Obama sees "an enormous opportunity." in Iraq timetable

[Peacetrain]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama, in an op-ed piece in Monday's New York Times, embraced Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's recent call for a timetable for American troops to leave Iraq as "
Obama repeated his pledge that "on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war."

Obama repeated his pledge that "on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war."

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's column, titled "My Plan for Iraq," repeated his pledge that "on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war."

Obama wrote that U.S. troops would be redeployed from Iraq to "focus on the broader security challenges that we face" and that "unlike Senator McCain, I would make it absolutely clear that we seek no presence in Iraq similar to our permanent bases in South Korea."

Ending the Iraq war is necessary so that the United States can focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan, "where the Taliban is resurgent and Al Qaeda has a safe haven," he wrote.

[Alter Ego]

1. Well, he's right.

The Iraqis wanting us out is as good an excuse as any to leave ASAP.

It only helps Obama, as he's consistently called for a timetable to get troops out of Iraq.

[Peacetrain]

2. Sometimes you just get that gift you did not expect.

This is one!.

[PATRICK]

3. He's not president yet

so he can't confirm an actual timetable or be pinned down to decisions before even elected. He does offer
a positive move(away from permanent bases) in response to a positive opportunity. THAT is the kind of diplomacy and decision making that is needed. telling the miliatary to "end this war" is the firm right beginning because it immediately puts the military in its place in the real issue.

McSame offers nothing, evades everything and will get negatives on all sides in imitation of the Bush/Cheney misery for profit Empire. He is not even thinking of diplomacy anymore than of actually dealing with climate change or anything else for that matter.

[Peacetrain]

5. You are right about not being president yet!

But you are also right about McCain offering us nothing. At this point even the most low information voter, has to see what the republicans have done. At least I hope so

[harun]

4. Why does he still call it a war when it is an occupation

Rhetorical question...

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. "End this Occupation" doesn't have the same ring

Yeah, I know, it was rhetorical.
:hi:

[NattPang]

7. "I would give the military a new mission: ending this war.

Ending the Iraq war is necessary so that the United States can focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan"

Well said Barack Obama!

[Peacetrain]

8. Yep!. That has been Obamas' position from day one