RawStory: Obama calls for reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq after Dec. 15

[Roland99]

In Chicago, Sen. Obama calls for reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq after Dec. 15... Not full withdrawal... 'Time frame not time table'... Developing...

[Oceansaway]

1. atta boy Obama !!!

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Yay

About time.

[MidwestTransplant]

3. He is basically regurgitating what is already going to happen

The Pentagon said 20k would come home after the elections. Obama is just trying to suggest a given as his own idea.

[Roland99]

4. Maybe he's calling for a larger reduction?

[karynnj]

5. He and most of the Democrats are coming down

to a reasonably narrow set of positions. None (including Murtha) are saying out now.

Murtha is saying out within 6 months, but redeployed somewhere in the area

Feingold is saying out by Dec 06 - with flexible target dates - with the troops coming home

Kerry wants some troops out after the elections, wants US out of Search and Destroy and Policing immediately, wants the Sunni neighbors to help facilitate a political solution, and wants the troops gradually brought home within 12-15 months. Not sure of start date but mid point if now is end of Dec 06

Biden - wants training increased, fuctions turned over to the Iraqis and the US out by Dec 07

Now, more important than any American plan, the Sunni neihbors (Arab League) has a plan where they want the Americans out in a year. They also have language that implies they want the US to have less contact with the people (S&D and policing).

[Roland99]

6. Full Story Now Up >>>>>

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/In_Chicago_Senator_Obama_calls_for_1122.html

[kpete]

7. Full text up at Raw Story, Link below

Senator Barack Obama
Moving Forward in Iraq, remarks as prepared for delivery
November 22, 2005
Chicago Council on Foreign Relations

LINK TO FULL TEXT BELOW SNIPPETS:

The President could take the politics out of Iraq once and for all if he would simply go on television and say to the American people "Yes, we made mistakes. Yes, there are things I would have done differently. But now that we're here, I am willing to work with both Republicans and Democrats to find the most responsible way out."

Nearly four decades ago, John F. Kennedy took responsibility for the Bay of Pigs Invasion. He admitted that mistakes had been made. He didn't spend a good deal of time publicly blaming the previous administration, or the other party, or his critics. And through these decisive actions, he earned the respect of the American people and the world � respect that allowed his diplomacy to be trusted a few years later during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Americans everywhere are crying out for this kind of leadership today. They want to find pragmatic solutions to the difficult and complicated situation in Iraq. They want to move forward one of the greatest foreign policy challenges that faces this nation in a generation. And they want to get it right for every American son and daughter who's been willing to put their lives on the line to defend the country they love. It's time for us in Washington to offer the rest of the country this leadership. Thank you.
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/In_Chicago_Senator_Obama_...