Claim: Obama tried to delay Iraq agreement

Okay, I was going to make today a "politics-free zone" here at Mod-Blog, since we have had some contentious debates this week. But I don't see how I can NOT post this one. The Washington Times, an admittedly right-leaning paper, is claiming Obama tried to delay a deal to begin phasing out U.S. troops until after the election. Presumably, this would be to echo the Iranian situation with Jimmy Carter where the hostages were released only after Ronald Reagan was elected, handing him a political bonanza.

"In the conversation, the senator urged Iraq to delay the [memorandum of understanding] between Iraq and the United States until the new administration was in place," said Samir Sumaidaie, Iraq's ambassador to the United States.

He said Mr. Zebari replied that any such agreement would not bind a new administration. "The new administration will have a free hand to opt out," he said the foreign minister told Mr. Obama.

I really hope this is false, or at least greatly exaggerated. I'd like to hope both Obama and McCain are more honorable than this. But I hope the facts come out quickly, rather than leaving us with 4 weeks of charges and counter-charges. One can't help wondering if this is the "October Surprise" for this cycle.