Obama's News Conference With Iraqi Prime Minister

Read the entire transcript here.

Obama Speaks on Nonprofits June 30

Today at 2 pm eastern, Obama will highlight nonprofit programs around the nation. It should be live streamed at CNN.com or msnbc.com.
Before Obama talks about nonprofits, he will talk about what no one is talking about--Iraq has taken over its own future. U.S. forces have withdrawn from Iraqi cities with little fanfare. It's National Sovereignty Day in Iraq. I hope they're celebrating well.
I'll post video when it's available.

Obama To Keep Promise on Day One

 
On Wednesday, Obama's first official day of work as president, he will meet with military leaders and discuss withdrawal from Iraq. Throughout the campaign, he repeated over and over that on Day One, he would gather the Joints Chiefs of Staff and get a withdrawal plan in order. This makes me very happy.

Incoming President Barack Obama is planning to meet with top military leaders on Wednesday to discuss the war in Iraq and move to begin implementing his campaign promise of removing all combat troops within 16 months, according to two transition officials familiar with the matter.

The meeting with the Joints Chief of Staff and other top military commanders will be on Obama's first full day in office, which suggests the new President wants to send a signal to supporters that despite his heavy focus on the financial crisis he will also address Iraq early in the new administration. CNN

McCain Says He Didn't Say Timetable

Update: July 29. McCain says timetable for real!

This is all getting ridiculous and this kind of highlights the foolishness of this "timetable" argument. The fact is it's time to get out of Iraq.

McCain Agrees With Obama on Withdrawal

Obama, without a doubt, has shifted the conversation. 

McCain alas says that 16 months is a good timetable for withdrawal but it has to be based on the conditions on the ground.

And so, this is the key differentiator between Bush McCain and Obama: Obama has said that as president, he would set the strategy and the generals on the ground would support it.

With Bush McCain, the generals on the ground have dictated the strategy because Bush hasn't had the fortitude to lead.

But now it seems everyone agrees. 

Bush Can't Say Timetable

So he says "horizon." Seems Bush is trying to save face. This is not the Obama plan, Bush's peeps say. Whatever. I just hope the war winds down soon.

NYT: The United States and Iraq have agreed to set a “general time horizon” for the “further reduction of U.S. combat forces in Iraq” following the improvement in security conditions in the country, the White House said Friday.

The breakthrough, which was reached between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki in discussions via video link on Thursday, could lead to the successful completion of a long-term security agreement covering American operations in Iraq — from combat missions to detaining Iraqis — by the end of this month, a White House official said.