Obama aide: Military advisers to meet on first day

[babylonsister]

Obama aide: Military advisers to meet on first day
By JENNIFER LOVEN and CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press Writer


Jan 17th, 2009 | WASHINGTON -- On his first full day as president, Barack Obama will meet with high-ranking military officers to discuss the Iraq war and other issues, a top adviser to Obama said Saturday.

Wednesday's meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other military commanders and aides will fulfill a key campaign promise and bring the Iraq war back to the political forefront after months of being overshadowed by the economy.

In the early stages of his two-year presidential campaign, Obama vowed to wind down the war, a stance that helped him eclipse Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries.

In the past year or so, however, Iraq lost prominence in the national debate, and Obama gave himself some slight wiggle room on the pace of withdrawing troops. He also stressed the need to pump more U.S. military power into Afghanistan.

Still, many of his backers recall his remarks about Iraq in July, when he said: "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 responsibly and deliberately but decisively."

The Obama adviser, who would speak only on condition of anonymity because the Wednesday meeting has not been formally announced, said the session will include several top commanders and aides in addition to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2009/01/17/D95P4OK02_obama_military/index.html

[DevonRex]

1. Fantastic. He remembers what he said and he's doing it. nt

[babylonsister]

2. A man of his word-I'm loving it! He's getting right back to biz. nt

[snowbear]

3. Rock on President Obama!

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