This could be one of those unexpected events that forever changes the way the world perceives an issue. Iraq's Prime Minister agrees with Obama, and there's no wiggle room or fudge factor. This puts John McCain in an extremely precarious spot: what's left to argue? to argue against Maliki would be to predicate that Iraqi sovereignty at this point means nothing. Obviously, our national interests aren't equivalent to Iraq's, but... Malik isn't listening to the generals on the ground...but the "hasn't been to Iraq" line doesn't work here.
So how will the McCain campaign respond?
(Via e-mail, a prominent Republican strategist who occasionally provides advice to the McCain campaign said, simply, "We're fucked." No response yet from the McCain campaign, although here's what McCain said the last time Maliki mentioned withdrawal: "Since we are succeeding, then I am convinced, as I have said before, we can withdraw and withdraw with honor, not according to a set timetable. And I’m confident that is what Prime Minister Maliki is talking about, since he has told me that for many meetings we’'ve had."
Will Maliki retract his words?
I'd say that the GOP strategist is understating is understating his comment regarding the McCain campaigns' response--McCain is royally fucked here. There is just no response that McCain can give that will not contradict his previous 2004 statement of withdrawing U.S. troops if the Iraqi government requests such a withdrawal. Even the July 8, 2008 McCain statement on McCain sidestepping Maliki's general withdrawal timetable doesn't even take into context the political fallout of Maliki's endorsement of Obama's timetable. There is just no way McCain can respond to this story without causing even further damage to his already disastrous campaign.
John McCain is royally and completely fucked here.
(My apologies for the coarse language)
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