Obama Says He “will continue to refine my policies” on Iraq
AP Photo
Breaking:
In a press conference moments ago in Fargo, North Dakota, Sen. Barack Obama was asked about reports he is considering modifying his commitment during the primaries to begin troop withdrawals within 60 days and seek to remove 1 to 2 combat brigades per month and have virtually all U.S. forces out of Iraq with 16 months. Obama has always said he would rely on the advice of military commanders but also made abundantly clear during the primaries that he dictated policy and while he would weigh the opinions of his commanders on the ground, his desire to end the war in Iraq was strong and he would do all within his power to start troop withdrawals as a means of encouraging Iraq’s government to accelerate the process of political reconciliation.
Today’s comments covered much of the same ground but included some phrases strong Iraq war opponents may find unsettling as they suggest new flexibility on troop withdrawal timelines and learning new facts on the ground during Obama’s as-yet-unscheduled trip to Iraq this summer.
The first question was whether his critics are correct and that he is considering changing his policy on Iraq troop withdrawal timelines.
Obama: “You know these critics haven’t based their comments on anything that Ive said or anything that my campaign has said. Its pure speculation. Were planning to visit Iraq. I’m gonna do a thorough assessment when I’m there. I have been consistent through out this process that I believe the war in Iraq was a mistake.
That we need to bring this war to a responsible end. I have said repeatedly, although it was recently quoted as something new, that we need to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in and that view has not changed.
I continue to believe that it is a strategic error for us to maintain a long term occupation in Iraq at a time when conditions in Afghanistan are worsening, Al Qaeda has been able to establish bases in the areas of north west Pakistan,
Resources there are severely strained and were spending 10 to 12 billion dollars in Iraq that we desperately need here at home not to mention the strains on our military. So my position has not changed but keep in mind what that original position was. I have always said that I will listen to commanders on the ground;
I’ve always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability.
That assessment has not changed and when I go to Iraq and I have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I’m sure Ill have more information and will continue to refine my policies.”
He was then asked if this meant he was open to a timeline for troop withdrawals that might take longer than 16 months.
Obama: “I mean we can chase this around you know for a long time.
What I’ve said repeatedly is that my goal is to end this conflict in a responsible way as quickly as possible. My 16-month timeline, if you examine everything I’ve said, was always premised on making sure that our troops were safe. I said based on what the information we had received from our commanders that 1-2 brigades per month could be pulled out safely from a logistical perspective. And my guiding approach continues to be that we’ve got to make sure that our troops are safe, and that Iraq is stable. And I’m going to continue to gather information to find out whether those conditions still hold and you know my job is to make sure that the strategic issues that we face, not just in Iraq but in Afghanistan in Iraq, and Pakistan that those are all taken into account and dealt with in a way that enhances Americas national security interest over the long term.”
These comments may suggest to some that Obama is leaving himself more room to maneuver on troop withdrawals and setting up a scenario where he could re-calibrate his Iraq policy after his sit down meetings there with commanders on the ground, especially Gen. David Petraeus. This could draw criticism for inconsistency from the anti-war left and the pro-surge right.
Time will tell.
Flipped again. Difficult to know what he really stands for. Must be inexperience.
obama is a Total FRAUD!!!!
Rev Wright was RIGHT “Obama will say whatever he has to – he is a Politician”!!!!
He CHANGES his message daily to suit his political needs. Bet he DNC is Sorry they picked the WRONG guy – he will nEVER win the white house.
Hillary Clinton is the best qualified to lead our country – McCain 2nd choice.
Seems he is Taking another Bush policy.
He took bush’s environmental Plan, his religious plan now he is going in his Iraq plan.
He Took Hillarys Universal Health Care.
Is their anything Obama Believes in? What he does not flip-flop on he takes from others.
Constant change is not change you can believe it. It is lacking Maturity, It is lacking Knowledge, It is lacking dependability, it is lacking Stability.
Obama is the one to Come Back when he grows up.
Obama is totally right. you gather all the info then guide the policy. unlike the bush mccain approach of I’m always right.
What do you mean, flipped again?
In a speech in November 2006, before he was a presidential candidate, Obama said: “The President should announce to the Iraqi people that our policy will include a gradual and substantial reduction in U.S. forces. He should then work with our military commanders to map out the best plan for such a redeployment and determine precise levels and dates. When possible, this should be done in consultation with the Iraqi government – but it should not depend on Iraqi approval. I am not suggesting that this timetable be overly-rigid. We cannot compromise the safety of our troops, and we should be willing to adjust to realities on the ground. The redeployment could be temporarily suspended if the parties in Iraq reach an effective political arrangement that stabilizes the situation and they offer us a clear and compelling rationale for maintaining certain troop levels. Moreover, it could be suspended if at any point U.S. commanders believe that a further reduction would put American troops in danger.”
This is exactly the same as what he is saying today, and what he has always said. We need to get out of Iraq, but we need to do it in a safe and orderly manner, and he doesn’t know exactly how long that would take.
Seems to me like it’s pretty easy to know what he stands for. He just told you.
Obama has been pro-war since entering the Senate. He voted many times to fund the war. Most recently he made two comments indicating that any withdrawal is dependent on talks or Iraq being ready — a conditional withdrawal. Also, his Energy Policy is ineffective and almost guarantees endless war.
Demonstrates a sense of responsibility, maturity, and leadership. Obama will not be backed into a corner for the sake of sound bite press coverage. He will carefully consider all sides of the issue, and make a thoughtful, Presidential decision. This is what being a leader is about. Thank you Mr. President Obama, if only we could have had you in office 8 years ago…
Sounds familiar. His choice for VP is obvious, I present Mr. Consitent, the Honorable John F Kerry.
What happen to ‘the buck stop with me’?
what happen to ‘the president sets the mission’?
whet happen to ‘I will pull out no matter what the generals say’?
theis guy IS A JOKE!!!!
This is not a flip. The only firm thing Obama ever said about Iraq is that he would “start” withdraws within 60 days – he never committed to a timeline for finishing withdraws. Heck, Secretary Gates is likely to start or recommend withdraws anyway before any new president gets sworn in this next January. Casualties are decreasing in Iraq (which is not necessarily a sign of stability – bad guys could just be laying low) and the Iraqi military although not completely competent is at least going into action. Bottomline this is a non-issue. McCain or Obama will draw down troops at the earliest possibility, we just don’t have the numbers to sustain forces in Iraq with a strengthening insurgency in Afghanistan.
TC – I gotta call B.S. on that one ‘The only firm thing Obama ever said about Iraq is that he would “start” withdraws within 60 ‘
Obama CLEARLY stated that he would have ALL troops out within 16 months, STOP SPINNING
Obama is commited to getting our troops out of Iraq and is going to do it according to the facts that are presented. I’m glad that he is giving it serious thought and not just jumping in and doing whatever he thinks others want him to do. I am also glad that he doesn’t plan to stay for many more years like the other candidate plans to do. How can this country afford several more years of a costly war. We are having serious economic problems in our own country and the war is costing more than we can afford.
Can anyone really believe this guy can do anything for the economy or anything else? Why don’t Hillary just join McCAIN and get rid of this fraud. McCain 08, Clinton 12.
The presidency of the United States is no place for on the job training. If Obama is still tring to figure out his various policies then maybe he should wait until next time so McCain has a chance to finish the good work that President Bush started.
As to other Obama missteps how would taxing social security more lead to any positive results for the program when government just spends all the proceeds?
I could go on and on with his socialist proposals but what’s the use. Liberals just don’t get it.
Rember change we can believe in will be the change left in your pockets when Obama and the other liberals in congress conspire to get all the dollars out of our wallets. Then they’ll go after the change, you can believe in that.
Obama scares me…He is trying to talk out of both sides of his mouth on all issues just to get votes and really seems to not have a clue about anything.
No Spin Zone:
1. Obama DID commit to begin withdrawals within 60 days
2. Obama DID say that his advisors indicated troops could be withdrawn at a particular rate (1-2 brigades a month) that would finalize withdrawal in 16 months
3. Obama DID say that while he makes the ultimate decisions, he WOULD ALWAYS consider the advice of the generals on the ground and use it to weigh his decisions
I don’t see how his message today is inconsistent; from a political perspective it seems to me he was trying to pull focus to his upcoming trip rather than position himself for a change of opinion. If he were to make a hard commitment to 16 months, come hell or high water and with total disregard to the safety of troops or the stability of the region, it would be nothing short of incompetent and verging on Bushist (my new word – also note that it is something far worse than incompetent) thinking. I suppose this is Fixed, I mean Fox, News though, so if he does commit he’s incompetent, and if he doesn’t he’s flip-flopping.
Is this not comparable to McCain saying 100 years, then 8 years, then never (like Korea)… that’s just his opinion du jour – has nothing to do with advisers or educated analysis of the situation. I suppose it isn’t flipping if you’re just stroking the phallus of your constituency, though.
how is this different than Bush’s policy in Iraq? Does he have magic stability beans?
People who think Obama is flip-flopping are just fools and idiots…Bet they voted for Bush, too..Barack Obama’s position hasn’t changed, “I want to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home.” He is intelligent enough to know the most successful way is to get all the facts straight from the generals and the soldiers (the soldiers not afraid to speak their mind) and then have a strageic plan in extracting the troops from the success of the surge (it was accomplished)…He doesn’t have the military background like McCain, but he sees the common sense of what to do next in Iraq and prepare for an increase of troops we will need in Afganistan because that’s where the real terrorist threats are…
Ther4e is no reason for them to attack us over the past 8 years..Bush has ketp the fear of terrorism alive with fake terror threat levels raised for political distraction during the 2004 election and spreading fear in every way across this country..Yeah, we lost over 3,000 citizens on 9/11, but we have lost over 4,000 troops since then in Iraq, speant an outragious amount of money to fund this war, drop the ball in Afganistan where Bin Ladin and friends still reside, gave Pakistan billions of dollars to deal with them (haha), and bruise this country morally, socially, and financially..Just waht the terrorist wanted on 9/11 by eliminating the twin business towers…”Mission Accomplished” Mr. Bush..A lot more of an accomplished mission than taking down a small dictator like Saddam….
For those in the media who say he is changing his position to satisfy the voters are really being dumb or naive or Bush/McCain backers and don’t like to admit their mistakes (like voting the fool in office twice) like Bush…What Obama has shown is not changing his , but using strategy and coomon sense to complete successfully what he wants to do…McCain has gone from 1 extreme to the other in almost every issue or comment he’s made in the past…Don’t be sheep…Use common sense and logic..It’s been too long the media and our government has used any…
Seems we are still a country of idiots…
OBama you are a LIAR & a FRAUD!!!!
DNC – you picked the WRONG guy – it’s not too late to CHANGE your mind – nominate
Hillary Clinton – she is Qualified to lead us.
Obama will say whatever he has to for his political gain. What exactly does this guy stand for?
Regardless if he “flipped” or not, Obama’s true colors are beginning to show. Much like John McCain, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, etc., Senator Obama has no interest in delivering a new era of politics to this country. He is, much like McCain, perfectly happy with the status quo. I will not support him in November and I will speak with as many people as possible in order to convince them to do the same. A vote for Obama or McCain this November is a wasted vote. If you don’t write in a candidate who you believe in, don’t vote at all. A vote for Obama or McCain is a vote for the same tired policies and Washington scheming we’ve suffered under for the last 20 years.
Molly:
Congratulations dear! You’ve just discovered politics.
Don’t be so naive in thinking that it’s just Obama who’s a complete and utter fraud. Your beloved Hillary Clinton is just as deceitful as Obama and has sold her soul to corporate America long ago. I would much rather see McCain in office than have that she-devil at the helm.
Fuck you and your censorship Fox News. Fair and balanced my ass. Allow ALL comments to be posted, not just the comments that promote your political agenda. KEEP POLITICS OUT OF JOURNALISM. You people are scum.
I dont even know what Obama stands for anymore, Bob Barr is going to get my vote
Where is the change!!!!!!! Where is the change!!! Is BHO really Bush III. My “black messiah” where are you??? Are you the “Black George Bush”? You are taking his religion platform, you are taking his environmental plan, now you want his “War Plan”.
You are an idiot.
You suggest and implicitly advocate that people and pundits criticize Obama for being thoughtful, reasonable, and adapting his policy positions as he learns more.
You should rather explain how this reasonableness may keep him from making awful mistakes like the current administration has.
Do something good for a change.
Why o’ why can’t we have a better press?
Barack Obama’s policy for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq as stated on his Web site:
“Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.”