UPDATED: What does this mean?: "Aspirational Timetables"

Are these just more mushy meaningless words, or does it really mean something?

Does this undercut McCain/Obama, or does this provide the following talking point: "Pull out? We can't pull out, we made an agreement with the Iraqi government."



Bush, Maliki Agree on 'Time Horizon' for U.S. Troop Withdrawals

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR2008071801308_pf.html
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer

TUCSON, July 18 -- President Bush and Iraq's prime minister have agreed to set a "time horizon" for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq as security conditions in the war-ravaged nation continue to improve, White House officials said here Friday.

The agreement, reached during a video conference Thursday between Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, marks a dramatic shift for the Bush administration, which for years has condemned any talk of timetables for withdrawal.

But Maliki and other Iraqi leaders in recent weeks have begun demanding firm withdrawal deadlines from the United States. Bush said earlier this week that he opposes "arbitrary" timetables but was open to setting an "aspirational goal" for moving U.S. troops to a support role.

. . .White House spokesman Scott Stanzel denied that the agreement with Maliki represents a concession by the Bush administration. Previous discussions of timetables "came from Democrats who wanted to arbitrarily retreat from Iraq," he told reporters in Tucson.

"These are aspirational goals, not arbitrary timetables based on political expediency," Stanzel said.

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

It means they settled on a synonym so Bush wouldn't look bad.

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

I'm guessing ballpark figure rather than set-in-stone timeline.

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

It simply looks to be an innuendo to the American society to make us believe that a withdraw is in the "near future."

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

I guess freedom has completed its march to Iraq. The misson was accomplished. No need to cut and run. It is victory. Because we stayed the course.

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

What does this mean?

That Orwell was prescient.

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

I wonder why Bush -- at some point between now and Jan. 09 -- doesn't just say "WE WON! We've determined that Iraq is good to go. We won and everyone's coming home."

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

Maybe because his oil buddies and Halliburton still haven't made enough money?

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

From the story, it looks like the Iraqi govt. forced the issue a bit. They've been asking for a timeline, and now they sort of, kind of got one.

But who knows. I mean everyone knows we have to leave eventually. Right?

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

The Koreans are wondering the same thing.

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

I believe a "time horizon" was set by Nixon in 1969 when he took the oath of office.

We were in Vietnam for 6 more years.

 

Re: What does this mean?: "Time Horizon" for Iraq withdrawal

Now that's what you do with a cockshot.

Hammer it.