RECENT POSTS
- Oprah, Health Care Lobbyists, Among Recent Visitors to White House
- An Obama Thanksgiving Menu, with an Extra Serving of Pie
- White House Thanksgiving Traditions: Broken and Observed
- Obama, GOP Air Differences Over Jobs, Economy In Thanksgiving Addresses
- White House State Dinner Party Crashers
- Obama to Lay Out Emissions Goals in Copenhagen
- Free Bird
- The "Good" War
- The Presidential Planner
- Under the Stars, Obama Toasts India’s Prime Minister
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
What Obama Told the Military Times About His Withdrawal Plans
July 07, 2008 5:10 PM
In an interview with the Military Times last week, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said of his plans to withdraw troops from Iraq that if "current trends continue and we’re in a position where we continue to see reductions in violence and stabilizations and continue to see some improvements on the part of the Iraqi army and Iraqi police, then you know my hope would be that we could draw down in a deliberate fashion in consultation with the Iraqi government, at a pace that is determined in consultation with General Petraeus and the other commanders on the ground and it strikes me that that’s something we can begin relatively soon after inauguration."
He added: "If on the other hand you’ve got a deteriorating situation for some reason then that’s going to have to be taken into account.”
The notion that Obama's withdrawal plan will be impacted by consultations with the Iraqi government, Gen. David Petraeus and commanders on the ground, and could be changed depending on a deteriorating situation, has been seized upon by Republicans as further evidence of Obama's incoherence, flip-flopping, and zig-zagging on his plans to withdraw US troops within 16 months of his inauguration.
“How can Barack Obama claim to have a consistent Iraq policy?" asks RNC spokesman Alex Conant. "It’s clear Obama is rightly trying to reverse the central premise of his campaign: his pledge to immediately withdraw troops from Iraq. Obama needs to acknowledge that he was wrong in opposing the surge, and he needs to accept that his words mean things and fully explain what his Iraq policy would be as Commander in Chief.”
You can watch the video of Obama's interview with the Military Times HERE, read the full story from the newspaper HERE, or check out the full transcript HERE.
Writes the Military Times: "Getting U.S. combat troops out of Iraq is a key Obama goal, and one where he said he is misunderstood. His campaign materials say Obama would begin withdrawing combat troops from Iraq, one or two brigades a month, as soon as he takes office. But he added in the interview that the start of the withdrawal also depends on the security conditions on the ground.
"Obama said he wants to reduce combat troops, leaving forces to continue training Iraqi police and military officers, providing security for U.S. officials and facilities and for counterterrorism operations. Exactly when and how quickly this would happen depends on the situation in the field, he said, acknowledging that military commanders on the ground would play a key role in recommending what steps to take.
"Obama said he would not order any 'precipitous' withdrawal of combat forces. Instead, he said, his policy is that 'we should be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless in getting in….I have always said that as commander in chief, I would seek the advice and counsel of our generals,' Obama said. But, in the end, 'it is the job of commander in chief to set the strategy.'
"A strategic factor in the decision to keep forces in Iraq includes, for him, a question about the risk of not having enough combat-ready forces for other operations. 'If we have only one battle-ready brigade outside the Iraq rotation to respond to other risks, that’s not good strategic planning by the commander in chief,' he said. 'If we have a situation in Afghanistan where we are seeing more and more violence in the eastern portion of Afghanistan, at a time when we’ve actually increased the forces down there and we’ve got some of the best battle-tested operations deployed there, and we’re still seeing increases in violence, what that tells me is that we’ve got real problems.'"
In some ways, I'm not sure that this is entirely an issue of flip-flopping as much as it is one of emphasis. Many of these wiggle phrases -- "as careful getting out as we were careless getting in," etc. -- have been in Obama's speeches for months if not years.
But that said, I have never heard Obama tell a crowd of Oregon liberals that he plans on consulting with David Petraeus. *
- jpt
UPDATE: I mis-read an Obama quote in an earlier version of this post, confusing a reference to combat-ready US troops with a reference to combat-ready Iraqi troops. My bad; apologies. I have removed the incorrect sentence.
July 7, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (93)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
That is the most panty-waist non-leadership statement I've ever heard. Mr. Obama claimed he was against the war when he lived back in Illinois and everybody in Washington was in favor of the war. Now the Mr. Obama lives in Washington what is he now? Who knows? Do not give this yokel the reigns of power!
=======================================
Nobama no time!
=======================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Jul 7, 2008 9:20:16 PM
Mr Coffee
I'm sure McCain and the entire military would welcome your experience and insight. Why don't you contact them and let the know the facts of combat and strategy.
Posted by: Aston | Jul 7, 2008 8:58:55 PM
MR COFFE
the man is ingorant remember 100 years and now today he said he is gonna balance the budget while winning the war in iraq the mans a quack!!!!
Posted by: ANGIE | Jul 7, 2008 8:57:44 PM
ABC reported this below, and if true McCain is ignorant about the war on terror:
McCain acknowledges the importance of the conflict in Afghanistan but maintains the focus should remain on Iraq, which he considers to be the main front in the war on terror.
Posted by: Mr. Coffee | Jul 7, 2008 8:49:06 PM
Rodney...Suppose you tell us what experience Obama has in the Military. I really need to hear this. Do you have Military experience? Anybody that has had Military experience would not be taking credit away from anyone that has. McCain fought for this country. He certainly deserves our admiration for his courage and service. I never thought this country would forget our Military men and those that have died and were willing to give their lives for us. OPnly a small person would belittle that. You should be ashamed of yourself. This is being said to get a Chicago crooked politician elected. Just ask Rezko.
Posted by: carolyn | Jul 7, 2008 8:26:34 PM
Mr. Obama,
What-else's next?
Posted by: Alex | Jul 7, 2008 8:22:33 PM
How does this guy fool so many people?
Posted by: Soetoro No! | Jul 7, 2008 8:19:54 PM
Flip-Flopper Obama! LOL! I have lost count of how many times he has flipped his flop! OMG - Just pray that, if God forbid, he becomes POTUS, he does not have to go back to an enemy after a ‘Talk” (remember he wants to have talks with such countries as Iran, Cuba, Venezuela with no pre-conditions) to explain what he said he said, or refine what he said, or clarify what he said!!!!!!! Could result in an international catastrophe!!
For a man who is lauded for his brilliant words, it puzzles me how he does not get his message across the first time - oh, I forgot - it is hard to work without a teleprompter!!! The man is too green - but I do have to give this to him - he is a REAL POLITICIAN! The good Rev. had that one down pat!
Posted by: Beckie | Jul 7, 2008 8:14:15 PM
Rodney,
Got it, the Sudan-Somalia thing. Sort of like the Obama: we've been to 57 states and one to go...that basic American geography lesson one gets yearly starting with pre-school puzzles.
Posted by: 57 states and 1 to go | Jul 7, 2008 8:13:46 PM
..should we fight in Iraq or Afghanistan. If we win in one we win OIL or Heroin fields. I would rather fight for OIL. OIL makes America strong. I vote for McCain. Afghanistan is a nothing mountain range. It is the poorest land in the world. Iraq is one of the richest lands in the world.
Posted by: DemocratNoMore2 | Jul 7, 2008 8:00:17 PM
Well I can see no one could come up with something good to say about McCain. I thought someone would mention his speech today saying both wars would be over by 2013. Seems like no one listens to him anyways.. Well Keith is on..I'm out of here...Obama 08
Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 7, 2008 7:57:39 PM
"...how could he be centrist if he has been annointed"
Because the people who will vote the party line are already committed. The party members who are not voting the party line can be won over. The people who are not sure will make up their minds driving to the polls based on the last positive or negative emotions they have just before they vote.
Otherwise, the memory of most people regards the issues are very short and very rewritable. Unless he makes a searing mistake that simply can't be forgotten, he can reinvent himself every few weeks just like Madonna.
Or so the theory goes. Sometimes the voters surprise everyone. See Truman. Sometimes it's a nasty surprise. See Bush.
But the belief at the top is that this is the Republican's to lose therefore any candidate they put up will win. It couldn't be Hillary because she can't be controlled by the DNC. Obama meets their objectives neatly.
Will he meet yours? The problem is when someone keeps reinventing themselves, you won't know if the person you voted for going into the booth is the same person when you come out. Obama is for Obama. Your best bet is to find out what THAT Obama really wants to achieve. To do that, you will have to dig and consider all of the things he has done and seen and felt. A man doesn't change that much despite everything he intends to change.
Posted by: len | Jul 7, 2008 7:43:08 PM
I do believe it was Hillary that told Obama that withdrawal has to be done in a smart manner. It wasn't until she called his hand on this that he started working this withdrawal within so many months "in a safe way" position. But, then most of her positions morphed into his positions as they went along.
Posted by: Ron | Jul 7, 2008 7:42:11 PM
It takes my breath away to read posts saying that Obama is and always was a centrist. I guess this attempt at spinning Obama into the middle is meant to justify his reneging on his pledge to get out of Iraq. Talk about the audacity of chutzpah!
Before we settle Obama too comfortably in the middle, let us review the facts:
1. He is the darling of Moveon.org. Moveon.org is dead set against the war in Iraq. Would the powers that be at Moveon.org have chosen him if he had not promised, either explicitly or implicitly, to get out of Iraq immediately, no matter what?
2. His close associates for 20 years were people like Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, and Mr. Ayres -- all fire breathing leftists. How is it possible that these are his mentors, his close associates, and his friends, unless he is also hard left?
3. Obama is the chosen one of the Democratic left. Once again, how could he be centrist if he has been annointed by the likes of Dean and Pelosi? The Democractic left hates centrists. They hated the Clintons because they were centrists.
Posted by: David H | Jul 7, 2008 7:34:47 PM
he was making speach about inhuman treatment in sudan--but kept saying wrong country-and was constantly reminded---right on tv.
Posted by: rodney | Jul 7, 2008 7:26:09 PM
All you Obama bashers in here....come on tell us all why McCain is so great. How come no one talks about him and his policies..How about the holiday gas tax ha ha afraid to admit how stupid and pandering it is. Drilling offshore, come on you got to love that one. that will get you something in about 10 years HA Ha.Ok don't want to talk about that one either. Hey there must be something about McCain you support.
Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 7, 2008 7:20:02 PM
what's this about Sudan?
Posted by: 57 states 1 to go | Jul 7, 2008 7:17:49 PM
hey john wrong country sudan sudan--i will never forget--he did not know what country he was talking about---what a shame.
Posted by: rodney | Jul 7, 2008 7:14:48 PM
O is a wannabeee that will NEVER be. His constant flopping with his words no doubt make him a disengenuous phony.
Dem for McCain!
Posted by: rey | Jul 7, 2008 7:14:06 PM
Jillian:
"I got it early- I read Obama's books, and I am very comfortable that he is a very moderate, thoughtful, and pragmatic man>>>"
You got it early and oily... out of those quasi-semi-autobiographical novels filled with Obama's hype!
He should be a writer...... another Tolkein or Hans Christian Anderson.
As for his being President of this great and troubled country.....
let the voter be aware.
very very a w a r e!!!
COUNTRY BEFORE BROKEN DOWN DNC PARTY!!!
Posted by: hmmmmm | Jul 7, 2008 7:14:03 PM
Post a comment
