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

[andyouare?]

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.

 

[PeteyPirate]

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

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

 

[forever_town]

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

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

 

[KevinmH9]

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."

 

[Baron Scicluna]

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.

 

[jgmacg]

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

What does this mean?

That Orwell was prescient.

 

[andyouare?]

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.

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."

 

[Baron Scicluna]

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.

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."

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

 

[Fudgie the Whale]

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?

 

[Armchair_QB]

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?

The Koreans are wondering the same thing.

 

[Football_Bat]

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.

 

[zeke12]

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

What does this mean?

That Orwell was prescient.

Now that's what you do with a cockshot.

Hammer it.

 

[spnited]

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

"Time horizon" and "aspirational goals" means, "yeah, I guess we'll get out of there sometime in the next decade."

 

[Lamar Mundane]

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

W is just running out the clock. this is his version of the 4 corners offense - just whittle away the days and pass the problem off to the next sucker.

Check his professional history .. at least he's consistent.

 

[Lamar Mundane]

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

It means once again, the GOP show their branding mastery. It's not a definitive timeline. Just like it's not more troops, it's a surge.

partial-birth abortion, tax and spend, liberal.

The GOP suck at governing but they (Rove being their God) know how to spin and frame aguments.

Their policies border on criminal but I respect their grasp on what the American people will buy.

Democrats rely tooooooooo much on Facts and reality.


Also, notice this change was released via press release while W was traveling ... on a Friday afternoon. Good news is saved for Mondays .... so?

 

[andyouare?]

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

Now they're "aspirational timetables". Does that mean we're "aspirationally" surrendering to terrorists? I'm so confused.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-08-21-rice-meeting_N.htm

Rice says U.S., Iraq agree to troop withdrawal timetable

BAGHDAD (AP) — Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday the two countries have agreed that timetables should be set for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the battle-scarred country.
Appearing together at a news conference, Rice and Zebari mutually asserted that a final agreement between Washington and Baghdad on a withdrawal plan and accompanying strategic framework pact is close to fruition — but not there yet.

"We have agreed that some goals, some aspirational timetables for how that might unfold, are well worth having in such an agreement," Rice told reporters after meeting with Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The two sides had come together on a draft agreement earlier this week and Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad to press officials there to complete the accord.

. . .A key part of the U.S.-Iraqi draft agreement envisions the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq's cities by next June 30.

 

[PeteyPirate]

****ing cowardly cut-and-runners.

 

[Football_Bat]

It means we'll be there for the duration under one candidate, or there until the other candidate can figure how to extract us while saving face.

To translate into English, "Don't believe a cocksucking word Condi Rice says."

 

[Michael_ Gee]

An aspirational timetable is a timetable with asthma having breathing problems.

 

[Grimace]

I predicted this to a coworker the other day. Bush is going to declare victory and tell us when the troops will start coming home around before he leaves office.

BTW, bye-bye McCain talking point.