Obama's objectives in Iraq

According to journalist Amir Taheri (here, thanks to Josie), during Obama's July visit to Iraq, his main theme was that the Iraqis should delay conclusion of the agreement governing the status of U.S. forces in Iraq until a new U.S. administration is in place. Obama argued that the Congress should be involved in the negotiations, and that the Iraqis should not negotiate with a weakened, lame-duck administration. He made the pitch both to Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari and to General David Petraeus, but neither supported it.

This proposal had been reported at the time, but not as Obama's main interest. In and of itself, the story is very disturbing (U.S. presidential candidate directly undermines key objective of sitting president). But beyond that, as Taheri notes, it contradicts Obama's oft-stated key objective: getting U.S. troops out of Iraq. Delaying signature of the agreement could postpone any subsequent agreements on troop withdrawals significantly. So why did Obama propose it? I think someone should ask him.