Obama's Day in Afghanistan

Nice report.

Now, for the most idiotic assumption evah, head over to PoCo (Drudgico) and Ben Smith's headlining question about Obama, "Obama asserts his Americanness".

How does on assert their Americanness? And is 'Americanness' even a word, or is it something Ben made up in order to libel Obama?

This was followed up with the most mindless piece of crap drivel writing that culminated in this very very important question asked by Ben, "His popularity in Europe, unmatched among American politicians, could hurt him politically however, if rapturous foreign crowds are seen as emblematic of his purported foreignness."

Ben then continues to write about how this isn't really a piece about Obama not being American enough, but a piece on the accusations and whisper campaign. What whisper campaign?

Just ask McCain, "Why has your campaign adopted a strategy of questioning Obama's "Americanness'? What does that word mean to you, Senator McCain?"

McCain campaign complaining about the lack of attention? I say give it to them, and ask the tough questions.

I'm not sure what this obsession with Americanness is while abroad, as it appears here in Time's piece about "bacon and eggs for breakfast", but this is the kind of stupidity that lent credence to the nonsense of "freedom fries" and John Kerry looking "French".

Stop repeating teh stupid.

Also, I know that McCain had to study up on the Viagra versus birth control insurance issue before giving an answer.

Now that a few days has passed, has any enterprising reporter asked him the question again?

KT:
Good luck and a safe flight to Amman. Thank you for the link to the report by your colleague, Abigail Hauslohner. This is a predicament for all concerned it seems.

Maliki, to remain non-partial, and Obama to get out of this trip what he wants which is major foreign exposure. But, I say let them meet. Let them hear the plan that Obama has for their country, and then decide.

My biggest hope is that Obama gets to meet with the rank and file military to hear from them their opinion on the situation on the ground in Iraq. Hopefully with Reid along, this will happen. Reid seems to be the person in the group who has the best conections and understanding.

From AH's piece:

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that Maliki had been misquoted.

Is anyone ever going to ask Dr. al-Dabbagh where or what part of al-Maliki's statement had been misquoted?

Given Dr. al-Dabbagh's unnuanced and at times somewhat uncertain grasp of the English language, this would seem an appropriate clarifying question for some enterprising reporter to ask.

Also, since Der Speigel is standing by it's translation, shouldn't that be noted as an update to this story as well?

Casey Morris,

As has been explored in other threads, the clarification is that Maliki only is endorsing the plan of a 16 month loose timeline, but is not endorsing Obama, or any other, foreign Politician (because he only endorses Iraqi politicians, of course)

To further clarify the clarification, some were running headlines saying he endorses "Obama's plan" but he's endorsing the plan itself, not the man.

Stay safe Karen, and have a safe trip!

I look forward to reading your stuff on TIME and Swampland.

RubyP,

I thought the initial report clearly said Maliki was not endorsing Obama himself. Are they clearing up something that really did'nt happen in the first place?

"the most idiotic assumption evah, head over to PoCo (Drudgico) and Ben Smith's headlining question about Obama, "Obama asserts his Americanness."

Can you imagine the swooning if only McCain was being well received?

Gunny,

I thought it was clear too, but they're apparently very sensitive about having it understood correctly. So to me it did sound like the same statement twice, worded differently. I don't know if that level of clarity will help all of my American brothers and sisters to understand it, though, as much wackyness as is (still? always?) in the air.

There seems to be a vocal minority that didn't understand it either time, and yet have a strong opinion about it. Some people seem to have misunderstood it so badly, they have a different opinion about the first statement, and the second!

Obviously it would be bad locally for Maliki to be seen endorsing either candidate, because it would make him look too close to the US. (in addition to all the normal reasons for only commenting about your own country's candidates)

Posted by RubyPanther | July 20, 2008 3:03 PM

RP Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question, however, I may not have posed my question clearly enough.

Der Speigel is standing by its translation, so the question is closer to, "Is the government spokesperson standing by his statement that al-Maliki was mistranslated, or are they issuing a clarification?"

As Gunny rightly points out, why issue a clarification of something you claim you never said in the first place. And why do it though CentCom?

Though this has been discussed in other threads, my question is if the media has gotten an answer to this question of mistranslation/clarification and why CentCom was the one putting out the press release.

It's not an insignificant matter. It reaches into what the current status of the relationship is between our government and the Maliki government, who the Iraq leadership sees as the future leader of the US, and what role, if any, has the change of Bush government position on timetable for horizons of possible, maybe departure, is or has had on the previously declared dead SOFA between the US an Iraq.

On one thread, Joe Klein declare al-Maliki ignorant of all things having to do with logistical planning of force withdrawal, and in two other threads, we have al-Maliki as the central player in the decision making process about, not only SOFA, but withdrawal as well.

Lots of disconnect happening that needs far discriminating journalism than we have thus seen.

At this point, I feel it's necessary to gratuitously point out that it's a damn good thing that we are sending KT over there to get to the bottom of all things Maliki.

;)

"Obviously it would be bad locally for Maliki to be seen endorsing either candidate"

I also think you have to be pretty dense to think Maliki is so 3rd world he does not know not to do some thing like this. But then there is this attitude Americans have that everyone else in the world is a dolt. They can not understand the complex american political system. When the reality is we are the ones who are often clueless.

Casey,

"As Gunny rightly points out, why issue a clarification of something you claim you never said in the first place."

You're still stubbornly refusing to acknowledge what has already been reported and clarified; the statements had the same meaning, the translation was indeed correct, and the clarification is because some `Merkins seem to have misunderstood.

They/he did not deny saying what the translation said. They deny saying what the headlines ran it as.

Is this really a hard one, guys?

"And why do it though CentCom?"

Well, we're not likely ever to know. Obviously. It's one these Dark Looming Cloud sort of statements. It suggests there is something evil lurking, but doesn't claim to have actually seen it, or have any clue what it is.

So since we're in boogey-man-land with that one, I'll give my own version: Perhaps the White House got their panties all bunched up over Maliki's statements (duh) and sent a big demand to have a clarification, and chose to send it through military channels, claiming it endangered US troops and demanding he issue a new statement, and so back through the channel that was demanding some change went the (basically unchanged) "clarification." Which would be a further snub to the administration. At this point, I have no more guesses, but I see two reasonable possibilities: the administration either were so slanted in their readings, they had their spin already in their eyes, and didn't notice they were the same statement, or they figured, it doesn't matter if they are the same, we'll just tell people they are different, the media will do the same, and our base won't bother to think for themselves.

What I can't figure out is any hypothetical reason why the Iraqis themselves would send it through centcom in absence of Dubya Administration blow-back.

But I'm sure some tinfoil hat out there has enough imagination for the task. Takers?

Surprise, surprise. We now know the Bush Administration leaned on Maliki:

Maliki Aide's Statement Came After U.S. Call

By Dan Eggen

The statement by an aide to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki calling his remarks in Der Spiegel "misinterpreted and mistranslated" followed a call to the prime minister's office from U.S. government officials in Iraq.

Maliki had expressed support for a withdrawal plan similar to that of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in an interview with Der Speigel. U.S. troops should leave Iraq "As soon as possible, as far as we're concerned," Maliki had said. "U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes."

But after the Spiegel interview was published and began generating headlines Saturday, officials at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad contacted Maliki's office to express concern and seek clarification on the remarks, according to White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

Later in the day, a Maliki aide released a statement saying the remarks had been misinterpreted, though without citing specific comments.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/20/maliki_aides_statement_came_af.html

From Josh Marshall:

Bush administration officials leaned on Maliki's office to issue 'clarification.'

Remember too that as far as I know the Prime Minister's office has yet to release any statement itself. The statement was released by CentCom and Multi-National Force-Iraq.

I don't think one should worry too much about the correction of the record. Obama went to Afghanistan, he did well. It is sop for the Right to downplay Maliki's responses to Der Spiegel, and McSame's guys will work overtime to blow smoke.

I await KT's report from the ground in Amman and Iraq if that is where she is going.

Meanwhile, McTwist will do his pretzel routine to ensure that his chorus in the MSM will try to play down Obama's effective visits. Already his Americanism is being treated as a negative. Do we want an American President who is popular in Europe? God forbid. The Europeans know that we have an inarticulate chap in the White House at present: they have become used to that for the past seven and a bit years.

Bama's ability to express himself in plain English will come as a shock to them.

KT here--

Bitter et al: We don't catch up with Obama until Amman. Word is there will be a press avail, but -- ack! -- I've got pool duty, and it appears that, because of security issues dealing with getting the pool in place (I can't be more specific here), I may miss all or part of the avail. Anyway, it seems to me that someone needs to ask Obama what Maliki told him about what he meant, and what, if anything, was mistranslated. So if I can't be there, I will prevail on my colleagues to ask him.

Anyway, 80% of life is logistics, and these already look pretty darn complicated.

Spiegel stands by their story.

Does anybody (with a brain) really think Maliki was mistranslated or taken out of context?

KT here--

Trifecta: Over on The Page, Halperin has posted the transcript. Looks pretty in context to me.

KT here again--

Everyone gathering in hotel lobby feels like going away to summer camp. Looks like the NYT got one more seat than the rest of us print people did, and it went to Maureen D.

It looks to me like only the spin saying that Maliki endorsed Obama's plan was corrected.

I think Maliki is only trying to keep out of American politics - and there's pretty much nothing more to it in my opinion.

KT here--

I seem to have brought the biggest suitcase.

"I seem to have brought the biggest suitcase."

Oil prices and flight surcharges, probably...

KT here--

I feel like the little pig who built my house of bricks. Wait till one of those light travelers needs to borrow one of the 15 notebooks that I brought. And AAA batteries? I've got at least 3 lbs. of them.

I've only recently come to start reading Swampland, but it's rapidly becoming one of my favorites, thanks to Karen. I can't believe how responsive to your readers you are. This is exactly how it's supposed to work. Thanks, KT, and safe travels.

I hope they are rechargable AAA batteries KT. You won't like Al Gore when he's mad. LOL.

Have a nice trip. I hope somebody gets a chance to talk to King Abdullah. He might have an interesting take on Obama's "race" and the issues surrounding it, considering his father was arab, and his mother is a white woman (1/4 Syrian by descent) from America.

KT: I have no doubt you will do the best you can in the circumstances. One of the main features of your postings has been your intellectual honesty. You don't have to agree with me. You just have to give me your take on what is happening. In any event, take care. I would be very happy if you went to Baghdad, but I know that is a tough chore and you may not be on that part of the tour.

Anyway take care. Swamphusband wants you back as well as the Swampkids. Ahem: are they still "kids"?

God Bless.

Late to the game, but I believe the word is "Americanicity", not "Americanness."

Americanocity, and thermo-nukular breakdown

"Looks like the NYT got one more seat than the rest of us print people did, and it went to Maureen D.
Posted by karen tumulty "

KT I will buy you a beverage of your choice when you are here for the republican convention if you kick her in the shins.
My word is my bond. :)
Have a safe journey.

Why would the New York Times waste a reporter's spot on Maureen Dowd? What a joke.

"KT I will buy you a beverage of your choice when you are here for the republican convention if you kick her in the shins."

Maybe the 3lbs of batteries KT took with her can some how fall out of the overhead.....

Gy is smarter and subtler. You still get the beverage KT.

Safe travels, KT. Have fun in Amman!

I can't wait to hear from Maureen Dowd why Obama's trip to Jordan is like a starlet's performance on The Bachelorette! Should be insightful.

"I can't wait to hear from Maureen Dowd why Obama's trip to Jordan is like a starlet's performance on The Bachelorette! Should be insightful."

I certain as soon as her assistant is done writing it you will.

KT, have a safe and productive trip.

I heard you on Dianne Rehms last week, but only for a few minutes. Your compatriots were pushing the "Obama is shifting his position on Iraq" theme more than I could tolerate and I turned it off in disgust. Really.

If you were to be so kind as to say "That is utter nonsense" to some of your less able (or less honest) compatriots it would be a wonderful thing to hear.

Karen Tumulty - Commentor Florida raises an important question: "Why would the New York Times waste a reporter's spot on Maureen Dowd?"

This is not necessarily a criticism of MoDo - although her writing is vile. This is a question that really ought to be asked of the NYT editors who, one must assume, are the ones making these terrible decisions. Do the editors feel that this situation is deserving of a 'skewering of sexual roles'? Do they really think that this is a time and place for catty ridicule?

She breaks no stories; she elevates no discussion; she contributes no valuable insight. She is worthless.

But I am sure she is very nice, right?

New Swan Politics Blog posts on Obama & global warming:

http://swanpoliticsblog.blogspot.com/

"If you were to be so kind as to say "That is utter nonsense" to some of your less able (or less honest) compatriots it would be a wonderful thing to hear."

Hear! Hear!

I am an avid listener of the Diane Rehm show but I am a constant critic of her choice of guests. There is always - ALWAYS - a diehard conservative partisan on the panel but there is rarely an actual Progressive. Her producer even descends down to the AEI or the Washington Times of all places. Matthew Continetti was even called out on a blatant lie that he made during the show but I bet he will be back in a few weeks.

While I really like the show, it is unfortunate that her panels are nothing more than an hourlong description of Beltway Thinking. But if you need to stay up to date on Beltway Thinking then this is one of the better places to get it. She could use more call in shows.

KT here--

Welcome, Marvin!

Florida et al: The real question is why they got an extra seat. We couldn't get our TIME fotog aboard.

Who is the "they" that decides how many seats each org gets?

Terrapinion on Rehm's show: "nothing more than an hour long description of Beltway Thinking."

With very rare exceptions, such as when David Corn is on, that is a perfect description.

And she is on NPR, which is also increasingly hostage to CW.

KT here--

P-NNTO: The campaign decided who got on and who didn't. There were, we're told, 200 requests for seats, of which 40 were granted. We're told the cost of this trip to our news organizations will be somewhere between $13,000 and $16,000 per person. No foreign press, and as best I can tell, Brand X and I are the only magazines. I've just posted above this one on the new plane. I've brought my friend, Mr. Ambien, which is the only way I can sleep on these things. I hope Richard Wolffe doesn't mind snoring.

Thanks I was wondering if it was the campaign/senators or the Army.
Pricey stuff I hope everyone gets there moneys worth.
Pleasant dreams!

KT,

How dare you question the Strategic Planning. He he he. Just heard that on Generation Kill thought it was pretty apt.

KT-

I suggest you give Richard the ambien and you snuggle up with Prince Valium, that way, should you wake up in the middle of the night, and run into Modo, she might actually seem to say something witty. Of course, you're gonna need alot of valium for that...

Safe Trip. Since you and AMC are the only ones here who understand blogging, we selfishly request that you take extra special care of yourself.

Ruby-

I get it, I get it. I just don't agree with you on that is a distinction without a difference.

The interesting part of the story, to me, has more to do with who leaned on whom to get the headline of the story changed, and why they felt they needed to do it by lying about something being mistranslated.

What was the political process at play, and most of all, WHO initiated it. I miss that kind of digging deeper type of reporting that we used to get before foreign bureaus were cut, and the NightlyNews became infortainment. Christ, we have a 12 part series in WaPo on Chandra Levy. I mean, what the hell? They spent a whole YEAR on the investigation.

In fact, Maliki stated that the Obama timeline seemed reasonable, and Der Spiegel was careful to point out that Maliki didn't endorse John McCain.

I guess that point for me is really that there's a hell of a lot more here than meets the eye. And how is that effecting out election process.

Truly, it's not a question of me, or others, being thick headed here, or stubborn. It's a sense that we are being lied to. And poorly lied to at that.

Thanks again for your responses to my posts. As ever, I appreciate the time people take to respond in a thoughtful manner.

"Obama has to be happy with the pics coming back so far with him and cheering
Troops."

80% of them in the Afghan 15-minute TV photo op (on the taxpayer dime) were black -- while the Army has about 20% black soldiers (most in decidedly non-combat roles, i.e. logistical support), a stat itself out of whack with national demographics (so to speech).

Why the glaring disparities?

And Obama's "supporters" (blind sycophantic socialist sheep) continue to preach ANTI-MILITARY crap in colleges, schools, and urban relics across the nation.

Not news, except to libtards.

This whole Obama Our Savior fairy tale reminds me of the excellent joke about the little kitten not opening her eyes until the second day after birth.

obamish-

If you are right about what you say about the army having "20% black soldiers", what you "miss" is that African-Americans serve at a rate that is 160+% of that of the rest of the population (according to the 2000 census). So I guess that makes African-Americans more patriotic than most, doesn't it?

So much for the ANTI-MILITARY effects of 40 years of African-Americans being largely supportive of the Democratic Party.

"and it went to Maureen D"

Having not matured past grade-school level, Maureen Dowd is extremely concerned to determine whether Obama is a pansy. Why the NYT continues to run her inane blather confounds me.

Ruby,

Josh Marshall posted a great piece on this at TPM. He explains beautifully what I was so inarticulately trying to say.

Again, thanks for hanging in there with me on the back and forth. I agree with much of what you said, but really, Josh puts my point out there far better than I ever could.

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