Obama and Zebari

So, what is it this time? Not enough sleep, rookie in-experience shining through, some darn staffer writing the wrong thing for him to say, or is Barack Obama simply lying to the American people again?

Compare this-

The foreign minister said “my message” to Mr. Obama “was very clear. . . . Really, we are making progress. I hope any actions you will take will not endanger this progress.” He said he was reassured by the candidate’s response, which caused him to think that Mr. Obama might not differ all that much from Mr. McCain. Mr. Zebari said that in addition to promising a visit, Mr. Obama said that “if there would be a Democratic administration, it will not take any irresponsible, reckless, sudden decisions or action to endanger your gains, your achievements, your stability or security. Whatever decision he will reach will be made through close consultation with the Iraqi government and U.S. military commanders in the field.”

With this-

ABC's Charles Gibson: "And, Senator Obama, your campaign manager, David Plouffe, said, 'When he is' — this is talking about you - 'When he is elected president, we will be out of Iraq in 16 months at the most. There should be no confusion about that.' So you'd give the same rock-hard pledge, that no matter what the military commanders said, you would give the order to bring them home?"

Obama: "Because the commander-in-chief sets the mission, Charlie. That's not the role of the generals. And one of the things that's been interesting a out the president's approach lately has been to say, 'Well, I'm just taking cues from General Petraeus.' Well, the president sets the mission. The general and our troops carry out that mission."

As with the whole NAFTA affair we're left wondering- who's he lying to? The American people or foreign governments- or does he really just say whatever is most advantageous at the time?