Obama Is Once Again All Over The Map When It Comes To Explaining His Plan For Iraq
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Today, Obama Said That He Would Not Abandon The Field In Iraq And Would Leave A Residual Force There To Fight Al Qaeda And Train Iraqi Forces:
Obama Said He Would Keep Troops In Iraq To Conduct Counter-Terrorism Operations And Other Limited Missions. Obama: "[I] have never talked about leaving the field entirely. What I've said is that we would get our combat troops out of Iraq, that we would not have permanent bases in Iraq. I've talked about maintaining a residual force there to ensure that al Qaeda does not reform in Iraq, that we're making sure that we are providing logistical support and potential training to Iraqi forces -- so long as we're not training sectarian armies that are then fighting each other -- to protect our diplomats, to protect humanit arian efforts in the region. So, nobody's talking about abandoning the field." (CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," 7/13/08)
But Obama Previously Said Troops Would Either Be In Iraq Or Elsewhere In The Region:
In March, Obama Claimed That He Would Keep A Strike Force In Iraq Or "Perhaps Outside Of Iraq" To Protect Civilians And Respond To "Potential Problems." Question: "You've said you'd leave a small force there to deal with terrorist attacks. How long would you leave them there? And what's your criteria for pulling them out?" Obama: "Well, no, no, that's not what I've said. What I've said is that we will have troops looking after our embassy there, which we do everywhere. We do it in France. We do it in Great Britain. We have some military personnel that ensure that our diplomatic forces are take n care of. We have troops to make sure that our civilian populations are cared for. And what I've said is I would have a strike force in the region, perhaps in Iraq, perhaps outside of Iraq, so that we could take advantage or we could deal with potential problems that might take place in the region." (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, 3/31/08)
Obama Also Refused To Say How Many Troops He Would Leave In Iraq:
Obama Would Not Say How Many Troops He Would Keep In Iraq. CNN's Fareed Zakaria: "But you could imagine a situation where, if the Iraqi government wanted it, 30,000 American troops are still in Iraq 10 years from now." Obama: "You know, I have been very careful not to put numbers on what a residual force would look like." (CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," 7/13/08)
Today, Obama National Co-Chair Sen. Claire McCaskill Said Obama's 16-Month Withdrawal Plan Was Just A "Goal":
Sen. McCaskill Said Obama's "Goal" Is To Withdraw Troops In 16 Months. NBC's Tom Brokaw: "But for just so that we can clarify, the 16 months is his goal, not a promise to the American people." Sen. McCaskill: "Sixteen months is his goal. It would be irresponsible for a commander in chief to set in stone a date but he believes based on the best military advice that he has gotten that one to two brigades a month is reasonable and I believe that that is his commitment to the American people and he will keep that commitment to the American people." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 7/13/08)
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Today, Obama Said That He Would Not Abandon The Field In Iraq And Would Leave A Residual Force There To Fight Al Qaeda And Train Iraqi Forces:
Obama Said He Would Keep Troops In Iraq To Conduct Counter-Terrorism Operations And Other Limited Missions. Obama: "[I] have never talked about leaving the field entirely. What I've said is that we would get our combat troops out of Iraq, that we would not have permanent bases in Iraq. I've talked about maintaining a residual force there to ensure that al Qaeda does not reform in Iraq, that we're making sure that we are providing logistical support and potential training to Iraqi forces -- so long as we're not training sectarian armies that are then fighting each other -- to protect our diplomats, to protect humanit arian efforts in the region. So, nobody's talking about abandoning the field." (CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," 7/13/08)
But Obama Previously Said Troops Would Either Be In Iraq Or Elsewhere In The Region:
In March, Obama Claimed That He Would Keep A Strike Force In Iraq Or "Perhaps Outside Of Iraq" To Protect Civilians And Respond To "Potential Problems." Question: "You've said you'd leave a small force there to deal with terrorist attacks. How long would you leave them there? And what's your criteria for pulling them out?" Obama: "Well, no, no, that's not what I've said. What I've said is that we will have troops looking after our embassy there, which we do everywhere. We do it in France. We do it in Great Britain. We have some military personnel that ensure that our diplomatic forces are take n care of. We have troops to make sure that our civilian populations are cared for. And what I've said is I would have a strike force in the region, perhaps in Iraq, perhaps outside of Iraq, so that we could take advantage or we could deal with potential problems that might take place in the region." (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, 3/31/08)
Obama Also Refused To Say How Many Troops He Would Leave In Iraq:
Obama Would Not Say How Many Troops He Would Keep In Iraq. CNN's Fareed Zakaria: "But you could imagine a situation where, if the Iraqi government wanted it, 30,000 American troops are still in Iraq 10 years from now." Obama: "You know, I have been very careful not to put numbers on what a residual force would look like." (CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," 7/13/08)
Today, Obama National Co-Chair Sen. Claire McCaskill Said Obama's 16-Month Withdrawal Plan Was Just A "Goal":
Sen. McCaskill Said Obama's "Goal" Is To Withdraw Troops In 16 Months. NBC's Tom Brokaw: "But for just so that we can clarify, the 16 months is his goal, not a promise to the American people." Sen. McCaskill: "Sixteen months is his goal. It would be irresponsible for a commander in chief to set in stone a date but he believes based on the best military advice that he has gotten that one to two brigades a month is reasonable and I believe that that is his commitment to the American people and he will keep that commitment to the American people." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 7/13/08)
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But Obama Previously Promised To "Bring This War In Iraq To A Close In 2009":
Obama: "When I promise that we are going to bring this war in Iraq to a close in 2009, I want the American people to understand that I opposed this war in 2002, 2003, '04, '05, '06 and '07, so you can have confidence that I will be serious about ending this war." (Barack Obama, Remarks At The North Carolina Democrat Party 2008 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Raleigh, NC, 5/2/08)
FLASHBACK: Obama Said That He Would Consult With Military Commanders And Review Conditions On The Ground To Determine The Pace Of Withdrawal From Iraq:
Obama Said The Pace Of Withdrawal From Iraq Would Be Determined In Consultation With Commanders On The Ground And The Iraqi Government. Obama: "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. 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." (Sen. Barack O bama, Interview With Military Times, 7/2/08)
Obama Said He Would "Refine" His Iraq Policy Based On Conditions On The Ground. Obama: "I've always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability. That assessment has not changed...And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies." (Jeff Zeleny, "Obama: Open To 'Refine' Iraq Withdrawal Timeline," The New York Times' "The Caucus" Blog, www.nytimes.com, 7/3/08)
FLASHBACK: But At The Same Time, Obama Committed To Having Troops Out In 16 Months:
Obama Said Troops Would Be Out Of Iraq In 16 Months. Question: "You just said that when you used the phrase refined policies, it did not -- you did not refer to the 16-month timetable. Does that mean you can tell us today you will not change the 16-month timetables?" Obama: "Here's what I can tell you: that I will bring our troops out at a pace of one to two brigades per month. And at that pace we will have our combat troops out in 16 months. That is what I intend to do as president of the United States." (Sen. Barack Obama, Press Conference, 7/3/08)
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