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The Forgotten War

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, US Military, President Obama, Pentagon, Troops, Timetable, Status of Forces Agreement, Forgotten War, War, American Troops, Iraq, Obama, US Troops, 2011, Barack Obama, Withdrawal, Bush, Military, 2010, Combat Troops, Troop, Deadline, Sofa, Chris Weigant, Afghanistan, Maliki, Politics News
Chris Weigant

No so very long ago, Afghanistan was known as "the forgotten war." But these days, Afghanistan is hard to miss in the headlines. Obama needs to begin talking about our newly-forgotten war: Iraq.

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Obama Maliki Meeting: Iraqi PM To Seek US Investments

AP | CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA | Posted 08.21.2009 | World

Read More: Iraq, Foreign Affairs, Advocacy, Nouri Al Maliki, Maliki, Al-Maliki, Nouri Al-Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, Nuri Al-Maliki, Maliki Obama, Obama Maliki, Barack Obama, Obama Maliki Meeting, Iraq Investment, Iraq Economy, World News

BAGHDAD — Bombs killed at least 18 people and wounded dozens in Iraq on Tuesday in a sign that insurgents, though weakened, remain intent on des...

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An Interview with Iraq MP Mohammed al-Dayni After His Arrest and Escape

Dal LaMagna | Posted 08.20.2009 | World

Read More: Maliki, Human Rights, Iraq, Nouri Al Maliki, Iraq MP, Iraq Maliki, Iraq War, Mohammed Al-Dayni, Coalition Forces Iraq, Human Rights Iraq, Insurgents Iraq, World News
Dal LaMagna

I had the opportunity to interview a member of the Iraqi Parliament helping to negotiate a cease fire with Iraqi insurgents who is now charged by his government of traitorous crimes.

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The Beginning of the End of the Iraq War?

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.30.2009 | World

Read More: Troops, President Obama, Timetable, Status of Forces Agreement, Obama, Election, 130000, Withdrawal, Barack Obama, Bush, Iraqi, Elections, Surge, Al-Maliki, Chris Weigant, Sofa, Iraq War, National Sovereignty Day, Iraq, Milestone, Maliki, Cities, Timetable for Withdrawal, World News
Chris Weigant

If our soldiers are out of Iraqi cities, and the Iraqi security forces start shouldering more and more responsibility as a result, do we really need all 130,000 troops sitting in their bases?

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Iraqi Officials Start Referring To Maliki As "Master," Reminding Some Of Saddam Era

New York Times | Posted 07.13.2009 | World

Read More: House of Saddam, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, Foreign Affairs, Maliki Master, Iraqi Government, Saddam, Master Maliki, Saddam Hussein, Nouri Al-Maliki, Maliki, Al-Maliki, Nuri Al-Maliki, Iraq, Nouri Al Maliki, Advocacy, World News

Iraq's civilian leaders held a meeting on Thursday with the 300 top Iraqi military commanders from around the country to discuss the withdrawal of Ame...

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Obama Flip-Flopped On Detainee Photos Because Iraqi President Feared Violence

McClatchy | Nancy A. Youssef | Posted 07.02.2009 | World

Read More: Detainee Photos, Detainee Rape Photos, Abu Ghraib Photos, War Wire, Obama Maliki, Maliki, Obama, Obama Detainee Photos, Iraq, Obama Detainee Pictures, World News

WASHINGTON President Barack Obama reversed his decision to release detainee abuse photos from Iraq and Afghanistan after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al...

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Iraq Anti-Corruption Watchdog Arrests 1,000 'Corrupt' Officials

BBC | Posted 06.27.2009 | World

Read More: Corruption, Iraq Anti-Corruption Watchdog, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, Abdul Falah Sudani, Iraq Corruption, Foreign Affairs, Commission of Public Integrity, Iraq Corruption Arrests, Maliki, Al-Maliki, Iraq, Advocacy, Nouri Al Maliki, World News

Iraq's anti-corruption watchdog says arrest warrants have been issued for some 1,000 allegedly corrupt officials....

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First Milestone Approaches In Iraq Withdrawal Timetable

Chris Weigant | Posted 06.13.2009 | World

Read More: Sectarian Violence, President Obama, Troops, Timetable, Sectarian, Obama, US Troops, Awakening, Shiite, Withdrawal, Bush, Military, Surge, Sofa, Kurds, Oil Revenues, Security, June 30, Article 24, Acceptible Level of Violence, War, Timeline, Status of Forces Agreement, American Troops, Barack Obama, Iraq War, Awakening Councils, Deadline, Combat Troops, Chris Weigant, Oil, Iraq, Maliki, Mosul, Timetable for Withdrawal, Cities, Sunni, World News
Chris Weigant

America pulling combat forces out of Iraqi cities is going to have multiple effects within the country. At this point, nobody can accurately predict what those effects are going to be with 100 percent reliability.

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My 2008 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 2]

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Stuart Bowden, Ted Stevens, Jesse Jackson Jr, Ron Paul, Guantanamo, Al Franken, Best Government Dollar Spent, 50 State Strategy, Mccain, Primary Schedule, Awards, China, Worst Political Theater, Drill Baby Drill, Sarah Palin, Most Overreported Story, Andrew Cuomo, First Cat, Howard Dean, Socks the Cat, 2008, Bailout, Sofa, Condoleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Worst Political Scandal, John Edwards, Status of Forces, Sorry to See You Go, Health Care, Aids, Global Warming, Gravel, Election 2008 Coverage, Alaska, Bobby Jindal, Thomas Tamm, Reconstruction, Joe the Plumber, Tony Snow, Bernanke, Democrat, Letterman, Socks Clinton, Most Underrated, Democrats, Barack Obama, Best Idea, Predictions, George Carlin, 15 Minutes of Fame, Honorable Mention, Michigan, Hybrid, Wiretapping, Fred Thompson, Hillary Clinton, Executive Experience, Maliki, Caribou Barbie, Best Spin, Stuart Bowen, Destined for Political Oblivion, Kucinich, Jesse Helms, Private Jet, Beijing, Truth Commission, Going Green, Iraq, Most Overrated, Isaac Hayes, Spitzer, Caroline Kennedy, Bush, Wright, Blagojevich, Paulson, Bo Diddley, Mclaughlin, Unemployment, Inauguration, Destined for Political Stardom, Biggest Government Waste, Snl, Florida, Socks, Primary, Africa, Whistleblower, Best Political Theater, Most Underreported Story, Boldest Political Tactic, Castro, David Plouffe, Jeremiah Wright, Olympics, Harvey Korman, Beau Biden, Bernie Mac, Free Speech Zone, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Oil, Most Honest Person, Socialism, Michael Crichton, Arthur C. Clarke, Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey, Worst Idea, David Letterman, Tamm, Wurzelbacher, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Love her or hate her, you have to admit that John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin for the Republican ticket this year was without any doubt the boldest political tactic of the year.

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My 2008 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 1]

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Ted Stevens, Gold Medals, Begich, Ron Paul, Ramsey, Mccain, Awards, China, Sarah Palin, Cindy Sheehan, Turncoat of the Year, Miss America, Enough Already, Mark Begich, 2008, Sofa, Dennis Kucinich, American Taxpayer, Turncoat, Status of Forces, Shinseki, Prime Minister, America Does Not Torture, Obama Wins, Edwards, Obama Is a Muslim, Barack Obama, Fred Thompson, Best Comeback, Taliban, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Maliki, Worst Politician, Styx, George Bush, President, Jon Benet, Beijing, President Elect Barack Obama, Iraq, Obama, President-Elect, Most Original Thinker, Spitzer, Bush, Lieberman, Michael Phelps, Blagojevich, Paulson, Mclaughlin, Stevens, Clinton, Bummest Rap, Pirates, Most Stagnant Thinker, Most Defining Political Moment, Shoes, Bill Clinton, John McCain, Rush Limbaugh, Biggest Loser, Somali Pirates, McLaughlin Group, Most Boring, Person of the Year, Jesse Jackson, Throwing Shoes, Worst Lie, Capitalist of the Year, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Richardson, Olympics, Best Photo Op, Biggest Winner, Chris Weigant, Palin, Best Politician, Fairest Rap, Ramseys, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome to our annual awards! For the past three years, this column has paid homage (translation: "ripped off their gimmick") to the McLaughlin Group...

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A Close Look At The Iraq Status Of Forces Agreement [Part 1]

Chris Weigant | Posted 01.08.2009 | World

Read More: Bases, Troops, Jurisdiction, Timetable, Status of Forces Agreement, American Forces, Forces, Iraq, Agreement, Contractor, Bush, Iraq War, Soldiers, Chris Weigant, Sofa, Armed Forces, Blackwater, Security Contractor, Maliki, Status of Forces, Timetable for Withdrawal, Warwire, World News
Chris Weigant

What I found is that the Iraqis got almost everything they had pushed for, and the Bush administration got almost nothing of what they wanted.

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Memo To Right-Wing: Withdrawal Timetable Now Doubleplusgood

Chris Weigant | Posted 12.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: War on Terror, War Wire, Timetable, Nineteen Eighty Four, Democratic, Failure, Iraq, Withdrawal, Bush, Memory Hole, Doubleplusungood, Iraqi, Sofa, Ministry of Truth, Status of Forces, Orwell, 1984, White Flag, Time Horizon, George Orwell, Democrat, Right Wing, Surrender, Democrats, Chris Weigant, Lose a War, Doubleplus, Hypocrisy, Doubleplusgood, Newspeak, Maliki, Timetable for Withdrawal, Aspirational Goal, On the Ground, Minitrue, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I'm on a lot of strange press lists, so I get a lot of strange press releases, but this is the first time I've ever gotten one from another dimension, I have to admit.

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Leaked Iraq Exit Stategy: Out By 2011?

Washington Independent | Posted 11.23.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Maliki, Maliki Withdrawal Deadline, Iraq Exit 2011, Iraq Withdrawal Deadline, Iraq Exit Strategy, Maliki, Maliki Exit 2011, Iraq, Politics News

It was supposed to lock in an indefinite U.S. occupation. Last year, after the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki indicated that Iraq consi...

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The Surge "Success" Debunked

Luis Carlos Montalván | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: Refugee International, General Petraeus Surge, Shi'a Truce, Iraqi Benchmarks, United Nations, Internally Displaced Persons, US Congress, Sunni Ethnic Cleansing, Department of State, Ngo, Muqtada Al Sadr, The Surge, Unhcr, Justice and Accountability Law, Iraqi Refugees, Ehtno-Sectarian Violence, Sadrist Shi'A, Department of Defense, Siic, Kurds, Constitutional Review Committee, Abdul Al-Hakim, Baghdad, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, John McCain, Government Accountability Office, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Basra, Kirkuk, Ethnic Cleansing, Badr Corps, Marine Corps General Jones, Population Shifts Baghdad, Ucla, Kenneth Katzman, Congressional Research Service Report, Second Largest Refugee Crisis, Shi'a Militias, Center for American Progress, War on Terror, De-Baathification Law, Sons of Iraq, Second Presidential Debate, Transparency International, Crc, 2008 Presidential Race, War in Iraq, International Crisis Group, Sigir, Msm, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, Peshmerga, Maliki, Sectarian Violence, Dr. John Agnew, General Petraeus, Sunni Awakening, Icg, Krg, Igos, Isf, Idp, Politics News
Luis Carlos Montalván

Iraq remains a powder keg. "The Surge" has done little to increase security, a state of civil war remains and regional conflict threatens greater problems for the future.

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Report: Bush Pushed Back Iraq Withdrawal To Help McCain

Think Progress | Posted 10.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Maliki, Obama Iraq Withdrawal, Maliki, Obama Maliki, Obama Withdrawal Plan, Nouri Al Maliki, Bush Maliki, Bush Iraq Withdrawal, Politics News

Last July, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said U.S. troops should be out of Iraq "as soon as possible" and endorsed Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) w...

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Maliki's Leverage Over Bush

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.09.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Negotiation, Concession, Troops, United Nations, 16 Month, Iraq, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, 2013, Withdrawal, President, Bob Woodward, 2010, 2008, Bugging, Sofa, Puppet, 2008 Campaign, Un, Status of Forces Agreement, Status of Forces, Parliament, John McCain, Time Horizon, Withdraw, Combat, Timeline, Forces, Spying, 2008 Elections, 08, 2011, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Spy, 08 Campaign, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Maliki, Senate, Aspirational Goal, Woodward, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Because the clock is running out on Bush and because his domestic popularity continues to fall, Maliki is using the international media to boost his own popularity with the voters in Iraq.

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Reading The Pictures: Latest Cover For Iraq's Core Meltdown

Michael Shaw | Posted 09.07.2008 | Media

Read More: Sunnis, Shiites, Iraq the Last Battle, Iraqi Parliament, Iraq Election Parliamentary Vote, Iraq Michael Gordon the Last Battle, Iraq Elections, Maliki, Kurds Turkmen Arabs, Al-Sadr, Sadarists, Media News
Michael Shaw

2008-08-08-nyt_shaw_iraq.jpgRemarkable, isn't it, how this cover -- illustrating Sunday's NYT Mag lead story on Iraq -- manages to reduce what is otherwise Russian Roulette with a Rubik's Cube to a one-liner?

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Friday Talking Points [41] -- The Silly Season

Chris Weigant | Posted 08.09.2008 | Politics

Read More: Paris Hilton, Ads, Gas Prices, Mudslinging, Britney Spears, Homosexual, Iraq, Diplomacy, Media, Campaign, Withdrawal, Republican, California, Iran, Television, Specifics, 2008, Sofa, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Celebrity, Status of Forces, Keating Five, Andres McCain, Rove, John McCain, Gas, Karl Rove, Gasoline, Deval Patrick, Timeline, War, Campaign Ads, Democrat, Massachusetts, 2008 Elections, 08, Gay, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Price of Oil, Elections, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Convention, 2008 Presidential Race, Oil, Maliki, News, Britney, Media Bias, Gay Marriage, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have a confession to make. I actually watch the network news. Maybe I should enter into a twelve-step program or something. But I don't watch the ...

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Looking Back: Rumsfeld Privately Criticized Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki As Inferior To Mass Murderers

Jonathan Schwarz | Posted 07.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: White House, Maliki Obama, Donald Rumsfeld, Maliki, White House Maliki, Iraq, Nouri Al Maliki, Politics News
Jonathan Schwarz

There's no question Nouri al-Maliki has been giving the White House heartburn. So it's worth looking back at the Bush administration's private views of Maliki, as stated by Donald Rumsfeld back in 2006.

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A Surreal Moment in Iraq

Ilan Goldenberg | Posted 07.29.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq Troop Withdrawal, Obama, Iraq, Maliki, Iraq Timetable, Politics News
Ilan Goldenberg

For years, the administration's policy has been, "when they stand up, we'll stand down." Well the Iraqis are standing up, and so far at least Bush and McCain's response seems to be: "you're not ready yet."

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Friday Talking Points [39] -- Republican Elitism Edition

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Gore, Timetable, Cindy McCain, Gas Tax Holiday, Campaign, Withdrawal, Ubs, Tax Haven, N-Word, Pete Stark, Nuts, UBS Bank, 2008, Condoleezza Rice, Dennis Kucinich, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Contraception, Swiss Bank, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Carl Levin, Health Care, Override, Abortion, The Pill, Elitist, John Conyers, Impeach, Time Horizon, Private Plane, Barrel, Non-Carbon, Congress, Joe Biden, Green, 08, Imperial Presidency, Barack Obama, Election, Ted Kennedy, 08 Election, Elections, Birth Control, Mddotw, Elitism, Contraceptive, Maliki, Gas Prices, Impeachment, Iraq, Arizona, Diplomacy, Bush, Iran, Electricity, Elite, Phil Gramm, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Hhs, Health and Human Services, Offshore Account, John McCain, War, Let Them Eat Cake, 2008 Elections, Jesse Jackson, 2008 Election, Golf, 08 Campaign, 2008 Presidential Race, Aspirational Goals, Oil Prices, Medicare, Veto, Fundraising, Politics News
Chris Weigant

For only the fourth (or fifth, depending on how you count) time in his presidency, George W. Bush had a veto overridden by both houses of Congress thi...

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Buying Time

John Bruhns | Posted 07.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iran, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Troop Withdrawal, Success of the Surge, Maliki, Shiite Militias, Sunni Insurgency, Iraq War, Bush Iraq, Iraq, Politics News
John Bruhns

The fragile success of the surge can be easily reversed. Now the issue is sustaining the current conditions long enough for us to start bringing our troops home.

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Obama Frames Iraq Right, Bush And McCain Slow To React

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Al Qaeda, Troops, Timetable, American, Iraq, Campaign, Withdrawal, Military, Surge, 2008, Occupation, 2008 Campaign, Status of Forces, Parliament, John McCain, War, 2008 Elections, Congress, Democracy, 08, 2008 Election, Surrender, Election, Barack Obama, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, 2008 Presidential Race, Maliki, Politics News
Chris Weigant

McCain's going to have to come up with some new spin to explain why Obama and Maliki are now singing from the same songbook on timetables for withdrawal.

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Friday Talking Points [38] -- Whiners And Cheeseheads

Chris Weigant | Posted 07.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: National Convention, Timetable, Pow, Fisa, Immunity, Campaign, Withdrawal, Telecom, Rnc, Nuts, 2008, Sofa, Mccain Flip-Flop, Dennis Kucinich, Midotw, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Status of Forces, Leni Riefenstahl, Football, Amnesty, Democrat, Nuremberg, 08, Acceptance Speech, Platform, Democrats, Barack Obama, Election, Sister Soulja, 08 Election, Stadium, Elections, Mddotw, Martin Luther King, Whiners, Maliki, Russ Feingold, Cheesehead, Speech, Senator, Impeachment, Iraq, Pittsburgh, Anniversary, Denver, King, Republican, Lion of the Senate, Phil Gramm, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Mental Recession, Green Bay Packers, John McCain, Mlk, Prisoner of War, 2008 Elections, Jesse Jackson, Green Eggs and Ham, 2008 Election, Teddy Kennedy, Recession, 08 Campaign, Convention, 2008 Presidential Race, I Have a Dream, Telecommunications, Medicare, Steve Schmidt, Flip Flop, Steelers, Broncos, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Welcome back to Friday Talking Points, after a one-week hiatus! While plenty has happened in the past two weeks which bears close and careful analysis...

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White House Claims Iraqi Demand For Withdrawal Timeline Is Transcription Error

Think Progress | Posted 07.16.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Bush Iraq Withdrawal, Iraqis Withdrawal, Iraq Withdrawal, Nouri Al-Maliki, Iraq, Iraq Withdrawal Timetable, Maliki, Politics News

Today, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki suggested having a timetable for the withdrawal of coalition troops. "The direction we are taking is to have a m...

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