Barack Obama,  Iraq,  Iraq War

Barack Obama Watch: In A Shocker Obama Flip Flops on Iraq War – Now Wants to Clarify His Remarks

July 3, 2008 /
barack-obama-rally-levittown-pennsylvania

Barack Obama speaking in Pennsylvania

Mark Halperin reports that in a hastily scheduled second press availability, Barack Obama sought to clarify his remarks made earlier and insisted that his position on Iraq has not changed.

“I intend to end this war… That position has not changed. I have not equivocated on that position. I am not searching for maneuvering room with respect to that position.”

Though he also says:

“I have always reserved the right to do what’s best for America’s national interest… I would be a poor commander-in-chief if I didn’t take facts on the ground into account.”

But that is NOT what he said before.

Senator Barack Obama said Thursday the United States cannot sustain a long-term military presence in Iraq, but added that he would be open to “refine my policies” about a timeline for withdrawing troops after meeting with American military commanders during a trip to Iraq later this month.

Mr. Obama, whose popularity in the Democratic primary was built upon a sharp opposition to the war and an often-touted 16-month gradual timetable for removing combat troops, dismissed suggestions that he was changing positions in the wake of reductions in violence in Iraq and a general election fight with Senator John McCain.

“I’ve always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability. That assessment has not changed,” he said. “And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I’m sure I’ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies.”

But, on Obama’s website he has another position – one that he has repeated over and over.

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.

But, today, Obama says:

  • “My 16-month (withdrawal) timeline, if you examine everything that I’ve said, was always premised on making sure that our troops were safe.”
  • “So my position has not changed, but keep in mind what that original position was. I’ve always said that 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. That assessment has not changed. And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I’m sure I’ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies.”

Good grief, if Obama is not equivocating on an inflexible timeline for withdrawal then what the hell is he saying?

He is attemting to back away from an assinine contradictory policy that cannot be sustained – but one on which he ran on during the Democrat primary election season.

How does his policy now differ from that of Hillary Clinton who Obama beat up time and time again for voting for the Iraq War.

Barack Obama is simply a typical politician who cannot be trusted to keep his word on policy.

The Republican National Committee: “There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience.”

No shit…….

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Barack Obama Watch: In A Shocker Obama Flip Flops on Iraq War

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10 Comments

  • Andrew

    July 3, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    Obama has the right to clarify his objectives on moving the troops out. Now if I was president I’d take the troops out in 60 days Nam-style… But that’s why I’m not running for president. We need a leader that can listen to others and make a decision for his policies based on that and his own standing beliefs. So what if Obama has declared a little change in his campaign strategy. I don’t think that should be considered a flip-flop since he’s merely stating that others may effect his strategy on getting the troops out… but his ultimate purpose is being achieved which is getting the troops out.

    So please public, listen to your gut and understand that the best leader is one that can sit down, listen to others (keep in mind most have completely different beliefs), and figure out the best plan for any situation. Bush doesn’t go out and talk to all of his military officials to decide if he wants to go to war or not, he just declares it. Bush also refuses to talk to foreign diplomats… For instance China’s leader which hates us. McCain is in the same boat and is too stubborn and “proud” to make and intelligent conversation with a foreign leader. Please quote me on this when I say China’s leader is probably smarter and more intelligent than or current President. I’m no communist but realize that it takes brains to lead. I’m not basing his intelligence solely on the fact he can lead because Bush led his country into a war that doesn’t even exist… A war needs to have a conflict. Whats the conflict? WMP- no Oil – yes…

    Hopefully many who disagree are reading this and that finally get that what I’m saying isn’t sterio typical bullshit… its real. Right in your face and you don’t even know

  • Flap

    July 3, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    @ Andrew

    Obama flipped his position and the anti-war left should be wondering what the frak Obama is doing? First, he sells out on FISA and now the war.

    By the way, George Bush is not running this time, McCain is and his war policy was different and achieved the success we see today over there.

    Also, how do you know what President Bush does or does not do?

  • Diogenes

    July 6, 2008 at 8:49 am

    Change. What he does to get elected. Does anyone really know what he will DO, because he says everything and anything.

  • michael

    July 8, 2008 at 8:16 pm

    Everyone knows that what a candidate says in the general election is what they are expected to do as president. So, as such, Barack is starting all over in the general election. Such a mistake. All of the positions I liked, and I voted for in the primary are changing, and flip-flopping. You can only run such a clever campaign, “being above politics” and “politicians” only one time, because then comes the general election and you are seen for what you really are, a typical politician who will tell one group something, and then turn around and tell another group the exact opposite. Anyone who attempts to run the same campaign as Barack did in the primary and now the general would immediately be seen as a probable phony. On the other hand, I see Americans getting hot about Iran and their potential to have nuclear weapons as a reason to attack them. Did’nt we learn anything from Iraq? Why not secure our borders and be able to detect an attack by Iran, and then not care even if they do have nuclear weapons? Seeing as most have not learned anything from Iraq I see any used car salesman politician running the “Barack” campaign for years to come and Americans being suckered into it time after time.