Obama Adviser Suggests Up to 80,000 Troops Remain in Iraq By 2010
Barack Obama, shown here speaking at a volunteer event in Philadelphia Wednesday, seems to be at odds with an adviser who reportedly recommends keeping up to 80,000 troops in Iraq by the end of 2010. (AP Photo)
As Barack Obama continues to criticize John McCain for saying he’s willing to keep a 100-year troop presence in Iraq, another Obama adviser has suggested U.S. forces could stay in Iraq longer than the Democratic candidate initially thought.
Adviser Colin Kahl wrote in a policy paper for the Center for a New American Security that the United States should transition to an “over-watch” force of between 60,000 and 80,000 troops by the end of 2010, according to an article Friday in the New York Sun.
That appears to be at odds with Obama’s public position of removing all combat brigades from the country within 16 months of taking office.
Kahl told the Sun his plan would still keep the U.S. “out of the lead” and mainly in a “support role.” He said the plan had nothing to do with the campaign.
The Obama campaign said in a statement: “The writing of Mr. Kahl, one of hundreds of outside advisers to the campaign, is not representative of Barack Obama’s consistent policy position on the Iraq war.”
But Kahl’s plan seems to jibe with other advisers’ statements that Obama’s withdrawal timetables are more a goal than a firm policy commitment.
Foreign policy adviser Susan Rice, for instance, told reporters in February that Obama’s plan to end the war in 2009 is not absolute, and that he reserves the right to revisit troop levels in Iraq upon taking the oath of office.
Former foreign policy adviser Samantha Power told the BBC that Obama’s 16-month plan is a “best-scenario” and that the reality is he will try to withdraw troops “as quickly and responsibly as possible.”
Tags:Barack Obama, Colin Kahl, Fox News
votetheday.com said
am August 31 2008 @ 4:23 pm
http://www.votetheday.com/polls/us-presidential-elections-1/
Jacque Denise Yap said
am September 11 2008 @ 8:38 pm
The dollar is at the bottom in so many countries, people are so stupid they don’t realize that if you do not FIGHT FOR FREEDOM it will be TAKEN AWAY, there will ALWAYS be some power crazed maniac somewhere who thinks they have the right to control you.
Any person who comes to this country and was born in this country and reaps the reward for doing so better be ready to fight for the freedom that OUR FOREFATHERS Fought and died for, and moron who does not believe had better get a clue before it is too late, I hate war everyone hates war BUT it is a terrible fact of life and has always been so since the beginning of man.
i just saw their TV ads in pollclash and its getting warmer this time. well you can see the TV ads in http://pollclash.com
dennis said
am October 20 2008 @ 3:10 pm
A mistake done knowingly or unknowingly, one has to suffer for that. In this case not only nation is suffering but presently the whole world with economical crisis is facing turbulence. The mistake must be crrected
with intention and situation as soon as possible.Let us hope if Obama is elected he may sincerely try to solve the looming issues in this country. But for that we must utilize our voting rights hundred percent. Thanks.
Most of the states require an absentee ballot request to be made by October 24th. You can click on this link and request your absentee ballot.
www.StateDemocracy.org
Check your States Deadline Date at http://bostonnewsdesk.blogspot.com/2008/10/apply-for-absentee-ballot.html
Mike said
am October 21 2008 @ 5:55 am
Check this site(http://virtualelections.blogspot.com/) and cast your virtual vote for US Presidential Elections 2008.
Schmuck said
am November 10 2008 @ 10:39 pm
The germans are also afraid of Obama’s demand sending more german troops to Afganistan. Now sending troops in the dangerous south instead of the north.
Blumen Kaufen said
am November 20 2008 @ 12:26 am
I am German to and I can say that the peolpe in Germany are happy that Obama won the elections and happy that Bush’s regime is over.