Great clarification, too. CentCom's press office could use some help, apparently.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/us/politics/21obama.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3&hp
The following is a direct translation from the Arabic of Mr. Maliki’s comments by The Times: “Obama’s remarks that — if he takes office — in 16 months he would withdraw the forces, we think that this period could increase or decrease a little, but that it could be suitable to end the presence of the forces in Iraq.”
He continued: “Who wants to exit in a quicker way has a better assessment of the situation in Iraq.”