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Obama wades into controversy
with Iraq comments
John Whitesides
Reuters
Friday, July 4, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama waded into controversy
on Thursday over his plans to withdraw U.S. combat troops from
Iraq, first saying he might "refine" his views but later
declaring his stance had remained unchanged for more than a year.
Obama was forced to call reporters back for a second news conference
in Fargo, North Dakota, after he initially left open the possibility
of revising his 16-month timetable for pulling U.S. combat forces
from Iraq.
"Let me be as clear as I can be. I intend to end this war.
My first day in office I will bring the joint chiefs of staff
in and I will give them a new mission and that is to end this
war," Obama told reporters in his second news conference.
(Article continues below)
But he added: "I would be a poor commander in chief if I
didn't take facts on the ground into account."
At an earlier news conference, the Illinois senator had said
he could "refine" his stance after he visits Iraq.
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 troop
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 on arrival in North Dakota.
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INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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