It seems that Barack Obama may be flip-flopping on his stance on Iraq. In the last few years, Obama has changed his word on what he will do in terms of troop withdrawal in Iraq.
In the time period of 2004 to 2005, Obama said he “was open to additional troops to stabilize the situation in Iraq and he was opposed to a deadline for withdrawal or cutting off funds for troops in the field.”
However, in January of last year the Illinois Senator stated he “opposed the announced surge and later in the year voted to cut off funding for troops”. Later in the same year, Obama then said he would “end the war and bring the troops home on his deadline.”
In April of 2008, Obama said it may take 16 months to 2 years to remove troops fully from Iraq. But lately Obama has left out the term “16 months” altogether from his speeches about Iraq.
This past week, it has been reported that Obama has always maintained it has been his intention to keep the safety of the troops and maintain stability in Iraq.
So, is Barack Obama flip-flopping on his stance in Iraq? I think there’s no doubt he is. The war is one issue that Obama has really driven home that separates him from McCain and one thing he feels so strongly about. But Obama keeps changing what he said so that if he gets elected he doesn’t have to withdraw troops right away, like he PROMISED. Another Obama meltdown.
08 Jul 08
10:28 am
I remember there use to be a girls’ toy doll sold which was equiped with a recorder inside. Its “mommie” could speak a word or phrase into the doll’s back and then, with the push of a button, the doll would repeat it. It could be made to say anything depending on the mood.
Has anyone checked Obama Hussein’s back for a hidden microphone? He is a very hollow character. It would be very easy to slip a recorder inside.
08 Jul 08
12:49 pm
Obama’s comments on Iraq today are exactly the same as his comments during the debates as far back as February. Exactly the same. You want flip-flops this year, you gotta look at John W. McSame. He doesn’t even know who we are even fighting in Iraq…
08 Jul 08
12:57 pm
All the way back to February? Wow! How embarrassing.
Obama Hussein wouldn’t know who we are fighting either if it weren’t for the fact they are friends of his.
McCain has only one thing going for him, so you can attempt to insult him all you want. I don’t mind. I think he’s creepy.
But McCain is not Obama Hussein. That’s what makes him the winner. That’s what will get him my vote.
08 Jul 08
2:42 pm
OBAMA HAS CONSISTENTLY SAID HE WILL LISTEN TO COMMANDERS ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ
July 03, 2008
June 2008: Obama: I’ve Consistently Said That I Will Consult With Military Commanders On The Ground And Be Open To The Possibility Of Tactical Adjustments. Obama said, “I’ve also consistently said that I will consult with military commanders on the ground and that we will always be open to the possibility of tactical adjustments. The important thing is to send a clear signal to the Iraqi people and most importantly to the Iraqi leadership that the U.S. occupation in Iraq is finite, it is gonna be coming to a foreseeable end.” [MSNBC, 6/16/08]
March 2008: Obama Said He Would Give Senior Military Leaders Opinions Great Weight In Implementing His Iraq Plan But As Commander In Chief Would Make His Own Assessment Of The Situation. Obama was asked “what weight will you give to the counsel of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the CENTCOM [U.S. Central Command] commander, the combatant commander on the ground in Iraq and current intelligence chiefs on the ground in Iraq regarding an immediate phased withdrawal?” Obama said, “I will give their counsel great weight. But, as commander in chief, it is my responsibility to make my own assessment of the situation. We must send a clear signal to the Iraqi political leadership that we are leaving Iraq on a timeline. Doing so will put pressure on those leaders to begin to resolve the political impasse at the heart of this civil war. But I also want to be clear about another thing. I am worried our Army is overstretched and that we have asked an awful lot from our military families. Many in our senior military leadership are worried about a plan that will keep 130,000 troops on the ground in Iraq for the foreseeable future. So, as commander in chief, I will also have to take into consideration the counsel of other senior military leaders who may be concerned that Iraq is undercutting our ability to confront other security challenges.” [Washington Post, 3/2/08]
March 2008: Obama Said The Size Of The Residual Force Will Depend On Consultation With Military Commanders And “Will Depend On The Circumstances On The Ground.” Obama said, “The precise size of the residual force will depend on consultations with our military commanders and will depend on the circumstances on the ground, including the willingness of the Iraqi government to move toward political accommodation. But let me be clear on one thing: I will end this war, and there will be far fewer Americans in Iraq conducting a much more limited set of missions that include counterterrorism and protection of our embassy and U.S. civilians.” [Washington Post, 3/2/08]
November 2007: Obama Said He Would Leave Residual Troops In Iraq Based On The Levels Of Violence, “It’s Not My Job To Specify Troop Levels.” Obama said, “If we see a serious effort by the Iraqi leadership to arrive at an agreement and an accommodation and you’ve seen continued reductions of violence, then you need one level of troop protection for the embassy…If things have gone to hell in a hand basket then you need another … It’s not my job to specify troop levels. My job is to tell our commanders on the ground, ‘Here’s your mission. Protect our embassy, protect our diplomats and our humanitarian workers in the area and make sure al Qaeda in Iraq, or other terrorist organizations inside of Iraq are not re-establishing bases there.” [Fosters, 11/28/07]
November 2007: Obama Said U.S. Has To Make Sure “We Are Not Just Willy-Nilly Removing Troops” And That It May “Take A Little Bit Longer” In Some Areas Where There Is Less Stability. “According to all the reports, we should have been well along our way in getting the Iraqi security forces to be more functional. We then have another 16 months after that to adjust the withdrawal and make sure that we are withdrawing from those areas, based on advice from the military officers in the field, those places where we are secured, made progress and we’re not just willy-nilly removing troops, but we’re making a determination – in this region we see some stability. We’ve had cooperation from local tribal leaders and local officials, so we can afford to remove troops here. Here, we’ve still got problems, it’s going to take a little bit longer. Maybe those are the last areas to pull out.” [New York Times, 11/1/07]
November 2007: Obama: “If The Commanders Tell Me They Need X, Y And Z, In Order To Accomplish The Very Narrow Mission That I’ve Laid Out, Than I Will Take That Into Consideration.” “You raise a series of legitimate questions. As commander in chief, I’m not going to leave trainers unprotected. In our counterterrorism efforts, I’m not going to have a situation where our efforts can’t be successful. We will structure those forces so they can be successful. We would still have human intelligence capabilities on the ground. Some of them would be civilian, as opposed to military, some would be operating out of our bases as well as our signal intelligence…But listen, I am not going to set up our troops for failure and I’m going to do something half-baked. If the commanders tell me that they need X, Y and Z, in order to accomplish the very narrow mission that I’ve laid out, than I will take that into consideration.” [New York Times, 11/1/07]
November 2007: Obama: “Even Something As Simple As Protecting Our Embassy Is Going To Dependent On What Is The Security In Baghdad…If There Is Some Sense Of Security, Then That Means One Level Of Force. If You Continue To Have Significant Sectarian Conflict, That Means Another.” “I have not ascribed particular numbers to that and I won’t for precisely the reason I was just talking to Michael about. I want to talk to military folks on the ground, No. 1. No. 2, a lot of it depends on what’s happened on the political front and the diplomatic front. Even something as simple as protecting our embassy is going to be dependent on what is the security environment in Baghdad. If there is some sense of security, then that means one level of force. If you continue to have significant sectarian conflict, that means another, but this is an area where Senator Clinton and I do have a significant contrast.” [New York Times, 11/1/07]
September 2007: Obama Said He Believed “That We Should Have All Our Troops Out By 2013, But I Don’t Want To Make Promises.” Obama said, “I think it’s hard to project four years from now, and I think it would be irresponsible. We don’t know what contingency will be out there. What I can promise is that if there are still troops in Iraq when I take office — which it appears there may be, unless we can get of our Republican colleagues to change their mind and cut off funding without a timetable — if there’s no timetable — then I will drastically reduce our presence there to the mission of protecting our embassy, protecting our civilians, and making sure that we’re carrying out counterterrorism activities there. I believe that we should have all our troops out by 2013, but I don’t want to make promises, not knowing what the situation’s going to be three or four years out.” [NH DNC Debate, 9/26/07]
08 Jul 08
2:43 pm
Ironically, last week, Retired General Sanchez siad on NPR that the White House has NEVER listened to the commanders on the ground in Iraq. But, I’m sure you think he’s a godless commie.
08 Jul 08
5:02 pm
He will not listen to commanders on the ground. He will DEFY them when he pulls our troops out of Iraq. You’re naive if you think Gen. Petraeus is going to tell Obama, “Start pulling them out January 21st!”
Gimme a break.. Let’s finish the job we started before we prematurely pull our troops out of there.
08 Jul 08
5:31 pm
You are being naive if you believe this administration is consulting or ‘listening to’ the commanders on the ground. Sanchez CONFIRMED the fact. He WAS the commander on the ground, I think he’d know…
No one with military experience believes the White House is ‘listening’ to the commanders. There is STILL no plan, just the bumper sticker ‘the surge is working.’ Iraq could disintegrate in 48 hours from any number of problems. Bush has NO PLAN. Period.
Earlier you guys said “Surrender is not an option.” Another bumper sticker. Exactly who would we be surrendering to?
Like the flag pin, right wing talking points are just symbols. But that’s best left to the symbol-minded.
08 Jul 08
5:56 pm
Gawd! When I first saw your post I thought it was one of William Rivers Pitt’s neverending drunken ramblings born from his pathetic life struggles.
Yes, once again you choose your heroes from the left and they are always intellectually dishonest and insincere. Sanchez has never had a kind word. He is a hack looking for publicity. You know it as well as I even if you deny it.
Get over it. Obama Hussein is an idiot/puppet.
08 Jul 08
6:12 pm
Amazing. I bet in 2002-2004 you were ’supporting the troops,’ and those troops were lead by General Sanchez. But he retires, speaks the truth and now he’s a hack?
Yeah, that’s supporting the troops, Sparky.
Who said any of those guys were ‘my heroes?’ You just make shit up to suit your paranoid fantasy life.
I used to call General Dick “Dirty Sanchez.”
Your obsession with DU is a bit creepy. I’d love to read some of your material in GDP.
08 Jul 08
9:27 pm
SanMart:
Thanks for the tell.
I hope you don’t play cards.
08 Jul 08
9:53 pm
I’m doing what I can to help you. That’s the sort of person I am.
I’m honest, good, and decent. Try it sometimes!
08 Jul 08
10:46 pm
Honest? Maybe.
But that makes you a hate-filled racist xenophobe.
Never answer the questions:
In 2002-2004 you were ’supporting the troops,’ and those troops were lead by General Sanchez. But he retires, speaks the truth and now he’s a hack?
What do you do to support the troops?
If there is a Hell, it’s reserved for folks like you…
That noise you hear, the sound of Satan adding the Dick Cheney Wing to Hell…
boogah boogah!!!
08 Jul 08
11:04 pm
Sanchez was a hack then and he is a hack now. Nothing has changed except your expectations. Some of us aren’t so easily fooled. Tear a leaf from my book and maybe you won’t be so clueless about the reality of human nature.
You never answered my question about what you do to support our nation’s enemies (besides voting for democrats).
Hell? I didn’t think the Atheist religion believed in hell. I suppose the Atheist religion is about as fluid and uncommitted in its beliefs as liberals are in their political beliefs.
08 Jul 08
11:32 pm
So much for supporting the troops, my friend.
“Sanchez was a hack then and he is a hack now.”
One more time. There is no such thing as the atheist religion.
Do you stand upright, or are you still a knuckle dragger? It’s amazing you can type, without opposing thumbs… You should be in a zoo or side show…
‘
08 Jul 08
11:48 pm
You just don’t absorb information. Were they able to offer you a formal education? You poor dear.
One more time for you. Yes, atheism is a religion. You don’t want it to be, but it is.
There is so much about this world your veiled eyes cannot see. You have no idea how much of a lowly fool you seem to others.
I hope you find peace someday. Your life is not a dress rehearsal. It is the real thing.