Press Says Maliki Supports Obama; Maliki Says 'Not So Fast'

It's a testament to how far in the tank the press are for Obama when the media quotes Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as saying that he backed a proposal by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.

However, CNN is reporting a spokesman for al-Maliki said his remarks "were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately."

[Iraqi] government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the possibility of troop withdrawal was based on the continuance of security improvements, echoing statements that the White House made Friday after a meeting between al-Maliki and U.S. President Bush.

In a statement issued Friday after a conversation between Bush and al-Maliki by closed-circuit television, the White House said that conditions in Iraq would dictate the pace of the negotiations and not "an arbitrary date for withdrawal."

Ah yes, once again it is Bush's fault ... just like all-time low approval numbers for congress.