Iraqis hope Obama will be US President, but sceptical about his troop withdrawal plan
17 Jul 2008, 1410 Hrs

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New York, July 17 (ANI): Iraqis "would be very happy" to see Barack Obama elected as president of the United States in November, but have termed his troop withdrawal plan as "very difficult."

Tough Iraqi general, Nassir al-Hiti, smiled when asked about Senator Barack Obama.

"Everyone in Iraq likes him. I like him. He's young, very active. We would be very happy if he was elected president," the New York Times quoted Lt. General Hiti, as saying.

On Obama's plan for withdrawing American soldiers, he said:"Very difficult. Any army would love to work without any help, but let me be honest: for now, we don't have that ability."

Thus in a few brisk sentences, the general summed up the conflicting emotions about Obama in Iraq, the place outside America with perhaps the most riding on its relationship with him.

Obama is due to visit Iraq soon.e has advocated a withdrawal that would remove most combat troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.

In negotiations on the future troop presence, both sides were initially focused on concluding a long-term security agreement.

But the Iraqi government is now rejecting that and has focused solely on a temporary agreement to begin next year after the United Nations mandate that serves as the legal basis for the American military presence expires. (ANI)