[Peace-discuss] Killing in a refined way until "Iraq is stable"

[C. G. Estabrook]

[So predictable, it needs no comment -- except perhaps to point to Obama's call 
for more war in AfPak.  --CGE]


	Obama says he might "refine" his Iraq position
	By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama left open the possibility on 
Thursday of revising his 16-month timetable for withdrawing U.S. combat forces 
from Iraq, saying he could "refine" his stance after he visits the country.

Obama, an early opponent of the war who made his stance a centerpiece of his 
Democratic presidential campaign, said he would not support a long-term U.S. 
presence in Iraq but wanted to ensure any U.S. withdrawal was orderly and safe.

"I've always said I would listen to commanders on the ground. I've always said 
the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our 
troops and the need to maintain stability," he told reporters in North Dakota.

"That assessment has not changed, and when I have a chance to meet with some of 
the commanders on the ground I'm sure I'll have more information and will 
continue to refine my policies," he said.

After heavy criticism from his Republican opponent John McCain, Obama said he 
would visit Iraq and Afghanistan later this summer. It will be his second visit 
to Iraq.

McCain, an Arizona senator, is a staunch advocate of the current U.S. strategy 
in Iraq and the issue is certain to be central to their November election battle 
for the White House.

Obama said his plan for withdrawing one or two combat brigades a month from Iraq 
after he takes office always depended on conditions on the ground.

"I'm going to continue to gather information to find out whether those 
conditions still hold," he said. "My guiding approach continues to be that we've 
got to make sure our troops are safe and Iraq is stable."

Obama denied that he was shifting his stance, but Republicans pounced on his 
comments.

"There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse 
himself on for the sake of political expedience," said Alex Conant, a Republican 
National Committee spokesman.

As Obama spoke, two of his foreign policy advisors told reporters in a 
conference call the current U.S. strategy in Iraq was allowing the security 
situation in Afghanistan to worsen and must be changed.

The advisors, Susan Rice and Sarah Seward, said they believed the 16-month time 
frame for a U.S. troop withdrawal in Iraq was still achievable.

Rice said Obama remained committed to a "responsible, careful redeployment of 
U.S. forces from Iraq" and starting it "from the early days of his administration."

"And the best advice, military advice, that he's received has been that a 
responsible pace is one to two combat brigades a month," she said.

For security reasons, Obama has not announced the date of his Iraq trip. The 
Illinois senator will be part of a congressional delegation and will not take 
press with him.

"My job is to make sure that the strategic issues that we face ... are all taken 
into account and dealt with in a way that enhances America's national security 
interests over the long term," he said.

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