Obama, Iraq PM discuss U.S. withdrawal
http://dervishcom.blogspot.com/2011/12/obama-iraq-pm-discuss-us-withdrawal.html
President Obama said today that history will judge the wisdom of the Iraq War, but with the U.S, removing the last of its troops this month the focus should be on "a normalization of the relationship" between the two countries.
"I have no doubt that Iraq can succeed," Obama told reporters after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki; the president said the U.S. will help Iraq as much as it can, nearly nine years after President George W. Bush authorized the initial invasion of Saddam Hussein's regime.
When asked if he still thinks Iraq was "a dumb war" -- a comment he made back in 2002 -- Obama said: "I think history will judge the original decision to go into Iraq."
Obama and Maliki spoke with reporters after a round of meetings this morning. Some highlights:
12:59 p.m. -- An Iraqi journalists asks about future U.S. military help for Iraq in the years ahead.
Maliki says he spoke with Obama about "the need for weapons"
Obama says he seeks to help "a sovereign Iraq" protect its people and its borders; says military cooperation will be similar to that given to other nations.
Obama also notes that the U.S. embassy in Iraq will be bigger than others, but only because the security demands are so different.
12:52 p.m. -- Christi Parsons of The Chicago Tribune asks about specific agreements the two leaders struck -- and whether Obama still thinks Iraq was "a dumb war."
Obama says "I think history will judge the original decision to go into Iraq," but now the U.S. should help Iraq as much as it can while totally ending its military involvement (and having no military bases there).
"I have no doubt that Iraq can succeed," Obama says, adding that he seeks "a normalization of the relationship" with the United States.
12:47 p.m. -- An Iraqi journalist asks to be more specific about the Iraq-U.S. relationship moving forward -- will it be an ally, a friend, or something else?
Obama says his goal is a "comprehensive relationship" with Iraq, ranging from trade to joint military exercises. "It will evolve over time," he adds One big issue, Obama notes: Oil production.
"Our goal simply is to make sure Iraq succeeds," Obama says.
12:40 p.m. -- Ben Feller of the Associated Press asks about Iraq's support for embattled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, as well as Iran's decision to hold onto a U.S. drone.
Obama says he told Maliki he will continue seeking to build pressure on Assad because of attacks on his people; says there may be "tactical disagreements" with Iraq on the Syria issue, but he believes that the Iraqis are making the decisions that are best of them; notes that Iraq is in a "tough neighborhood" -- including neighbor Syria.
For his part, Maliki says he has no right to ask Assad to abdicate.
As for the drone, Obama says: "We have asked for it back -- we'll see how the Iranians respond."
12:39 p.m.-- Maliki, speaking via an interpreter, thanks Obama and says his country needs U.S. cooperation moving forward, particularly on security to "protect our sovereignty" from terrorists.
Maliki says Iraq also seeks U.S. help as it tries to rebuild from both war and the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.
12:32 p.m. -- Obama speaks about how the U.S. military mission in Iraq is ending, and the two nations are now turning the page to "a new chapter" in their relationship. He predicts a bright economic future for Iraq, with American assistance; he also offered the kind of security assistance that the U.S. provides to other allies.
"I pledged to end this war responsibly," Obama says. "After nearly nine years, our war in Iraq ends this month."
Now, Obama pledges "an equal partnership" and "a broad relationship"with the new Iraq.
12:25 p.m. -- Late meetings? Obama and Maliki begin the news conference 50 minutes late.
"I have no doubt that Iraq can succeed," Obama told reporters after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki; the president said the U.S. will help Iraq as much as it can, nearly nine years after President George W. Bush authorized the initial invasion of Saddam Hussein's regime.
When asked if he still thinks Iraq was "a dumb war" -- a comment he made back in 2002 -- Obama said: "I think history will judge the original decision to go into Iraq."
Obama and Maliki spoke with reporters after a round of meetings this morning. Some highlights:
12:59 p.m. -- An Iraqi journalists asks about future U.S. military help for Iraq in the years ahead.
Maliki says he spoke with Obama about "the need for weapons"
Obama says he seeks to help "a sovereign Iraq" protect its people and its borders; says military cooperation will be similar to that given to other nations.
Obama also notes that the U.S. embassy in Iraq will be bigger than others, but only because the security demands are so different.
12:52 p.m. -- Christi Parsons of The Chicago Tribune asks about specific agreements the two leaders struck -- and whether Obama still thinks Iraq was "a dumb war."
Obama says "I think history will judge the original decision to go into Iraq," but now the U.S. should help Iraq as much as it can while totally ending its military involvement (and having no military bases there).
"I have no doubt that Iraq can succeed," Obama says, adding that he seeks "a normalization of the relationship" with the United States.
12:47 p.m. -- An Iraqi journalist asks to be more specific about the Iraq-U.S. relationship moving forward -- will it be an ally, a friend, or something else?
Obama says his goal is a "comprehensive relationship" with Iraq, ranging from trade to joint military exercises. "It will evolve over time," he adds One big issue, Obama notes: Oil production.
"Our goal simply is to make sure Iraq succeeds," Obama says.
12:40 p.m. -- Ben Feller of the Associated Press asks about Iraq's support for embattled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, as well as Iran's decision to hold onto a U.S. drone.
Obama says he told Maliki he will continue seeking to build pressure on Assad because of attacks on his people; says there may be "tactical disagreements" with Iraq on the Syria issue, but he believes that the Iraqis are making the decisions that are best of them; notes that Iraq is in a "tough neighborhood" -- including neighbor Syria.
For his part, Maliki says he has no right to ask Assad to abdicate.
As for the drone, Obama says: "We have asked for it back -- we'll see how the Iranians respond."
12:39 p.m.-- Maliki, speaking via an interpreter, thanks Obama and says his country needs U.S. cooperation moving forward, particularly on security to "protect our sovereignty" from terrorists.
Maliki says Iraq also seeks U.S. help as it tries to rebuild from both war and the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.
12:32 p.m. -- Obama speaks about how the U.S. military mission in Iraq is ending, and the two nations are now turning the page to "a new chapter" in their relationship. He predicts a bright economic future for Iraq, with American assistance; he also offered the kind of security assistance that the U.S. provides to other allies.
"I pledged to end this war responsibly," Obama says. "After nearly nine years, our war in Iraq ends this month."
Now, Obama pledges "an equal partnership" and "a broad relationship"with the new Iraq.
12:25 p.m. -- Late meetings? Obama and Maliki begin the news conference 50 minutes late.
