Obama's campaign rhetoric and his Iraq plan were always at odds.

[AmyCamus]

This (Old News) Just In: Obama Doesn't Plan to End the Occupation
By Jeremy Scahill, AlterNet
The New York Times reports an "evolution" in Obama's plan for Iraq. But his campaign rhetoric and his Iraq plan were always at odds.

"On the campaign trail, Senator Barack Obama offered a pledge that electrified and motivated his liberal base, vowing to 'end the war' in Iraq," wrote reporter Thom Shanker on Thursday. "But as he moves closer to the White House, President-elect Obama is making clearer than ever that tens of thousands of American troops will be left behind in Iraq, even if he can make good on his campaign promise to pull all combat forces out within 16 months."

For many months it's been abundantly clear that Obama's Iraq plan is at odds with his campaign rhetoric. Yet, Shanker writes, "to date, there has been no significant criticism from the antiwar left of the Democratic Party of the prospect that Mr. Obama will keep tens of thousands of troops in Iraq for at least several years to come." The Times is actually right about this, in a literal sense. There has seldom, if ever, been a public peep about Obama's residual force plans for Iraq from members of his own party, including from those who describe themselves as "anti-war."

Peep.

[Lasher]

1. Here's what Obama said in October last year:

"I will remove one or two brigades a month, and get all of our combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months. The only troops I will keep in Iraq will perform the limited missions of protecting our diplomats and carrying out targeted strikes on al Qaeda. And I will launch the diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives that are so badly needed. Let there be no doubt: I will end this war."

I wish every single soldier would be out in 16 days. But if there is inconsistency afoot, I don't see it.

[Kahuna]

2. I am with you. Obama never said he would remove 100% of the troops.

Anybody who says he said that is a bold faced LIAR!

[AmyCamus]

6. I agree that Dems falling for Obama being 'the peace candidate' were duped.

Keeping Gates put the frosting on that cake.

[Lasher]

8. I didn't say we were duped. My point was entirely opposite of that.

Obama will send more troops to Afghanistan and might even attack Pakistan and/or Iran. And when he removes combat soldiers from Iraq he will keep a number of non-combat soldiers (whatever non-combat soldiers are supposed to be) there for who knows how long. Consider South Korea, Japan, and Germany for help in guessing how long that presence, and the associated colossal hemorrhaging of money, could perpetuate. The only thing I like about that is the removal of combat soldiers from Iraq.

But he was not deceitful. I knew about his position on these issues long before the election. There were other good reasons to have supported Obama. But in this case alone he was a clear winner over Mr. 100-years-war-in-Iraq McCain, and the warmongering neocons that would surely have been retained to the last person in his regime.

[AmyCamus]

10. A week before he announced his run for President, he wrote a bill to withdraw all troops

A bill to pull out ALL troops by March 2008. Back when he was the Peace candidate.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Folks here went for style, not substance...

and the false labelling of Clinton as the war-mongering, conservative anti-Christ even though her healthcare plan and foreclosure policy were more progressive and endorsed by Paul Krugman.

Well, he's named the same damned cabinet Hillary Clinton would have chosen.

I've always said that his duplicity is probably why he'll be a good president. I still think so.

[AmyCamus]

5. "his duplicity is probably why he'll be a good president"

Didn't work too well for W. Let's "hope" Obama has better luck.

[Captain Hilts]

7. No, Prez Bush has done exactly what he said he'd do. That's why we didn't vote for him. nt

[Lasher]

9. "I will restore honor and integrity to the White House"

"Tax relief is central to my plan to encourage economic growth, and we can proceed with tax relief without fear of budget deficits, even if the economy softens." Bush Remarks at Western Michigan University, 3/27/01

"And after we fund important priorities in the ongoing operations of our Government, I believe we ought to pay down national debt. And so my budget pays down a record $2 trillion in debt over the next 10 years." Bush Remarks to the American College of Cardiology, 3/21/01

"Every year, U.S. colleges attract the best and the brightest students from all over the world. I want to make sure that higher education is affordable and accessible to every American. And therein lie our greatest weaknesses: college tuition and the burden of student indebtedness. I am committed to helping families prepare for the cost of higher education." The Magazine for Leaders in Higher Education, 10/1/00

"Clear Skies legislation, when passed by Congress, will significantly reduce smog and mercury emissions, as well as stop acid rain. It will put more money directly into programs to reduce pollution, so as to meet firm national air-quality goals. ..." George W. Bush, Earth Day speech, April 22, 2002

"I am a uniter, not a divider." George W. Bush on CNN, February 29, 2000 and repeatedly at other times

[Bluenorthwest]

4. You know, I have no problem criticizing what I don't like

but I was listening during the debates and Obama was meticulously clear about his intentions. He said then he'd do what he is now doing. Many people did not listen to the details and might be confused about now. But this is what he said then. So I can not agree that he has changed on this, I think what has changed is that people are now listening with accuracy.
I listend closely, as many people were telling me that Obama would leave Iraq at once, while Hillary would stay and expand. They were not correct then, and if they think Obama is contradicting himself, they are not correct now.
He was clear, if anyone cared to listen. In fact, one of the factors that won my support for him was in one of the debates, where he halted the talk to give more detail about the exit, including leaving bases and non combat forces. I was impressed with his desire to be clear, and amazed that so few heard him. I thought he was being wildly honest. And it looks like he was.