BERLIN — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says U.S. troops should leave Iraq “as soon as possible,” according to a magazine report, and he called presidential candidate Barack Obama’s suggestion of 16 months “the right timeframe for a withdrawal.”
In an interview with Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine released today, al-Maliki said he was not seeking to endorse Obama. The Illinois senator and likely Democratic nominee has pledged to withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months if he is elected.
“That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,” al-Maliki was quoted as saying. “Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of U.S. troops in Iraq would cause problems.”
Asked when U.S. forces would leave Iraq, he responded, “As soon as possible, as far a we’re concerned.”
In Iraq today, Sadiq al-Rikabi, an adviser to al-Maliki, declined to discuss the prime minister’s published remarks, but he said Iraqi officials do not intend to be “part of the electoral campaign in the United States.”
“We will deal with any administration that comes to power,” he said.
Obama’s Republican presidential rival, John McCain, has supported Bush administration policy opposing a set timetable for taking troops out of Iraq.
“Barack Obama advocates an unconditional withdrawal that ignores the facts on the ground and the advice of our top military commanders,” McCain foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann said today. “John McCain believes withdrawal must be based on conditions on the ground.
“Prime Minister Maliki has repeatedly affirmed the same view, and did so again today. Timing is not as important as whether we leave with victory and honor, which is of no apparent concern to Barack Obama,” Scheunemann said.
Just days ago McCain said on his campaign bus that Maliki “has exceeded a lot of the expectations.”
“I think that much to the surprise of some Maliki has proved to be a more effective leader,” McCain said Tuesday in New Mexico.
The national security adviser to the Obama campaign, Susan Rice, said the senator welcomed al-Maliki’s comments.
“This presents an important opportunity to transition to Iraqi responsibility, while restoring our military and increasing our commitment to finish the fight in Afghanistan,” Rice said today.
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