Obama Might ‘Refine’ Iraq Timeline
As a presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama has not been known for holding an abundance of news conferences. That was not the case here on Thursday, when he called two in a span of four hours.
So what prompted him to call a second afternoon session to talk specifically about Iraq?
Mr. Obama was scrolling through news reports on his Blackberry – taking particular note of stories about his Iraq policy – when he told his advisers he wanted to better explain a statement he made earlier about continuing to “refine my policies” regarding a timeline for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
“We’re going to try this again,” Mr. Obama said, standing behind a lectern that was hastily set up on the lawn of a park here. “Apparently I wasn’t clear enough this morning on my position with respect to the war in Iraq.”
So does Mr. Obama still stand behind his proposed timeline to withdraw the majority of American combat troops in 16 months, at a pace of one or two a month?
This morning, he answered the question like this:
“My 16-month timeline, if you examine everything that I’ve said, was always premised on making sure that our troops were safe. I said that based on the information that we had received from our commanders that one to two brigades a month could be pulled out safely, from a logistical perspective. My guiding approach continues to be that we’ve got to make sure that our troops are safe and that Iraq is stable. I’m going to continue to gather information to find out whether those conditions still hold.”
In the afternoon, this is how he addressed the same topic:
“I’ve also said that I would be deliberate and careful in how we got out, that I would bring our troops home at a pace of one to two brigades per month and that pace would have our combat troops out in 16 months. That position has not changed. I have not equivocated on that position, I am not searching for maneuvering room with respect to that position.”
Republicans seized on Mr. Obama’s remarks, saying he was stepping away from the position he took in the Democratic primary campaign.
“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 Republican National Committee. “Obama’s Iraq problem undermines the central premise of his candidacy and shows him to be a typical politician.”
Comment by Peter on 4 July 2008:
The truth is not only does he flip-flop like a fish out of water, but he seems to be upset whenever someone criticizes his thinking..each time he must “defend” what he has said. Lets not kid ourselves..this man was is aware of the chance he has to be president, and will stop at NOTHING to win…why wouldn’t he? wouldn’t we do the same? to put him on a pedestal based on his “speeches” is akin to mass hysteria…
god help us all
Comment by Jeremiah on 4 July 2008:
Politics is a “Blood Sport” and the ‘Presidency’ of the United States, is in my opinion the biggest prize in our world.
Sen. Obama has a good shot at ‘Top Honors’ so he like anyone else will do ANYTHING to achieve his goal.
He does seem to be less truthful than Sen. McCain.