Taheri II

Obama's spokesperson angrily denounced as a smear journalist Amir Taheri's charge that Obama had urged the Iraqis to delay any agreement on U.S. forces in Iraq until the new U.S. administration was in place. Then, however, the spokesperson immediately confirmed what Taheri had written. This attack has led to a follow-up article (thanks to Joe) in which Taheri provides more background. Two points of particular interest:

-- Here's the Iraqi Foreign Minister's version of his meeting with Obama, as told to an Arabic-language newspaper: "I told Obama, as an Iraqi, I believe that even if there is a Democratic administration in the White House, it had better continue the present policy instead of wasting a lot of time thinking what to do."

-- Taheri is now receiving death threats as a consequence of his first article. Sounds like he struck a nerve.

It's bad enough to have a presidential candidate seek to undercut a sitting president. But a U.S. presidential candidate with supporters making death threats?