So when does Obama propose getting out of Iraq?

[OzarkDem]

According to his foreign policy "expert" who just resigned, his timetable is longer than 16 months.

Obama supporters - when do you think he will begin getting our troops out of Iraq?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4954708&mesg_id=4954708

[casus belli]

1. And Hillary's is longer than that...

what's your point?

[OzarkDem]

2. You're wrong on that AND we're talking about Obama

care to answer?

[casus belli]

13. Sure, I'll bite...

That is focusing on a very small portion of what she said. What she said was that it would be impossible to know what the exact timeline can be without having access to the information that only a president would be privy to. I don't think that's out of line, it's actually far more honest an answer than saying "We're out in 6 months period" and being made a liar when it turns out to be logistically impossible. What he has said is that it would be a phased withdrawal of troops with a target of 16 months. That's a goal he believes to be realistic with the information he currently has. The point is, he will be focusing on withdrawing the troops, not authorizing surges, or redistributing them - looking for ways to keep them in theater indefinitely. His concentration will be on removing them in the 16 months. If that ends up taking 20 months instead of 16, will you fault him for that? He's giving the best case scenario he can give with the limited amount of information he has on the tactical composition.

[rug]

24. Except he said today: "I will bring this war to an end in 2009."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Obama_responds_She_doesnt_have_standing_to_question_my_position.html#comments

[casus belli]

26. The war ends BEFORE you withdraw troops. n/t

[rug]

28. Bush tried that once with "Mission Accomplished".

In Iraq there will be war until the troops leave.

[casus belli]

31. You do realize that under nobody's plan are all the troops leaving, right?

All of the withdrawal plans call for small forces to be left behind to maintain a presence and to facilitate any quick response that might be necessary.

[rug]

32. And I realize on one day he says he will end the war in 2009 and on another he says "it depends".

He's not talking about embassy guards.

[casus belli]

33. HE, didn't say that. n/t

[rug]

34. He did. Today. In Wyoming.

[babylonsister]

3. I guess that all depends on whether he gets the opportunity with

this giant headache in his way. I doubt he even knows considering how fluid the situation is. But his goal is ASAP. To ask us to answer for him is just dumb because no one knows.

[OzarkDem]

7. His advisor said longer than 16 months

that's ridiculous. It can be done sooner and needs to. Simply fiddling around while he tries to figure out what to do will only make the situation worse.

[babylonsister]

12. You have no clue how long it would take or what's involved. Please. nt

[OzarkDem]

19. Quite the contrary

There are no mysteries about Iraq. We've been over there for several years now, we know what's going on. Most of the trouble and instability is because of our presence.

Devising a plan to get out isn't rocket science, there are quite a few good ones proposed already. Maybe someone needs to give Obama a briefing and bring him up to date.

[hedgehog]

15. No - she said ideally everyone would be out in 16 months. nt

[anigbrowl]

4. I imagine he'll go to work on it the first day.

Meeting with the joint chiefs etc., he says he'd like to get them out as fast as possible without compromising their safety or the stability of Iraq, and that the advice he received at the beginning of 2008 was that it might be doable in 16 months.

[Cant trust em]

5. website says immediately

If I were not going to take him at his word, I would reckon that he'd at least start the draw down when he gets into office so it can seem like he's keeping a promise. However, I do take him at his word that his plan is to withdraw 2 battalions a month. What Power said in the interview makes total sense. He can't commit to doing drawing down the troops a year before he takes office. George Bush has painted us into a corner and it's going to be very difficult to get out. We can't just snap our fingers and hope everything works out for the best.

[OzarkDem]

9. His expert says otherwise

they need to get their story straight or its going to look like he's lying to get elected, then will turn around and do something else if he ends up in office.

We've already had 7 years of that.

[Cant trust em]

21. That's not what's going on

like she said. It's impossible to forecast what we'll do in January 2009, when we're in March 2008. As we all know, a lot can change in 9 months. To stick to a plan and never take into account changes in reality is what we killed George Bush for. Smart people know that things are different and change accordingly. Moreover, the final quote from Power is what's most important.

"What you can take seriously is that he will try to get U.S. troops out as quickly and as responsibly as possible. And that is the best case estimate of what it would take."

[OzarkDem]

23. Sorry, not buying it

He keeps giving different answers every time he's asked this question. He's obviously either not telling the truth or doesn't have a clue about his own policy.

[Cant trust em]

27. Great then. Do you need a worker visa to live Fantasyland?

You know, the place where details never change and everything we want will work out exactly like we plan. Was it difficult for you to obtain your citizenship?

[LSparkle]

6. All plans are "hypotheticals" which Hillary is LOATHE to discuss/respond to

On Conference Call, Obama Advisers Parry More Incoming Fire
By Greg Sargent - March 7, 2008, 2:24PM


The skirmishing over Samantha Power continued on an Obama campaign conference call moments ago, with the action shifting over to this recent interview with Power about Obama's commitment to withdrawing from Iraq.

In that interview, Power said the following about Obama's future approach to withdrawal from Iraq: "He will, of course, not rely on some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/03...

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

And that's the truth -- he WILL NOT rely on some plan conceived during the election (nor will
ANY president, if they're being HONEST). A president will need to confer with his military advisors,
the Congress, his Cabinet, et al., before putting any plan into action. Once again Obama's campaign
is being attacked just for being honest about how things REALLY work.

[OzarkDem]

10. So what they're saying

is that whatever he's saying during the election is a pre-meditated lie?

How else do we interpret that? Very Bushian.

[LSparkle]

30. He's throwing out a potential plan, that's all

The same way all candidates do. As Hillary has said (in not wanting to
respond to hypotheticals), all bets are off once they get into office,
though, because reality intrudes. All Power was saying was that he would
not rely solely on HIS plan -- he would obviously work with others.

[GoldieAZ49]

8. in his exchange with McCain - he said when there is no al Qeada in Iraq

as per his comment in the debate

who knows how many years that will be

[OzarkDem]

14. That's why I don't support him

He doesn't seem to be able to give honest answers and he also seems to actually know very little about what's going on in the ME.

Why would anyone support a candidate with so little knowledge about Iraq and the ME or how to get us out?

[GoldieAZ49]

25. That is where I lost interest in Obama

Then the NAFTA fiasco, he really didn't know what to say and took to long to respond, then had to retract

He really isn't ready for prime time


This is also why I would not want a national primary, with all the hype he could have won the nomination on Super Tuesday and we would find out all the other stuff way to late


I am no Hillary fan, but at least she has more international experience

[hedgehog]

11. ASAP - that's what he has always said, that's what Powers

actually said. His objective is to get us out of there. Actual tactics will be dependent on conditions as of January 21, 2009.

[WVRevy]

16. Don't bother

If you inject rationality into the discussion, you ruin all the Shrillary supporters' fun.

[OzarkDem]

18. There's nothing rational about

any of the dozen different answers Obama has given to this question.

Why would you trust someone who is so shifty?

[sendero]

20. Obama's shifty...

.. and HRC is the picture of steadfast transparency.

Not.

[OzarkDem]

22. She's consistent

you may not agree with her stands on issues, but she's no "shapeshifter". She's clear about her positions.

[WVRevy]

29. You mean like the one...

...where her campaign called the Canadian government to tell them not to worry about the political rhetoric? That kind of clarity?

Give me a break with this Rovian flip-flop bullshit. Next you'll be wearing purple heart band aids.

[NMMatt]

38. She is consistantly calculating - that's her only constant -nt

[NMMatt]

39. She is consistantly calculating - that's her only constant -nt

[OzarkDem]

17. Read this thread

and you will see he has given a variety of answers. Typical Obama shapeshifter. He changes his answer to suit whoever he is talking to.

How can anyone trust someone this shifty on foreign policy? Its obvious he hasn't a clue what he's talking about and is just making stuff up as he goes along.

[peoli]

35. "Today, Senator Obama introduced the Iraq War De-escalation Act of 2007."

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tommy Vietor or Robert Gibbs, 202-228-5511
Date: January 30, 2007

Obama Offers Plan to Stop Escalation of Iraq War, Begin Phased Redeployment of Troops
Goal to Redeploy All Combat Brigades out of Iraq by March 31, 2008

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today introduced binding and comprehensive legislation that not only reverses the President's dangerous and ill-conceived escalation of the Iraq war, but also sets a new course for U.S. policy that can bring a responsible end to the war and bring our troops home.

"Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq, but no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else's civil war," Obama said. "That's why I have introduced a plan to not only stop the escalation of this war, but begin a phased redeployment that can pressure the Iraqis to finally reach a political settlement and reduce the violence."

The Obama plan offers a responsible yet effective alternative to the President's failed policy of escalation. Realizing there can be no military solution in Iraq, it focuses instead on reaching a political solution in Iraq, protecting our interests in the region, and bringing this war to a responsible end. The legislation commences redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008, a date that is consistent with the expectation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.

The plan allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism, and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces. If the Iraqis are successful in meeting the thirteen benchmarks for progress laid out by the Bush Administration, this plan also allows for the temporary suspension of the redeployment, provided Congress agrees that the benchmarks have been met and that the suspension is in the national security interest of the United States.

"The American people have been asked to be patient too many times, too many lives have been lost and too many billions have been spent," Obama said. "It's time for a policy that can bring a responsible end to this war and bring our troops home."
"

http://obama.senate.gov/press/070130-obama_offers_pl_1/index.php

P.S. Keep posting and reminding us that you support Hillary

[GoldieAZ49]

36. McCain will have a field day with this, did Power advise him on this?

let's hope not

[peoli]

37. Really? Are you opposed to ending the war then?

[GoldieAZ49]

40. while al Qeada is still active in Iraq?

Do you remember us leaving Afghanistan after we helped drive Russia out, without helping them set up a functioning government after years of war?

Do you remember who came to power in that vacuum? Bin Laden.


So yes I am concerned about just packing up and going home with Iran already sending insurgents into Iraq as they struggle to set up a government.

Seems like a big waste of life and money.


How we leave Iraq is more important than why we went in. Not only for us, but for the ME and the rest of the world.