Official Obama Rebuttal on Iraq
This e-mail just arrived from Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan, chronicling Obama’s earlier statements on Iraq troop withdrawals. Clearly, the Obama campaign sees a need to counter an emerging and unwelcome media frame, not necessarily visible on this blog, on his Iraq policy.
OBAMA HAS CONSISTENTLY SAID HE WILL LISTEN TO COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND IN IMPLEMENTING HIS POLICY
June 2008: Obama: I’ve Consistently Said That I Will Consult With Military Commanders On The Ground And Be Open To The Possibility Of Tactical Adjustments. Obama said, “I’ve also consistently said that I will consult with military commanders on the ground and that we will always be open to the possibility of tactical adjustments. The important thing is to send a clear signal to the Iraqi people and most importantly to the Iraqi leadership that the U.S. occupation in Iraq is finite, it is gonna be coming to a foreseeable end.” [MSNBC, 6/16/08]
March 2008: Obama Said He Would Give Senior Military Leaders Opinions Great Weight In Implementing His Iraq Plan But As Commander In Chief Would Make His Own Assessment Of The Situation. Obama was asked “what weight will you give to the counsel of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the CENTCOM [U.S. Central Command] commander, the combatant commander on the ground in Iraq and current intelligence chiefs on the ground in Iraq regarding an immediate phased withdrawal?” Obama said, “I will give their counsel great weight. But, as commander in chief, it is my responsibility to make my own assessment of the situation. We must send a clear signal to the Iraqi political leadership that we are leaving Iraq on a timeline. Doing so will put pressure on those leaders to begin to resolve the political impasse at the heart of this civil war. But I also want to be clear about another thing. I am worried our Army is overstretched and that we have asked an awful lot from our military families. Many in our senior military leadership are worried about a plan that will keep 130,000 troops on the ground in Iraq for the foreseeable future. So, as commander in chief, I will also have to take into consideration the counsel of other senior military leaders who may be concerned that Iraq is undercutting our ability to confront other security challenges.” [Washington Post, 3/2/08]
March 2008: Obama Said The Size Of The Residual Force Will Depend On Consultation With Military Commanders And “Will Depend On The Circumstances On The Ground.” Obama said, “The precise size of the residual force will depend on consultations with our military commanders and will depend on the circumstances on the ground, including the willingness of the Iraqi government to move toward political accommodation. But let me be clear on one thing: I will end this war, and there will be far fewer Americans in Iraq conducting a much more limited set of missions that include counterterrorism and protection of our embassy and U.S. civilians.” [Washington Post, 3/2/08]
November 2007: Obama Said He Would Leave Residual Troops In Iraq Based On The Levels Of Violence, “It’s Not My Job To Specify Troop Levels.” Obama said, “If we see a serious effort by the Iraqi leadership to arrive at an agreement and an accommodation and you’ve seen continued reductions of violence, then you need one level of troop protection for the embassy…If things have gone to hell in a hand basket then you need another … It’s not my job to specify troop levels. My job is to tell our commanders on the ground, ‘Here’s your mission. Protect our embassy, protect our diplomats and our humanitarian workers in the area and make sure al Qaeda in Iraq, or other terrorist organizations inside of Iraq are not re-establishing bases there.” [Fosters, 11/28/07]
November 2007: Obama Said U.S. Has To Make Sure “We Are Not Just Willy-Nilly Removing Troops” And That It May “Take A Little Bit Longer” In Some Areas Where There Is Less Stability. “According to all the reports, we should have been well along our way in getting the Iraqi security forces to be more functional. We then have another 16 months after that to adjust the withdrawal and make sure that we are withdrawing from those areas, based on advice from the military officers in the field, those places where we are secured, made progress and we’re not just willy-nilly removing troops, but we’re making a determination – in this region we see some stability. We’ve had cooperation from local tribal leaders and local officials, so we can afford to remove troops here. Here, we’ve still got problems, it’s going to take a little bit longer. Maybe those are the last areas to pull out.” [New York Times, 11/1/07]
November 2007: Obama: “If The Commanders Tell Me They Need X, Y And Z, In Order To Accomplish The Very Narrow Mission That I’ve Laid Out, Than I Will Take That Into Consideration.” “You raise a series of legitimate questions. As commander in chief, I’m not going to leave trainers unprotected. In our counterterrorism efforts, I’m not going to have a situation where our efforts can’t be successful. We will structure those forces so they can be successful. We would still have human intelligence capabilities on the ground. Some of them would be civilian, as opposed to military, some would be operating out of our bases as well as our signal intelligence…But listen, I am not going to set up our troops for failure and I’m going to do something half-baked. If the commanders tell me that they need X, Y and Z, in order to accomplish the very narrow mission that I’ve laid out, than I will take that into consideration.” [New York Times, 11/1/07]
faux news is a joke
Invest in teflon now before it is too late. Always thought Big Bill was the teflon man but it appears he has met his match. The Obama campaign has to keep a fresh coat of it on him each day so that neither his flips nor his flops will stick.
Uh..maybe,.No wait!..maybe…No wait! I’m Iraq must be stable! (Bush for 8 yrs.) ! No wait! Withdraw immediately! No wait! I should talk to someone! No wait! In 16 months!, No wait! I am flexible. No wait! Need to talk to commanders! No wait! Immediate withdrawal!, No wait………
Chnage you can believe in.
He means changes in his positions that you can believe in.
Now Playing On BarackObama.com, and I quote:
“Bringing Our Troops Home: 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 the Republicrat is abandoning his populist grass roots juggernaut for Corporate cronies. Keep Americans safe by judicious use of Military in Iraq, make sure the Iraqi Oil is distributed the way we want before we leave. no mention of the lies and deceit that got us there in the first place, and no promise to “Bring the Boys Home” (thanks Frida) now. I thought Barack would at least wait till September to play the Rovian rhetoric card.
Direct quote from Barack Obama’s official website:
“Bringing Our Troops Home: 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.”
Bringing Our Troops Home
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.
-BarackObama.com
B. Hussein Obama is so incredibly transparent right now that even the democrats see what he’s up to.
A politician, is a politician, is a politician… Change my ass. We should can them all and start over. We are responsible for the current state of affairs, yet repeat the same action every election; somehow expecting a different reaction.
The demographics of your average voter is 8th grade education, residing in the rural south, only have 2 teeth in their head, imbred, and have mastered repeating rhetorical catch words and divisionery tactics. In fact they are so dumb, they vote for the candidate and the issues which are extremely cotrary to their interests with the idea as long as they stay faithful to their party no matter what their candidated does or does not do, they will win. It would be laughable if not so appaling.
Although same-sex marriage was narrowly legalized in CA, these zealots will continue their fight to demonize gay men and women until the end of time because they have been taught to place blame on others for their own dysfunctional issues. Apparently, somehow, if they never admit wrong doing and ask forgivness they will rest in peace with clear conscience just in case there is a god.
This is why this country is in the current state of affairs, say one thing, do another, hooray for us and screw you, can’t beat them join them mentality which will soon be our demise.
Well, it certainly is nice to see that Fox news has officially joined the revitalized McCain campaign team, with it’s new focus on character assassination. And isn’t it amusing that what’s most offensive is if Obama agrees with you guys? Must be terrifying. Oh no, not that? Really guys, aren’t you getting just a little bit tired of the same old-same old? Republicans have character; Democrats don’t? Republicans don’t flip-flop, we just hide things and gloss over things… like global warming and a lack of actual weapons of mass destruction or any other form of energy production except oil… which all of our important allies and paid consultants just happen to own. Boring! Boring! And then again, if the American public was dumb enough to buy your Swift Boat the first time… why not the second?
“Protect our embassy, protect our diplomats and our humanitarian workers in the area and make sure al Qaeda in Iraq, or other terrorist organizations inside of Iraq are not re-establishing bases there.” Is Mr. Obama assuming there were terrorist organizations during Sadam’s regime?
Why do you right wing extremists keep trying to make an issue of something thats not,give it a rest allready.If your’e trting to paint Obama as a flip flopper on this issue, your barking up the wrong tree.His plan has been pretty consistant from the beginning on this issue.
“an emerging and unwelcome media frame, not necessarily visible on this blog. . .”
No, not at all. Fair and balanced all the way, brother. Have another sip of bourbon.
Obama’s rebuttal was spot on. When this story about his so-called “changing position” broke I couldn’t find any difference between his supposed new position and the one he’s stated all along. Kerry and Gore couldn’t figure out how to respond to the right wing’s media smears. Way to go, President Elect Obama.
So what’s the big deal? FOX is trying – unsuccessfully – to paint Obama as a flip-flopper, but there’s no story here. Frankly, all of Obama’s statements about withdrawl are vaguely worded–for good reason.
This is smoke and mirrors to deflect from McCain’s LONG list of true, unambiguous flip-flops.
Obama is consistently inconsistent
the reason for the need to rebutt is due to the inane attacks from the right wing regarding”flip flopping” a term made popular by our ill-begotten president during the 2000 presidential campaign. Finding nuance in a given situation after facts on the ground is not a sign of weakness or lack of leadership, but a sign of critical thinking. Critical thought is a vital skill for a leader. Just because our current leader lacks this skill does not make it any less important. Blindly following failed policy will be the greatest blemish this administration leaves behind.
fox, we all know you are conservative
in reality obama has no plan for troops in iraq. his empty rhetoric for withdrawl was just to appease disgruntled voters. he very well know troop withdrwal is not that easy until america decide to run away like in veitnam.
NOW HE IS PLANING A TRIP TO IRAQ JUST TO CHANGE HIS POSITION ON TROOP WITHDRAWAL.
ANDJUST TO NUDGE UP HIS CLAIM ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY WHERE HE SCORES ZERO AGAINST MCCAIN. HOW CAN A HALF TERM SENATOR CLAIM MASTERY ON FOREIN POLICY AND FOR THAT REASON ON ANYTHING ELSE. HE JUST USES STOLEN IDEAS TO SAY WHAT AND WHWN AND WHERE VOTERS WANT HIM TO SAY SOMETHING.
HE HAS DEGRADED HIS DEMOCRATIC BASE BY ENHACING BUSH,S ADEA OF FAITH BASED FUNDING BECAUSE HE WANT TO PROVE TO BLACKS AND EVENGLICANS THAT HE IS AS RELIGIOUS AS BUSH.
HE SHOULD HANG HIS HEAD IN SHAME BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE HAS NO SHAME LEFT . HE CAN LICK ANYTHING FOR VOTES INCLUDING THE PEOPLE HE WAS TRASHING FEW DAYS AGO BUT NOW AMERICA WILL NEED THEM FOR EVER – THE CLINTONS.
I AM A PROUD DEMOCRAT AND WILL BE MORE PROUD TO VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN THE REAL NATIONAL AMERICAN HERO
bhagwan deol los angeles
Obama made these statements after his initial naive statements to try to get people to think he really didn’t mean what he originally said. Apparently advisors got to him and made him realize he was totally on the wrong track about Iraq.
Well, just another additional wishy-washy from Mr. Obama. God watch over this country, our troops and everyday life in this land! Whats more scarry than him – is so much of this country is for this guy!
Fox news lies and I wouldn’t believe any thing I read that has Fox News attached.
Flip, Flop, Flip, Flop! The dancing clown goes Flip Flop, Flip Flop! Obama Madness has to stop. We know it won’t because he is driven. His lust for power is a given. Send him back to find his roots. a hope some lucky redneck shoots.
Terry Tinkle makes me laugh. According to this individual too afraid to use their real name we [the US] is going to control who gets Iraqi oil. That odd when one considers that despite our level of control in Iraq now we are still buying our oil from them and not simply taking it.
We can all see this as political moonwalking.
“Change” is the only Obama has done with any/all of his positions. Including military and foreign policy.
And Richard Clark trying to take on John McCain? The latter isn’t worthy of zipping the latter’s trousers.
Dems, you fielded THIS team? What intellectual lightweights.
Bush has left whomever is going to be the next president with a disaster to clean up in the Middle East. Cleaning up this mess will require our next President to be someone with common sense, who can make a series of realtime decisions based on the a coherent strategy and the best available intelligence. I have no doubt tha Obama will have the common sense to make much better decisions than Bush has made in the last 8 years.
Wow, nice response Mr. Obama! Glad to see you put the smear-mongerers in their place so thoroughly.
What is the controversy here? Obama’s policy change here is tiny. He had said that he will withdraw troops at a rate of 1-2 brigades a month depending on the situation on the ground until all COMBAT brigades are out (note that residual forces are not combat brigades); now he says that he will consult military officials concerning the rate of withdrawl. He maintains the same goal (withdrawing safely) and the same means (pulling troops at an appropriate rate). The only part of his plan that has “changed” is that he has said he will be a little more flexible with regards to military leaders’ concerns.
“Clearly, the Obama campaign sees a need to counter an emerging and unwelcome media frame, not necessarily visible on this blog, on his Iraq policy.”
FOX must be proud that they’ve been able to keep the flip-flip meme afloat so far.
Sure, it’s a weak point because McCain has flip-flopped on several major issues himself. Any ad campaign by one side could be soundly countered by the other side.
Without FOX, I might once again think a leader might be greater for the ability to change his mind in light of reality.
But then I’d be engaging in slightly deep, objective thought. We can’t have that.
“I will give their counsel great weight. But, as commander in chief, it is my responsibility to make my own assessment of the situation.”
Translation – I’ll make my own decision on the situation that is taking place on the other side of the globe and I haven’t been to in years.
Yeah, great plan.
Oh come on, even McCain says you can trust Obama!
rename Fox news to RNC news …. fair and balanced … hah hah
Try what they will but failing utterly.
please rename FoX news to RNC news and it will be more appropriate.
President Obama … cheer!
Wow, the libs are already in full denial mode over Obama’s comments – not that this is at all unexpected. Obama could come out tomorrow and proclaim that he’s in favor of staying in Iraq for the next decade and his cheerleaders would immediately put on their Ministry of Truth hats – a la 1984 – and begin a spin campaign that would *prove* that Obama had always held such a position. The only thing I really want to know is: Do these libs actually believe the lies they’re selling or is it that they simply hope we’re stupid enough to believe them?
[...] be most flagrant in the MSM. As a result, Barack Obama has given another press conference, and has issued an email confirming that he has, in fact, been very consistent. Some reaction from the blogosphere has been [...]
Obama is right. It is important to be flexible and make adjustments when and where they are required. This is something that Bush has never been able to do sticking to his guns and is why this country is in it’s current state. 8 years of Bush and I challenge anyone to say that things are better now than they were when he first took office. Obama will be the best thing to happen to our great nation in at least 8 years, if not more.
On google news. What he did say was he would go to Iraq and see for himself,then he would go from there but he said that he is more concerned about having troops in afghanistan now.As for troop removlas from Iraq,it will be a long,slow process because a sudden withdrawl would not be feasable yeat and it would also be a fiscal nightmare,as it would be cost prohibitive for any sudden pullout from Iraq. He has also said that he is now in favor of a mandatory service policy,meaning that those that are 18-24 would have to serve 2-3 years in the branch of armed forces of their choice or which ever one that they are qualified for. This will also make it possible for the armed forces to go back to their more stringent requirements thereby keeping the undesireables out such as criminals,felons and gang members.
Both candidates talk out of both sides of their mouths when they have to. Hillary Clinton is even more shameless about it.
Unfortunately, it’s part of the job. That’s what politicians do.
Look at the candidates. Look at their past. Look at their record. Look at what they believe on the issues. Analyze their plans. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t believe the double talk. Then make the best decision you can.
Ob(s)ama will bring the troops home and then the terrorist attacks begin. We can’t leave Iraq until the job Mr. Bush rightly started is finished and ALL the terrorists have all been martyred. Obama thinks Mr. McCain’s war record doesn’t matter, but he’s a real war hero. O’bama doesn’t have the experience. I know who I want for president.