Obama Offers Most Extensive Plan Yet for Winding Down War

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

Senator Barack Obama yesterday presented his most extensive plan yet for winding down the war in Iraq, proposing to withdraw all combat troops by the end of next year while leaving behind a force of unspecified size to strike at terrorists, train Iraqi soldiers and protect American interests.

Speaking in Iowa, Mr. Obama combined an attack on both parties in Washington for having gotten the United States into the war with the outline of an approach for getting out that immediately drew criticism from the left of his party for being too timid and from Republicans as being irresponsible.

...snip...

In his address, Mr. Obama proposed removing American combat troops at a pace of one or two brigades a month, which is about twice as fast as American commanders in Iraq have deemed prudent. There are currently about 20 combat brigades in Iraq, which General Petraeus has committed to reducing to 15 next summer.

Under the Obama plan, no more than 10 brigades would be in Iraq at that point. Military experts who supported the administration’s “surge” strategy called the troop levels proposed by Mr. Obama insufficient.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/us/politics/13obama.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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My wife and I will be in Iowa this weekend for the Harkin Steak-Fry. I'm guessing the entire slate of candidates will be talking about the Petraeus report and their Iraq plans.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. I Like Obama - But This Plan Doesn't Sound Very Wise

I don't think that we can do a gradual draw-down. As our numbers drop, we'll start taking more casualties - at some point we'll be overwhelmed, and take a huge number of casualties. When we get out, we'll have to go FAST.

[sandnsea]

4. They all call for a gradual drawdown

That gives them the opportunity to guage the reaction to prevent all the calamities that are given as excuses not to withdraw. If he called for a swift withdrawal, he'd be criticized for that too.

[msongs]

2. your title is MISLEADING - he offers HIS most extensive plan, not THE most... nt

[sandnsea]

3. Per LBN rules - it's the actual title n/t

[wisteria]

5. This plan sounds very similar to another Democratic plan. n/t

[killbotfactory]

6. But some rival candidates say his plan sucks!

They wouldn't lie, would they?