Smittie

So, about this plan, Mr. Obama. I have a few questions and a couple of comments. Political leaders in Iraq have only just begun to look like leaders albeit, shaky ones. Most observers attribute this budding leadership to the security that the surge in US Forces has brought. In your plan you at once point … Read more

“I’m surprised at how finely calibrated every single word was measured. I wasn’t saying anything I hadn’t said before, that I didn’t say a year ago or when I was a United States senator,” said Obama, who is still a senator from Illinois. (source) I keep coming back to that first sentence. “I’m surprised at … Read more

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 … Read more

Iraq will not accept any security agreement with the United States unless it includes dates for the withdrawal of foreign forces. The differing stances underscore the intense debate in Baghdad over a deal with Washington that will provide a legal basis for U.S. troops to operate when a U.N. mandate expires at the end of … Read more