World | Barack Obama Maliki Uses US Politics to Gain Iraqi Leverage 'Let's squeeze them,' the PM is said to have proposed By Jonas Oransky Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:54 AM CDT Copied U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama, left, talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, right, in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo) The Iraqi PM’s endorsement of Barack Obama’s withdrawal timetable Saturday (walked back somewhat under pressure) was a calculated maneuver by a man who has figured out how to play US politics for his country's gain, Robert Reid writes for the AP. Nouri al-Maliki started using it as leverage when negotiations over the long-term US role in Iraq bogged down last month, and he sensed White House desperation to get a deal before the campaign swings into high gear. “Let’s squeeze them,” he told advisers, before proceeding to do just that, Reid says. "The squeeze came July 7, when al-Maliki announced in Abu Dhabi that Iraq wanted the base deal to include some kind of timetable for withdrawing US troops," Reid writes. And lo and behold, Bush agreed to a “general time horizon” for withdrawal. Read These Next Hall of Famer Dave Parker dies Mark Zuckerberg's 'list' has Silicon Valley buzzing. That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Cops: Arizona 5th graders drew up plot to 'end' a classmate. Report an error