Obama Promises to Visit Iraq and Afghanistan Before Election

[Hope And Change]

June 16, 2008, 1:18 PM

Obama Promises to Visit Iraq and Afghanistan Before Election


Posted by Maria Gavrilovic

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(FLINT, Mich.) Barack Obama told Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on the telephone this morning that he would end the U.S. occupation in Iraq and promised to visit the country before the general election in November.

“I told him that I look forward to seeing him in Baghdad,” Obama said to reporters.

When asked when that meeting would take place, Obama said his campaign will make an announcement soon but that he is interested in visiting Iraq and Afghanistan before the election.

Obama reiterated his call for “precipitous” troop withdrawal, calling the U.S. occupation “finite” and saying that it will come to a “foreseeable end.” He added that the Iraq war is crippling the U.S. economy and that relief is dependent on withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Obama also called on the Iraqi government to “pick up the tab” for reconstruction efforts.

more...

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/16/politics/fromtheroad/entry4184189.shtml?CMP=OTC-RSSFeed&source=RSS&attr=FromTheRoad_4184189

[jody]

1. I hope Obama avoids a photo op mistake like Dukakis.

[FatherTime1408]

2. I never understood...

..how a heavily gaurded photo-op is supposed to mean anything. I'm not saying he shouldn't go, go ahead if you want. But what does it prove? How does having lunch with some troops transfer into foreign policy experience? He's going because he knows he'll be attacked if he doesn't, and I don't get that argument.

[Tim4319]

3. Do you think it would be good if Barack had a town hall type meeting the troops?

I was thinking it would be a good idea if he would meet with the troops and have a town hall type, question and answer session. Do anyone think this would be a good idea?

[jody]

4. IMO that would be risky because the audience would be chosen by Bush lackeys in DoD and they would

ask Obama questions which he would answer in ways that could and would be used against him.

Such a question might be, "Senator Obama, when do you believe the Iraqi military and police will be able to protect the civilian population from terrorist attacks without aid of UN forces?"

[Tim4319]

5. Thanks for pointing that out!

I knew my idea would have been too go to be a good one.