Obama, button it up!
Posted on 11/20/2006 2:50:27 PM PST by KeyLargo
NBC5.com
Obama Urges Gradual Withdrawal Of Troops From Iraq Senator Careful Not To Set Specific Timetable
UPDATED: 1:13 pm CST November 20, 2006 CHICAGO -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who is contemplating a run for the presidency, on Monday called for a "gradual and substantial" reduction of U.S. forces from Iraq that would begin in four to six months.
Speaking to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Illinois senator envisioned a flexible timetable for withdrawal linked to conditions on the ground in Iraq and based on the advise of U.S. commanders. Obama also called for intensified efforts to train Iraqi security forces, U.S. aid packages tied to Iraqi progress in reducing sectarian violence and new diplomacy with Syria and Iran.
"I believe that it remains possible to salvage an acceptable outcome to this long and misguided war," he said in remarks prepared for delivery. "But it will not be easy. For the fact is that there are no good options left in this war."
Obama was not in the Senate when President Bush sought and received support from Congress in 2002 to use military force against Saddam Hussein. But he has publicly opposed the war since then.
The results of this month's elections, Obama said, represented a repudiation of President Bush's policies. But he said the war has also ignited a new sense of isolationism among Americans that is risky in a post-Sept. 11, 2001, world.
"We cannot afford to be a country of isolationists right now," he said. "We need to maintain a strong foreign policy, relentless in pursuing our enemies and hopeful in promoting our values around the world."
Obama was careful not to set a specific timetable for withdrawal of troops.
"We cannot compromise the safety of our troops, and we should be willing to adjust to realities on the ground," he said.
He proposed redeploying troops to Northern Iraq and to other countries in the region. He recommended boosting troop strength in Afghanistan, "where our lack of focus and commitment or resources has led to an increasing deterioration of the security situation there."
"For only through this phase redeployment can we send a clear message to the Iraqi factions that the U.S. is not going to hold together this country indefinitely -- that it will be up to them to form a viable government that can effectively run and secure Iraq," he said.
Obama rejected proposals to add more troops to Iraq, an idea advanced by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saying that without Iraqi cooperation "we would only be putting more of our soldiers in the crossfire of a civil war."
Obama is one of several Democrats considering a run for the White House in 2008, which promises to be one of the most wide-open campaigns in decades. In recent polling, his numbers rival front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., but questions abound regarding his experience -- he has served less than two years in the Senate.
The first-term senator said the Iraq war has underscored one lesson: "We should be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force."
The empty suit speaks.
No..this is supposed be be the next generation.."New" kind of Demoncat. This time around (perpetually) the reason for needing to raise our taxes will be more important.
Did he serve in Vietnam?
Oh please, make it Hillary and Obama.
Obama has spoken! Make it so!
Obama, button it up!
The question is Mr. Obama, do you want fast sitting ducks or slow sitting ducks - or dead ducks?
The United States has two choices in Iraq: win or lose. "Gradual withdrawal" before winning is the same as losing. The object of war is to win, to kill the enemy. Anything short of winning is wrong.
I dunno if BO has Presidential cache:)
It's not quite FDR, or JFK, or GWB.......let's try it again...
BO....no, it doesn't work for me.
sp
What... The article is about Bin Laden urging a gradual withdrawl of U.S. Troops from Iraq... Since when do we listen to Osama.... oh sorry Obama, Osama, either way same difference.. I think they both want the same thing... Right?
Wow! Did I read this article right? I did not see the term 'Obama, the rising star'. What happened! Did he stop rising? Did Hillary put out the word? We must look into this...And in regard to - "questions abound regarding his experience", I think we will talk about his family background more than that.
He's so inexperienced, but yet so wise. And he speaks so beautifully. Let's elect him President.
WHO IS THIS PERSON AND WHERE DID HE COME FROM?????
Don't forget - -
ADMIRAL STOCKDALE: Who am I? Why am I here? - 1992
A person has to be 35 to run for President, is Obama old enough? He certainly isnt wise enough, if he were he would know he hasnt near enough experience to be president.
OH, now B.O. is a foreign policy expert. Stunning to me the guy was elected senator and two years later thinks he is qualified to be president--and the old media is right behind him pushing him along by telling the public how great he is at covering his sniveling liberal tracks.
This moron Obama needs to realize that this is America not some North African sewer. When Americans want any crap out of Obama, we'll unscrew his head and dip it out. The boy needs to run home to whatever garbage heap he crawled out of.
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