ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Saturday his plan to end the Iraq war was unchanged and he was puzzled by the sharp reaction to his statement this week that he might "refine" his timetable for ithdrawing U.S. combat troops.
"For me to say that I'm going to refine my policies I don't think in any way is inconsistent with prior statements and doesn't change my strategic view that this war has to end and that I'm going to end it as president," Obama told reporters on his campaign plane.
Obama, who based his drive to capture the Democratic nomination on his early and ardent opposition to the war, said earlier this week he might alter his plan to bring combat troops home within 16 months of taking office if conditions on the ground changed.
The comment drew heavy coverage and sharp criticism from some on the left and the right, with Republicans saying it showed he was vacillating on Iraq.
"I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off with what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement," he said on a flight from Montana to St. Louis. "I am absolutely committed to ending the war. I will call my joint chiefs of staff in and give them a new assignment and that is to end the war."
Reuters, July 6, 2008
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Obamessiah Fanatics: He argued throughout the primary that He would end the war and bring the troops home NOW. Hillary argued that she may have to leave troops in Iraq for some time, but she would bring most home, soon. Obamessiah attacked her for not pledging to end the war. So which is it lunatics? Is He ending it or back pedaling and lying to you? The Republicans say one thing you claim, Hillary says one thing you argued, and always did another. What is He doing?
Senator: You are puzzled by the furor? Then you really need to spend another 10 years in Congress and grow up. Read the above Senator. Did you or did you not attack Hillary over and over again during the primary on Iraq? Did you or did you not attack her on grounds that she would not pledge to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home? You did Senator. You wanted every soldier out of Iraq and were not about to listen to any excuse, and you attacked Bush and McCain over their excuses to keep troops in Iraq. The tapes exist Senator, and you will soon see and hear the tapes, again and again. Do you routinely make promises and break them before you even get a chance to vote on something?
Perhaps Senator you are so unsure of yourself, unable to articulate policy without a teleprompter, unable to develop a coherent policy - perhaps senator, you are simply in over your head and you are making up policy at every campaign stop regardless if it contradicts earlier statements. After all, earlier statements were to the party faithful in primaries and you have that all sewn up, they can't go anywhere - now you abandon them and move to the center (for the election only). You know you are not moderate. You are not interested in foreign issues other than to jawbone everyone to death.
Iraq is far more complicated than you presented during the primaries, but back then you were as dumb on that subject as you are on foreign policy today, yet you have somehow seen the light and realize the Bush plan has worked and is working. Now you change your position and Senator it is a change. You can pretend it isn't. You can be amazed that anyone thinks differently, but that is because those who are questioning you, actually can think.
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