Obama Meets Maliki in Iraq, Discusses Troop Withdrawal

The New York Times reports that an audiotape shows Maliki said this to Der Spiegel, the German magazine: "Obama's remarks that, if he takes office, in 16 months he would withdraw the forces, we think that this period could increase or decrease a little, but that it could be suitable to end the presence of forces in Iraq." When the Bush Administration asked for "clarification," Maliki's office said that's not what he really meant. Today, after his visit to Afghanistan, Obama traveled to Iraq, where he met today with the Prime Minister.