I really don't have a doubt in the world that it did in fact occur. I do remember Obama talking about it earlier this year. It was in a telephone conversation, not face-to-face. There was a lot of discussion about the inappropriateness of the discussion but no argument that what he was saying had a lot of validity given the circumstances at that time.

I thought it took a lot of arrogance for Obama to have had this discussion with any official of Iraq, let alone their President. At the same time, to want to be POTUS takes a lot of arrogance, so I chalked it up to ego. While I didn't approve of the action, I didn't condemn it.

However, if you read the msnbc link I posted, I think you'll see it wasn't a timing ploy for the Dems to get in office to get the credit. It was simply a matter of timing that was feasible for the Iraqis.