Obama Denies Shift On Iraq Policy

Blames McCain Campaign For Suggesting He Would Alter Timetable For Troop Withdrawal

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Barack Obama said he's always been open to refining his Iraq policy but blamed Republican John McCain's campaign for suggesting "we were changing our policy when we haven't."

The Illinois senator called a second news conference of the day Thursday to address the Republican criticism of him and resulting questions about where he stands on Iraq.

He said what he learns from military commanders on his upcoming trip to Iraq will refine his policy -- but "not the 16-month timetable" for withdrawing U.S. troops from combat in Iraq. He said what he learns could affect how many residual troops might be needed to train the Iraqi army and police.

"I am going to do a thorough assessment when I'm there," he told reporters on the airport tarmac here. "I'm sure I'll have more information and continue to refine my policy."

During his presidential campaign, Obama has gone from the hard-edged, vocal opposition to Iraq that defined his early candidacy to more nuanced rhetoric that calls for a phased-out drawdown of all combat brigades that, at a rate of one or two a month, could last 16 months. He has said that if al Qaeda builds bases in Iraq, he would keep troops either in the country or the region to carry out "targeted strikes."

Republicans, who have been goading Obama to return to Iraq to see conditions for himself, pounced.

"There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience," said Alex Conant, a spokesman for the national Republican Party. "Obama's Iraq problem undermines the central premise of his candidacy and shows him to be a typical politician."

Obama's GOP rival, John McCain, has been a vocal supporter of the Iraq war and war policy has been a central disagreement between the two candidates.

But Obama insisted that his position has not changed at all.

He said he is saying now what he always has: The war was a mistake and needs to be brought to "a responsible end," but "we need to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in." This means, he said, that his 16-month timeline "was always premised on" not endangering either U.S. troops or Iraq's stability, which he had previously been told by commanders was possible.

"I'm going to continue to gather information to see whether those conditions still hold," he said. "My goal is to end this conflict as soon as possible."

Obama's Web site contains this direct promise about Iraq: "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."

Although he did not specifically mention his 16-month timeline on Thursday, Obama called it "pure speculation" to suggest he has been softening or even backing off his position as violence lessens in Iraq.

"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 is continuing to establish bases in areas of northwest Pakistan, resources there are severely strained and we are spending $10 to $12 billion a month in Iraq that we desperately need here at home, not to mention the strains on our military," Obama said.

But for Obama, appearing to take two positions on one issue is not confined to Iraq, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

Last year, he opposed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act because it bestowed retroactive immunity on telecommunications companies that gave the government data on callers. But last week, Obama endorsed a bill doing just that-suggesting security trumps privacy.

And of course, there is Obama's switch on federal financing for elections, which he once supported.

Obama plans a visit this summer to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The Illinois senator also has said he intends to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this summer as part of an official congressional trip that would be separate from the campaign-funded Mideast and European tour. It would be his second trip to Iraq.

Obama senior foreign policy adviser Susan Rice told reporters on a conference call that Obama would keep to his commitment to begin removing U.S. forces from Iraq "from the early days of his administration." She said the 16-month timeline was based on "the best military advice that he has received" and that it appears to continue to be "still broadly applicable."

"Obviously if there are fewer brigades or more brigades" there by the time a new administration takes office next year, she said, "that would adjust the timeline."

Obama's position has been that troops should only remain in Iraq to protect the U.S. embassy, engage in humanitarian efforts, and conduct counterterrorism operations. She said Obama would consider having the U.S. continue to train Iraqi police forces if they show some progress, "but he's not interested in training one sector of Iraqi society to kill another."

McCain was an early supporter of increasing the number of U.S. troops in Iraq as President Bush did last year. He wants to pursue the current counterinsurgency tactics to give Iraqis time to work out a political reconciliation. He has said he's willing to see some U.S. troops stay there as much as 100 years but not if they are being wounded or killed in combat. Rather he supports keeping a military presence in that part of the world because of its volatility.

[tbweb]

Politicians are like that big ball of pretty Cotton Candy, as soon as you bite into it, nothing! No substance!! LOL

[j-whitman]

What shift of policy ?? --- Anyone who''s bothered to pay the least bit of attention would have seen no shift at all, it''s in tune with every thing Obama has said.

Looks like another Non-Issue to be exploited.

[whitepicks2]

Clearly Obama''s plan is to bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in on day one; to withdraw at the rate of one to two brigades per month; to be out in 16 months; and to listen to commanders on the ground. Still the plan - same as always.

[standlee5]

I thought this was his whole deal. Get out of Iraq. Bringing the troops yesterday. He''s a pathological liar and an attention hhoe. Nothing new.

[j-whitman]

whitepicks2,,,, Exactly right... Watch the McBush campaign turn it into anoher lying atttack.

[standlee5]

Next thing you know he''ll be picking Condi Rice for a running mate.

[j-whitman]

standlee5,,,, How proud of you of your GOP who tells you to lie about issues ?? ---- You look like a total fool even thinking Obama''s changed his plan.

[j-whitman]

standlee5,,,, Condi "Mushroom Cloud" has too many problems,, She''s one of the reason for the failures in the War on Terror.

[standlee5]

This guy will say and do anything to get in front of the camera. He''s the biggest attention HOOOE we''ve ever seen. Nauseating.

[standlee5]

He''s frigging pre-empting coverage on the hostage re-unions. He''s a disgraceful attention hog.

[standlee5]

Oh you think so j-whitman. Well then why is it NEWS!

[underdogus01]

HUSSEIN OBAMA IS THE ANTI-CHRIST!!!

[yankeerebel7]

Just on time. Here comes the flip flopping before the general election....que the John Kerry-like outcome.

[standlee5]

j-whitman, maybe you missed it but the war on terror is not a failure and Condi is a true American hero along with McCain.

[j-whitman]

standlee5,,, You and your GOP are growing more desperate every day, LOL -- No matter how hard you try to make Obama look bad, you fail

[yankeerebel7]

Obama is gonna listen to the commanders on the ground and he''s actually smart for doing so. This is what Bush has been doing.

[shortestfuse]

The Chameleon continues his ruse.

[j-whitman]

yankeerebel7,,,, What Flip-Flop ?? This is what Obama''s been saying from the beginning.

Want to talk about Flip-Flops or straight up daily lies of McBush ?????

McBush is campainging in 2008 on what he campaigned against the preivious time he ran ---- & he can''t stop Flip-Flopping.

[underdogus01]

j-whitman is the minister of propaganda working for Hussein Obama...

[j-whitman]

yankeerebel7,,,, Haven''t you read any report ?? Bush has been running this war like a continous political campaign & still is.

[standlee5]

Pretty soon he''s going to be more conservative than McCain. Next thing you know he''ll be calling for tax cuts on the wealthy to stimulate the economy. Just watch.

[pvperson]

Congrats standlee, with every post you demonstrate how to be a moron, I didn''t know stupid could go that deep.

[j-whitman]

standlee5,,, I''ve been watching, are you finally going to start watching ??

[yankeerebel7]

I''m not talking about McCain. This story is about Obama. And Obama is going back on his pledge to bring the troops out on his initial time table. Now he''s making some wiggling room to possibly keep the troops there longer depending on what the commanders on the ground say. He''s flip flopping. Not a big deal, he''s just a politician who''s trying to move to the Right in order to win the general election and sieze the American presidency. Can''t say I blame him.

[standlee5]

watching what, j-whit?

[captalistpig]

Is it possible for j-whitman to comment on any news item without mentioning/blaming GWB??

HMM, I wonder.

[j-whitman]

yankeerebel7,,,, Go back to your mentors in the McBush campaign & tell them to come up with something half way belivable.

They''ve got you mirrors sounding like total fools for echoing the ignorance

Obama hasn''t reversed or flip flopped on the issue.

[standlee5]

He''s getting us all prepared for when he makes that long overdue trip to Iraq and finds that things are not as dire as he thought. Then he''ll flip flop again and somehow try to convince us that he''s the man that can understand how to manage a war.

[j-whitman]

captalistpig,,, Pretty hard not to bring up Bush when McCains policies are Bush''s policies

- His latest shake up in his campaign staff just brought in more Bush/Cheney campaign people.

[ofbyfor1]

He''''s frigging pre-empting coverage on the hostage re-unions. He''''s a disgraceful attention hog.

Posted by standlee5 at 06:01 PM : Jul 03, 2008

Yeah, right, because he TELLS the networks how much time that they have to spend on each story and they have no choice of their own. LMAO

More paranoid garbage from the uber-right,

[standlee5]

No watch closely. He constantly comes out with some big HOOHAW breaking news to take away from any important world news that of course he''s not a part of. He''s an attention HOG.

[yankeerebel7]

"Yeah, right, because he TELLS the networks how much time that they have to spend on each story and they have no choice of their own. LMAO"
-------

Well I don''t think anyone would argue the media isn''t ga ga eyed over Obama.

[cold777]

No watch closely. He constantly comes out with some big HOOHAW breaking news to take away from any important world news that of course he''''s not a part of. He''''s an attention HOG.


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Posted by standlee5
======================================================
Pathetic and sad argument......is this ALL the FAR RIGHT has to throw around? Wow.......

[standlee5]

Not only is he an attention hog but he''s been doted on his whole life and actually thinks we want to listen to his BS all fluff no substance rhetoric.

[ofbyfor1]

Just on time. Here comes the flip flopping before the general election....que the John Kerry-like outcome.

Posted by yankeerebel7 at 06:04 PM : Jul 03, 2008

Virtually every candidate, from whatever party, has a history of moving to the center when they go from the primaries to the GE. So your point is...?

And BTW, are you saying that McCain has NO serious and real flip-flops? Ha! Don''t get me started.

[tbweb]

You see the Ad over Obama''s head above? It reads "Powered by ExxonMobile!!" The $40 Billion in oil profits ExxonMobile!! Thats rich!! LMAO

[ajaxtheleast]

On the other hand, Bush himself is

definitly backing Obama''s trip to Iraq.

So much so that he is personally paying

all of the 747 expenses of flying Obama

over to Iraq.

And in addition Bush has arranged for

Obama''s security force to fly over

in a Piper Cub J-3 Cub.

[j-whitman]

cold777,,,, Yep, these McBush Lovers have no issues left now -

-- All they''ve got now is dirty campaigning with exploited sound bites & straight up lies, It''s why the changes in McBush''s campaign staff.

[j-whitman]

cold777,,, Yep, I caught that too, but Obama does have a sound energy policy --- McBush still has Bush''s policy.

[ofbyfor1]

http://www.chicagoreader.com/ features/stories/gogoop/

The correct link is www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/gogoop/

No spaces after slashes.

[standlee5]

Virtually every candidate, from whatever party, has a history of moving to the center when they go from the primaries to the GE. So your point is...?
Posted by ofbyfor1 at 06:20 PM : Jul 03, 2008

Oh, so he is just a normal candidate after all. If that''s agreed can we now take off the gloves or does he still require special handling.

[cold777]

cold777,,,, Yep, these McBush Lovers have no issues left now -

-- All they''''ve got now is dirty campaigning with exploited sound bites & straight up lies, It''''s why the changes in McBush''''s campaign staff.


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Posted by j-whitman
------------------------------------------------------
Literally everything that Obama does these right-wing nuts take offense to.......next thing you know when he breathes through his mouth they''ll start screaming that he shouldn''t be breathing through his mouth, but through his nose.....pathetic.

[captalistpig]

Obama has no chance.

[tbweb]

Posted by ajaxtheleast at 06:22 PM : Jul 03, 2008,,,

If Obama plays his cards right he may get to stay at his cousins secret Halliburton getaway in Dubai when he visits Iraq and get to see where D!ck Cheaney plans on escaping to when he leaves office to enjoy his wealth!

[j-whitman]

ajaxtheleast,,,, If everything in Iraq & Afhganistan is as safe & rosey as McBush says, he won''t need any security.

[yankeerebel7]

Just the beginning of what will surely be more flip flops before the general election. Will his cult continue to follow their leader? Should be interesting to watch...

[standlee5]

I think Obama has a very good chance if he continues to navigate his way through this election with no challenges. Hopefully the American people will see that the man has woefully lacking credentials and track record but the media LOVES him. CNN loves him. CBS loves him. Every ultra young ethnic newscaster in America is visibly enamored with Obama. It''s a spectacle to behold.

[cold777]

Obama has no chance.


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Posted by captalistpig
======================================================
.....says the little piggy......OINK! OINK!

[captalistpig]

I realize, as demostrated by many here, that there are numerous ignorant, ill informed voters out there, but thankfully few are willing to gamble on an unknown poser come election time.

[ofbyfor1]

No watch closely. He constantly comes out with some big HOOHAW breaking news to take away from any important world news that of course he''''s not a part of. He''''s an attention HOG.

Posted by standlee5 at 06:19 PM : Jul 03, 2008

And AGAIN, I will ask you if you think that he has SUCH CONTROL OF THE NETWORKS that he can tell them what to focus their attention on. You made the accusation that he had control over it by calling him an attention hog and that somehow it was under his control. The media can choose for themselves what the big stories of the day are. Sorry if you don''t like it.

More paranoia by the uber-right.