The big health care presser wasn’t the only press conference President Obama held Wednesday. Earlier in the day he held a joint press conference in the Rose Garden with Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki of Iraq.
It was brief – just one question on each side – but each leader said something important.
President Obama continued his admirable policy of recognizing that the situation in Iraq is vastly improved – and giving credit to the American forces who made it possible. He also, appropriately, abandoned the previous, bizarre Democratic tactic of blaming Iraqi leaders for not getting their fledgling country into shape sooner. And he shifted firmly into looking-ahead mode, making clear that the US and Iraq will deepen their alliance:
The United States and Iraq have known difficult times together. Now both of us agree that the bonds forged between Americans and Iraqis in war can pave the way for progress that can be forged in peace….. [T]ogether, Americans and Iraqis can expand economic cooperation and trade that opens new doors of opportunity. Together, we can broaden our educational, our cultural, and scientific engagement to make a positive difference in the lives of our people. And together, we can take steps to advance security and prosperity throughout the region, and around the globe.
Sure, President Obama’s remarks emanated a sense of “forcing the spring” in terms of Iraq’s peaceful future. But that’s to be expected. The president is surely grateful this issue is largely off his plate.
It was Prime Minister Maliki, though, who reminded us how extraordinary this meeting was:
President Obama and the American administration agree with us that Iraq is no longer representing a threat to international peace and security because there is a democracy in Iraq, not a dictatorship. Iraq is looking forward to positive, constructive relationship with its Arab neighbors and with the international community and to deal through a law internally and in justice internally.
“Iraq is no longer representing a threat to international peace and security because there is a democracy in Iraq.” Who would have had such hopes eight years ago?
