Byron York reports that during a conference call this morning McCain foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann rejected the notion that Maliki endorsed Obama's 16-month withdrawal. "One inartful statement from Prime Minister Maliki certainly does not change Iraqi government policies..." said Scheunemann.

York writes:

Scheunemann's use of the word "inartful" was no mistake, given that Obama has used the word to describe his own (inaccurate? mistaken? false?) statements in the past. Scheunemann went on to list a few, beginning with Obama's endorsement of an "undivided" Jerusalem. Scheunemann then said he cannot believe that the Obama campaign would try to hang its entire position on Iraq on Maliki's statement. Just watch them.