Obama and Iraqi leaders confer on US withdrawal from Iraq
Washington, 22 July (IranVNC)—Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is in Iraq’s Anbar Province today where he held talks with influential Sunni Arab tribal leaders to elicit their opinion of a strategic withdrawal of US troops from the war-torn country.
By: IranVNC
Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
12:00GMT—8:00AM/EST
OBAMA – IRAQ – WAR – WITHDRAWAL
Washington, 22 July (IranVNC)—Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is in Iraq’s Anbar Province today where he held talks with influential Sunni Arab tribal leaders to elicit their opinion of a strategic withdrawal of US troops from the war-torn country.
After a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Obama released a statement saying “Iraqis want an aspirational timeline, with a clear date, for the redeployment of American combat forces. (Maliki) stated his hope that U.S. combat forces could be out of Iraq in 2010.”
Obama’s trip has been centered on the question of the future of American involvement in Iraq, particularly on a timetable for withdrawal of US troops.
Ahmed Abu Risha, tribal chief of U.S.-backed Awakening Council, spoke to Reuters about his meeting with Obama saying, “We told [Obama] withdrawal of the U.S. forces can happen when Iraqi forces are capable and ready to deal with the security situation in the province.”
According to Reuters, Anbar was at one time the most volatile province in Iraq for U.S. troops as al-Qaeda presented a serious and violent challenge in the region.
While the Illinois senator’s visits to Afghanistan and Iraq have been covert, he will begin the public leg of his Mideast tour tonight, with a stop in Jordan to meet King Abdullah II ahead of a publicized trip to Israel.
Obama will meet King Abdullah for half an hour’s talks behind closed doors followed by a formal dinner, AFP reports.
“Jordan is a very important country in the region, it has played an important role in the peace process,” said an anonymous Obama advisor, according to AFP.
Mideast opinion of the senator has been split throughout the region. Obama’s vow to maintain Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel has been seen as an affront to Palestinians, while the democratic White House hopeful’s policy on holding talks with Iranian leaders if elected, has caused Israel to turn a wary eye on Obama.
Obama will head for Israel later tonight where he will meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, opposition Likud chief Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barack, AFP reports.
Sources: Agence France Presse, Reuters
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