightly so. But, look at reporter Paul Kane of the WaPo today:
Potomac, Md.: Why are people wasting time talking about whether the McCains own six or eight houses? That’s a credit to the McCains for having the foresight to host the media in comfort when they come out for BBQs and to review the campaign’s talking points. Focus on what’s important, like why Obama looks French.
Paul Kane: I’ll take just one question on this whole manufuactured flap. These sorts of little things that we in the media spend lots of time running around in circles panting and moaning about, they usually add up to nothing at the polls. Every time something happens of this level to Obama (Rev. Wright, “bitter”) the response from Dems is that in really tough times like this the American voters are not going to be swayed by these little things and the attacks and the negativity that follows, the voters will focus on the really big issues. That’s what comes from Democrats. So, does the same not apply to something like this?
At this point in his national political career McCain is not going to be transformed into a super rich elitist. He’s just not, the voters won’t buy it. It has the potential to reinforce questions about his age, I guess.
Still, with war, peace, prosperity on the line, I don’t see this as a huge deal.
but what about Edwards’ haircut and super-large house?
The problem with that was that Edwards’ shtick was that he was a common man. So it seemed hypocritical.
It always seems strange to be, but the Repubs. seem less vulnerable to certain kinds of attacks, simply because everyone already knows that they are rich obnoxious bastards. In fact, their ideology says that says being a rich obnoxious bastard is good.
p.s. I think the damning thing about McCain’s house gaffe is not that he owns several houses…it’s that he couldn’t f-ing remember how many houses he has. That ad very subtly but effectively pushes the age issue, which is McCain’s true vulnerability.
Via TPM
Here is one of the supers splashed in Architectural Digest
and via Yglesias
one of the other 6 (said to be seven homes found so far) – a double Condo in Phoenix for $4.7 million
Hey, McCain’s confusion is very understandable. I mean, look at how many different meanings there are for the word house. Why I just looked at that and thought to myself, “Gosh Mike, how many “houses” do you own. Why, there’s the one we live in, course.
Oh, yeah!! And there’s the pole barn and the garden shed. I guess by definition those count. That’s three.
But wait…….what about the birdhouses? Those are, by definition, to be factored in. Now, there’s the purple martin house…..now how many individual houses are in that one??? Gosh, I’m not too sure?? Oh shoot! What about all those bluebird houses which line the wooded part of the property? How many of those are there???
Damn, and I forgot about the doghouse!! Now how many am I up to??? Damn it, now I’ve lost track.
I think that’s, uhhhhh, the number is……..
I’ll uhh, I’ll have my people get back with you.
See! It’s really hard. Just try it yourself.