Iraq War Updates -- July 22, 2008

The US general David Petraeus and the visiting Barack Obama fly from

Baghdad airport to the Green Zone in a helicopter. Photograph: Reuters

From Times Online:

The Iraq Campaign: Obama's Trip To Iraq
Shows How Far The Country Has Come

Problems of translation are a hazard of international diplomacy. Only last month, the Indonesian President was quoted as criticising travel warnings issued by the Australian Government. The misstatement was promptly attributed to an inexperienced interpreter.

Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, has taken a similar route in the past 48 hours. In an interview with Der Spiegel, he appeared to endorse Senator Barack Obama's plan for a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq within 16 months. According to an Iraqi government spokesman, however, Mr al-Maliki's words were misunderstood and mistranslated. But however translated, the comments from Baghdad not only put a vague end in sight for combat forces; they also mark a significant shift in the politcs of the war

Read more ....

More News On Iraq

Obama visits Iraq, focus on U.S. troop levels -- Yahoo News
Iraq: we want US troops out in two years -- Times Online
Iraq government backs Barack Obama's troop withdrawal pledge -- Guardian
For 'Surge' Troops, Pride Mingles With Doubt -- Washington Post
Iraqi, US forces keep pressure on the Mahdi Army -- Long War Journal
Iraqi Sunni bloc rejoins government -- Breitbart
Time running out for Iraq poll in 2008: commission -- Khaleej Times
U.S. and Iraq Agree to Goals for Troop Cuts -- New York Times
U.S., Iraq seek troop withdrawal 'time horizon' -- MSNBC
US, Iraq Seeking Troop Cut Timetable -- Time Magazine
US, Iraq Seek 'General Time Horizon' on Troop Cuts -- New York Sun
US, Iraq seek 'general time horizon' on troop cuts -- Newsweek
Iraqi troops show strength -- USA Today
IRAQ: A slice of normality returns to Baghdad -- LA Times
Report: Severe danger from Iraq electrical work -- MSNBC
US Captures Hezbollah Propaganda Expert Paid By Iran... In Baghdad -- Gateway Pundit
Hezbollah Brigades propaganda specialist captured in Baghdad -- Long War Journal
Opinion: Bernard Jenkin: We're making headway in Iraq and need to stay there -- The Independent
Opinion: The Future of Iraq The decline of violence, the rise of politics -- Weekly Standard

My Comment: Seeing Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama flying around the country of Iraq today clearly shows how much the country has changed since the 2003 invasion. I am sure that Obama is not only impressed with the progress that has been made .... but also appreciative of what it means to be a Commander in Chief of all U.S. military forces.