I mentioned the other day that I was concerned that Barack Obama might fall into the same trap as GW Bush by being unwilling or unable to reassess and modify his stance on Iraq as the situation changed.

As I noted then, the Center for a New American Security, which has become Obama’s foreign-policy think tank, released a report last month that argued against a timetable for withdrawal and in favor of “conditional engagement,” declaring, “Under this strategy, the United States would not withdraw its forces based on a firm unilateral schedule. Rather, the time horizon for redeployment would be negotiated with the Iraqi government".

As I "predicted" and hoped, it now appears that Barack Obama is indeed considering a change in his stance on US involvement in Iraq. There are those on the Right who will criticize Barack for moving away from his hardline position of February 2007 regarding Iraq, such as Alex Conant, a spokesman for the national Republican Party. But personally, I applaud his willingness to reassess his position based upon the changing conditions in Iraq. In this, he shows a flexability which Bush lacked prior to 2006.

Ron

Where were you when he said he'd be as careful getting out as the Bushies were careless getting in? He's also said repeatedly he'd do it "responsibly and would consult generals on the ground. As I correct in thinking staying there 100years (ala McCain) would be ok with you?

You are well aeare, Shirley that you have totally mischaracterized the statements of John McCaim regarding how long we should stay in Iraq. But I have come to expect nothing else from you and the ObamaBots. The impact of rising oil prices on the world economy clearly demonstrates the need for a "go slow" policy regarding Iraq and the rest of the middle east. The need for air and logistical support to the Iraqis from the US miliary will likely continue for some time to come. How long a US presence will be required is something which must be re-assessed on a ongoing basis and should not be treated as some kind of "political football". Ron

When you choose to twist what Obama has said all along, I can twist what McCain says. It works both ways. McCain has also cited Korea, Japan, Germany as places we still have military. The glaring difference is that we haven't been fired upon in any of those places in decades.

Just as our military wasn't prepared to fight jungle warfare in Vietnam, neither were they prepared for street by street fighting where the enemy can't be idetified simply because they don't wear uniforms.

The problems with air strike by the US is that you have Sunnis and Christians living in the same neighborhoods as Shiites. I look for Petreus to start drawing down troops somewhat sinmply because now Bush has decided, gee, we need to send another 50,000 to Afghanistan. Where do you suppose he's going to get them?

shirley:

When you choose to twist what Obama has said all along, I can twist what McCain says. It works both ways. McCain has also cited Korea, Japan, Germany as places we still have military. The glaring difference is that we haven't been fired upon in any of those places in decades.

Just as our military wasn't prepared to fight jungle warfare in Vietnam, neither were they prepared for street by street fighting where the enemy can't be idetified simply because they don't wear uniforms.

The problems with air strike by the US is that you have Sunnis and Christians living in the same neighborhoods as Shiites. I look for Petreus to start drawing down troops somewhat sinmply because now Bush has decided, gee, we need to send another 50,000 to Afghanistan. Where do you suppose he's going to get them?

Shirley: There is no enemy-we made the enemy in Iraq. As same as the US Calvary made the American Indian an enemy and the press at the time did the same as they do today. We never learned-did we?

I am amazed at the ignorance of the sheep today!

Cherokee

Anyone who seriously checked what McCain said would know that he was speaking of troops staying,the same way they do in Korea, Japan, Germany.

No matter how many fear tactics are shoved my way, I do not see McCain as another Bush.

I am frankly tired of fear tactics by both sides. Bush and Company gave me enough to last a lifetime.

to protect the forces on the ground and to reflect the changes in the Iraqi Government.

The 16 months is an ideal goal...but as we all know conditions change and if conditions change,plans change...however the goals remain the same...we have seen what happens when people refuse to consider change or refuse to consider that they might have made a mistake.

goal but giving the constantly changing conditions over there he was not going to play politics with American lives.If he can get out in 16 months,thats his goal,but he would not leave Americans unprotected to meet an arbritary timetable.

I am tired of the name calling and scare tactics being employed by the extremists on BOTH sides.

I don't care if Barack Obama was exposed to the Islam while he lived with his step father in Indonesia. The Muslim religion as practiced in Indonesia bears little resemblence to that practiced in the Middle East - they are dominently secular Sufi rather than the more fundamentalist Shia or Sunni.

And I don't for a moment believe that John McCain is a warmonger who will simply follow the previous Bush aganda if elected.

I wish, rather than this constant barrage of attacks, we could begin to closely examine the qualifications of each and their relative positions on the ISSUES.

Ron

I have one word for your post,Ron! Amen!

I am now listening to both sides and ignoring the fear factor.

Tell me what you plan to do, how you will do it, where will you get the money?

Iraq is a quagmire that will be hard to end, just like Vietnam. There is no easy way out. Just today,they extended the time for troops for one month. We have no more Troops, the equipment is falling apart, we are broke and people are concentrating on who done what, many years ago.or who said something that can be built into a story.

Our Country structure is falling apart. We could create jobs over night if we put people to work. Instead Congress is passing silly resolutions that have nothing to do with the Country's business.

who move their jobs overseas.

Hi, Cherokee. No, we never seem to learn from past mi8stakes. As I recall, in Nam it was pungi sticks. In Iraq, it's been IEDs and those are still a problem, as are suicide bombers.

Our grandson was in Fallujah and the sunni triangle during the worst of the fighting, lost one of his men on the last tour, lost two of his best friends in the second tour.

An aside, I watched an interesting program earlier today on The States". Among them was a part in SD, home of the famous four heads carved into the mountain but I wondered how many people know that 15 miles away is another paying homage to Sitting Bull.who was shot in the back during a treaty deal.

Hi, MJ. Yes, he's said that several times going all the way back to the beginning of the year or earlier. My biggest worry is that Marines are the first ones in and clase the door as they leave, meaning they're the last ones out.

What worries me about McCain is the "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" and the military chiefs in the Pentagon are opposed to any attacks on Iran. Since McCain votes 95% of the time, he just might get equally trigger happy as p[[psed tp trying diplomacy first and war as the last option. Israel is also an unknown factor. So is PNAC's influence over McCain.

As Roosevelt famously said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." I prefer to believe that military chiefs will hold sway should McCain get elected.

Chief Crazy Horse...stabbed in the back...

NO DEAR it is CRAZY HORSE not Sitting Bull. GET your History streight.

I work here at CRazy Horse....... SOOOOO it is a got you. LOLAnna