[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/19/art.maliki.gi.jpg caption="al-Maliki praised Obama’s 16-month withdrawal plan in a newspaper report Saturday."]CRAWFORD, TX (CNN) - An embarrassing slip up for the White House press office Saturday, when an aide hit the wrong button and mistakenly sent to the news media a Reuters article saying Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki backs presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's troop withdrawal plan.
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel says, "It was a mistake. Clips list for staff was supposed to be the addressee."
The Obama campaign quickly took advantage of the mistake, forwarding an ABC report detailing the incident to its press list.
This is not the first time the White House has emailed in error. But its timing is particularly embarrassing as the Bush administration's recent agreement with al-Maliki on a "general time horizon" for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq is being cited by some as resembling Obama's proposal that U.S. forces should leave within 16 months.
Why isn't Maliki's statement the top story on CNN? Why isn't the statement even covered here? Why is the only reference to this story some sideline about who told the press when? Shouldn't the press know about a story of this magnitude? Why is the pollitical aspect for Bush the only consideration here? Maliki's statement is a huge story and it deserves prominent coverage!
Shortly after Barack Obama laid out his foreign policy vision, John McCain criticized his proposals as naive and premature.
Who's the naive one now?
Trying to take the rug from under Barack by (1) engaging Iran and (2) looking to implement some sort of withdrawal plan with Iran. Things are surely desperate for the GOP. God has sent someone who is of mixed race to us, He has sent us someone who is Christian and lived in a Muslim nation, he has sent us a candidate with the best possible mix for the difficult times we live in - and so help us Lord, let us get Barack in the "White" house and get on with making our world a better place.
I think this re-affirms that Barack Obama has good judgement and great instincts when it comes to making the right decisions in the interest of the USA. He will make a difference in the way our country is perceived in the world, and can help rally our allies to a common cause. There is no advantage to the US in the obstinate, refusal-to-reconsider approach that the Bush administration has adopted. It is time for George Bush, Condoleeza Rice, and Dick Cheney to BE GONE!
So everyone agrees that OBama's plan is the right one after all.
The world cannot wait until the US has a leader that recognizes and respects their right to govern their own land.
Ya right, just ANOTHER cover up by the rebulblicans!!
Big surpise!!
This is the third foriegn policy shift towards the Obama approach by Bush/Mcsame
1) The Bush state department now plans to open a diplomatic mission in Tehran and appoint staff with no specified preconditions this is not appeasing.
2) A TIME HIORIZON yes right this is a time line for US troop withdrawls from Iraq. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
3) Now McBush is proposing to send three more bregades to Afghanistan exactly what Obama has been advocating concentrating on this war on terrorists.
4) Now the Whitehouse admits they are following Barack Obama's policies WOW WOW what an admission of republican failure.
Now tell me again who has the best policies on foriegn affairs the wars and the economy
OOOOH YES that would be BARACK OBAMA.
OBAMA HAD IT RIGHT FIRST TIME EVERYTIME
With each new event Barack Obama is proving he has the judgement and the steel to be a great President where as McCain foul's up nearly evry word or move his campaign makes.
Bush and McCain are two war mongering hippocrates!!
We shouldn't stay a single day longer than the Iraqs wants us to be there. We can't afford to continue to spend billions of our tax money in Iraq while people are struggling with high gas and grocery prices in this country.
The real headline here should be "Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki backs Obama's troop withdrawal plan."
This shows that judgement outways experience in many circumstances.
Hmm, it's funny. Why is it that everytime Obama gets criticize on an issue, his judgment always beats his opponent's experience? And the media and Republicans have a stupid look on their face when Obama, once again show how smart he is. But he's supposed to be young, inexperience, and naive.
Obama 08!
Obama has been right every step of the way, MacCain has reduced the entire war to the Surge, he calls it the Surge unbelievable. WMDs were not found, this is a legitimate government asking US to leave, US should oblige.
DUH!!!
This isn't about conservative or liberal, it is about common sense and pragmatic efforts to get the job done. That is what attracted me to Obama in the first place. He isn't about liberal or conservative dogma, he's about making progress. You don't make progress by sticking to dogma and getting nothing done just to make a point.
It shouldn't be my way or the highway, we need a leader who listens to everyone and is willing to make the practical common sense approach. That's Obama.
Yea, It must be hard to keep on lieing. Slip ups (of telling the truth) are eventual outcome.
Wow-the Obama and Hillary plan being praised by foreign leaders while McWifeBeater's plan is probably making everyone else in the world cross their fingers and pray? How is that not hard to believe??
It should be a done deal now. period.
Just goes to prove that you don't need to know the internets to be POTUS
Well, well. If I understand correctly Reuters news service ran an article saying Iraq (Maliki) endose Barrack's plan for US withdrawl.....but that the Bush people unintentionally released the story to the rest of the media in an e-mail that was mis-routed. Um!!!...let's see now. the Us is now talking directly to Iran. Israel is negotiating with Hezbelloa through Turkey. The Maliki government wants a time "Horizon" for US withdrawl. They endorse Obama's plan. Poor McBush. He'd better get George to bomb bomb Iran pretty soon before things get completely out of hand
Iraq's people and their leader want us out. McCain said if this happened we would leave. I'm guessing he hasn't changed his mind.
The truth will set you free!
It's about time we started listening to what the Iraqis want for their own country. They are saying they want us out – and we should go.
This election is between All American Baby and Kenyan Anchor Baby; 20 years Senator and 143 days Senator; Maverick and Chameleon; Straight Talk Express and Change Change Change;Great American Hero and Great Community Organizer; Between Right and Left; Between Republican and Democrat
Folks come November let see who wins the game.
wow, way to go president Obama!!!