Obama: I'm Committed To Ending War

Candidate "Puzzled" By Reaction To Earlier Iraq Statements

(AP)  Barack Obama said Saturday that he was surprised at how the media has "finely calibrated" his recent words on Iraq, and denied that he intends to anything but end the war if he is elected.

"I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off by what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement," the expected Democratic presidential nominee told reporters flying with him to Missouri from Montana. "I am absolutely committed to ending the war."

On Thursday in North Dakota, Obama said that "I'll ... continue to refine my policy" on Iraq after an upcoming trip there. With a promise to end the war the central premise of his candidacy, the Obama campaign has struggled over the past two days to push back against Republicans and others who say his recent statement could be a softening.

In two news conferences on Thursday, Obama said any refinement of his position on Iraq wouldn't be related to his promise to remove combat forces within 16 months of taking office, but rather to the number of troops needed to train Iraqis and fight al Qaeda. But he also acknowledged that the 16-month timeline could indeed slip if removing troops risked their safety or Iraqi stability.

"What's important is to understand the difference between strategy and tactics," he told reporters. "The tactics of how we ensure our troops are safe as we pull out, how we execute the withdrawal, those are things that are all based on facts and conditions. I am not somebody - unlike George Bush - who is willing to ignore facts on the basis of my preconceived notions."

Noting that "we want to build on" the lessening of violence in Iraq, he added: "It doesn't change my strategic view that we have to bring our occupation to a close."

He said he didn't misspeak in his comments earlier in the week and suggested the media and critics read unintended significance into the remarks.

"I was surprised by how finely calibrated every single word was measured," Obama said. "I wasn't saying anything that I hadn't said before."

Obama has always said his promise to end the war would require consultations with military commanders and, possibly, flexibility.

The Illinois senator also said he and rival-turned-ally Hillary Rodham Clinton plan to help each other raise money in a series of fundraisers in New York next week.

Two events are scheduled for Wednesday night - one to raise money for his general election campaign and one to help Clinton pay off debts from her primary campaign. A third fundraiser, for Obama, is a breakfast Thursday morning with women donors that Clinton, a New York senator, will attend.

The fundraisers will be the first joint appearances by the former foes since their lovefest in Unity, N.H., on June 27.

The events were put together to showcase his campaign's commitment to helping Clinton retire her debt and her commitment to helping him get elected, Obama told reporters.

The candidate said his aides and those to former President Clinton are still arranging their first campaign appearances together. What role Bill Clinton will play in Obama's campaign has been a glaring question mark ever since the former president made comments earlier this year that Obama's supporters said injected race into the nomination contest.

"I'm looking forward to his advice and counsel and participation in the race ahead," Obama said.

Earlier Saturday, Obama took a swipe at Republican rival John McCain, saying that for "someone who has been in Washington for 30 years he's got a pretty slim record on education and when he has taken a stand it has been the wrong one."

McCain has voted against increasing funding for the No Child Left Behind law, increasing funding for Pell grants and hiring 100,000 new teachers, Obama told a Washington conference of the National Education Association that was beamed via satellite from Butte, Mont.

"He even applauded the idea of abolishing the Department of Education," Obama told the teachers' union. "In fact, the only proposal of his seems to be recycling the tired rhetoric about vouchers and school choice."

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds responded in a statement: "Improving America's schools will take bipartisan leadership and a commitment to the issue, but Barack Obama has never spearheaded education reforms while in the U.S. Senate and has no record of working across the aisle for change."

[andor3]

I was puzzled too.. Sen. Obam has taken a wise and consistent position. Seems there are a handful of desperate people who will try to twist every word into a scandal. Glad to see him slap those people down decisively. He will make a great President.

[blackshaft-2009]

Obama: I''m Committed To Ending War now democrats and in Ten years republicans!

[blackshaft-2009]

Obama: I''m Committed To Ending War right now for you democrats and in Ten years for you republicans republicans! I have to access the situation when I get into office!

[cbs4me3]

Americans should be very concerned over Obama''s flip flopping on Iraq. Having had a Free Ride from the media, he becomes arrogant when he is exposed and finally vetted. For this Hillary Democrat it makes little difference, however, since I will be voting for John.

[achilles281]

mr feng choy

[whiskyrocker]

He will say anything to win.

[achilles281]

serious credibility problem

[blackshaft-2009]

Obama: I''''m Committed To Ending War right now for you democrats and in Ten years for you republicans republicans! I have to access the situation when I get into office!

[achilles281]

obama is an AIPC agent like mccain....ron paul....nice decent man...

[blackshaft-2009]

Obama quote, I will not raise your taxes,(now) shhhh! I do not want america to know this flip flop OK?

[smilingez50]

Obama just turned his back on all the fallen soldiers and their families. Obama is spitting on the 911 victims in the twin towers. I for one, would rather have no president than have Obama as a phony president. Done be afraid of the Taliban or Al queda, be afraid of Obama. He will give our country away.

[bagdadshere2]

"Obama: I''m Committed To Ending War,surrender to terrorists,allow IRAN to get nukes and allow IRAN control Iraq and the Persian Gulf cause I want gasoline at 20 bucks."

[paris1969]

he''s making stuff up ... to make us feel stupid!

[kamsack50]

I don''t think he will ever completely pull out of Iraq - at least not in a way that would make it too complicated to go back in later if necessary.
Who do you people think he''ll choose for VP? I wish it would be Clinton, because I''m scared who else he might take, such as John Edwards or Joe Biden, people that I can''t stand even in short interviews.

[blackshaft-2009]

Obama quote, I will not raise your taxes,(now) shhhh! I do not want america to know this flip flop OK?

[feelfree4u]

Re: "In two news conferences on Thursday, Obama said any refinement of his position on Iraq wouldn''t be related to his promise to remove combat forces within 16 months of taking office, but rather to the number of troops needed to train Iraqis and fight al Qaeda. But he also acknowledged that the 16-month timeline could indeed slip if removing troops risked their safety or Iraqi stability."

In other words, Mr. Obama plans to withdraw from Iraq- NEVER, and anyone that believes otherwise is fooling themselves.

Mr. Obama looks to be about as promising on this issue, as the Democrat Party mandate was, after they claimed control of our Legislative branch, in 2006.

[vastr-wcon]

Flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop.....

I will take public financing for my campaign-----I will NOT take public financing for my campaign.
Clinton''s NAFTA is BAD-----NAFTA is GREAT!
I will get the troops home immediately-----I will NOT get the troops home immediately.
"I could no more disown him (rev. wright) than I could disown my ... grandmother."-----I disown rev wright. (Look out grandma, you may be next!).
I support total gun control-----I do NOT support total gun control.
I don''t need no stinkin'' flag pin-----I NOW WEAR a flag pin since I''m now patriotic (wink, wink)!
No immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos-----I vote YES on immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos.

At last, I finally know what he really means by "change". "Change we can NOT believe in."

[bagdadshere2]

I don''''t think he will ever completely pull out of Iraq - at least not in a way that would make it too complicated to go back in later if necessary.
Who do you people think he''''ll choose for VP? I wish it would be Clinton, because I''''m scared who else he might take, such as John Edwards or Joe Biden, people that I can''''t stand even in short interviews.

Posted by kamsack50 at 05:30 PM : Jul 05, 2008

BARRACK OSAMA could pick ***** Cheney as VP cause the DEMONCRAT monkey-Muslim-candidate doesnt have the balls to fight our enemies and we have a lot of them.

[blackshaft-2009]

My pal Obama will give this country away as fast as a chicken that lays eggs? Good for Obama Hussein yes. Our Muslim agenda will rise even higher. Yes!

[feelfree4u]

If anyone is still wondering who is winning this shameful and criminal war of aggression against Iraq, please note the sponsor of this article (above).

[achilles281]

obama is an AIPC agent like mccain....ron paul....nice decent man...

[jack3213]

Obama should be "Committed " to the safety of the USA- which he isn''t. A time frame is a statement of naivity- not having been to Iraq in years, he spouts words that show his clear inexperiance.For those who do not see this, don''t worry, you will, and when you do, you will be much happier in the long run.

[blackshaft-2009]

Our agenda will be put towards america where the sun does not shine? Just look at my name and you will know what I mean!

Its the Wright way to have Damnation through Obamanation by the Muslim way of decapitation yes! (SURA 8:12) AKA GOD D-A-M-N america! Its the humane way to have Hussein name!

[swwils]

All politicains tell you exactly what you expect too hear ,before election,and do the opposite right after!He doesn''t have the power to stop this war.Iran is next,we are only securing a foot hold to help Israel.Apparently big oil runs this nation,and its actions.We can expect to be at war for at least 10 more years,unless superior fire power is deployed.

[barocalto]

If anyone is still wondering who is winning this shameful and criminal war of aggression against Iraq, please note the sponsor of this article (above).

Posted by FeelFree4U

Great Exxon/Mobil I''m a shareholder and every time you buy gas I get a little richer... Even when I buy gas I smile cause I know I''m getting a rebate....

Thank you FF4U for all of your contributions to my lifestyle...

[herman1951-2009]

There%u2019s no explaining to do! Obama always said that he%u2019ll be as careful getting out of Iraq as they were careless getting into Iraq. He giving a deadline for at least 16 months to withdraw all the troops, and I believe he can do it. But even if he doesn%u2019t do a full withdrawal in 16 months, by pulling troops out %u201CPERIOD%u201D is a step in the right direction. This issue that don%u2019t need to be bombarded, and blown up by the media. I think the media is so fasinated by Obama, that every position, every word, and everything he says and does jumps their rating up 20%. John McCain, in the other hand, doesn%u2019t even have a plan to bring the troops home, period-full stop. Another 25, 50, 100 years will be fine with him. They have been trying to bring this war to an end every since Bush %u201CMission Accomplished%u201D lie. But couldn%u2019t come up with a clear strategy to do it without making matters worst in this war. Bush/Cheney are still in office until November, and their intentions are to make it harder to set a timeline for complete withdrawal. So this so- called %u201Cflip flop%u201D theme song with the media need to go away in this case. It not newsworthy.

[barocalto]

Of course Obama is changing his story now he got a call from MoveOn last night.

Obama is quickly become so yesterday...

[blackshaft-2009]

Our agenda will be put towards america where the sun does not shine? Just look at my name and you will know what I mean!

Its the Wright way to have Damnation through Obamanation by the Muslim way of decapitation yes! (SURA 8:12) AKA GOD D-A-M-N america! Its the humane way to have Hussein name!

[occams_taser]

Have the lunatic Limbaugh-FOX Snooze-addled Bush cultists shown up to comment here yet? Yep, looks like the *** brigade is out in full force. Battling sanity and intelligence from behind their keyboards in mommy''s doublewide.

[cold777]

BARRACK OSAMA could pick ***** Cheney as VP cause the DEMONCRAT monkey-Muslim-candidate doesnt have the balls to fight our enemies and we have a lot of them.

Posted by BagdadsHere2 at 05:33 PM : Jul 05, 2008
======================================================
Another toe-tapping southern hick.

[ioweign]

Maybe CBS could actually cover McCain''s "policies" for a change!

Posted by CBS_Oliver at 05:22 PM : Jul 05, 2008

Just look at the present Policies under Bush and Cheney...

[occams_taser]

The War is Presented by Exxon-Mobil? Such *honesty* from CBS News? Who knew they had it in them?

[blackshaft-2009]

Our agenda will be put towards america where the sun does not shine? Just look at my name and you will know what I mean!

Its the Wright way to have Damnation through Obamanation by the Muslim way of decapitation yes! (SURA 8:12) AKA GOD D-A-M-N america! Its the humane way to have a Hussein name!

McCain''s name is a winner of the game! He will protect America with his experience in which Obama Hussein so much is lacking!

[pvperson]

When did the meaning of "refine" change to reverse?

[glenda743]

Only a complete fool would get out of Iraq before the mission is finished...And we still have the Taliban that is more dangerous than Al Quida...What a dummy...Can you believe some of the *** that comes out of his mouth.

[herman1951-2009]

There%u2019s no explaining to do! Obama always said that he%u2019ll be as careful getting out of Iraq as they were careless getting into Iraq. He giving a deadline for at least 16 months to withdraw all the troops, and I believe he can do it. But even if he doesn%u2019t do a full withdrawal in 16 months, by pulling troops out %u201CPERIOD%u201D is a step in the right direction. This issue that don%u2019t need to be bombarded, and blown up by the media. I think the media is so fasinated by Obama, that every position, every word, and everything he says and does jumps their rating up 20%. John McCain, in the other hand, doesn%u2019t even have a plan to bring the troops home, period-full stop. Another 25, 50, 100 years will be fine with him. They have been trying to bring this war to an end every since Bush %u201CMission Accomplished%u201D lie. But couldn%u2019t come up with a clear strategy to do it without making matters worst in this war. Bush/Cheney are still in office until November, and their intentions are to make it harder to set a timeline for complete withdrawal. So this so- called %u201Cflip flop%u201D theme song with the media need to go away in this case. It not newsworthy.

[cold777]

What a dummy...Can you believe some of the *** that comes out of his mouth.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by glenda743
======================================================
I agree 100%....the stuff that comes out of Mccain''s mouth is pathetic.

[occams_taser]

I like how they''re concerned with "giving our country away" when under Bush and CheneyCo, everything is made in China, and America is literally hemorrhaging money, our currency is worthless, and we''re an international joke.

Who could give away a country like that? Nobody will take it.

[hillary4us]

SOMEHOW, I JUST DON''T BELIEVE YOU ANYMORE, OBAMA. http://larrysinclair0926.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/let-me-make-it-clear-for-the-obamablogonots-obama-himself/#comments

[herman1951-2009]

Withdrawing from Iraq will be the most sensible %u201CMission Accomplished%u201D move that Obama can make. Take the fight to the terrist in Afganistan and stop appeasing the Iraqi government for the sake of oil. You just don%u2019t get it, do you? Our servicemen and women will never accomplish peace in that part of the region because of Iranian involvement. It will be a ongoing war that we will be fighting along with the Iraqis. So don%u2019t kid yourself in believing that we will suffer no more causuaties while over there, because we will. Musaqta is just waiting to regroup and be re-armed his milita by Iran and then he will force American to fight as long as we occupy their land. So stop being naive.

[hungry1968]

McCain''''s name is a winner of the game! He will protect America with his experience in which Obama Hussein so much is lacking!

Posted by BlackShaft at 05:59 PM : Jul 05, 2008





How so?

What will McCain do as a president, that Obama CAN''T or WON''T be able to do, due to "lack of experience"?

Your inability to logically answer this question, will prove - AGAIN - that that statement has no merit.



And keep in mind, it was the "experienced" politicians that got us into Iraq, for no apparent reason.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Only a complete fool would get out of Iraq before the mission is finished..."

Posted by glenda743

Is your "mission" to kill/maim all of our military men and women in an illegal, lie-based war of aggression, and to further secure the disgrace of our nation?

Your appear to be the one playing the part of a fool here.

[occams_taser]

4 more years of BushCo policies under McCain and gasoline will be $9 per gallon, nobody will have a job except in Beijing, and 1 dollar will equal a one cent Euro coin...

[hungry1968]

When did the meaning of "refine" change to reverse?

Posted by PVperson at 05:59 PM : Jul 05, 2008





What''s been "reversed"?

Is Obama now advocating keeping the troops over there forever like McCain is?

[occams_taser]

McCain has experience bombing civilians, crashing planes and taking lobbyist money. Sounds like a perfect candidate to lead the Empire into decline!!

[hillary4us]

WHY ISN''T OBAMA''S "STOP THE SMEAR" CAMPAIGN WORKING? THEY FORGOT SOMETHING: http://larrysinclair0926.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/let-me-make-it-clear-for-the-obamablogonots-obama-himself/

[hungry1968]

Only a complete fool would get out of Iraq before the mission is finished.

Posted by glenda743 at 06:01 PM : Jul 05, 2008





What exactly is "the mission", and what are the goals? How do we KNOW what "finished" means?

Are you referring to "victory"?

Please define "victory" as it pertains to the occupation of Iraq.

[hillary4us]

What''''s been "reversed"?

Is Obama now advocating keeping the troops over there forever like McCain is?


Posted by hungry1968 at 06:07 PM : Jul 05, 2008************************************************* NOT YET, WE SHOULD HEAR THAT ABOUT TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. VOTE NO OBAMA! P.U.M.A.

[sidvicious75]

Sha... a black guy? "Commited to ending war?" Give me a break.. Turn down yer stereo, buddy.

[hungry1968]

Posted by HILLARY4US at 06:10 PM : Jul 05, 2008





Since Larry Sinclair FAILED his lie detector test - TWICE - 4 months ago, and it''s NEVER been an issue in the first place, why are you bringing up this smut again?