Building relationships with other countries is one of the many jobs a president has to do. It seems as if some of the McCain supporters condone a non-existant relationship with al-maliki, don't limit our alliances because of your narrow-minded thinking. Having many allies will greatly help us fight the war on terror. In my opinion, THE NUMBER ONE FOREIGN POLICY IS TO HAVE ALLIES!!! Obama has worked towards that goal.

Obama/Sebelius 08′

I'm not an editor or publisher but the New York Times got it right by not publishing McCain's article and publishing Obama's. McCain spends too much of his campaign funds focusing on Obama and has no substance to followup his complaints. McCain's campaign is built on complaints and slander of Obama while GWB, McCain's buddy, is making McCain look like a fool by talking to Iran. You'd think McCain would be smart enough to smell the coffee.

So far, so good. From all the reporting from the various media; print, television, on-line, etc., Barack is handling these meetings with dignity and great grasp of the various situations on these particular regions.

I hope the media continue to follow closely, as to all the American people and world the chance to see how Barack interacts with the very leaders he hopes to join.

ultra liberal will be flush USA go to thoilet ..ANYTHING GOES bed with criminals

he will fix the world like he is fix SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO..lol

"The non-American part of the world favoring him is a big reason for Ameircans not to trust him to behave in our interest."

This statement is exactly 100% wrong.

I'm disappointed to actually have to type this, but having somebody as President who is actually liked and respected around the world would be a good thing, and could only benefit the USA.

I know it's been a while since we had one of those, but trust me.

To all of the bloggers that continue to praise McLame,
OMG. anger breeds anger. Stupidity breeds more stupidity
God Bless America and God Bless Obama
Obama a landslide in 99 days!

Texas Trail Dog, how does it feel knowing obama is going to be the next president. I can tell by your comments that you are feeling pain. lol, . lol

his support of the iraqi government? he never wanted there to be an iraqi government! he wanted saddam hussein to rule and terrorize iraq for as long as he lived. he wanted the hussein sons to take over and continue the bloodshed after that. obama opposed the iraq war and has no right to stand there and tell those people that he supports the government or our troops since all he does is bleat that we should never have gone there in the first place.

It saddens me to see that Obama chose a laughing photo with the General. I have a nephew in Iraq and it is not a laughing matter.

CNN does not favor McCain or Obama in its coverage or in these blogs. CNN favors higher ratings for its news programs and for its web pages. It also favors movies produced by TIme-Warner.

To CNN, the headline it is pushing is this: "CNN Covers 2008 Elections: Wolf Blitzer Interviews 2 Major Candidates" or "Wolf Blitzer Discusses Election Issues in Depth".

They sell advertising. Ad space on any story that attracts eyeballs will generate more revenue. To CNN, the 2008 election is just another opportunity to generate advertising income.

Wait, wait, wait … just 6 days ago he was telling us they weren't doing enough.

July 15, 2008 : "Iraq's leaders have not made the political progress that was the purpose of the surge."

But to their face he tells them what a great job they are doing.

Which is it?

yep, future partners in crime have to meet at some point.

Obama wants to not do the Surge, leave Iraq in ruins, and leave Hussein in power. He also wants to spread war to nuclear power Pakistan that has a Cold/Hot War with India. Yes, if you want to have a president that will make watching the nightly news exciting and refreshing then Obama is the man!

repubs shakin in their Gucci boots….

Hillary would be a better _________, blah, blah, blah, rinse and repeat. Pssst–she lost the nomination and there will be no rebellion in Denver no matter how many times you chant it. As for the television effect mentioned above, perhaps consider that Americans are simply sick of the neocons and their sideshow and want real leadership in this country. Of course these trips are for publicity mainly. How else to you explain the Republican leadership in Congress suddenly discovering Alaska is a state and traveling there.

Why do you keep misrepresenting Maliki's words? He himself has said what he said was interpreted incorrectly! Stop this crazy one-sided reporting! Haven't you learned by now that shoving someone down the throats of the logical-thinking general public will turn them off and cause them to shift? Didn't you learn with you Kerry debacle?

There is a whole segment of the American population that do not agree with the socialist agenda of this Obama character, they're just not "squeaky wheels"…you will not hear from them until election time.

And America…McCain, who I am not a fan of either, has been to the AOR no less than eight times, if he wants to watch a baseball game while your prince pretends to be king, more power to him! That's the most press he gotten in awhile and all in an effort to make him look like he's doing nothing while Obama is out sweating over policy and "presidential"…seriously, what is wrong with you people?

O.K folks let's get one thing straight. The President of the USA can order the end of the war in Iraq and have ALL of our people out of there in less than two weeks. Some of you idiots seem to think that we need years to exit the country. It took us days to enter and we can also leave in days. Whether we are concerned about the state of Iraq when we leave is a different issue. But do remember that we created the state that Iraq is in right now.

Al-Maliki supports Obama's phased withdrawel strategy! I guess Obama does know what's going on. McCain thinks Iraq borders Pakistan (it doesn't).

Yes right the surge worked and we are still there . So now lets get out of there. NO WAIT we want to strategical set up US bases there. To control that region.

While it's perfectly fair for Republicans to go after Obama anywhere they feel they have an advantage, I question how many times Giuliani, Thompson, the Huckster or even Ron Paul have visited Iraq or Afghanistan. This litmus test is really a joke, but you can't blame them for trying.

HEY CNN WHERE'S THE ARTICLE ABOUT HOW MCCAIN THING AFGANISTAN AND IRAQ SHARE A BORDER…..

ENOUGH WITH THE GOP NEWS FILTER.

- why is the war in afghanistan doing so poorly?
Obama is one of the oversight people …. right?

this guy is a crook. i think BUSH found a real partner at mideast.

To Really. You seams to think the removal of Saddam from power was a good thing for Iraq.

Saddam was said to be guilty of killing approximately 150 Iraqi people. Well military action in Iraqi has resulted in the death of tens of thousands of Iraqi people. When you add the wounded Iraqis to the total the total becomes millions.

Although many may hate to admit it Iraq was better off under Saddam.

Did Obama admit his fault in not believing in the US Military and the
"Surge". The non-American part of the world favoring him is a big reason for Ameircans not to trust him to behave in our interest.

Al Maliki and Obama are made for each other…..They wouldnt know effective policy if it bit them in the face…..

VOTE FOR THE SMART GUY NOT THE MORON .

OBAMA…….08

IS IT SO HARD TO SEE THAT MCCAIN IS OUT OF HIS LEAGUE..

DO SOMETHING CORRECT FOR A CHANGE AMERICA.

YOU PEOPLE SCREWED UP THE LAST 8 YEARS……..

Saddened American.

You are so right. I am thinking of having a holiday from the blogs because people have just gone crazy. nobody makes sense anymore, all they spew out is hatred (and beleive me its mainly obama supporters who spew the hatred, never facts, just attacks)

Maliki = Howdy Doody
A puppet on a Republican string.
At least now he know his time is up.

white people for obama July 21st, 2008 12:05 pm ET

Hey "Michelle" you are making up lies, when there is valid evidence of Obama's laws that are in effect. Stop cryin, you must be sad cuz your candidate didn't make it.

You are one of the reasons why America is going backwards and not forwards. Thanks to individuals like you

Seems like Michelle is Correct, and Yes latinos will support John McCain. OBAMA is going down!!! Latinos can smell a RAT in obama!!!!

Latinos for McCAIN!!!!

I LOVE IT! The agreement of Al-MALIKI relative to Obama's 16-month time limit has made total fools of George W. Bush and John McBush!!! Not to mention the fact that Al-Maliki's and Obama's meeting was as productive as it was!!! LOL!

OBAMA PRAISED al-Maliki's LEADERSHIP. HOW IN THE HELL DOES HE KNOW WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP THIS MAN HAS PROVIDED. WHAT RIGHT DOES HE HAVE TALKING TO THE MAN LIKE HE WAS PRESIDENT ALREADY.

AMERICA YOU ARE GETTING RIDICULOUS WITH CONTINUING THIS FARCE OF MAKING SURE THIS MAN IS IN THE OVAL OFFICE. IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT THEN SO BE IT. DON'T BE CRYING BEFORE HIS FOUR YEARS IS UP. YOU GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR. EVERYONE WARNED PEOPLE OF THE BUSHES AND LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED. NOW YOUR GOING TO PUT A WORST MORON IN OFFICE.

World Angel – You're an idiot.

I support Obama but you Rethugs and PUMAs need to end the antichrist/ Messiah talk. Obama nor his surrogate, nor his voters have ever made that theory/ claim.

Please stop showing your ignorance.

Look at Bush/McCain's experience.
How's that workin' for us.

We are already in the throes of transformation. There is no turning back.

SOme will rely on the past to determine the future, but the numbers are rapidly growing for those who are wanting to reach for something different and Obama–who is not a savior nor a messiah–is willing to represent that change.

I'm tired of having a leader decide, categorically, that the world is a dangerous place. This fear-based mentality has gone on for long enough and has caused quite enough problems in and of itself.

Yes there are dangerous forces in the world, and we have been one of them. So don't turn a blind eye to them but good grief, don't allow that to be the only tenant that affects how we act and move in the world.

A timetable makes sense to me. Some forget that a timetable does not neccessarily have a fixed start date.

Question of the day:
Is declining a Phyrric Victory a loss or a win?

saddened Amrerican..blah blah blah

The Prime Minister was happy to meet with a American Official up to his education level . Since he has had to deal with the Village IDIOT since he has been President of IRAQ

Dear foreign observer:

Because he IS.

I have to laugh at these comments about Obama's "thin" experience. This reiteration of the GOP's talking point neglects the obvious: that Obama was right about the war before it happened, while McCain and his Bush clan were dead wrong. The fiscal and energy problems we face today are largely due to the lack of wisdom and foresight of the the republicans who are now trying to scare us into voting for them again.

Dear Saddened American,

Amen to that !

please Obama come home with our boys and when you come back telle americans we where trick into war.

Obama meets him, finally? Obama, the chair of the senate oversight committee on Afghanistan who hasn't worked for the taxpayers of the U.S. but only keeps asking for more money to become the POTUS.

WHAT HAS THIS MORON DONE FOR ANYONE BUT HIMSELF?

No way, go away Obama.

Well, well, well.

Looks like you Obama backers are going to get your way – the polls are leaning toward him, the press leans toward him, and everyone around seems to think this guy is the second coming of the lord because he is much more eloquent than his rival when it comes to speaking, and he knows how to work a crowd.

This goes to show that perceptions of the American populace are dead on……you have fallen prey to what presidential historian Richard Neustadt once referred to as "the television effect" – you are going to vote for someone based on his media prowess and not upon his true positions. Furthermore, you see this as unique because you let the media inject and inflame the issue of race into the equation, and somehow this election is supposed to be groundbreaking because of it. That has got to be one of the most idiotic notions ever – if you all haven't figured out that each of us as human beings are equal, you are as stupid as they come. I don't care what each candidate looks like, and you shouldn't either. We all need a leader who can inspire us again, but in a genuine fashion and not just to say anything or change any position to get elected.

Go ahead and call McCain a flopper. Call Obama a flopper. Do whatever you want, and vote for whomever you like. Just remember, though, that America, as screwed up as you think it is, allows you to do that. No other country can make that claim. Don't forget it, but if you have trouble remembering, why don't you try going down to a VA hospital, or better yet to a cemetery, and ask those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect your right to free speech and to look like a bunch of buffoons in a chat room, what their opinion is. You'll hear silence. Maybe if you shut up long enough and quit attacking each other, you'll become the informed citizens and voters you profess to be.

The vast majority of people world wide are desperately hoping the American voters make an informed and intelligent decision this November and reject fear mongering. Basing your vote on fear has got you in the mess you're in right now and repeating this will surely continue your downward trend.

Many other countries around the world are, to a large degree, dependent upon the American economy but realizing your country may continue on in it's current trend they are talking about seeking different trading partners and becoming less reliant on trade with the U.S.

Fact is other nations can no longer risk their economic futures on the whims of people making uninformed decisions without regard for the consequences. It will be interesting to see when you elect McCain president how the world reacts. I'm betting you won't like it.

CNN, why don't you post my comments? Is it because I am not O-gagga for Obama? I am not insulting in my comments, I do not use crude language, nor do I use improper grammar or spelling. I present a different perspective than the one that you obviously favor. Isn't this supposed to be a forum of exchange? When will you act as a journalistic outlet, instead of a campaign operative?

Right on, 'Really'! This is the exact sentiment of my three prior posting attempts, which our dear Moderator refused. (Like you will see my feedback, because I'm sure that they won't post this one either!!!)

Isn't it amazing what happens when someone listens to the other side and says…"hey, let's work towards a solution"?

I don't share the exuberance tha Obama will be able to achieve world peace. But he may be able to keep us at peace with the rest of the world–and that would be a good start.

I wonder if he mentioned that he did not support the liberation of Iraq and he did not support the surge. He wanted to cut and run. He probably told them that he should be speaking to Saddam right now because the war should never have happened.

Michelle. Keep Making NOISE!!!

Obama's foreign policy is CARTER"S foreign policy. For those that can't see past the campaign slogans, Carter is basically responsible for the existance of al Qaeda and the rise of Osama bin Laden.

(Check your history Obamabots.)

Michelle, your bitterness is affecting you more than it is affecting Obama and everyone else. You are demonstrating that with your choice of words.

I believe OBAMA can do what I thought only GOD could do and that is to bring WORLD PEACE. I was under the impression that would only happen when JESUS come back. Perhaps I'm wrong or maybe he is Jesus.

I'm sure Maliki is looking forward to dealing with a President who respects his authority as Prime Minister of a sovereign country, unlike Bush, who only listens to him when he says something W wants to hear.

If Maliki is "in charge" of Iraq, and he wants us to leave, then we should leave. Otherwise, we are exactly the imperialist colonial types that our enemies accuse us of being.

Hey "Michelle" you are making up lies, when there is valid evidence of Obama's laws that are in effect. Stop cryin, you must be sad cuz your candidate didn't make it.

You are one of the reasons why America is going backwards and not forwards. Thanks to individuals like you

CNN you are losers…. I posted right away and since it was against Obama you didin't post once again… way to go – way to force someone down our throats. Make it look like everyone is for Obama boy.

The real answers will come in November. Obama was suppose to do work on Afghanistan for the past two years but now he goes to look like he knows what he's doing and the Obama followers act as if he's the second coming. GAGGGGG

It's not how many times you've been to Iraq or Aphganistan, it is actually what you learn and how you apply it. There are Commanders and Generals that give better reports in a conference call about details on the ground, much more than a Senator or VIP visiting he really won't get to see much. McCain begged for Obama to go and now he is even flip flopping on that.
McCain tout's that he has been there so many times and now says he knows how to Win Wars…huh????

What War has McCain won, the only War he was involved in we lost and he was locked away going crazy for most of the fight, this man is delusional, u people need to wake up.

Way to go Iraq! Way to go Obama!

We know you like Obama's plans and time frame for getting our of your country that we had no right to invade and destroy!

This was perfect time for Obama to visit!

McSame should be ashamed of his so called… I know every thing!

If Obama believes he's gonna be able to start bringing troops home in 16 months, he's even stupider than I thought he was.

McCain is saying he is better on making the decision on when the soilders can come home because he has spent more time in Iraq. Well Mr McCain Mr Maliki has been there longer than you. Hes the one who knows wahts happening there better then you… Do they have to send you aa memo."GET OUT!!!!!"

Michelle you make way to much noise………. Jealous Much!!!

Sounds to me like Obama's plan is working & he's not even elected yet.

Yea he went home to the mother land

OBAMA THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES….

It's preposterous for Obama to discuss lawmaking when he has ZERO NADA legislative accomplishments. All he does is place his name on work that other people have done! This is all made clear in the New Yorker article.

Americans deserve better than to fall for a slick marketing campaign.

Obama has 300 staffers telling him what to say on the Rainbow Tour.
That's right–300 people to prop up the empty suit who chronically
uses the words and ideas of others.

Why do we need Obama? We don't! Obama needs Obama!

Do you know that his speeches are not his own? All he does is READ them. And his slogan "Yes We Can" was stolen from the United Farm Workers' Union. "Change" was used by Bush and Castro.

I am a Democrat and I can't stand Bush. But hear this–I would even vote for BUSH over Obama!

cnn – i can not believe how you manipulated what would come up under the search heading of cnn "white house send press corps al-maliki praise for Obama plan" dated july 20th. What comes up is a bloggers personal negative anti al-maliki comment. Once again here is CNN doing the white house a favor to neutralize a story. CNN you are continuously growing more and more obvious in your tactics. If I were to stop and really think it thru, it is actually quit terrifying that this is being done by a news chanel.

the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, praised the prime minister's leadership.

He was critacal of it a few mounths ago. He said something like, Iraq is not meeting with the time tables to have Iraqui lead forces in control of iraq's security.

McCAIN is Maliki a FLIP FLOPER ?????

I cant wait for our troops to get out of Iraq. It is just a matter of time. Seems still just far away.

and this year we will see how an election was BOUGHT AND PAID FOR. THAT IS WHY I WILL NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA, EVEN IF I AGREED WITH HIM ON EVERYTHING. He has distorted our process for elections, he sees he can raise more money so he will be able to blast us with all of his speeches, that don't seem to really mean a thing. They say all of his accomplishments, BUT THEY AREN'T HIS, HE JUST TAGGED HIS NAME ON THEM. hE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING. I really hate to see an election bought but then again isn't that CHICAGO politics all over again. AND HE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF POLITICIAN. YEA, RIGHT. Same ol, same ol, and he's the first to not limit the spending for the election, really makes you wonder just where all of this money is coming from and PLEASE DON'T INSULT PEOPLES INTELLIGENCE BY SAYING IT'S ALL THE LITTLE GUY.

Maliki appreciates speaking to someone who can form a coherent thought and sentence without having to look anything up in a thesaurus or doesn't need his advisors whispering the questions and answers in his ear.

Now Obama is confident to tell the whole world: I have foreign experience!! I have just spent my weekend in Iraq and Afghanistan!!!! Please add these trips to my thin resume on foreign policy! Please vote for me!!! I have experience ! voter for me please please!!!!

WHERE EVER HE GOES THE WORLD LEADER S ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH HIM. IF HE ELECTED HE WILL LEAD THE WORLD TOWARDS HARMONY, PEACE AND PROSPERITY. THAT'S THE WAY YOU SOLVES THE ISSUES WITH THE COOPERATION OF OTHER LEADERS AND PEOPLE. NO MORE COWBOY MENTALITY.

Now there's 2 to draw to! Geez, an idiot and a criminal. Go figure. I guess they will decide on how to end the war. Scary.

Maliki agreed a 16 month time table could be do-able….while mccsame/bush is willing to stay at any costs?

If the Iraq leaders want us out, out we will be… ….
…….come on now we will not force our stay for 100 more years like McCain wants – so he & his wife can make money for some companis she owns or her family owns liek the Halliburton and stuff…( Cindy McCain- " former lobbyist" – once a lobbyist always a lobbyist)

Bring our men and women home

I love it.

I can see al-Maliki whispering to Obama "psst…I work with GW Bush and Republicans, but I support you". And then Obama whispers back "Why are we whispering?"

American Finally is going to have a true leader, but some idiots may not know it especially republican conservative people who live by exploiting the poor and lying to the the American people using God's name and pretending they are christians.

It looks like Obama understands the Arab mentality much better than his opponents.