Obama calls for full withdrawal

[citizensoldierlou]

All troops - ALL - out by March 2008.

“The American people have been asked to be patient too many times, too many lives have been lost and too many billions have been spent,” Obama said. “It’s time for a policy that can bring a responsible end to this war and bring our troops home.”

Now we're cooking with gas...

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jan/30/obama_calls_for_withdrawal_of_all_troops_from_iraq_by_march_2008

[Mass]

1. Thanks - Now this is a concrete proposal, to my knowledge the first one

from a presidential candidate except for Kucinich.

Congratulation to Obama!

[citizensoldierlou]

2. Of course on Kos

They're already saying it is weak and not as good as Feingold. BUT, it is a high profile Presidential candidate who is facing down HC and this will put pressure on her as well as other wobbly knees in the senate.

Also on President Failure.

Plus, like you said, at least he's going with binding legislation.

[beachmom]

3. Feingold's plan is too fast -- the Iraqi gov. needs a decent notice

1 year is proper. Obama is essentially endorsing Kerry's approach (which the ISG endorsed), which is why I like the plan. And unlike Edwards, Obama was anti-war the entire time prior even to the IWR vote (it was a great speech he gave at that time). But this plan isn't simply "anti-war", it's responsible and well thought out. Obama has earned some points with me with this plan.

[fedupinBushcountry]

4. Well

today on the Senate floor he said he has advocated this for a year. If I remember correctly the Kerry/Feingold resolution was last June, and Obama voted against it and said it was "precipitous". How many soldiers have died since then, this just hits me wrong.

[beachmom]

5. True, but I'm still glad he has come around and endorsed

Kerry's ideas. Look, our guy isn't in the race, so I admit I'm looking for his IDEAS more than anything else from the candidates. Seems like Obama has spoken for the Kerry position. And Hillary is now in a very weakened position -- completely lame just passing the buck to Bush without coming up with a real plan.

As far as Obama's disingenuousness, I have seen these character flaws in all of the others, too, so that doesn't disqualify him from consideration, sad to say.

[wisteria]

9. Don't you know t what the new message is around here?

It doesn't make any difference any more what Senator Kerry said or did or who may have taken his ideas for their own or even who may still be smearing him. Instead of promoting Kerry's ideas and suggesting some of the candidates adopt them, (after all they were also well thought out), we are suppose to not mention the obvious and just move along and ignore the lies or the fact that politicians make promises they don't keep all the time. :sarcasm:

Now, my thought is, if he has misrepresented his position on this issue and as you pointed out he has, than what else will he lie about?

[Mass]

10. This is NOT Kerry's plan, or at least not the Kerry/Feingold plan.

What Obama is advocating is what Kerry was advocating in NOVEMBER 2005. Well, it is true that Obama was advocating a similar plan in early 2006, WITHOUT a deadline.

This said, do not hope miracles. IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS KERRY IS NOT RUNNING. YOU CANNOT BE RUNNING AND OFFERING A SOLUTION FOR IRAQ IN CONCERT WITH OTHERS. This has to be THEIR PLAN.

My respect of Feingold and Kerry rose in 2006, when they came together to offer an amendment, even though they were considering running for president. Do not expect Obama and Clinton to come with a commun plan.

[beachmom]

12. Really? I thought it was fairly similar, except the way you explained

that the March '08 date is a goal, not a deadline. It's not precisely Kerry/Feingold, but it's certainly in that direction.

[Mass]

13. Oh, this is the most complete plan offered by a candidate at this point

with the exception of Kucinich.

This is also close to what Kerry offered in 2005. But, for me, the deadline is an important element, and I am waiting to see what Kerry will be offering in the next days. I know he is trying to get some support before offering it, which is only possible because he is not running, unfortunately.

[sandnsea]

6. Feingold's doesn't have a strategy

It just says to pass a law that funding will be cut in 6 months, and then sit back and shrug your shoulders while Bush (supposedly) figures out how to do it.

Obama's seems to cover all bases and be the kind of real solution a President would come up with, military, reconstruction, regional diplomacy, thorough and concise.

The only thing I worry about in both of them is the troops left behind. It's like the backwards version of Vietnam and all those small country wars of the 80's. We're moving backwards to advisors and training, which didn't work, instead of from that to escalation. I don't think we figured out how to do that either. We need to get out and let NATO or UN people in there as quickly as possible.

[Mass]

7. Two points:

1/ Obama offers a thoughtful and responsible plan that covers the different aspects of the problem. We are far from slogans here.

2/ This plan does not propose a DEADLINE, but a goal. This is different, and I agree with Kerry and Feingold that we need a deadline.

This said, this plan is one step above all other presidential candidates proposals, with the exception of Kucinich, so Kudos!

[beachmom]

8. Oh -- it's not a deadline? I thought it was. Still, I agree with your points. n/t

[_dynamicdems]

11. Maybe this will force Hillary Clinton's hand.

And maybe it will bring more discussion of Iraq into the forefront of the 2008 race. As frontrunner, Clinton has said very little on the subject.