Obama flip-flops on troop withdrawal. as per Obama adviser Samantha Power.

[seriousstan]

"He will, of course, not rely on some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator," she said at one point in the interview.

Power downplayed Obama's commitment to quick withdrawal from Iraq on Hard Talk, a program that often exceeds any of the U.S. talk shows in the rigor of its grillings. She was challenged on Obama's Iraq plan, as it appears on his website, which says that Obama "will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months."

"What he’s actually said, after meting with the generals and meeting with intelligence professionals, is that you – at best case scenario – will be able to withdraw one to two combat brigades each month. That’s what they’re telling him. He will revisit it when he becomes president," Power says.

The host, Stephen Sackur, challenged her:"So what the American public thinks is a commitment to get combat forces out in 16 months isn't a commitment isn't it?"

"You can’t make a commitment in March 2008 about what circumstances will be like in January of 2009," she said. "He will, of course, not rely on some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator. He will rely upon a plan – an operational plan – that he pulls together in consultation with people who are on the ground to whom he doesn’t have daily access now, as a result of not being the president. So to think – it would be the height of ideology to sort of say, 'Well, I said it, therefore I’m going to impose it on whatever reality greets me.'"

"It’s a best-case scenario," she said again.

[tekisui]

1. Ex-adviser Samatha Power.

[WVRevy]

2. Bullshit, That's your lack of research showing.

He said from the beginning that he would OF COURSE discuss it with the military advisors. He's not going to tell you something he can't follow up on, unlike the "person" he's running against.

[papau]

6. nothing Obama says can be trusted - econ programs that wont cost anything because

they won't be passed (see Ludlow CNBC), NAFTA that won't be ended if no changes (the memo has never been denied), and out of Iraq in a year - or 8 if he feels that is best.

[stillcool]

36. As if any 'plan'

is implemented exactly the way it is laid out a year plus in advance.

[rodeodance]

15. too bad--TPM has the story also

[TwilightGardener]

3. That's absolutely the best position to take, to avoid the GOP screeching

about not taking "conditions on the ground" and military recommendations into account. It's a goal and a rough plan, not inscribed in stone.

[BobbyVan]

4. Obama's website doesn't make these distinctions

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/

"Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda."

That seems pretty declarative to me. Maybe Obama should update his website.

[papau]

7. No position Obama takes - on website or not - can be trusted

[Phillycat]

14. Control C. Thank you!

I'll be control v'ing this elsewhere. :D

[debatepro]

5. Hillary's advisors are saying the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Retired General Jack Kean, who is close to Hillary, had recently characterized Hillary's approach to Iraq as follows:

"I have no doubts whatsoever that if she were president in January '09 she would not act irresponsibly and issue orders to conduct an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, regardless of the consequences, and squander the gains that have been made."

The only difference in their Iraq policy is Barack believes in setting a specific date for withdrawl to cause relevant parties to come to the table and work out a political solution to the crisis.

[seriousstan]

8. No, the difference is he lies about his position on his website.

"Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda."

[Liquorice]

24. It sounds like Obama is lying to the American people. nt

[stillcool]

35. I have a plan...

I'm going on vacation in February of 2009. I know where I'm going, where I'm going to stay, and how much it will probably cost. But...then again, things might be different then. But hey, for now it's my plan.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

12. Ah... you make me nostalgic for Bush's "We're not as bad as Saddam Hussein" stuff

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Loink.

Christ!










Eta: 8 posts arguing over perception as opposed to the piece itself.

[rodeodance]

16. here yah go : ENJOY

Forum Name General Discussion: Primaries
Topic subject Yes, perhaps she can repeat this remark > > >
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4953518#4953552
4953552, Yes, perhaps she can repeat this remark > > >
Posted by Kurt_and_Hunter on Fri Mar-07-08 02:54 PM

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/on_conference_call_obama_advis.php

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

30. Thanks, pal.

:hi:

[GeorgeGist]

10. In other words, the Audacity of

Bullshit requires that the best-case scenario not reveal itself until after Obama is elected President.

[Liquorice]

11. If an adviser to Hillary had said this

Air America would explode with fury, Keith Olbermann would devote an entire hour to Hillary being evil, and Obama supporters would scream at the top of their lungs that Hillary is a liar who has no intention of withdrawing troops. And yet all is silent when Obama's adviser says it... Ahhh, hypocrisy.

[rodeodance]

13. KO will bury his face on this one.

[DURHAM D]

17. True - unless he realizes his ratings are tanking

because his nose is too brown from being way up Obama's backside.

[rodeodance]

26. terrible image:-(

[stillcool]

37. I don't see what your problem is...

Do you expect time to stand still, and 2009 to look exactly as it does today. Do you have a problem with a person making this distinction? Asserting that plans made today will be implemented exactly as written a year from now is a tad disingenuous...don't you think?

[Phillycat]

18. Let's bump this back up.

[MrCoffee]

19. LEAVE SAMANTHA ALONE!!!!

:cry: She's a HUMAN BEING!!!!

[Phillycat]

20. I'm going home now.

I'll leave you and your girl alone. :D

Have a good weekend. :hug:

[MrCoffee]

22. lol.

take it sleazy :hug:

[anigbrowl]

21. Freeper logic

If they said it was set in stone he'd be accused of being unfit to lead, unwilling to listen to advice, intolerant of military, dealing in dreams instead of reality.

If they say it's the plan based on the best current advice, and will be reviewed in the light of time's passage if and when he's actually elected, denounce it as a lie.

Well you can attack just about policy this way, but it doesn't really mean much.

[AZBlue]

23. "Flip-flop" is a GOP/Rovian smear. I can't believe anyone would seriously use it on DU.

I guess that's how low the Clinton campain has sunk?

[seriousstan]

25. Then you must be a GOP or Karl Rove because YOU have used the term.

AZBlue (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-19-06 08:13 PM
Original message
Why I don't feel John McCain is a 2008 threat (any more). And why we must GOTV in 08!
As an Arizonan I've watched for years as McCain flip-flopped


Some folks are dumb as a stump.

How low can YOU go?

[AZBlue]

28. "Some folks are dumb as a stump." INDEED! And you just proved that!

First of all, how long did it take you to find that? You might want to get a hobby!

You also might want to re-read that post - you could call it a sarcastic or ironic remark - I was using a GOP term to describe a GOP idiot. Get it now?

Sorry to disappoint you after your hours of research. I guess I should always use a "sarcasm" tag or include an explanation for the slower among us.

[seriousstan]

29. Hours? Look at the timestamp, or is that too big of a word for you.

Look at the little numbers to the right that look like the numbers on your digital clock. It took me almost 6 minutes to come back to this post, read it, decide to look to see if you were full of it and to find that you were and post it.

You may be slow, but I'm not.

Take your time, I understand your handicap.

[rodeodance]

27. you are in your Obamabubble to say such a silly thing.

[locker13]

31. obvious

i dont see how what powers says contradicts what Obama has said. Obama said he plans to pull out slowly over 16 months. I don't know how any intelligent person can believe that that plan will go ahead regardless of the situation on the ground.

All Powers was doing was stating the obvious. That the goal of taking out the troops in 16 months obviously has to be fine tuned when he is president because he will have more information and obviously the plan may have to be modified if anything comes up.

Are people really this stupid?

[Kingofalldems]

32. Apparently you don't like Obama or Clinton

based on other posts, no surprise here.

[seriousstan]

39. I don't like being lied to, no matter who is doing the lying.

From his official website.......

Bringing Our Troops Home
Obama WILL immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He WILL remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Obama will make it clear that we will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats; if al Qaeda attempts to build a base within Iraq, he will keep troops in Iraq or elsewhere in the region to carry out targeted strikes on al Qaeda.

(capitalization is mine)

I don't see where it says he will temper this plan depending upon the conditions on the ground....he says WILL.

[Neshanic]

33. She is being re-educated right now. Don't state the truth. She forgot.

[stillcool]

34. No shit...

There might not even be an Iraq in 2009. Hell, there might not even be a United States. That sectarian violence shit looks pretty nasty. I wonder if it will come home to roost. Or if it already has.

[rodeodance]

38. More damage control for BO

[krkaufman]

40. Not a very serious post, there.

Show me the Presidential candidate who has, today, detailed, written plans for exactly how they will get us out of Iraq and reinforce Afghanistan, and which will be implemented without deviation from their current state.

Knock yourself out calling it a flip-flop. Someone will listen.