Did Obama go behind Bush’s back with Iraqis?

The Washington Times broke an exclusive story on Friday, claiming that Sen. Barack Obama “tried to convince Iraqi leaders in private conversations” that President George W. Bush should not be able to seal a deal to keep the U.S. military in Iraq. The Times says the UN mandate sanctioning troop presence expires Dec. 31. Already there’s a back and forth between Iraqi leaders and the Obama camp, a classic case of 'he said we said.'

The Times said specifics of the conversations Obama had with Baghdad “remain the subject of dispute.” But Iraqi leaders told the paper, “Mr. Obama urged Baghdad to delay an agreement with Mr. Bush until next year when a new president will be in office.”

Predictably Obama denies that allegation. The Iraqis and Obama disagree on the facts—ironically the first foreign policy disaster for a president who isn’t yet a president but appears to be acting as though he is before the election is even held. It's hard to imagaine the Iraqis lying; they don't have a motive for doing so.

Rutgers University political science professor Ross K. Baker told the paper Obama’s intervention is “within the jurisdiction of his [Senate] committee and something he’s entitled to speak about. It doesn’t raise a red flag for me.” Baker’s comment lends credence to the theory that academics make far better theorists than practicing statesmen. Obama has received abundant campaign donations from employees and professors at Rutgers according to Open Secrets.

Basically this boils down to a senator who apparently assumes he’ll win the presidency and decides to conduct foreign policy ahead of time. That coupled with Obama’s disastrous economic proposals including a tax plan that, according to experts, will not have the impact Obama promises, points to a sharp lack of experience at the federal level for the junior senator from Illinois. That last has of course been completely ignored by traditional media outlets.

Read our related story to learn how Democratic senators tossed the Iraqi oil contract to China at a time when Americans were paying record prices for gas. For The Washington Times story 'Obama tried to sway Iraqis on Bush deal' see 'References' link below.