NSN Daily Update: Maliki and McCain- 7/9/08 Posted by The National Security Network

Despite Calls from the Iraqi Government McCain Continues to Believe that We Should Have a Permanent Presence in Iraq

Yesterday Iraqi national security advisor Mouwaffak al-Rubaie reemphasized Prime Minister Maliki’s position that any long-term agreement between the U.S. and Iraq must include a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.  But John McCain still insists that we need a permanent troop presence in Iraq and refused yesterday to acknowledge that the Iraqi Government’s statements affect his position.

Iraq’s national security advisor says security pact will not be accepted without specific withdrawal dates. "Our stance in the negotiations under way with the American side will be strong," said Iraq's national security adviser, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie.  "We will not accept any memorandum of understanding that doesn't have specific dates to withdraw foreign forces from Iraq," al-Rubaie told reporters. Al-Rubaie’s comments come a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki publicly said he expects some kind of timeline to withdraw American forces.  [AP, 7/9/08]

McCain denies that the Maliki and al-Rubaie statements have changed the situation and continues to assert that we should have a long-term troop presence in Iraq. Speaking to reporters yesterday McCain insisted that, “I know for a fact that a [troop pullout] will be dictated by the situation on the ground, as it always has been.”  Ignoring the fact that the wishes of the Iraqi government constitute part of the situation on the ground, he then reshaped Maliki’s comments claiming, “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.”  In fact, as late as last month McCain told NBC’s Matt Lauer that he expects to see a permanent U.S. presence in Iraq.  [ABC, 7/8/08]

In 2004, McCain admitted that if the Iraqi Government asked the U.S. to withdraw it should abide by those wishes. When asked, “What would or should we do if, in the post-June 30th period, a so-called sovereign Iraqi government asks us to leave, even if we are unhappy about the security situation there?” at a Council on Foreign Relations conference on April 22nd, 2004 McCain responded, “Well, if that scenario evolves, then I think it's obvious that we would have to leave because— if it was an elected government of Iraq— and we've been asked to leave other places in the world. If it were an extremist government, then I think we would have other challenges, but I don't see how we could stay when our whole emphasis and policy has been based on turning the Iraqi government over to the Iraqi people.”  [Council on Foreign Relations, 4/22/04]

Quick Hits

Iran successfully test fired nine missiles today, which have the capacity to reach Israel.  The Revolutionary Guard Air Force Commander stated: “Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy… The enemy must not repeat its mistakes. The enemy targets are under surveillance,” promising to retaliate if attacked.  The missile test comes as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted yesterday that his country has no intention of attacking Israel. 

In response to the Iranian missile test, oil prices reversed their two-day slide and jumped by almost $2 following today’s reports.

Three gunmen and three policemen were killed in an assault on the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.  Though responsibility for the attack has not yet been claimed, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey says that it was an “obvious act of terrorism.”

Yesterday, world leaders at the G-8 summit in Japan agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050, while developing nations not included in the G-8, such as China and India, have signed on to long-term emission reduction goals.  The agreement has been criticized by environmentalists as being too little, too late.

Despite efforts by the Indian Government to close the nuclear agreement on their end, indications in Washington suggest that Congress may not approve it this year.

The United States and the Czech Republic agreed yesterday to allow the U.S. to place radar units for a missile defense system in the former Soviet-bloc state.  Russia protested the agreement out of concern for its own security.

The Karzai government in Afghanistan blamed the intelligence services of Pakistan for the suicide bombing outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul that killed 41 yesterday; Pakistan has denied any such involvement.  The Indian government, meanwhile, has renewed its commitment to engagement in Afghanistan despite feeling that “the message of the bombing was specific: India, get out of Afghanistan.”

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