Iraq News

Weren’t for the world financial crisis, Iraq would have been undoubtedly the decisive say in US presidential elections and the key political battleground between Democrats and Republicans racing into the White House. For the first time in US presidential elections history, a foreign issue such as Iraqi crisis constitutes American voters concern mainly after US Army death toll reached 4000 US soldiers. Strategic row over the future of US Forces future in Iraq is deep and highly controversial between Democrat candidate Barack Obama and Republican John McCain as Obama views Iraq war as “a war of choice” while McCain says Iraq war is “necessary and just”. Obama has set his priorities mainly withdrawing US combat troops from Iraq within six months if elected President. The Democrat candidate often referred in this regard to Iraqi leaders statements backing his plan mainly Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki’s statements to Arab Ambassadors in the UAE as the latter was reported as saying in regards to the negotiations with the US that talks are focused on an understanding memorandum to evacuate US Forces or a memorandum to set a timetable for their withdrawal. In the same context, Obama’s office published a statement during his visit to Iraq reporting that Prime Minister Al Maliki has approved US Forces withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2010. The statement added that Al Maliki affirmed that Iraqis praise US soldiers sacrifices but reject an open ended US presence in Iraq. Obama clarified that Iraqis seek a long term partnership with the US in order to make economic and social headway and restore sustained stability in Iraq. On the other hand, Republican candidate John McCain defended his support to Iraq way saying it is necessary and just criticizing Obama for his strategy regarding US military presence in Iraq. McCain accused Democrats of prioritizing politics ahead of US security. The Republican Senator who visited Iraq several times justified before US military officers President Bush’s troop surge decision calling it the right decision. McCain asserts that victory in Iraq war is more important for him than winning the 2008 elections.