Candidates Scramble To Clarify Iraq Vision

Washington Post: Both Obama, McCain Forced To Refine Stances Based On Changing Events On The Ground

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Anne E. Kornblut and Michael D. Shear.

---

Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday dismissed criticism that he is abandoning his principles to move toward the political center, saying he has been consistent in embracing moderate views on several issues, especially his belief that pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq must be done "carefully."

Obama addressed what he called "this whole notion that I am shifting to the center, or that I am flip-flopping," with a firm denial that he has tilted his emphasis away from swiftly bringing the war to an end. "Don't be confused: I am going to bring the Iraq war to a close when I am president of the United States of America," Obama said.

The remarks came as both candidates scrambled to clarify their visions for Iraq in the face of changing events on the ground. Sen. John McCain, who has repeatedly derided calls for a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, suddenly found himself confronted with the American-backed Iraqi leadership raising the prospect of exactly that.

For the first time, Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki said Monday in a statement that the two countries should consider deciding the future of U.S. troops with "a memorandum of understanding to put a timetable on their withdrawal."

On Tuesday, McCain's top foreign policy adviser declined to criticize Maliki, and his campaign sought to portray those comments as consistent with the Republican nominee's long-standing position. "Senator McCain has always said that conditions on the ground -- including the security threats posed by extremists and terrorists, and the ability of Iraqi forces to meet those threats -- would be key determinants in U.S. force levels," senior adviser Randy Scheunemann said.

McCain continued to express confidence that any withdrawal would come after victory in Iraq. Campaigning in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, he told reporters he is "confident" that Maliki's decision-making "will be directly related to the situation on the ground, just as they have always said. And since we are succeeding and then I am convinced, as I have said before, we can withdraw and withdraw with honor, not according to a set timetable."

Their party nominations in hand, Obama and McCain have calibrated their firm stands on Iraq to adapt to changing events on the ground, namely a post-"surge" reduction in violence, to target a more centrist audience. Obama plans to visit Baghdad in the weeks ahead, and will be eager to demonstrate a facility with the complexities there without succumbing to the "flip-flop" charge that dogged Democratic nominee Sen. John F. Kerry four years ago.

Maliki's comments suggest that there are trapdoors for McCain on Iraq as well. In speeches, town hall meetings, interviews and campaign commercials, he has said a timetable would provide terrorists the knowledge of how long they have to wait until U.S. troops are gone.

McCain has repeatedly said that setting a date for withdrawal would lead to "chaos, genocide and we will be back with greater sacrifice." And he accused both Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of endangering Americans by advocating a specific timetable for withdrawal.

"It would be an unconscionable act of betrayal, a stain on our character as a great nation, if we were to walk away from the Iraqi people and consign them to the horrendous violence, ethnic cleansing and possibly genocide that would follow a reckless, irresponsible and premature withdrawal," he said in a California speech.

Obama made his remarks in response to a question at a town hall meeting from a self-declared "reformed Republican" who sympathetically encouraged the senator to set the record straight on his Iraq position. Obama spent most of last week explaining his remark that he would "continue to refine" his Iraq proposals -- which was widely interpreted as a softening of his promise to end the war and as a general-election shift to the center.

Obama, egged on by a raucous audience, said on Tuesday that he has always held centrist views -- not only on Iraq but also on faith and what he called "personal responsibility."

"The people who say this apparently haven't been listening to me," he said. "And, I have to say, some of them are my friends on the left and some of the media. I am somebody who is no doubt progressive." He listed issues in which he views himself as progressive -- on providing universal health-care coverage, increased teacher pay -- then said that on other matters, he believes in thinking more creatively about nongovernmental solutions.

On Iraq, Obama declared unequivocally his commitment to withdrawal. And he said that he has always advocated caution.

"I have also consistently said, once we were in, we had to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in, because once you get in you've got to make sure our troops are safe," he said. "You've got to make sure the country doesn't collapse, so what I've called for is a phased withdrawal, a phased redeployment."

He continued: "Now, assuming that I take office in January, then that means that we would still have our troops there for about two more years from now. There's nothing rushed about that. . . . When I hear John McCain saying we can't surrender, we can't wave the white flag -- nobody's talking about surrender. We're talking about common sense."

Obama said: "I am going to bring this war to an end."

Shear reported from the McCain campaign in Washington and Pittsburgh.

[taotxzen]

If Iraqis want U.S. troops to leave, what will McCain say?
By: Steve Benen @ 5:30 AM - PDT

Now that a growing number of top Iraqi officials are talking openly about a timeline for U.S. troop withdrawal, it%u2019s worth taking a moment to consider how this might factor into John McCain%u2019s vision of an indefinite war, followed by an indefinite troop presence.

As luck would have it, McCain was asked about this kind of scenario at the Council of Foreign Relations in 2004, and gave a very straightforward answer.

Question: %u201CWhat would or should we do if, in the post-June 30th period, a so-called sovereign Iraqi government asks us to leave, even if we are unhappy about the security situation there?%u201D

McCain%u2019s Answer: %u201CWell, if that scenario evolves than I think it%u2019s obvious that we would have to leave because %u2014 if it was an elected government of Iraq, and we%u2019ve been asked to leave other places in the world. If it were an extremist government then I think we would have other challenges, but I don%u2019t see how we could stay when our whole emphasis and policy has been based on turning the Iraqi government over to the Iraqi people.%u201D [emphasis added]

Adam Blickstein asked, %u201CDoes the John McCain of 2008 agree with this assessment?%u201D Sounds like the kind of question an enterprising political reporter might pose to the Republican candidate.

[sunburn4]

McCain, What exactly is victory in Iraq? Im sick of these political criminals spewing their garbage! Iraq wants us out! All this war was about was the color green! All this war has proved is the level of greed and true disregard for human life by our government! This administration has proved to the world how little they value the will of the american people and just how corrupt they really are!!

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Q: I%u2019ll respond by saying this: that you do not have a perfect voting record by the DAV and the VFW. That%u2019s where these votes are recorded. And the votes were proposals%u2026they were proposals by your colleagues in the Senate to increase healthcare funding of the VA in 2003, 4, 5 and 6, for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and you voted against those proposals. I can give the specific Senate votes, the numbers of those Senate votes, right now.

McCain: Well, I thank you and I%u2019ll be glad to examine what your version of my record is. But, again, I%u2019ve been endorsed in every election by all of the veterans%u2019 organizations that do that. I%u2019ve been supported by them and I%u2019ve received their highest awards from all of those organizations, so I guess they don%u2019t know something you know. So I thank you very much and I will continue to be proud of my support for the veterans of this country and proud of their support.

[taotxzen]

(cont)

McCain: I%u2019ve received every organization in America, their awards%u2026[questioner says something-inaudible] Now, sir, I don%u2019t%u2026I don%u2019t know what you%u2019re referring to nor do%u2026[questioner continuing-inaudible] Sir, I%u2019m responding to your question and then I will let you speak again, if you%u2019d like, but you oughta%u2026the way we try to conduct these is let people finish and then I will go back to [audience applause] to you%u2026I%u2019ll go right back. So I don%u2019t know what bill you%u2019re referring to or what you%u2019re referring to and I%u2019ll be glad to have you refer to it. But the reason why I have a perfect voting record from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and all the other veterans%u2019 service organization is because of my support of them, but if you can go ahead and respond if you want to. Go ahead. Give him the microphone back.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

McCain Gets Testy With Vet Over GI Bill
By: Nicole Belle @ 4:30 PM - PDT

At the Colorado appearance where he stressed his economic program, John McCain got a question about a vet that he didn%u2019t seem too happy about.

The questioner, apparently a veteran, asks McCain about his voting against expansion of healthcare benefits to veterans for the years 2004-2007, years in which we have Iraq and Afghanistan veterans adding exponentially to the VA rolls. McCain testily reminds him that he has been endorsed by %u201Call the organizations%u201D and then launches into an explanation of his resistance to the Webb GI Bill that provided educational assistance to veterans. Wrong bill, Gramps.

When the questioner reiterates that his question went to healthcare%u2013not educational%u2013benefits, McSame reiterate that all the veterans%u2019 groups love him and blew him off. Temper, temper.

(cont)

[taotxzen]

(cont)

Referring to Al Qaeda members who regrouped in Pakistan, The Times reported:

%u201CCurrent and former military and intelligence officials said that the war in Iraq consistently diverted resources and high-level attention from the tribal areas. When American military and intelligence officials requested additional Predator drones to survey the tribal areas, they were told no drones were available because they had been sent to Iraq.%u201D

Who knows how long it will be before the U.S. disengages in any significant way from Iraq. What you can take to the bank is that this country will not make any major advances in energy policy, in health coverage, in rebuilding its infrastructure, in improving its public schools or in curtailing runaway public and private debt until our open-ended commitment to this catastrophic multitrillion-dollar war comes to an end.

How long will it take before that finally sinks in?

New York Times Bob Herbert

[taotxzen]

Success in Iraq:


In addition to the terrible toll of Americans and Iraqis killed and wounded, the war in Iraq has diverted attention and resources from critical problems here in the U.S., where the housing market has been crippled, the stock market has tanked, gasoline has soared past $4 per gallon, unemployment is increasing and an extraordinary number of debt-ridden working families are staring into a financial abyss.

Even as oil companies are enjoying staggering profits, many Americans - in July - are already worried sick about the potentially ruinous cost of heating their homes next winter.

And then there%u2019s the so-called war on terror.

The latest news is that Al Qaeda, the terror network that actually did attack the U.S., has successfully regrouped in the tribal areas of Pakistan and has reconstituted its ability to institute terror attacks from the region.

For an administration joined at the hip to the oil industry, the lure of Iraq%u2019s enormous reserves was stronger even than the impulse to conquer an enemy that murdered more than 2,700 civilians on Sept. 11, a toll greater than the number of Americans killed by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor.

(cont)

[ariel133]

%u201CDon%u2019t be confused. I will bring the Iraq war to a close when I am president of the United States of America.%u201D Obama says.


The only one "Confused" Obama, is YOU.

You can not make a statement of this magnitude without visiting the country and speaking to military commanders first.

If this is the way you plan to lead a country we don''t need your inexperiance.

[ariel133]

Obama is acting elitist and sheding some of USA hatred indoctrines he learned from Wright, which is inevitable, with his statement that Americans should feel imbarressed if they don''t speak French in France.

What about all the people in the USA who don''t speak English?

Isn''t it something that he is concerned about France?

[hungry1968]

The only one "Confused" Obama, is YOU.

You can not make a statement of this magnitude without visiting the country and speaking to military commanders first.

If this is the way you plan to lead a country we don''''t need your inexperiance.



Posted by Ariel133 at 10:17 AM : Jul 09, 2008





Why does he need to visit Iraq, to know that it''s wrong to stay there?

Why not listen to McCain himself on the issue:


Question: "What would or should we do if, in the post-June 30th period, a so-called sovereign Iraqi government asks us to leave, even if we are unhappy about the security situation there?"

McCain''s Answer: "Well, if that scenario evolves than I think it''s obvious that we would have to leave because -- if it was an elected government of Iraq, and we''ve been asked to leave other places in the world. If it were an extremist government then I think we would have other challenges, but I don''t see how we could stay when our whole emphasis and policy has been based on turning the Iraqi government over to the Iraqi people."

[deacon20081]

George Bush is adamant that he will not allow Iraq to be a free democracy. He can not understand why the "puppet government" he put in place is turning on him now. Go figure..........

[deacon20081]

I am a Veteran and I sure as heck do not think much of Mc Cain. I crawled in the mud while he flew a fighter and dropped bombs. Big deal, that supposedly makes him a "HERO"? I guess anyone that does the bidding of Bush is a HERO huh? The Purple Heart, the Bronze and Silver Stars on my wall seem worth less than ever before. At least my kids and grand babies find them cool to look at...right?

[nanging3]

Obama is Not bringing hiome the troops....in his own words...


http://youtube.com
/watch?v=2kFrFIFizkU


Obama plans to DISARM America
...in his own words...

http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs


Obama is a chameleon, says whatever he needs to, to get elected !

[ca_ty]

Obama has no core. You are not sure if he will do what he promises during the campaign.

[oneamerican-]

Notice how the far-left liberals AVOID GOOD NEWS FROM IRAQ like the plague?

Ironic - because liberalism IS the plague...

That is why CBS has quickly buried any stories about the success in Iraq.

CBS''s new slogan:
"CBS News. Cherry-picking the news for the sake of the liberal agenda to destroy America."

But the sad fact is that liberalism''s popularity is sinking into the same quagmire that CBS''s popularity ratings are, along with the Democrat-controlled congress'' miserable all-time low approval ratings.

[actornaught]

Posted by nanging3 at 11:41 AM : Jul 09, 2008

Funny as all get out when you ''cons post links that show you''re liars.

[oneamerican-]

Notice how the far-left liberals AVOID GOOD NEWS FROM IRAQ like the plague?

Ironic - because liberalism IS the plague...

That is why CBS has quickly buried any stories about the success in Iraq.

CBS''s new slogan:
"CBS News. Cherry-picking the news for the sake of the liberal agenda to destroy America."

But the sad fact is that liberalism''s popularity is sinking into the same quagmire that CBS''s popularity ratings are, along with the Democrat-controlled congress'' miserable all-time low approval ratings.

Liberals are losing their War on America.

[actornaught]

Posted by OneAmerican- at 12:03 PM : Jul 09, 2008

And you are a liar.

"Return on success". Then it''s time to go home. (Not send home just what''s legally required.)

[chrisl45]

Here are jokes on Obama. %u201CBarack%u201D sounds like US barracks, the %u201CO%u201D in Obama is hinting at praise, %u201Cbam%u201D sounds like bomb, and the last letter in his name %u201Ca%u201D could stand for America. If you stitch these together Barack%u2019s name is saying to America %u201Cpraise the bombing of America%u201D. What makes things worst when you think about Barack%u2019s name is Obama has worn muslim cloths, has a bad middle name (Hussein), and attended an anti-semite church. Believe me, it%u2019s just like someone with an Adolph Hitler mustach repeatedly playing football on the lawn of the white house. How could senator Obama do this to the country. Also, I saw the name %u201CBarack%u201D and %u201CObama%u201D and though of the bombing of the US barracks in Beirut, and the bombing of the US barracks in the Gulf War by friendly fire. His initials, %u201CBO%u201D, are like he%u2019s saying if you vote for me you will be making the country stink with radiation. Also, Barack%u2019s name can be seen to be saying %u201Cbaa%u201D like a sheep saying %u201Cbad%u201D (another reference %u201Cbaa-humbug), %u201Crack%u201D pointing directly towards John McCain%u2019s torture at the hands of the Vietnames. %u201Crack%u201D is a term that can be applied to being hung by ropes with your arms behind your back. So, Barack%u2019s recent attacks on John%u2019s war record are because Barack is literally standing on his first name. Obama has a similar name to Osama Bin Laden.

[liberalme]

Obama is acting elitist and sheding some of USA hatred indoctrines he learned from Wright, which is inevitable, with his statement that Americans should feel imbarressed if they don''''t speak French in France.

What about all the people in the USA who don''''t speak English?

Isn''''t it something that he is concerned about France?


Posted by Ariel133 at 10:25 AM : Jul 09

Well golly gee---that''s almost as bad as an American speaking English but can''t spell!!

That''s imbarressed or should it be embarrassing.

Or should sheding be shedding?
What is indoctrines all about?

Do you live in America Ariel133?

[liberalme]

Obama has a similar name to Osama Bin Laden.

Posted by ChrisL45 at 12:28 PM : Jul

Oh groan--that one is so old--you neocons with an IQ equal to a jar of mayonnaise can''t really come up with anything intelligent--your post is a whole paragraph of nonsense and irrelevant garbage.
Jokes?? The joke is on you.

[nanging3]

Obama is Not bringing hiome the troops....in his own words...

http://youtube.com
/watch?v=2kFrFIFizkU


Obama plans to DISARM America
...in his own words...

http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs


Obama is a chameleon, says whatever he needs to, to get elected !

[ariel133]

The AFL-CIO will go up on the air tomorrow in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin with an ad featuring a Vietnam veteran criticizing John McCain on issues related to the Iraq war, veterans and the economy.

A source at the labor federation would only call the buy "significant," saying it would last three weeks.

The new ad is being released in conjuction with the formation of an AFL-CIO Veterans Council. John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, will launch the new group tomorrow in Dayton, Ohio, along with Building & Construction Trades Council Mark Ayers (like McCain, a former Navy aviator) and Jim Wasser, the union member who is featured in the ad. Wasser has also been featured in an AFL mailer and served on a Swift Boat in Vietnam with John Kerry.

There are 2.1 million union veterans and active-duty personnel.

The once great AFL-CIO now become a smear group for the politicians they have bribed, bought and sold. This one is great... tell the country that John McCain does not respect our military ... when the Democratic Congress has been urinating on our military weekly for the past six years. I guess they assume the American public consists of idiots. If this ad works... then they are correct.

[rgrxx175]

how about we pull out the troops, the leadership in iraq has clearly stated that they want the U.S. out!

[ariel133]

"Obama has seemed to move towards the center on a number of highly-charged issues in recent weeks, among them gun control, the intelligence bill known as FISA, and, to some extent, his plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq. Polls suggest that despite the stark differences between dueling advocacy groups over abortion, a middle ground exists should Obama want to seek it out."

NOTHING LIKE THE MEDIA GIVING THIS IDIOT A FREE PASS ON EVERYTHING. I CAN''T WAIT UNTIL HE FALLS FLAT ON HIS FACE. THAT DAY WILL COME. WATCH & SEE

[offtheback]

Democratic Congress has been urinating on our military weekly for the past six years. I guess they assume the American public consists of idiots. If this ad works... then they are correct.



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

Posted by Ariel133

I, for one would rather be peed on than electrocuted in my shower by a war profiter helping to make the cheney crowd richer.

[offtheback]

how about we pull out the troops, the leadership in iraq has clearly stated that they want the U.S. out!


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

Posted by RGRXX175

Just like normal. You fools don''t know what is good for you so uncle george and rich are here to make your life better. or is that bitter?

[mycommentspg]

Obama cannot and will not say exactly when the war (or conflict) will end because he doesn''t know. Congress approved the action in error and the end will come when and if Congress (Democrats and Republicans) can find some form of combined intelligence to actually determine how to bring this sad chapter to a safe end for our troops and the people of Iraq. McCain knows this and understands the situation better than Obama. http://mycommentspage.blogspot.com/

[ariel133]

The Air Force making improvements-

Appropriate and necessary step to improve the Air Force-what more can we say? That America is it!

Either you are with us or against us!

Without the Military we would not be here. I commend & honor those who fight for us and for those support our country.

A War- sometimes is neccessary to keep our FREEDOMS.

God Bless.

[greatdrivew]

Obama is the biggest liar in Washington.

Here''s his shell game: Make promises to get votes. Once he gets those votes, break those promises to get more votes. Then, when the first group complains that he broke his promises, he dismisses them and says we weren''t listening. And when that argument fails, he says that we never had an agreement and that we can''t expect to always agree with him.

Fact: We had an agreement, Obama. As you stated, America doesn''t need to spy on its citizens, and it doesn''t need Scooter Libby justice.

So please, Barack, you you lying SOB, explain how and when we were listening. ANd then, explain how this is simply a disagreement. In other words, please tell us agiain that there was no agreement. I dare you.

[edfrienz]

I believe that Obama said that social security would no longer be taxed if he was elected but now I am unsure what he is saying. There is a site that you can ask that you get an answer back but that does not happen. I believe that social security has been borrowed from and not paid back so pay back social security and give the people decent raises. I do believe you voted your own raises. We want medicare left alone and these other programs should be done away with. People do not understand insurance and do not know what they have until they try to use it. Don''t other countries owe us money? Collect from all of them and also the people who dodge paying taxes.