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Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan: report — BERLIN (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told a German magazine he supported prospective U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposal that U.S. troops should leave Iraq within 16 months.
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Obama Opens a Foreign Tour in Afghanistan — KABUL, Afghanistan — Senator Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, opening a high-stakes foreign trip in a country that is increasingly the focus of his clash with Senator John McCain in the presidential campaign over whether the war …


Iraq Leader Maliki Supports Obama's Withdrawal Plans — In an interview with SPIEGEL, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Barack Obama's 16 timeframe for a withdrawal from Iraq is the right one. — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki supports US presidential candidate Barack Obama's plan …

White House Accidentally E-Mails to Reporters Story That Maliki Supports Obama Iraq Withdrawal Plan — The White House this afternoon accidentally sent to its extensive distribution list a Reuters story headlined “Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan - magazine.”

MALIKI BACKS BARACK OBAMA'S IRAQ PLAN. — To really understand the importance of Maliki's comments, you need to consider their opposite. Imagine if Maliki had walked in front of the cameras and said, “at this stage, a timetable for withdrawal is unrealistic, and we hope our American friends …

It's Over — Not much to say here. Other than the fact that this is a huge huge huge deal. Article speaks for itself. … And … And … Is there anything left to say?

Fight War, Not Wars — AUSTIN, Tx. — When considering Bush's announcement that he'll accept a “time horizon” for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, it's necessary to back up a year. Only by taking something of a panoramic view can we appreciate how massive a blunder the permanent-occupation deal has proven for him.
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The Daily Dish, abu muqawama, Commentary, JustOneMinute, Buck Naked Politics and Truthdig


Obama lands in Afghanistan — KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama arrived Saturday in Afghanistan on the first stop of his tour of the Middle East and Europe, aimed at boosting the U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful's foreign policy credentials, his campaign confirmed.

Bush Accepts Time Horizon for US Troop withdrawal
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Newshoggers.com

Maliki: Obama's 16-month timetable sounds good; Update: Spiegel changes quote


Live Blogging: Al Gore To Appear This Morning At Netroots Nation Convention — “Former Vice President Al Gore is scheduled to speak this morning to more than 2,000 bloggers and others meeting at the Netroots Nation convention. His appearance here has been kept hush hush …
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Al Gore Is Special Guest Star at Netroots Nation
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The Huffington Post

Conservative Group to Air Anti-Obama Ads — An independent conservative group that worked on behalf of President Bush in 2004 is planning to begin broadcasting nationally next week a commercial that attacks Senator Barack Obama as a flip-flopper. — The non-profit advocacy group …


McCain, 71, nods off on ‘Late Night with Conan’ — By the time Sen. John McCain gets on NBC's “Late Night with Conan O'Brien” tonight, it's gonna look like it's way past the veteran senator's bedtime. — The show was, of course, taped this afternoon, a little bit late due to a very surprising event …

Political harmony v. the rule of law: an easy choice for the political establishment — (updated below - Update II) — Former Congressman Harold Ford appeared at the Netroots Nation conference yesterday, argued that Bush officials shouldn't be held accountable for crimes they committed while in office …
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TalkLeft, The Nation, Hullabaloo, Unqualified Offerings, American Power and The Huffington Post

‘Stunningly Shameful’ — The Bush administration flip-flops on Iran. — On January 23, 2008, during her keynote speech at the glitzy World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Condoleezza Rice made a surprisingly friendly gesture to the Iranian regime. She said, in this final year …