According to the keen nose of ABC Senior Correspondant Jake Tapper (who is taking a break from covering the Hillary campaign) Obama might have HAD A CIGARETTE sometime back in August, six months after he was supposed to have quit.

and, apparently, someone in his campaign LIED ABOUT IT.

This definitely needs an investigation. I mean, how can we trust this guy to run our country if he's hiding behind the woodshed having a smoke?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/obama-is-smokin.html

4/6/2008 9:44:52 PM

I wish he'd just say, "fuck it guys, I like smoking, deal with it."

4/6/2008 9:53:40 PM

it'd be awesome if he smoked

especially in the oval office while signing bills

[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 9:56 PM. Reason : letterman would love to see it too]

4/6/2008 9:56:11 PM

As long as he's not smoking crack, who cares? I lost some respect for him when he quit to appease the smoking nazis.

4/6/2008 10:04:21 PM

lollercopters

4/6/2008 10:04:44 PM

Maybe he just tried a Newport Menthol to give him some credibility in the black community.

Or his nerves were shot from dodging sniper fire.

4/6/2008 10:05:36 PM

It wouldn't be the first time Obama lied.

1) He lied about the views of his opponent John McCain.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/01/politics/horserace/entry3985914.shtml

2) He lied about his own legislative record.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/23/AR2008032301706.html?hpid=topnews

3) His campaign, and possibly Obama himself, lied about whether Austan Goolsbee had a conversation with Canadian representatives on NAFTA until the release of a Canadian government memo forced them to admit the conversation took place. And if the Canadian memo turns out to be accurate (Goolsbee claims it isn't), Obama may even be lying about his position on NAFTA.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080228/turkey_Gates_080228/20080229?hub=TopStories

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080303/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_nafta

4) And who knows how truthful Obama is being on withdrawal from Iraq. His position has shifted so frequently, I really don't know what it is. In 2006, he thought immediate withdrawal and time-tables were a bad idea. 10 months later he introduced legislation demanding immediate withdrawal and setting a time table. A change even NYT took notice of.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/us/politics/09obama.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1205082031-3DGE8zwCeprL+OEot3vskQ


Obama has a real credibility problem. And the media is just now starting to realize it. If things continue at this pace, his free-ride will be over by the end of the summer. Journalists wondering whether Obama is lying about his smoking habits is very trivial, but it's an indication of a trend.

[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 10:35 PM. Reason : ``]

4/6/2008 10:32:34 PM

LOL

HERE COMES SOCKS``

4/6/2008 10:37:12 PM

Quote :

"4) And who knows how truthful Obama is being on withdrawal from Iraq. "

Particularly on this issue, McCain has FAR more to explain that Obama.

4/6/2008 10:37:29 PM

Quote :

"His position has shifted so frequently, I really don't know what it is. In 2006, he thought immediate withdrawal and time-tables were a bad idea. 10 months later he introduced legislation demanding immediate withdrawal and setting a time table."

oh dear lord! he changed what he thought would be a good plan over the course of two years!?! how could it be?!

and now he may have smoked a CIGARETTE!?! oh dear god no!

4/6/2008 10:37:38 PM

did hooksaw take over socks' account?

4/6/2008 10:48:13 PM

^^ 10 months is less than ONE year chief.

And he has never explained why he changes his mind. Maybe he hasn't. His legislation left open the possibility of staying indefinatley in Iraq if the Iraqi government meets goals established by the Bush administration. And just last month his former senior foreign affairs adviser said that Obama will not commit himself to plans he's proposing on the campaign trail. And that any early withdrawal plans are best-case scenerios.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Power_on_Obamas_Iraq_plan_best_case_scenario.html

Like I said...no one has any idea what Obama's REAL position on Iraq is. It keeps changing.

[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 10:54 PM. Reason : ``]

4/6/2008 10:51:30 PM

lol and yet its STILL better than mccains position...thats the great thing

4/6/2008 10:54:06 PM

^ I thought staying in Iraq WAS McCain's position.

4/6/2008 10:55:04 PM

^^^ Obama's position is right here: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/

McCain's is here: http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/fdeb03a7-30b0-4ece-8e34-4c7ea83f11d8.htm

His plan is worse than Obama's. He seems to be making the same mistakes the Bush administration is making, and as we know, that hasn't actually resulted in resounding success in Iraq.




[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 10:57 PM. Reason : ]

4/6/2008 10:55:20 PM

^^and you've changed from edwards to clinton to mccain (mind you all in far less than a year). so i don't know why you'd value someone who's clear on their positions in the first place.

4/6/2008 10:56:21 PM

OMG A POLITICIAN LIED!!!!!!!!!!!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!

4/6/2008 10:58:48 PM

hey yall lets cut our losses and get out of iraq...that would be the bomb

4/6/2008 11:01:07 PM

moron

You are not paying attn.

Obama has always opposed the war in Iraq in the broad sense. He didn't think we should have invaded and he thinks we should eventually leave. But when will that be? 10 years? 100 years? How will that happen? Well, he's been a bit less direct.

Let's see if we can reconcile ALL of Obama's views on Iraq.

In 2004, Obama said that while he opposed the invasion, he thought troops should remain in Iraq to stabalize the country.

Quote :

"There's not that much difference between my position and George Bush's position at this stage"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200801140002

In 2006, Obama apparently still thought we should stay.

Quote :

"But having visited Iraq, I'm also acutely aware that a precipitous withdrawal of our troops, driven by Congressional edict rather than the realities on the ground, will not undo the mistakes made by this Administration. It could compound them."

http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060621-floor_statement_6/

10 months later, when popular opinion turned against the war, Obama wanted to leave immediatley. And he introduced legislation to start pulling out troops.

Quote :

""“The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq’s leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops,” Mr. Obama said. “Not in six months or one year — now.”""

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/us/politics/13obama.html?ref=politics

However, as the Washington Post notes, his legislation leaves open the possibility of staying in Iraq indefinatley if the Iraqi government meets certain goals.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/30/AR2007013001586.html

Now his website says...

Quote :

"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. "

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

But just last month his senior foreign policy adviser said the following on the BBC...

Quote :

""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."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Power_on_Obamas_Iraq_plan_best_case_scenario.html

And the campaign has not said she was lying.
So when will actually leave Iraq? I STILL don't know.

[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 11:19 PM. Reason : ``]

4/6/2008 11:17:09 PM

Quote :

"10 months later, when popular opinion turned against the war"

lol nice spin

4/6/2008 11:19:14 PM

Quote :

"So when will leave Iraq? "

Check out Clinton and McCain and I'm sure you can find the same things about them to a certain extent.

No one person can have a sure fire plan to get out of Iraq. Candidates plans and opinions will constantly change as things change over there. Expecting someone's opinion to never change is unreali...


Oh wait, my bad, that'd be what we're doing now...

4/6/2008 11:22:12 PM

DNL,

Hey, that's just my guess. But as an Obama supporter, maybe you should try to connect the dots on this Iraq policy.

I mean, what I say really doesn't matter. You should be more concerned that the candidate you support isn't being straight with you. The fact that you are not is telling.

4/6/2008 11:23:44 PM

and you support mccain why?

4/6/2008 11:25:51 PM

LunaK,

I would be less concerned if it only changed once, but it seems to be changing all the time. First we should stay. Then we should leave...unless the Iraqi government starts improving. Then we should just leave in 16 months....maybe. We'll see after you vote for me.

4/6/2008 11:26:25 PM

DNL,

I have an entire thread devoted to why I support John McCain. I list specific policy proposals and explain why I think they're good ideas. You're welcome to check it out.

4/6/2008 11:27:54 PM

But, I bet if you compared it to what's going on over there at the time of his opinion, it would make sense.

I'm not an Obama supporter, nor Hillary. But I'm just saying that a changing opinion on such a complex issue might be what is needed.

4/6/2008 11:28:39 PM

^^ Is that kind of like voting for the war before donning the hair shirt and complaining loudly against it?

Because Clinton and Edwards both seemed to do that. A lot. So it can't be that important to you.

[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 11:29 PM. Reason : ^]

4/6/2008 11:28:48 PM

I'm also not supporting Clinton or Edwards.

But, it's very telling that you have to attack me. I hate to tell you. No matter how much you may dislike me, this is about Obama. And complaining about me won't change the fact that Obama has lied on very important issues (like his legislative record) and that he is being less than honest about his current position on Iraq.

[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 11:35 PM. Reason : correction]

4/6/2008 11:33:13 PM

Don't look at me, I don't like Obama. Or Clinton. Or Edwards.

And unlike you, I never did. I just intensely dislike disingenuousness. Which you are chock full of at the moment.

4/6/2008 11:35:06 PM

Yah. The fact that I didn't make up my mind 2 years before the election makes me a bastard.

4/6/2008 11:36:51 PM

You complain about flip-flopping and hedging, and yet you openly supported two politicians that did it. Which is fine, if you're okay with it, but then you loudly complain over Obama because he does exactly the same thing.

Which kind of makes you full of it.

4/6/2008 11:40:01 PM

heres the deal...mccains plan = bad...obamas plan = better than mccain...i cant make it any easier

4/6/2008 11:41:20 PM

DNL, what is Obama's plan?

4/6/2008 11:42:44 PM

It's also pretty stupid to set forth a plan for a very delicate international situation a year in advance and say "THIS IS SET IN STONE AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE IT NO MATTER WHAT." I'd be much more worried if Obama said he wasn't going to consult with experts and reassess the situation as it progressed.

4/6/2008 11:42:45 PM

ActionPants,

If Obama wanted people to know his position was flexible, he could easily do so. He could simply say "we will withdraw from Iraq when the realities on the ground dictate it". Instead, on his website and in his speeches he only says we will be out in 16 MONTHS. A pretty specific time table for a man wanting flexibility, huh?

But he doesn't want people to believe he will make his decision as new information presents itself. He wants people to think we're going to be out of Iraq in a couple of years. Does he actually believe it? Apparently not. By trying to have it both ways...HE'S BEING DISHONEST. PERIOD.

[Edited on April 6, 2008 at 11:56 PM. Reason : ``]

4/6/2008 11:49:10 PM

I guess we're both biased, but I still don't have a problem with him setting a 16 month timetable as a model to work from. It's less vague than saying "we will withdraw from Iraq when the realities on the ground dictate it," because that implies that there's not even a goal for withdrawal in mind. With Obama, maybe we won't actually be out in 16 months but I feel confident that he'll end the occupation as soon as the situation allows. I don't believe McCain has similar priorities, and even if the situation in Iraq improved under a McCain presidency I doubt that he would take any action to end the occupation at any point in his term, and I think that money could be better spent elsewhere.

4/7/2008 12:13:54 AM

Quote :

"Instead, on his website and in his speeches he only says we will be out in 16 MONTHS. A pretty specific time table for a man wanting flexibility, huh?"

Ha, and you accuse ME of not paying attention? Maybe you should read the position on his site again. What you are saying here is blatantly misrepresenting (or are YOU lying?) the position of Obama.

And I don't see how you are claiming Obama somewhat changing his position on Iraq over a 4 year time span is evidence of him "lying." That's a pretty reaching accusation, especially for someone who supports McCain, who is probably the biggest "flip flopper" in the running right now.

I, and most people, have changed their opinion on Iraq in the past 4 years. I guess though since you support the old curmudgeon for president, maybe you don't perceive that over time *GASP* things can change!

4/7/2008 12:32:10 AM

^^ I guess Obama's campaign really is based on Hope. Everyone hopes his policies will be better as President than they are as a Candidate.

If you want to leave Iraq now, don't worry. Obama has said he wants to that. If you worry about Iraq falling into chaos and don't want to leave until the realities on the ground dictate it, don't worry. Obama said that too.

He can be all things to all people.

[Edited on April 7, 2008 at 12:34 AM. Reason : ``]

4/7/2008 12:33:28 AM

NICOTINE ADDICTION?

HOLY SHIT!

WHERE IS THE DRUDGE LIGHT?

WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE FUCKING CHILDREN!?

4/7/2008 12:37:19 AM

moron,

Actually, he changed his time over 10 months between 2006 and 2007. What happened in that time? Aside from the fact that he started running for President?

4/7/2008 12:38:18 AM

Socks, you're misrepresenting his position out to be that he says he wants to leave Iraq but he'll actually never remove a single soldier because he's such a liar, but that's ridiculous. This is from the plan on his website:

Quote :

"All Combat Troops Redeployed by 2009: Barack Obama would immediately begin redeploying American troops from Iraq. The withdrawal would be strategic and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Troops would be removed from secure areas first, with troops remaining longer in more volatile areas. The drawdown would begin immediately with one to two combat brigades redeploying each month and all troops engaged in combat operations out by the end of next year. Residual Force to Remain: Under the Obama plan, American troops may remain in Iraq or the region. These American troops will protect American diplomatic and military personnel in Iraq, and continue striking at al Qaeda in Iraq. If Iraq makes political progress and their security forces are not sectarian, we would also continue training the Iraqi Security Forces. In the event of an outbreak of genocide, we would reserve the right to intervene, with the international community, if that intervention was needed to provide civilians with a safehaven."

He's always said there would be residual forces in place. Even if removing one or two combat brigades a month is best case, we've got to start somewhere. There's a goal for troop withdrawal in place, at least. We can still start removing troops right away, and even if it ultimately ends up taking longer than 16 months, to me that's preferable to 100 years from now.

4/7/2008 12:53:02 AM

10 months is a long time, a lot could have happened.

If this is "lying" to you though, the McCain has quite the pinnochio nose on himself:

Quote :

"* McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty’s behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it. * McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants’ kids who graduate from high school. Now he’s against it. * In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving “feedback” on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he now opposes the measure. * McCain has been both open and closed to a redeploy-to-perimeter strategy in Iraq. * McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.” * McCain said he was the “greatest critic” of Rumsfeld’s failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as “a mission accomplished.” In March 2004, he said, “I’m confident we’re on the right course.” In December 2005, he said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.” * McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite. * McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed. * McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but then decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. * McCain used to oppose Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy, but he reversed course in February. * In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support. * McCain supported a major campaign-finance reform measure that bore his name. In June, he abandoned his own legislation. * McCain used to think that Grover Norquist was a crook and a corrupt shill for dictators. Then McCain got serious about running for president and began to reconcile with Norquist. * McCain took a firm line in opposition to torture, and then caved to White House demands. * McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it. * McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it. * McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol. * McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag. * McCain decided in 2000 that he didn’t want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he “would taint the image of the ‘Straight Talk Express.’” Kissinger is now the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York."

- http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/13746.html

Quote :

"But therein lies the point — McCain was consistent on most of these issues, right up until he started running for president, at which point he conveniently abandoned practically every position he used to hold. "

This sadly describes McCain pretty accurately to me. He went from his straight-talk express days, and opposing the idiocy of the Bush admin practices, to full embracing the right's ideals on many issues, in order to get their votes. I wouldn't want someone who's so blatantly spineless being the president, no matter how honorable they once were.

Obama shares pedigree with many of his political peers, but he clearly has his own vision and ideology about how things should be (that mostly relate to strengthening the domestic situation and enhancing world perception of America) that he's centered his opinions on fairly consistently. Considering Obama foresaw the problems with Iraq before the war started, something most other politicians can't claim, he's in a pretty good position in searching for solutions. Better than McCain at least who only has a fairly ambiguous plan that closely resembles Bush's current "plan" and doesn't really provide any potential solutions at all to the families of our soldiers, or to the Iraq people.

4/7/2008 12:58:17 AM

ive been against the invasion of iraq since it became clear that Cheney and Perle and Wolfowitz
were jerking each other off in the pentagon locker room.

I've always been a fan of the Powell Doctrine, maybe since I served during Gulf I. it has been
abundantly clear to anyone who hasnt drank the kool-aid, that there is not and never has been
an exit strategy for GWB and Pals' Babylonian Excursion.

since we invaded and became an occupying force, my own positions on iraq have changed.
for a long time, I've been of the opinion that timetables and forced withdrawals were a bad thing,
for reasons that seem obvious.

but the situation in iraq (as we understand it) has changed. it's clearly nothing more than a war
of attrition that cant be won militarily, and the iraqi leadership have conclusively displayed their
incapacity to form a working coalition as long as we continue to foot their security bill.

it's time for that to change.

and i hope to fucking god we can get a president who will adapt his strategies to fit current
conditions. ... instead of another monomaniacal numbnuts who keeps repeating the mantra "stay
the course, awwwk! stay the course!"




[Edited on April 7, 2008 at 1:11 AM. Reason : ]

4/7/2008 12:58:54 AM

ActionPants

That is not what I said.

I have actually only supplied direct quotes of Obama from credible news sources.

The clear fact of it is that in 2006 Obama said we shouldn't begin immediate withdraw or set time-tables. In 2007, Obama introduced legislation setting a time table and calling for immediate withdrawal. BUT that same legislation also left open the possibility for ending withdrawal if the Iraqi government met the Bush administration's goals (read the Washington post article I posted). NOW, Obama has dropped that bit of rhetoric about staying longer and simply says we will begin immediate withdrawal. BUT Obama's senior foreign policy adviser said in an interview said that Obama's commitment wasn't a commitment at all and things could easily change after Obama is elected.

That's at least 3-4 different positions in 2 years for 1 candidate.

I have no problem with someone changing their mind. We all do it. But why does he keep changing his mind? What's changing? He hasn't ever explained. So what's his current position? And why does he hold that position? I don't know. And that worries me.

[Edited on April 7, 2008 at 1:07 AM. Reason : ``]

4/7/2008 1:05:48 AM

Schmoe,

What conditions have changed since 2006 to cause Obama to change his mind so many times? Please explain.

[Edited on April 7, 2008 at 1:10 AM. Reason : ``]

4/7/2008 1:09:31 AM

the failure of The Surge.

4/7/2008 1:11:23 AM

Quote :

"noW, Obama has dropped that bit of rhetoric about staying longer and simply says we will begin immediate withdrawal. BUT Obama's senior foreign policy adviser said in an interview said that Obama's commitment wasn't a commitment at all and things could easily change after Obama is elected. "

Isn't that obvious though? doesn't that apply to anything anyone says?

And Obama says pretty clearly on his website that he's going to pull troops out, but keep some troops there for critical roles:

Quote :

"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. "

I personally doubt he'll even be able to reach his pull out goals as quickly as he hopes, but I think it's good he has a specific goal in mind.

Quote :

"I have no problem with someone changing their mind. We all do it. But why does he keep changing his mind? What's changing? He hasn't ever explained. So what's his current position? And why does he hold that position? I don't know. And that worries me. "

Why are you so confused? Obama's position is not that confusing. According to himself at least, he's been fairly consistent on Iraq:

Quote :

" Paid for by Obama for America DEC 2003: Obama Said Iraq And Al-Qaeda Not Connected. "On the Iraq war, Obama is strongly critical of President Bush, saying, 'We have an administration whose arrogance internationally seems to have no bounds.' The Iraq war 'is distracting us from what should be our number-one priority, the war on terrorism. There is no connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.' Obama wants to bring other nations into the terrorism fight." [Rockford Register Star, 12/2/03] FEB 2004: Obama Said Iraq War Will Not Make America Safer And Will 'Poison' Relations With The World. "'I am the only candidate in this race [Illinois Senate primary] to have publicly opposed the war in Iraq before it started,' Obama said. 'Rather than reducing the threat of terrorism and making America safer, I feared that going to war unilaterally would poison our relations with other countries.'" [Chicago Daily Herald, 2/1/04] FEB 2005: Obama Criticized Iraq War At Town Hall Meeting. The Pantagraph reported that during a town hall meeting, “Asked about the Iraq war, Obama said poor planning by the Bush administration has left Iraq woefully incapable of handling its own security. He expressed hope that more intensive training will be provided for Iraqi forces, saying such measures could allow most American troops to return home next year. While Obama said the recent Iraqi election is an encouraging sign for democracy, he questioned Bush’s rationale for the Iraq invasion. ‘I didn’t see the weapons of mass destruction at the time, I didn’t think there was an imminent threat from Saddam Hussein,’ Obama said.” [Pantagraph, 2/25/05] MAY 2005: Obama Said Security In Iraq Was ‘Horrible.’ At a town hall meeting, “Obama described the security in Iraq as ‘horrible.’ He said U.S. troops should come home if the Iraqi government is functioning properly and the Iraqi troops are trained correctly. ‘Our young men and women have been incredibly brave and effective in very difficult situations.’” [Chicago Daily Herald, 5/28/05] OCT 2005: Obama Said US Needed To Get Out Of Iraq “As Soon As We Can.” In 2005, Obama said, “We should start phasing out our military presence in Iraq. We have to have a very credible, specific plan to stabilize the country as soon as we can and get out as soon as we can.” [Rockford Register Star, 10/30/05] DEC 2005: Obama Said He Supported A Phased Withdrawal To Avoid Security Vacuum; Said War In Iraq To Blame For Terrorist Problems. Obama favors starting ‘a phased withdrawal process’ of troops next year. The process would be based on what happens with the elections, he said. ‘What we’re engaged in is a difficult balancing act here…Having gone in, how do we step back but ensure that there’s not such a vacuum that either chaos occurs or jihadists take over critical areas that can make huge problems elsewhere? The irony, of course, is that there really wasn’t a terrorist problem before we went in. There is now.’” [State Journal-Register, 12/8/05] JAN 2006: Obama Said It Was Important To Start Phasing Down Troops. The Sun-Times wrote, “Obama said ‘if we don’t see significant political progress’ over the next six months or so, ‘we can pour money and troops in here until the cows come home but we are not going to be successful.’ It is important, Obama said, ‘to start phasing down the troops’ and ‘to give the Iraqis more ownership.’” [Chicago Sun-Times, 1/8/06] MAR 2006: Obama Said If Iraqis Aren’t United, US “Can’t Hold That Country Together. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer quoted Obama, “‘We’ve reached a point where there are no military solutions to the problems of Iraq. They’re all political.…Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders of the fractured country need to get together and ‘decide if they’re for a united Iraq…If they’re not, we can’t hold that country together. We need to move forward toward the beginning of a phased withdrawal.’ If Iraqi leaders want to hold a united country, in Obama’s opinion, they will have to shoulder the burden ‘with technical assistance and some military help’ coming from the United States.” [Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/20/06] APR 2006: Obama Said By the End Of The Year “Our Job As The Police And Army Of Iraq Should Be Complete.” At a town hall meeting, Obama said, “‘If I continue to see what seems to be the case right now--an inability and unwillingness on the part of the various factions to want to live together--we can’t be in a position where we’re in the middle of a civil war…If we’re not seeing a government that is actually committed to working together, then I don’t see how our presence there can be helpful,’ Obama said. Even if a new government is formed, Obama said, by the end of the year ‘our job as the police and army of Iraq should be complete. We will have done our task and we should start phasing down our troops.’” [Chicago Tribune, 4/13/06] JUN 2006: Obama Called For an “Expeditious Yet Responsible Exit from Iraq.” In 2006, Obama said, “What is needed is a blueprint for an expeditious yet responsible exit from Iraq.” [Obama Floor Statement On Kerry Amendment, 6/21/06] SEP 2006: Obama Said US Must Leave Iraq Responsibly. In West Virginia, Obama said, “We must exit Iraq, but not in a way that leaves behind a security vacuum filled with terrorism, chaos, ethnic cleansing and genocide that could engulf large swaths of the Middle East and endanger America…We have both moral and national security reasons to manage our exit in a responsible way.” [Charleston Gazette, 9/26/06] "

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/IraqFactSheet.pdf

If you're wondering what his position is, there it is, straight from the horse's mouth.

4/7/2008 1:15:41 AM

Schmoe,

Well, the surge hardly reached its peak when Obama in Sept 2007 introduced legislation calling for immediate withdrawal (in fact Petraeus had only just updated congress on the progress of the surge a few days earlier).

Could Obama see into the future to know it would fail? If so, why couldn't see into the future in 2004 when he said he agreed with President Bush and that we should stay in Iraq? Why couldn't he see the future in 2006 when he said that immediate withdrawal could lead to chaos?

4/7/2008 1:24:07 AM

moron,

Who do you think I have been quoting this entire time?

And Obama seems to leave a lot of quotes out. For example, it doesn't include Obama's 2004 quote where he said that his position was essentially the same as George Bush's and that we could not begin withdrawal. It also selectivley quotes his Sep 2006 speech. Here's some parts it leave out:

Quote :

"But having visited Iraq, I'm also acutely aware that a precipitous withdrawal of our troops, driven by Congressional edict rather than the realities on the ground, will not undo the mistakes made by this Administration. It could compound them"

http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060621-floor_statement_6/

If you don't both to fact check the candidate, it's no wonder you're totally clueless.

[Edited on April 7, 2008 at 1:32 AM. Reason : ``]

4/7/2008 1:29:02 AM

^ Yeah, do you even know what that speech was about?

When he says "precipitous withdrawal" he's specifically talking about an amendment proposed by John Kerry in which he wanted all the troops out by july 2007. Obama supports a phased withdrawal over time now (and I think it was soon after that that he hammed out his phased withdrawal ideas).

4/7/2008 1:32:17 AM