The latest development in the continually evolving political position of Barack Obama finds our vague, mysterious, untried candidate flip-flopping on troop withdrawals:
“When I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I am sure I’ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies.”
Interesting words from the person who based his candidacy on the complete removal of troops in sixteen months. Per the Obama campaign 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.”
Attempting to explain the disparity, Obama said,
“We’re going to try this again. Apparently, I was not clear enough. I have said throughout this campaign that this war was ill conceived, that it was a strategic blunder and that it needs to come to an end. I’ve also said I would be deliberate and careful about how we get out.” [Furthermore,] “I want to have conversations with commanders on the ground, Iraqi officials. When I come back that information will obviously shape our plans for moving forward.”
When asked why he’s backing away from a specific timeline for troop withdrawals, Obama said,
“I’ve always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain security. That assessment hasn’t changed.”
So, Senator Obama, if I’m hearing you correctly, your official position on troop withdrawals is:
“I will begin to immediately or in the near or distant future begin to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq. Depending on political expediency, I will remove two or more or no combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within a time-frame dictated by the safety and security of our troops which may be 16 months or more or less or never.”
(feel free to use that for your campaign)
MORE: Hot Air; Wak up America; Red State; Flopping Aces; Power Line
Tags: flip-flop, Iraq, Obama, Troop Withdrawal
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July 4, 2008 at 12:06 pm
writer chick
I love it when he tries to clarify things and it only gets more murky. This dude is one helluva opportunist - and come November a lot of his supporters are going to be realizing they’ve been punked.
WC
WC: Yeah, more Obamadrama. I’m hoping in November the Obama supporters are finding themselves punked by McCain!
- JOS
July 4, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Eric
Hey JOS. The problem with Obama is that he doesn’t know what he stands for. Like most politicians he sways with the polls. He would fair a helluva lot better if he would just stick to his guns. Eric
Eric: I couldn’t agree more. It’s a shame, really, that the one ingredient missing from the political gene pool is integrity.
- JOS
July 8, 2008 at 9:22 am
Richard
Well, you’ll find integrity with McCain. At least he is capable of saying, “I was wrong on this issue and as the facts change, I change my mind.” To paraphrase Galbraith.
To JOS thanks for the excellent entry here, prompted me to write one of my own on this liberal cynic. I hold currently the position that Obama is a cynical politician, he doesn’t really believe in anything beyond a sort of leftist outlook but then that makes him perfect for our post-modern academical liberals, who don’t really believe in anything either.
Richard: Thanks. I think McCain certainly has his faults, but overall he’s an awful lot closer to the center than Obama (who was rated the most liberal senator in 2007). I, too, respect anyone who is willing (and has the guts) to say, “I’m wrong”–after all, that’s what makes us human. As for Obama, this is that hazy time when he gradually transitions from one position to another, then acts as if he’s held this new position from the very beginning!
- JOS
July 12, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Richard
It certainly is interesting watching Obama’s “new” certainty over Iraq…
Also thanks for the blogroll link - but be warned! I only get at most twenty hits a day - most being spam I expect!
Richard: It’ll be more interesting to see all this flip-flopping come back to haunt him after the convention. September and October should be some pretty interesting months.
And you’re welcome for the link. I enjoy reading your posts and agree with many of your ideas. Keep it up!
- JOS