Lost In Translation

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki did not back the plan of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and his comments to a German magazine on the issue were misunderstood, the government's spokesman said on Sunday.

Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement that Maliki's remarks to Der Spiegel were translated incorrectly.

Uh... yeah. Is it possible that someone got a call from the White House? I'd comment on this myself but driftglass did such a good job of it, I'll just quote her:

Yes, this could simply be a translation error.

An un-fucking-believably gargantuan translation error where the microencephalic Babelfish that is apparently now being used for all such vital, nuanced, high-level translations got knee-walking drunk and just for goofs came back with "You can haz go now! All time leave now and sooner for to leave go home! Now! Now!" when what Prime Minister al-Maliki really said was "Please keep your troops in my country until my children's children's children are as old as John McSame!"

Yes, that is one possible explanation.

UPDATE (7/21/08 11:47pm): It seems the translation was accurate after all! The New York Times confirmed the story through a recording of the interview. Not to mention the fact that it was translated by Maliki's translator and not someone from the magazine.

Maliki: “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.”

“Who wants to exit in a quicker way has a better assessment of the situation in Iraq.”

Of course, the McCain campaign, always being one step ahead, is still going with the mistranslation story. Oops. What a bunch of buffoons.