The Associated Press: Obama says Iraq trip could refine his policy Quote:
Obama says Iraq trip could refine his policy
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama struggled Thursday to explain how his upcoming trip to Iraq might refine, but not basically alter, his promise to quickly remove U.S. combat troops from the war.
A dustup over war policy — one of the main issues separating the Illinois senator from his Republican opponent, John McCain — overshadowed Obama's town-hall meeting here with veterans to talk about patriotism and his plans to care for them. Republicans pounced on the chance to characterize Obama as altering one of the core policies that drove his candidacy "for the sake of political expedience." He denied equally forcefully that he was shifting positions.
Arriving in Fargo, Obama hastily called a news conference to discuss news of a sixth straight month of nationwide job losses, but the questioning turned to Iraq policy and his impending trip there.
"I am going to do a thorough assessment when I'm there," he said. "I'm sure I'll have more information and continue to refine my policy."
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Speaking of the candidate for change, seems Obama might be changing his tune as it relates to Iraq as well. IMHO he created a bit of a problem when early in his campaign he gave a specific timeline (16-18 months) for the removal of combat troops from Iraq. Locking down a firm timeline on an issue like this so early on makes it easy pickin's when the inevitable tweaking takes place.
The red team really took him to task on what some are going so far as calling a flip-flop on Iraq today. I on the other hand am glad to see some refinement on the issue. I applaud him for his commnets (in the morning) in regard to saying that after his pending trip and chance to talk with the folks on the ground that he will "have more information and continue to refine my policy". On the other hand seems he might have been better served had he actually made a trip to Iraq and got the lay of the land prior to outlining an exit timeline in the first place.
I think he might have yet opened himself up to future problems on this issue when in the afternoon he came back out and stuck to his 16-month timeline. Being so adamant about the timeline in the afternoon might come back to bite him later.