CNN

Obama has no knowledge of recent military history. When a super power committs all of it's resources to conquering Afhganistan they will fall. Our miltary did not want to become entangled in a no win war in those mountains. Instead we contain them. Afhganistan does not have the oil that Iraq and the Persian Gulf states have. There is more of an open threat to our vital interest in the region. Afhganistan is going to be hot combate zone than Iraq because the Iraqi government is toughening its grip on the country. But it did where out some of the hatred that would have sent foriegn fighters pouring into the Afhgan mountains instead of the Iraqi streets. The Iraqis were able to drive out Al Queada when they wanted to.

The so called surge has had what some can call a success but the truth is the deaths are down because the U.S. has been arming their enemies and for the time being they aren't killing American soldiers.

This isn't the first remember arming Saddam Hussien, then arming Osama Bin Laden to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. Better take a look at history to see what's coming down the road.

Afghanistan and Pakistan? OK OBAMA , now you want to start a real war with a NUCLEAR ARAB state? In case you did not know most of the Terrorist come from Pakistan and the Taliban was formed by Pakistan and Pakistan will always protect the TALIBAN. So you tell us how are you going to fight terrorism with out going into PAKISTAN?
You Dum amateur.

Obama's statement that "Iraq is not the central front in the war on terrorism, and it never has been" shows that he was aware, as many Americans were, that the Bush Administration invaded Iraq for reasons that had nothing to do with terrorism.
By removing Hussein, this administration opened up the Iraqi terrritories to insurgents. Remember, they were not there prior to the invasion and occupation by US forces.
A vote for Obama in November is the only hope we have for ending this tragedy.

To all those idiots who think we can "win" this war, please understand first that this is *not* a war, but an occupation (look up the legal definitions of war if you don't believe me). Next, understand that one of the "winning" conditions include "when the Iraqis are ready to police their state". Well, guess what: the Iraqis say they're ready, and they want the US forces to leave. How can you justifying staying in Iraq considering these facts?

Obama = plan to end the war
McCain = 100 more years of war

All you people talking about WAR. Did Iraq provoke the US in any way? The answer is a BIG NO. This is an INVASION if you guys did not go to school.
Osama now makes Video and America beign a Blockbuster, he send you the video to subscribe.
You went to Iraq because of Oil and now its all against you. IF YOU WISH FOR PEACE, PREPARE FOR WAR.
The country is going to cripple if you don't get out of Iraq and the Iraqis are demanding.
They say they don't want you there and you are insisting you want to be there.

Sounds like Hillary Clinton: "On my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war." He has stolen her nomination and he steels her solutions!

The joint chiefs are recommending a drawdown of troups already because of the success of the surge that Obama was against. We can start to withdraw due to victory, instead of defeat.

I cant wait for Obama to spin this. I can hear it now: "I was for the surge before I was against it". Sound familiar? What an empty suit Obama is. A real American will win the Whitehouse this year and his name is McCain.

Obama is right! We should have never started this war in Iraq. It should have been Afganistan only. We need to end this safely for the troops. Bush has put us in a dire situation in Iraq and caused us much economic pain back home and abroad. Say no more to the republican notion of four more years of Bush with McCain as his replacement. It will only add to our demise.

[correction] If a sovereign government that NEVER attacked us wants us to get out of their country under a timetable, who is anyone to question that? The reign of paternalistic cowboy foreign policy will finally be over soon.

If a sovereign government that attacked us wants us to get out of their country under a timetable, who is anyone to question that? The reign of paternalistic cowboy foreign policy will finally be over soon.

Obama has said nothing about surrender. What he said was that over a 16 month period, he would bring our troops out of Iraq in a safe manner. We shouldn't have been there to begin with and they don't want us there. Iraq did not attack us – Al Queda attacked us and they are in Afghanistan. We need to concentrate our troops where they are needed.

Bitter – New Orleans, LA;

PlEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT WINNING IS , WHERE, WHEN , HOW – DO U HAVE FAMILY OVER THERE....LIKELY NOT.

Just because he is taking a trip to Iraq doesn't make him a foreign policy expert. I guess he wants to add this to his THIN resume.

The polls are all tied up..
He better get Hillary on that ticket or it's good-by baby boy.
By the way he is looking pretty old..

WOW you Libs are getting real nasty. I went down to read the article about Tony Snow and could not believe some of the messages I read. Disagree with the mans politics if you like but to spit on the man after he's dead is deplorable and quite frankly makes you a sissy (you know who "you" are). I can just imagine the reaction if I had made the same comments about Tim Russert just because I didn't believe in his politics. But then again I guess you Liberal, Marxist, Socialist followers are learning well from your "Messiah", Dont use my background against me or you're a race, hate-monger. But if I use those same divisive tactics against you well I'm just a politician.

McCain belongs back in Jail = they should have never release this idiot! Warmonger,

Unamerican, McCain was BORN in Panama!

At least Obama was born in the states!

Iraq's Prime Minister Maliki has made the decision to propose a timetable for American troops to withdraw from Iraq. Wheather American agree or disagree, the United States ought to honor Maliki's wishes, as we helped put him in power. Not only that would instill a sentiment that Americans are not trying to control Iraq; it will also elicit an argument that the United States war in Iraq had a purpose other than oil or Bush's personal agenda against Saddam. This historic moment marks the beginning ot a young government claiming its independancy from the United States, as a means to grow, prosper, and focus on its present and future challenges. Given that the United States played a capital role in this venture, the United States should continue to support Iraq's government. However, not carry it, thus doing so will enable Iraq to use its own tools to sustain itself.
In closing when Iraq will be able to use its own police or miltary to deal with threats that affects its prosperity, then the United States can call the war in Iraq a "success".

Iraqdicate McCain

Vote for Obama

"My Democrat friends may not like to hear me say this, but I know John (McCain) and he hates war and would do everything he could to get us out of Iraq." (Sen. Joe Biden from a recent television interview)

Obama is right and the Iraqi's may finally be realizing that they need to stand up and take responsibility for their own sovereignty. Obama plans to push them to achieve more and they understand that they need to fall in line. I don't really know the rationale or justification for staying. If the "surge" worked why can't we leave now? The reality is that this war has been the worst agenda based decision the US has ever made. It's obvious that the Bush Admin saw the post 9/11 situation and said now let's go into Iraq. Their motive is also obvious. McCain will be the one suggesting we pull out sooner than later because the situation as far as I've read and heard doesn't dictate the US occupation much longer. That is, unless McCain and the Republicans intend to continue to use our soldiers, our young men and women, to fight their war for oil. This war is about big business (big oil, and big defense contractors) using the american government and it's citizens to achieve their financial goals. Power and control. To the naysayers and doubters ask yourself, Would the US have any interest, or any reason to invade Iraq if there was no oil? Then why did we do it and why are we there?? Is it any surprise the Iran feels they need the ultimate deterrent, given they have nearly as much oil? Of course they say they want to fight Israel, do you think it's real or because it buys sympathy with other Muslims? Iran is out for power and Israel is another way of gaining acceptance in the region.

McCain vs. Obama: The hero vs. the zero

This from the senator who specifically spoke out and voted against his fellow democrats' bill for such timetable... What a hypocrite!

You are now showing your affinity for the Middle East quite clear....'I would make it absolutely clear that we seek no presence in Iraq'... foolish...foolish....words. Iraq is more stategic than Obama knows.....that is down right scary!!!

A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square...

U say that President Bush wants the war to be over, kind of stupid you say that being he is the PRESIDENT!!!!! If he really wanted it to be over, dont you think it would have happened.

This has been the stance of this administration all along. "We will be there for the Iraqis until they want us out." That time has apparently come, which is a good thing. The "Surge" made this all possible, something not backed by your "savior." Yes, it is a tremendous opportunity, but give the credit to who deserves it, not someone who talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Think it is called realism, that we need to get out of Iraq, even the government of Iraq says so. China wont be able to keep sponsoring the war for us, they will want to see some of that money, so they cant update their own army and technologies..
We have a great task ahead of us in our own country. Bush have just been misleading us with the war so we would not focus on all the issues and problems we are facing at home.. He have not made us more safe then before, even to they claim that, rather we are way more unsafe.. A lot more people are now terrorists and a lot more hate us and could turn that way. Even our great allies are facing hard times following our steps as war hero's
And look at Israel and its enemies, they are talking and are now closer to a real deal with peace and partnership, instead of war and terror.
We need Iraq stable and secure, but if the Iraq wont do it, it will never happen.

PSK ........I am very uncomfortable with the reporting of his dates of travel. It seems irresponsible to do so.

YES I feel the same if THE NEW YORKER get down in the Dirty ........I can imagine what the SCUMBAGS may think of THIS is a MEAM old WORLD

John 'BOY' in the first post said Rock Obama is a coward for wanting to end the Iraq war. Well BOY, I guess eighty percent of America to include many senior Generals are all cowards because we agree with Obama. Americans want to end the Iraq war. Iraq's people and elected Government want American troops to leave. But only BOY and McBush are brave and want American troops to stay in Iraq. of course Boy and McBush are not there and have not served four tours there.

To A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square:

Don't we think Bush really wants the war to be over? No, many of us don't. "The Decider" has done everything in his power to keep us over there.

Regarding preaching, what right do ANY of us have to preach, technically speaking? If he's got an audience, and they want to listen to his preaching, then he is qualified to preach. Aren't you preaching when you post your opinions on a blog?

Of course Obama is trying to tell us something by visiting the West Bank. You keep believing that.

Personally, I think it's great that Obama's main operative is peace. For those of you who don't believe that he's a real American because he wants to end this war, you might want to rethink what your definition of Americanism and patriotism is. (Hint: It has nothing to do with bullying other countries into our brand of "democracy".)

Obama wants to end the war...
McCain wants to win the war...

If there's one thing we all learned from vietnam is that politics have no place on the battlefield. Let the generals do their job. They've been trained for it and you haven't.

Think for a moment...what would Iraq look like right now if Pelosi and her goons has succeeded in pulling our troops out before the surge?
Why pull out when we're winning so heavily? McCain will pull out when it's time to pull out...but he's not going to mark it on a calendar to appease the bleeding heart libs.

Rock Obama is exactly right on Iraq. Eighty percent of Americans agree. But Chenny says "SO". And McSame agrees.

If Iraqi PM, govt, and citizens do not want us there, why is Mcsame still insisting on staying the course? Ever heard of the term neo-colonialism? Who are we to decide on behalf of Iraqis? Time to focus our attention on America, – millions who have no health insurance instead of pouring my tax dollars down the hole in Iraqi. My vote to Obama.

Obama is on message. A soveriegn, democratically elected government wants American troops out of the country. Americans want out of the country. The only thing that can keep us there is Bush, McCain and big business interests that are profitting from the 10 Billion per month we are spending there.

Makes me very nervous and depressed when Obama or anyone else starts talking about Afganistan as a "substitute" for getting out of Iraq. They will kick our butts there too. Ask the British. Ask the Russians. Nothing is gained (except by our bloated corporations who profit from military escapades) by sending our sons and daughters to die in that region of the globe and end up killing thousands of civilians in the process. And like Iraq, Afganistan and Pakistan are both speaking as though we've worn out our welcome there anyway. Stop the madness

That's convenient! Last week it was "I'll have to see what the leaders on the ground say", and the week before that it was "We will be OUT, OUT, OUT in sixteen months", now it's "I will give the order to end this war", notice the lack of when, week, month, year, two years. Apparently a more centrist position means you don't have to explain yourself so often and hold second press conferences at 3:00 pm to re-explain the point you were trying to make at 9:00 am when we twisted your words, took your words out of context, didn't understand what you were talking about, flip flopped and such. You know those things that us gun totin, bible thumpin, bitter Americans don't know about. I would take you more serious Barry if you were not such an idiot. Please remember that a Harvard education does not make up for good old common sense. I have friends who are intellectual geniuses who can't find their way out of the supermarket. Dumber than a stump if you know what I mean.

again i want a president that brings more to the table than war..
OBAMA 08!

Ted......... Obama is already looking old and he hasn't done anything yet..............He looking TIRED not Old .........Why are you watching Mr Obama Get you a WOMAN!!!!

Go Obama!!! Your interview Sun with Zardeea was great!! Every American should have watched just to see how knowledgeable Obama is about foreign policy and how peace can work. Obama was right all along. Good judgement matters more than old experience!!!

It refreshing to hear a poltician talk common sense.

Obama '08

Johnboy, we are not sure McCain actually qualifies to run for President since he was born in Panama.

Nightingale,
the answer to your question would be NO, Bu$h does NOT want us out of Iraq. We all do, yes, but not this administration's cabal of war-mongering thugs. After he got into office, the neo-cons circled around him to ensure their war profiteering could proceed unabated.

Obama wants OUT. Period. What could possibly be bad about that ?

"I believe that success will be fairly easy"
- John McCain., September 24, 2002.
"I believe that we can win an overwhelming victory in a very short period of time"
- John McCain, September 29, 2002.
"We have drawn down to presurge levels.”
- John McCain, 05/29/08
When asked before if we should leave if requested by the Iraqi government, McCain said "it's obvious that we would have to leave" and in another one of his famous flip-flops, he now says it would be up to us.

Why should anyone trust McCain's word on Iraq?

When there is an agreement between the US and Iraq, we would be remiss if we didn't ask to station some of our troops their, energy being as expensive as it is.

Another clear and coherent communication from Senator Obama. Of course the Bush/McCain puppets will find SOMETHING/ANYTHING to criticize, and the Bush administration will try to make the Iraq War a non-issue before November to improve McCain's chances of winning the election and continuing the neocon agenda.

And now we hear from McCain, saying that Obama, by giving a speech on Iraq prior to his visit, will "never change" his policy on Iraq despite what military leaders tell him during his visit to that country. This comes a few days after McCain said that Obama is flip-flopping on Iraq. Looks like McCain is flip-flopping on his accusations of Obama's flip-flopping. Can we please delete this term from the English language?

My brother's middle name is Ahmed. He's serving our country and doesn't want this war. Does his middle name make him a terrorist too?

So Obama will surrender on day one. Nice. Glad he wasn't President in WWII or we'd all be speaking German or Japanese.

Nightngale-
Your hate and prejudice ooze through all of your posts.

Even when Obama gets it right there are some who refuse to acknowledge it. Their arguments against him would carry so much more weight if they could at least have the appearance of objectivity.

Johnboy, NObama, matt- this means you. Where is the American base in Israel? Saudia Arabia? Jordan? Does anyone actually think that the Arab world is going to accept a permanent American base in one of its sister nations? That would be delusional. That would be right wing thinking.

JohnBoy,

How big a moron are you? The Bush/Cheney administration lied their way into an invasion of a sovereign nation, a definition that G.W. could not state. Now the U.S. is occupying a sovereign nation, an occupation that John McCain wants to continue. You are one of the easily swayed, easily manipulated aren't you? Sorry for implying that you are a moron but come on!

Hey Vi,

McCain just isn't news worthy, he is not MIA. Cindy McCain is more news worthy. She shold run for President, she has a better chance of winning.

How is McCain going to spin the fact that Iraq's prime minister wants a timetable to withdraw?

How is leaving a cut and run policy when it is what the people of that country desire? Sounds much more like leaving with honor, something McCain and his army of ignorant zombies do not seem to grasp.

Dear Mr. Junior Senator,
When your enemy says that Iraq is the central front of their "War against the West " (which is exactly to what GWOT is in response), you probably should listen to your enemy.

The official Obama national defense policy and GWOT position could best be described from this line from Star Wars:
"These are not the droids you're looking for."

Obama has intelligently restated the exact same things he's been saying all along. Don't buy in to the lazy media and the GOP talking points that he changed his position. It's a stupid war, and they want us out. This is an opportunity to remove our troops with honor.

Here comes Jimmy Carter the second.......I love it

I thought the goal was to "bring our troops home". Now they will face redeployment. So really Obummer can't keep his promise to bring the troops home.

A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square – you are an idiot!

What reason do you have to think that Bush or the Republicans want to end the war??

To have an actual plan would commit Obama even more, which we understand Obama very much wants to avoid. He just wanted to secure those primary votes and stick it to us like everyone else in the general election.

Clinton kept her word on FISA and voted no. How I miss Clinton.

Well not too much more to be said when the country we've been ravaging asks for a time table on our departure! President Obama, cause that's who he is, will take care of this nasty mess once he's in the Oval Office.

And on another note, that magazine cover on the New Yorker is straight from hell and nothing more than a preview of what we can expect from the right wing nut jobs and Hillary idiots soon. However, President Obama will overcome all of this tripe to win in November. All you haters can suck on that and choke.

While I think that it will probably be good in the long run that Saddam was removed from power, I don't think that the timing, or the execution of the war in Iraq was handled very well at all. So many mistakes were made that it isn't even laughable any more. It is simply sad.

The troops have done their jobs with what has been given to them admirably. They are an amazing bunch and I will forever be thankful to them for what they do.

But the Iraqi government, sovereign as someone else has mentioned, has requested a timetable for withdrawal. That is the signal that it is time to come home. Diplomacy is something that has been in very short supply over the last 8 years and it is nice to see that Senator Obama recognizes how important it is to respect other nations wishes. Just because we're America doesn't mean we can do what we want.

This is good news for all Americans. Finally this war can be drawn down.
Now the political side:

Obama deserves no credit for this. The surge of troop levels stabilized the country, making it possible for this to happen. Obama was opposed to the surge, and McCain was the main proponent and pushed the Bush administration to do it. McCain deserves tremendous credit. Everyone should be thanking McCain for the war ending! it's about time.

Campaign promises of withdrawl are fluid. The situation in Iraq can change very quickly which will, in turn, change Obama's pledge for withdrawl. Obama will get a good reality check once in office. I support withdrawl but I don't have any illusions about it being a nice and easy process. It will take a couple of years. Armies don't move like it is a RISK board. The LEFT sometimes has this dream-world mentality that 'getting out of Iraq' is going to be a quick-fix. It is not. Wars are hard to stop. Wake up.

As for McCain, well, the old nation-building program with our Legions has to end.

This was politically adept by Barack Obama.

Maliki doesn't really want the U.S. to leave. Maliki's just wants to appear that way, as a suck-up to the various militant Muslim groups in Iraq. Nonetheless . . . Maliki said what he said.

And that gave Barack Obama a perfect opening. Now, every one of his speeches (and those by his supporters) will cite Maliki's own endorsement of a timetable. That will paint both McCain and the Bush Administration into a corner of trying to foist on Iraq something the Iraqi people don't want.

Don't take anything that Obana says as face value. He is a serial flip flopper and keeps his finger in the "wind" and and if he senses any change will flip and "hope " you don't notice. The PUMA"S have his number and you need to go to their web site. Just remember his postion on guns, abortion, FISA, trade, the war (troop deployment) etc.

Amazing- Obama wants to reduce the troops in Iraq to re-deploy them in Afghanistan. Did he think about this all by himself, or did he call President Bush who announced he wants to do the same thing? Obama/Bush 08?

McCain 08

Ted, you're quite pitiful. Try running for president and let's see if you'd look 1/2 as good as OBAMA after his 8 years in office!

Obama '08

THE PUBLISHERS OF THE

"NEW YORKER" MAGAZINE ARE HARD LINE *NAZIS*.

DON'T BUY IT. DON'T READ IT. AND DROP THEM A LINE

WITH YOUR "BEST WISHES FOR A SPEEDY BANKRUPTCY"

THIS IS JUST SATIRE BLOGGING, SCUM BAGS!!!!

Hey Nightingale – Why don't you google Palestine before making such an idiotic comment? Palestine is a region, not a country. Do you know what country is located within the region of Palestine? Israel. Do you know the predominant religion in Israel?

I don't know why I'm bothering...even if you do read this comment it's clear that you're too ignorant to come up with an original thought. You will continue to take each day's headline and spew it back. Just because Jesse Jackson said he's talking down to black people, now that's your opinion?

People like you shouldn't be allowed to vote.

Don't you get it? The Iraqi gov't has to say they want the US out to appease their factions fighting for control in their country, but the reality is they are not ready to handle the security of their own nation yet. It is politics. I understand they don't want a permanent US presence, and I support troop withdrawals on a reasonable timetable, every American supports that. The length of time is the real question mark. We cannot afford to cut and run and let the gov't in Iraq collapse. It doesn't matter if you agree with how we got there or not, the reality is now that we are there, we have to be careful about how we pull out. Obama finally gets that point. And Obama has in fact changed his tune on this now that he is getting educated on the topic. Didn't he want immediate troop withdrawals when the Dems pushed for that? Didn't he want a shorter timetable than he is now saying? It is amazing that people choose not to see the change in opinion because they are blinded by the charisma. Big mistake.

A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square

Are you really going to post the same crap on ALL the blogs? You are clueless and mindless. If you really think that Bush wants to end this war, you really are dilusional. He is the one who pushed to get into this war under false pretenses. He has made NO attempt to end this war and has pushed for the billions of dollars we have spent there to continue this travesty.

Get a life and a clue.

Is there any republican or racist that does no think Obama is a muslim. We have low minded people who cannot see beyond their nose. That is all I have to say about Obama hater. Let me say something about oil shore drilling, is MCcain not in the same boat as Gorge Bush. He can do anything or say any think for MCcain to win the election. First his comment in Israel, about Obama visit to German then oil drilling in Alaska. Where the Hell is that man going to get the money. Except if he crook people as he did the real estate, which of cause is not enough, or he is helping someone who does not want his name to be on the news. Democrat stick to your gun until this man tells you where he is going to get the money fom We don't want people lying to American people for their own gain. By the way can't the mayor explain where this man is getting his money from. The mayor is hiding behind the curtain to protect her own interest as well. Does she not care about the people in Alaska than listen to this crook. Please, please CNN post my comment.

WE ALSO HAVE A SUGGESTION.

DON'T BUY "THE NEW YORKER" MAGAZINE AGAIN.

IT'S EDITORS & PUBLISHER ARE SCUM BAGS.

A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square

DO YOU WORK FOR CNN OR MCBUSH BECAUSE YOUR POST MAKES EVERY BOARD AND ALL OF THEM SHOW YOUR IGNORANCE!

post all views!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes the Iraqi parliament recently had 2 officials recently testify to Congress that they wanted no permanent bases and that they also wanted a timetable for withdraw.

If the Iraqi government doesn't need us any more to stabilize the country than Obama is right...we need to leave. Why does McCain want to force 4 more years?

The people who want us out of Iraq:

1. The majority of Iraqi citizens and the Iraqi govenrment.
2. The majority of US citizens, the majority in Congress.
3. The majority of the free world.
4. The people in Afghanistan, who have watched our preoccupation with Iraq lead to a resurgence of the Taliban, Al Queda, and opium trade.
5 .Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

The people who want to "stay the course":

1. George Bush's administration and the neocon base.
2. John McCain.
3. The oil companies and war contractors.
3. The Taliban and Al Queda, who would love to see us continue to focus on Iraq at the expense of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Do the math.

President Bush and his representatives are working very hard with the government of Iraq to work out the next steps. The timetable the Iraqi's are proposing is based on events/ not dates.

President Bush, General Patreaus and the CURRENT administration DESERVES the CREDIT for victory in Iraq. It is in no way a result of anything Barak Obama has done. The media needs to start giving credit where credit is due.

Senator McCain pushed for the "surge" which is led us to the point where we are looking at a SUCCESSFUL turnover of power to the Iraqi people, not a withdrawal in defeat.

Senator Obama has repeatedly said a timeline of dates (16 months, I believe) – these are not the same things....

Sen. Obama is looking to end Iraq war and American tropps out before he get elected as president.
Sen. Obama will use this war as an escuse for everyone of his messup and hide behind this everytime.
He is not a leader just a talker. I pray to GOD that he does not become president of the United States.

From the lips of a man that knows exactly nothing about the military or the cause of war. WE WILL RETREAT AGAIN IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY SO THEY CAN REGROUP TO SLAUGHTER THOUSANDS MORE OF AMERICANS.

THIS MAN HAD NO SAY IN GOING TO WAR REGARDLESS OF HIS SAYING, 'I DID NOT VOTE FOR THE IRAQ WAR." HE WASN'T IN POSITION TO HAVE A YEA OR NAY. JUST THE TRUTH OBAMA. YOU ARE A LIAR AND A COWARD. A MAN THAT WE DO NOT NEED RUNNING THIS COUNTRY.

Obama, you opposed the surge and you have repeatedly refused to meet with our troops and General Petraus.

Obama has been calling for a reckless withdrawel for years.

Now, the Iraqi Gov and Army is doing very well, and you want to jump on the bandwagon.

If we would have gone with Obama's plan, we would have left way too early, there never would have been a surge and the Iraqi Gov and Army would have fallen apart. Gas would be $10 a gallon, the MidEast would be in utter chaos, and the economy would fallen off the charts.

I liked the cover, read Obama books.
His Values are still with the Muslim Faith as he wrote in his book.

Fred
Middleburg, FL.

I agree with Obama and I find it funny that McCain can say that if the Iraqi Government (one which we say is sovereign) wants us out we should leave. However, now that this is happening they are trying to stall or avoid it. Lastly, I am just so sick of ignorant, out of touch, uninformed people coming on here and making insane comments and take any story and twist it into a complaint/spin that favors their own agenda regardless of facts or the fact that this nation is made of many different people and many different views. Views which they think should only mirror their own. I am a independent voter who studies each candidate’s policies, a army vet that served for five years, a blue collar guy who is now white collar because I earned my degree, I have lived in many places around the world and try to learn and understand people, places, and things before I open my mouth and say something. So that’s my view. Ok I am done have a great week everyone.

Bring the troops home so we can go in afghanistan and find the real ALqaeda and Bin Laden the real reason we are at war right now Obama you have the right idea. Obama 08

Please Post my comments

I didn't get to post to the New Yorker's trashy and racist magazine cover blog, but feel that it must be said.

CNN, some of your commentators have asked why with the Economy in the dumpster, and with the GOP trashing this country the way they have in the last 7 years, why Senator Obama does not have a commanding lead over Senator McCain......well this is why......... "RACISM" You don't want to discuss it but it's something that no other Presidential Candidate has had to deal with.

I believe that there are Americans that would prefer our country burn before they would even consider a qualified biracial man for President.

I for one am glad to see it coming out of the closet....maybe now we can stop denying it's existence and deal with it.

THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WANTS US OUT,

BUT GEORGE & DICK KNOW BETTER.

THEY SEEM TO KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THE

IRAQIS BUT NOT FOR THE AMERICANS.

THAT'S JUST A BIT STRANGE, ISN'T IT?

A picture is worth a thousand words...Thank you New Yorker......

Action speaks louder than words.... Thank you CNN.

Support our efforts against the Islamic Terrorists or give up the quest for the Presidency of our Great Nation.

A nightingale sings in berkley square is as ignorant as they come. What do you do, take ignorant pills. If other countries want to see how ignorant America has become, just read the blog pages. After the war on terrorism we need to have a war on ignorance and stupidity. Hillary Clinton So Called Supporters that's switching to john mcbushain, Jesse Jackson, and A nightingale sings of ignorance in berkley square will be on the most wanted list.

To A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square:

Actually, Bush doesn't want the war to be over. He wants to establish a permanent presence in the country and use it as a military stronghold. The fact that you think he want out shows your ignorance.

Barack Hussein Obama...interesting thought on Iraq.

I am scared of this radical U.S.Senator, how about you?

THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER GIVING THOUSANDS

OF OUR DOLLARS TO THEIR CITIZENS IN THE STREET.

BUT GEORGE BUSH IS CONCENTRATING ON INVADING

OUR SHORES FOR HIS OILMEN.

Well, at least Mr. Obama knows the difference between Sunni and Shia and Iran and Iraq unlike another candidate who just happens to tune in once in a while to where he is and what's going on around him.
On cue now, Grampy, (aided by a little whisper in your ear and a poke in your ribs from Joe Lieberman or Lindsey Graham) with the standard talking point, "It's all about islamofacists, my friends."

They want a timetable! We want one, too. They want us to leave! We want to go. Sounds like we're all on the same page...oh yea, except McCain. How are we going to justify staying if he's President? Telling the world and the Iraqis that their leader doesn't really mean it?

Idiot, BO. It's not the military that is causing the war. The military are in Iraq to defend the best interests of the USA which are not political. You just don't have any idea at all about the best interests of this country (nor the interests of the Middle East either).

I love scanning the comments of the democratic liberals who support Cnn. Cnn supports you too, in response. Just look at the proof of their liberal bias:
Categories
Barack Obama (1965)
Hillary Clinton (1779)
John McCain (1075)
Hang in there, Cnn. All of your liberal reporters have to grow up some day and take on real respopnsibilities!

Intelligence returns to the White house!
Obama you have my vote!

His position will change again.

Barack's Position of the Week.

Too bad no one can count on him to stick with it, or with anything else he spouts.

January 2009 can't get here soon enough. IThe Iraqi government has openly AND clearly expressed to the world that they want the US to withdraw now. Even if you agreed with the war to begin with – there is no way you can justify occupying Iraq beyond a certain point. That point has been reached.

well it is time to pack and leave and it has been like that the moment we got in. Those who put it like it is cutting and running and call Obama a coward why don.t you go to Iraq and write that from that side rather than from Mc Donalds somewhere in the Unitate States.

Sorry , I said NY Times I meant New Yorker- please contact them and protest the racist/ethnocentric and vile cover!

How can we have permanent bases when the host country does not wish it to be in their interest?

Obama – Clinton 08

@Jerry in Boston

I agree...we're an occupier now. We put democracy in place, they elected officials, those officials now want to know when we're leaving. So, it's time to go. Let the private security companies (who the US is now paying for ALOT of the work) do the work and get paid directly by Iraq.

If you're at dinner at a new friend's house and they wrap it up and start getting ready for bed, it's time to take the hint and leave...they shouldn't have to ask when you're leaving, and you certainly shouldn't just help yourself to their guest room and move in.

Let Iraq take care of itself. Let them rebuild and start pumping oil to pay for their own security.

Obama is right that this is a good time to leave-gracefully. I just don't understand why Obama is not using his "influence" in the Senate to make a pull-out happen...if he can't do it while a Senator, how can he do it as a President!?

Barr '08

Did anyone ever think that the irony of the New Yorker cover is not making fun of the ignorance of thinking Obama is a terrorist, but rather the fact that Obama, the candidate, is not the same man who was running for the nomination. He shamelessly stood with the Republicans on the surveillance vote in the senate and seems to be flip-floping on Iraq.

This is great! It doesn't matter if things are going better in Iraq. They are going porly in our forgotten war, Afghanistan. McMunster never comments on this battle. It was even more ill begotten than the one in Iraq

The artical from the New Yoker I find that very offensive.An you Americans you deserve to be a bunch of Whiners I have watch every Election you all has had and you all dummies always let the Republican Brand take controll over your brain and dump fear into it.But this time yall hip to their game plains and you still fall for it BECAUSE THE COLOR OF OBAMA SKIN.NOT ALL OR FOOLS.This is your time to say enough of the crap playing but you Demorcrats or divided and if a Republican win you deserve every hardship in pain at the kitchen table when you open your bills.

Restore trust to our American Country from around the world.. Thank you Barack Obama for moving forward through honest and positive communication.

We need to move forward in a world of doubt..

Kind of ironic to even think about Hussein Obama fighting terrorism. It has got to be the biggest joke in all the middle east!

Who ever is posting under the moniker 'a Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square,' should stop. Your thinly veiled racism and bigotry is sickening. Why does the religion of the country Obama visits matter? The fact that Muslim has become in the United States some sort of curse word or insult is disgusting.

Win? Surrender? Win what or surrender to who? Are the American public so naive and ignorant they can't figure out there is nothing to win in Iraq and nobody to surrender to in Iraq.

Well after reading some of the comments in these blogs it easy to see how Bush got elected twice as President. This leaves no doubt in my mind McCain will be elected in November and then the only question will be what country or coalition will take over America by 2012 and will it be via financial domination or military action?

Think about it!!!!

Thank you President Bush and our armed forces. They were able to get Iraq to this point even with all the negative, self fish, and weak people in this country.

the only people wanting to keep killing in iraq,is bush,cheney,and MCCAIN!if republicans want iraqi oil so bad ,they should just move to iraq permanently,and renounce their citizenship here.we dont like them in our country anymore.get out!

Let's see, cut and run has been the politics of the liberal left.

This opportunity would have NEVER been possible without McCain's surge idea.

The McCain surge = real leadership

The democrats cut and run politics = failure and disgrace

10 to 1 CNN won't post this.

Give me a break, "Nightengale". In response:

a) No. I don't think Bush or McCain ever want to end the war. They have too much to gain from it.

b) Are you an ordained minister? All you do is preach your hatred for Obama on these blogs without the least bit of objectivity or thought. Are you an African American that feels slighted by Obama? If not, this has nothing to do with you!

c) Regarding the Palestine trip, would you and the other repubs stand back and admire the breathe-taking hypocracy in your rantings? You criticize Obama for not going to Iraq and the middle east and then when he finally announces a trip to the region, you call him a Muslim with sinister motives.

Just admit that you are a die-hard neocon and no matter what Obama does you will still not speak favorably of him unless he is on the republican ballot.

Of course he would embrace it. One muslim helping another muslim . I am glad that we have some americans left outside of you liberals. If the country was left to you people we would be doing the old Prayers of the muslims about 5 times a day. Also we would have to knock off a few daughters who we felt that dishonored the family. DO you people really think that a man who attended Reverend Wrights church for twenty years and a church apparently that hates whitey and embraced that nut case Farrakeun is good for america and stands for the american dream.

McCain has it right...Malaki is a politician and is up for re-election this year. He's pandering to his electorate the same way Obama is.

I'm starting to believe that the Obamaniacs will believe anything their politician(s) tells them. That doesn't bode well for our country.

Please people....think!

It's clear that most Americans now believe the war in Iraq was a bad idea and that the troops need to come home. However, Obama made the fact that he was against that war from the beginning (not as a member of Congress at the time), and yet he still hasn't listened to the generals who have indicated that in no way could the US withdraw troops and equipment from Iraq that quickly. I'm tired of Obama's holier than thou pronouncements and have very concerned that if he were elected we would have a President with little in the way of accomplishments and experience running this country. Yes, he (well his Chicago Mayor Daly machine) ran a fantastic campaign, but that does not mean that same team should be in the White House.

He is right. I want to incourage everyone to e-mail the New York Times and demand and apology for the racist and politically charged cover of Sen. Obama and his wife. This trash is not needed in America and is part of the Repulican / neo-con influenced corporate media machine. They may have freedom of speech but SO DO WE!

I think that people might want to go back to the primary debates.
Obama said back then, that our real threat was in Afghanistan. He has been right on his Foreign Policy Ideas. McCain was right about the surge except he obviously did not see far enough down the road about Afghanistan. For all the trips he took over to Iraq, he seemed to miss the mark on the midset of the Iraq president, who is what ?.......a POLITICIAN !!! now he will use our presence to strengthen himself as the one who got the US out of Iraq. McCain may be a military man but THE POTUS is a much more a diplomat on the world stage that a General. Obama was also ahead of the curve on Pakistan, he stated that we should not trust them with the job of helping us catch Bin Laden. They stalled us and now thier new government has all but said no covert ops in thier country. My question is, should the Generals had the foresight on this or the diplomats? We will always have great warriors that protect our country, no matter who the POTUS is. As we have seen over the last seven years, We need a great diplomat, and a serious thinker, We alreadty have a lot of Great Generals. MCCAIN for Secretary of the NAVY.

For those of you who says Obama is a real coward, why dont you move to IRAQ and live there since you agree with Bush and McSame. You have no place here in the US of A. Speaking as a native.

Put up or shut up Obama!

Somehow, I don't think some of you get the point. This is what Obama wanted from the start, for the Iraq government to step up. As for Bush wanting the war over as well, he could have done it long ago. Obama is the only one with the vision to see that actually giving the order to end the war is how you end it, not by sending more and more troops with the expectation that the people of Iraq are going to eventually lay down. We're not fighting an organized group that has leadership with the ability to call everything off when they seem beaten. These are individual groups that will keep fighting no matter what happens and the chief reason is our occupation. There's a point when you have to say enough's enough. This is futile. The main goal was accomplished. It's time to move on.

Obama is a coward because places the interests of the American people over the interests of the few. Obama is a quitter because he wants to stop the deterioration of the American nation by way of a useless war. Obama is stupid because he wants to focus on the war of global terror that began in 2001. Obama is confused because he thinks Americans really want to improve their lives and live a better quality of life. I could never vote for someone with these warped ideals.

So what is Bush and McSame waiting for? They say they want us out, that they want a time table for withdrawal, we should give them what they want. Besides it is time for them to stand on their own and if a cival war erupts so be it, it still will not be our problem. It is time for the middle east to police their own problems.

I want my President to be the smart guy this time!

hmmmmmmmm The surge he voted against worked!!!!!! Now he wants to somehow take a little credit. Why not say the surge worked and I was wrong??? There is nothing terrible about being wrong. Most people will think more of you.

Notice how he always says "I" what about the commanders on the ground. They have given Blood, sewat and tears. Should they have any say?????

Also NOBAMA Hussein, Pakistan said you are not coming in here. Did you read that?????

NOBAMA is a NOVELTY being used by the left. How sad!!

So this Guy who does not Flip Flop want's to talk about Canadian Oil..
NAFT.... Borack Obama does not believe in NAFT......

Ted,

If you think Obama already looks old but hasn't done anything yet, what is McCain going to look like in a year from now if he becomes President – the Cryptkeeper? Great to know you want to vote for the oldest guy just because he's white! God help the USA.

Yes, we are an Army of Occupation and I have no problem with that at all. Saddam needed to be taken down and he was. I could care less why we went there. Sooner or later we would have tangled with that country and it was better now than later. All you pacifists don't seem to get that. And if you think Obama is going to pull us out you really ARE nuts. He's just another plitician who will say anything to get elected. Once in office, he will see it won't be that easy, and when he hears all the scenarios of what couyld happen once we depart, and how that will affect the entire world, trust me, he'll change his tune real fast. I don't want him elected but if he is, it will be my pleasure to come on here and say "I told you so" when he back peddles on every promise he's making now. At least mcCain is more realistic. He's wiling to pull them out ONLY if the situation on the ground warrents it. THAT is the sensible thing to do.

Hey A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square – for you to call a Constitutional Law Scholar and idiot shows who the true idiot is. And to anwer your question NO, Bush obviously doesn't want the war to end you idiot HE STARTED IT after lying to us and still has not ended it and neither does that idiot mccain. Obama was right all along.

Obama is showing just how simple and naive he is. Iran is salivating at the thought of us pulling out of Iraq too soon so that they can go in the back door and turn it into another Syria...

No wonder he is in a statistical dead heat with McCain...

McCain doesn't work weekends...remember.
That is why there are never any stories on
Mondays about him. He is an old man and needs his rest.
Obama 08

who is this ignorant fool, A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square? Man, the words you say here are completely off the mark. Go read some book and come out of your little hole and actually visit some place beyond 10 miles from it.

Its funny that none of the republican's here actually read the article before they post their garbage in the Comment section about "ohh those coward democrats are giving up on freedom....cut and run....blah blah blah"

He's not saying to run away and hide in a corner. He is saying he should get the troops out of Iraq and put them in Afghanistan so we can fight the REAL war on terror. Don't you remember 911? We were supposed to go fight the nation that was harboring the terrorist group that attacked us. We were supposed to bring justice to those who planned the attacks! How the hell do you think we are going to pull that off when all out military resources are occupied in Iraq, trying to stem down violence that had stemmed up as a result of our unjustified invasion in the first place!

Did you read the article? EVERYTHING that Senator Obama said makes sense.

We've gotten to the point where we can leave safely and deliberately, and Obama will be meeting with our commanders to make sure that it's done in the safest way possible.

How John McCain can think anything otherwise is beyond me.

They want us to go and our people would like to see an end to this war we should never have been in.
Now I am wondering if we turn everything back to them just how long it will take after we do get out before we have to go back in to help them against raids or take over war with countries like Iran or Turkey or what ever country that would like to control parts of the mid east.
Since we started this horrid mess it is up to us to not turn our backs.
Thanks so stinking much Bush and Chaney and cronies. We will have to be their backers for many yrs to come, like it or not.

I hear a lot of 'vote American vote mccain'. Bush/McSame/Cheney have done more damage to this country than any other administration in US history. Are THEY the kind of Americans YOU want running this country? Get real, get educated, vote OBAMA!

repugnants at their best= ignorant, simple minds stay the course and kill more of our brave men and women of our military.

An idea to float: institute the draft only for the warmongering repugnants and see how many of them will leave the country...bunch of cowards and hypocrites

All you people that are against withdrawal...

Do you hate democracy? Democracy means that the will of the people rule, no matter what, ~even~ when the result may not favor your personal opinion. A majority of Iraqiis and their government wants us gone. So make a choice; if you want us to stay despite the will of the people, then you have to admit that you don't really think Democracy works.

we keep hearing the BUSH ADMINASTRATION saying that volience is down in iraq more than ever before because of the surge.everyone fails to mention that the population is decreased because of the thousands of deaths and millions of people that has left that country ,so therefore it should be safer for now because there are less population to protect with more military forces.if all of these people came back to iraq within the next month there will be a continueous uptick in the violence again.i hope iraq build it,s own military power in an agressive manner so that the US can bring it,s troops home to their families and the iraqies can rebuild in a democratic way.

DOLLARS AND SENSE. WE , HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTERS
WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
THERE IS NO POLITICIAN IN CONGRESS WHO CAN MATCH
HILLARY IN THE NUMBER OF VOTER SUPPORT AND THE FUND RAISING NECESSARY TO ELECT THE NEXT PRESIDENIN NOVEMBER.. HILLARY AND OBAMA ARE THE ONLY TWO WHO RAISED THE MOST MONEY AND GOT THE MOST VOTES IN THE PRIMARIES. NOW THERE ARE VP WANNABEES COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK, BUT THEY ALL LACK THE SUPPORTERS AND THE FUND RAISING CAPABILITY OF HILLARY AND BILL CLINTON
AND CHELSEA CLINTON.. WE ARE WAITING FOR OBAMA AND CAMP TO MAKE THEIR VP CHOICE. IF HILLARY IS NOT THE VP CHOICE, WE WILL NOT VOTE NOR SEND OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OBAMA CAMP.

CNN Why don't you run a few of the stories of McWar's failures in the past week or so!

NO MORE FLUFF STORIES ON MCWAR AND WIFE! REPORT REAL NEWS ON MCWAR!

CNN Why don't you run a few of the stories of McWar's failures in the past week or so!

NO MORE FLUFF STORIES ON MCWAR AND WIFE! REPORT REAL NEWS ON MCWAR!

Here is something.

Real Americans want us out of Iraq,

Iraq wants us out of Iraq.

Obama will get us out of Iraq.

If Iraq wants us out and McWar refuses to get out then what "freedom" do they have?

McCain= WAR

OBAMA WAS SO AGAINST THE SURGE

BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW HE IS GOING TO IRAQ AND

TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESS IN IRAQ AND TAKING CREDIT

FOR IT???????????????????

Barack Obama is always 1 step ahead of his competition...

Go Obama!!!!!

The Republicans on here can't admit they've been wrong on almost everything so they spin spin spin.

1st on talking to our enemies Israel is talking to Hamas has a peace treaty and recently had a prisoner swap

2nd talking to North Korea and compromising has led to the destruction of a reactor water cooling tower

3rd Now the Iraqis want a timetable.

Get on the boat people all of these have been Obama talking positions from the start. Get your heads out of the sand and realize that he's lightyears ahead of McSame on these issues.

Obama spoke against Iraq war but he voted for funding it.
He supported public funding at first then he opposed it later.
He did not hear such a hateful comment from Rev Wright in the interview with Fox News, and then in his racial speech addressed a week later he would confirm Yes I have heard them........

That’s a real Obama I know

We should get out of Iraq, once we had discovered there were no WMD's! Today in Afghanistan 9 US soldiers were killed in action. We need to re-direct our troops to where Osama is hiding in the hills and the Taliban is recruiting more people for the fight and the US needs to track these people and get rid of them. Since the Iraq PM has asked for a time table we should respect their wishes and since they are willing to take on the responsibility after we leave, then we should let them try to fix their country's problems on their own.

Hey all you people who voted for Obama because you thought he was going to end the war – did you read the article? He will take the troops out of Iraq only to move them to Iran!! That's just one shift in his position. Then there is the surveillance bill he signed (that he said he was against), then there was the accepting (or not) of public financing; then there was "I will meet John Mccain anywhere, anytime" (not)! I could go on. So tell me, why are you voting for Obama?

Most of us didn't think it was a good idea to be there in the first place and if they want us out we should get the heck out of there. It't not that we are cowards but why lose lives if you don't have to.

If our country only understood the neo-con PNAC ideology, you would see that Bush and co. wanted a permanent base in Iraq all along. It wasn't just an overthrow of the government and establish democracy, or to rid the world of Saddam. They wanted a way to control the region(control their oil). What they hoped for and what they got are terribly different results. We had no business attacking them. It was all built on lies. We should get out; especially if their country would like us out. I cannot believe the ignorance in our country. We were lead like sheep to believe what the current administration told us and some are still following blindly. Obama was one of the few who could readily see prior to this ill conceived war what the results would be. I vote for someone who looks at all sides of a situation and not just what they are told. My vote will be for Obama. McCain will be a foreign relations blunder and why many see him as a continuation of Bush. He is too thirsty for revenge and war. Obama has never changed his stand on Iraq. His view has always been "we need to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in". His plan will be to get us out with the least amount of stress overall, but we will get out.

The real fact is Obama doesn’t know what is change means
He is changing his positions only
Hillary please come back

JohnBoy..."freedom"? I thought we were in Iraq to find WMD. Or, was it to stop terrorists? Is "freedom" the Republican cause of the week? What's next week's excuse for the war? Some of you believe ANYTHING you see on Fox news. Try setting foot in a library (big building with free books) and reading a little.

P.S. For all of you nay-sayers: Obama is an American Christian. It makes me sad that, no matter how much credible media and the man himself tries to make you believe it, you refuse to acknowledge his allegiance to the U.S. and the Christian faith. Try to open your mind just a little...please.

re: JohnBoy

Whatever the GOP is paying to look like an idiot, it's too much.

How many more stories are we going to hear about Obama? It's rather obvious CNN is trying to appoint him President. He's the only one they ever give coverage to.

I see that the hate-and-fear-mongers are out in force this morning on the blogs!

Well.......... not one person voting for McCain has mentioned ALL THE BUSH/REPUBLICAN FAILURES. AFTER ALL 9/11 HAPPENED ON BUSH'S WATCH!

A VOTE FOR MCCAIN IS A VOTE FOR MORE WAR........

MORE TROOPS DYING, MAIMED...... AND COMMITTING SUICIDE!

MORE NATIONAL DEBT....... ISN'T THE $10 TRILLION WE OWE TO CHINA, SAUDI ARABIA AND DUBAI ...... ENOUGH??????????????

MORE LIES, MISINFORMATION, MORE MORONS LIKE PHIL GRAMM TELLING YOU....... THAT THE RECESSION IS IN YOUR HEAD!

What would he do if the Iraqies wanted us to stay? This works with his plan as it stands today. What his plan will be by the time he gets there is anybodies guess...

This IS an amazing opportunity and is a real milestone, yet the Bush administration (and McCain too has strongly hinted) does not take this opportunity to establish a timetable, real milestones, and an overall plan to reduce our presence in Iraq. I really think it's because they have no real, solid plan, nor have they ever. The Bush administration has always done nothing but declare very abstract, high level goals, without any details to them or smaller milestones to hold them up. Anyone with a high school education, no real experience in politics, leadership, or war and foreign policy could come up with those. There has never been any solid details to any of them, just very vague statements, without any dates. Any plan, business or personal, to reach goals has as milestones that can actually be grasped and tested to a degree of completion....all except for the GOP's plan in Iraq that is.

As for NoObama and the "Nightingale" here....pretty empty statements by you two. Bush wants the war to end....where's his exit strategy? Where's his open discussions with the current Iraqi government on this request? Of course Obama would be happy to see this end, that's been one of his goals. Is it going to end overnight? Are they going to sign something tomorrow and we'll see all the troops back the next day? This is still going to take a complex exit strategy that a president's going to have to follow through with over a period of time that's not going to be just the remaining 5 months Bush is in office.

Repugs with their Iraq War blinders on need a reality check.

Obama will meet with and appease the Palestinians this week and "might" meet with Isreal. Keep your eye on him America.

McCain = Experienced Leadership

I see the same Anti Obama posters day posting on all the threads in the political ticker. Do you folks even have jobs? You have nerve talking about Obama, bashing what he will do and not do as President. Where were you big bad posters when gas started going up 3 yrs ago? Groceries going up, 45 million folks without healthcare, 400,000 forclosures and jobs in 7 months, and endless war? I don't want to see your whining about what Obama says he will do or what you think he can or can't do..One thing is for certain, if he loses, he'll still be a Senator, still be a Harvard graduate, still be able to afford gas, mortgage, college for his kids and will still be very popular, and you'll be on here 24/7 complaining. Take your magic 8 ball you got for Christmas and go home and vote for more of the same.

16 months, this guy has no military knowledge it seems. It took us 7 years to get where we are, and the military has stated over and over it will take 2 to 3 years to pull everything out.

To the anti Obama and anti getting out of Iraq people. I hope you or your loved ones get sent to Iraq to fight an unjustified war that has killed over 4000 American soldiers, wounded thousands and have killed many more Iraqians and bombed their country in the name of fighting terriorism. If you are so for this war, then join in. Put your boots to the ground instead of your anti American and anti patriot words on the web. We cannot Democracize a country that doesn't want democracy. We cannot bring peace to a country who wants war. All we are doing is killing our young. Meanwhile, the terriorist groups having gotten stronger, Iran has enhanced its nuclear power and we have alienated the rest of the world. Now we have even more enemies. Stop your bigotted hatred and act like true Americans and care about America and not your bigotry.

A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square,

Barack tells the truth and people are angry because no one wants to hear it. I for one am black, and a vetern, and it is LONG overdue that someone FINALLY stood up and grew a pair and told the truth. He's right, and no one likes that. Why would Bush want to end it? He made his buddies SO MUCH MONEY, why stop now? And what should it matter what country Barack goes to first? Bush went to plenty of countries that are Christian, had the pope over to the white house, and that man, (should he even be called one), is the WORSE excuse for a Christian I have ever seen. Someone tell me, what is victory, what is "winning"? Why should we continue to spend money over there in a country that said THEY DO NOT WANT US THERE!?

Obama is the only nominee with a real exit plan for Iraq. McCain has none. The point of the War in Iraq to a NeoCon like McCain is simply: to have a war in Iraq.

Let's move forward. Obama '08

MM ...... Yes!!! Never should have been in Iraq, overdue to get out..........
DITTO!!!!!!

Tim – I see your same post on this article. What happened you little "whiner", did you miss the post on the real article?

Send Rev. Wright , Louis Farrakhan with Obama to Iraq.

Good news on the Iraq front ... I agree with Barack.

However, simply shifting are troops to another country does not end the war or solve the humanitarian and economic disaster it has created.

Obama's plan does not go far enough and only strengthens the industrial-military complex.

Overall, I am deeply disappointed and concerned about Obama's position on the war. I fear he will simply use the bait and switch tactic to get elected.

Obama should be the Next President. He is the only contender with a plan for Iraq; Got to his website and read it.

Let's get this over with already. Obama '08

I'm a Republican...who is supporting Obama....we need a time to heal....no more cowboy diplomacy....

Ted ..... Obama is already looking old and he hasn't done anything yet

McCain..... is old .... look old and he hasn't done anything

Flip Flop...think not....he is not even president yet and he has all ready influenced Iraq....my god Obama IS going to be a great President.

while McCain is still scratching his head wondering what was wrong with his cigarettes to Iran "joke". i guess one thing is true about Mccain, he is a joke. anyone voting for this man is lost, i implore you America do your research on McCain...USS Foresstal July 29, 1967, graduated 895 out of 899 from Naval Academy, who is running his campaign (59 lobbyist), Pastor Parsley, Phil "its in your mind" Gramm- McCain's long time buddy who wrote the ENRON loophole, GI Bill to RoevWade, his temper, the McCain Bill, gave up Military Info while a POW, received millions from Big Oil. a hero is someone brave, not someone who was captured...McCain is a dangerous man.

CNN i know you are not going to post this even though you will post amerikkka's porch monkey comment...

Jerry in Boston:
Exactly that. We have become what we profess to despise. Terrorists in white hats.

No, I don't think the bush admin. wants the war to be over.

To Vi,
It's still early and McCain's probably still sleepy from his weekend off.

In America ,you don't fight like in Africa,but your propaganda is so maddening.

Yes exactly, that makes us invaders and an army of occupation, which is what we have been since the begining of the war built on false pretenses. Why would anyone expect us to comply with the will of a democratically elected Iraq government by pulling out of Iraq? Obama has it exactly right just as he did BEFORE the war began. A clear majority of Americans recognize the Iraq war as a huge foreign policy blunder that has made us less safe. This is a winning issue and Obama knows it. Republicans will try to portray him as a flower child peacenik McGovern, but I don't think it will stick this time. NOT...THIS....TIME.Pulling out of Iraq and devoting more troops and resources to Afghanistan is not radical, just common sense. This will be remembered as the year of the thinking voter.

After reading both sides comepletely dismantle each other. I seriously hope everything crumbles down to the ground because i'm sick of ignorant stupid people...... In time... It will happen..

John McCain's improvement in the polls comes as more Americans see that is possible for the US to win the war in Iraq.

Yes Jerry you are correct, we are now officially Occupiers of a Sovereign Nation. Sovereign meaning that the War is "won", i have to say that for the Neo-cons who apparently don't know what the meaning of win or lose is, they have no valid true reason to continue Occupying Iraq, so they yell "cut and run" everytime a reasonable argument is made against staying in Iraq. They want us to believe that it is all about "the situation on the ground" when in fact it is really about Bush and his coherts securing Iraqi's oil for themselves.

To Nightingale:

No, I don't think Bush wants the war over. He started it for no reason, and his friends are getting rich because of it. Where have you been? What reason would he have in going to a "christian or jewish country first"? There is work to be done in Palestine. And what does any of this have to do with preaching to black men?

Iraq wants us out of their country. They never invited us in. We must leave since we have been occupiers who are not wanted by the majority of Iraqis. Why is this so difficult to accept? And why do we need to be in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Are we really looking for Osama bin Ladin after all this time? Haven't we killed enough? Isn't it time to come home and take care of America?

obama had it right all the time no war, no war, no war, look at the mess we are in now iraq has costed us a lot of money obama for 2008

Spoken like a truly informed, visionary politician................NOT

JohnBoy and Nightengale...cut an run(old cliche) an " doesn't Bushie want out" are are comical and at the same time very SAD commentaries of the Right's mindset. NO Bush doesn't want out of Iraq and yes we do need to get out of there. Funny how now the Admin thinks we should move our troops over to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban who in the past 5 years have flourished there while we WASTE livesc an untold BILLIONS of dollars in persuit of saving Bushes legacy. That will show to be the he an the rest of his people are idiots at best an murderers at worst!

Obama: "on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war."

How is this new of differerent from the government's current mission? The difference is HOW to end it - and Obama clearly has no clue. Maybe if he had been active on the Senate's Afghan Subcommittee that he chairs he would have learned something productive about the region and the issues at hand.

Interesting how the make-up artists are starting to add a little grey to Obama's hair to make him look more "presidential." Sure the grey will continue to get greyer along the way to November - part of the "mirage."

I'm just really shocked that people are giving Obama a hard time on this. He's advocating the position that the countries own government wants. What am I missing here?

I would not trust the Iraqi's just yet. If they get into a jam, they're going to need us. Timetables, while they sound satisfying, are really a bad idea, regardless of the situation on the ground.

Obama is right on this one, so long as he protects the troops on the way out.

Obama has been right all along, we do not need bases in Iraq.

Well Well- it looks like Obama was right after all. You see it is not a matter of cutting and running or "losing" the so called Iraq War- that never was a real issue because-We never should have went, we needed a clear game plan since we did (and never had one- we still don't what a win entails!!!???) Now they want us OUT and McSame wants to continue this farce that is bleeding our economy?

For all you haters, you have to admit that whatever you may feel about Obama personally, he was dead on in his judgement and was ridiculed for his initial position with Iraq – now here it is a year later his position is the one that is most sensible!!

Go Obama!!!!

I find it interesting that all of the anti-Obama comments above ignore what's in the article. I guess if you intend to lie anyway, the talking points don't matter.

"Maliki is "a politician," McCain told MSNBC. "He is a leader of a country that's finally coming together. The fact is that we and the Iraqis will deal in what is in the national security interests of both countries."

So, according to McCain, a politician is someone who says one thing and does another. What an interesting thing for a POLITICIAN to say.

And Vi- you don't see any articles on McCain because it's Monday. The old man takes weekend off, remember? Running the country is a weekday job as far as he's concerned.

Get out of Iraq now! We should have not been there in the first place and it is time to go! All McSame supporters as well as those who think American should stay in Iraq should volunteer and go there replacing our brave men and women who need to come home!

Latinos for Obama 2008!

Vi – No, but you would think so. Unfortunately, it's simply the typical CNN 10:1ratio of Obama to McCain coverage.

McCain will do exactly what the Generals on the ground, and the Iraq government want him to do, as that is the right course of action. We need to leave Iraq very carefully, if that country goes into Civil War (which the military are trying hard now not to let this happen) then you will be back there again, and in huge numbers.

US are not the only country in Afthanistan. The british have the highest amount of troops there and the nato force includes many others from around the world. Remember the US is not doing both wars alone, we have help and we need to work with these countries.

Obama really does think he's a savour, things will end with him on the watch. I think his best job now would be to open up a church and let him preach all day long to his followers. I am sick of him talking down to people.

what Obama has been saying all along is what the Iraqi government wants...............sad that McShame wants to continue to impose his war-mongering will on a sovereign nation!

the war has been fought & won..........BRING THE TROOPS HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO BARACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There you have it. Vote McCain and we go to war with Iran, vote Obama and we go to war with Pakistan.

God help us all.

Ted:

That's just too funny, "Obama is looking old"

Have you looked at and heard from McCain, he is like the Crypt Keeper.

McCain's comparison to bases in South Korea was preposterous! That is a stable region, safe for our troops.

We need to get out of Iraq within the next two years!

He is correct on one thing; Iraq was never and isn't the central front on these terrorists. It was and is Afghanistan. Without understanding that, I don't think McCain really has a good grip on things. We made the mistake of going into Iraq far too early. It was good to get rid of Saddam Hussein, but we did it was wrong planning and too little of much of everything else (troops, support, allied countries supplying money and troops among other things).

wake up! gop ,even the irakis themselves start asking for timetable for USA troops withdraw...

It's a win-win scenario for Obama, but failure for McCain.

If Iraq agrees to a withdrawal, we should take advantage of it, unfortunately the GOP still will not, they're too stubborn.

Obama '08

thats right its over we need to start getting out mccain is too stubborn he wont listen to iraq leader the military no one nccain feels he has experiance more than gen patreus and he will think hes knows best remember mccain said when be heckled at town hall meeting he said I WILL NEVER SURRENDER IN IRAQ MY FRIENDS NEVER!!!!
at least obama has a plan to end war and he will listen to all thats invovled go obama08

thank you sen obama! it's what you have said from the beginning.
Sen Obama is a true, honest leader who does is not swayed by the media, who loves to jump on each syllable that he utters.

While Mccain tells out and out lies, they barely even cover it. Why is this???????

Obama will not pull all troops out of Iraq. He is lying for political reasons just as the rest of the democrats have done since we went into Iraq.

If you believe he will, you are being delusional.

I can't believe this guy is even getting half the vote in the polls.

Mr Flip Flop sounds more and more like George Bush on the war everyday. I LOL at people who supported this fraud. In a few short weeks he's flipped on Public Financing, abortion, FISA, faith based initiatives, gun control, and now he is changing on the war. What a joke this man is. He reinforces everyday why I would never vote for him, what a phony. Politics of hope and change....LOL!

Has Barack Obama admitted that he was wrong about the surge yet?

Obama's op-ed piece is another bit of self serving rhetoric. I believe that the war in Iraq needs to end (we should never have gotten into it to begin with) but I do not believe that Obama has the experience or judgment to end it and shore up the stability of the region at the same time. Bush was a disaster and I believe that Obama will compound that disaster (McCain would be just a bad if not worse.) I'll be staying home in November as I have no intention of being forced to make the choice between bad and worse. Then I'll just pray that Obama proves me wrong.

This guy Barack actually speaks logic. I mean who or which country loves war but this one. BO make peace not war, i think thats the only language many of us know, Mcsane sleeps, dreams, walks, talks of war why cant we all see the big difference btn the 2 candidates. Go Obama!

Barack is a smart man. McCain just wants to continue the war and not end it.

The Iraqi prime minister, on behalf of the Iraqi government, has called for a timetable for U.S. troop departures. If the U.S. government refuses to immediately participate, we will become in truth an occupying hostile force. Senator Obama has a reasonable plan to meet the request of the Iraqi people. It's time to come home.

Obama is light years ahead of McCain on foreign policy. He is sure to win in November. Americans, except those who willfully want to shut their eyes to the truth, know that Obama is the most qualified to be president. He is a rare commodity in the political terrain.
OB '08

Thank you Obama for understanding from the beginning this was a senseless war. Thank you for continuing your pledge to end this senseless war despite being attacked repeatedly for it. And thank you for your committment and caring. Thanks for your sound judgement which has been right unlike your so called counterparts who claim to have 'experience'. The ones with so called 'experience' lacked good judgement as we have seen so far and it takes good JUDGEMENT, not so called 'experience' to run this country effectively as the current president has proven.

Obama's exactly right. It finally gives us a chance to get out Iraq without looking like we're "cutting and running" since the Iraqi government is calling for the timetable. We now need to ask the question: Why isn't the Bush/McCain administration willing to set a timetable? What do they have to gain by staying in Iraq? Say it with me: O-I-L.

Irak people never liked the US presence there. Now it´s the right time to start the withdrawl in full dignity. There couldn´t be a clearer message from the Irak government !

GIVE THEIR COUNTRY AND RESOURCES BACK TO THEM,

with sincere apology and the help THEY ask us for.

Are Bush and McCain going back on their word that if Iraq wants us out we will leave? It sure looks like they are the one's flip-flopping while trying to accuse everyone else of their own misgivings. Hypocrites.

Obama offers intelligent insight regarding his consistent message on Iraq. He has a plan to use our resources more constructively towards national security.

Obama '08

Once again Obama is showing us why we should not believe him about any topic. He wavers and changes his position so quickly, I do not know what he stands for. Now he wants to pull out all troops except a small amount to fight Al Qaeda.

Doesn't anyone in the US get it, it is not our fight any more, it is up to the Iraqis to solve this problem. We are getting a black eye on this issue because in the evening news you can watch soldiers breaking down doors and arresting people without a judicial warrant. People are held on the flimsiest charges for months and some are released later with no charges filed. It should be the position of the US that it is NOT our military to decide when we leave, but when does the Iraqi government want us to leave. I am tired of our tax dollars going to pay bribes to get support of the people in Iraq. Enough is enough. It is time for the Iraqis to stand up and resolve the issues before them. The more we try to resolve it for them, the more they look like a puppet government of the US and the harder it is for them to act like a true government. It is time to admit our soldiers have done a great service, but now it is time for them to come home.

Hear! Hear!
If he can put together a complete and coherent economic package – and effectively communicate it – he's a shoo-in.

Thank you Obama! This was a thoughtful, well-written piece with intelligent reasoning demonstrated.

Compare this to the sooooo not-funny "killing Iranians with cigarettes" comment by McCain, and one has to wonder what the 40% of people who may still vote for Mccain are smoking.

Jan from Boca Raton, I can't wait for the anti-Obama spew coming from you. You're so predictable. How did you get to be so bitter at 33 years of age?

Big Oil makes deals for Iraqi oil while the real war on terror spins out of control in Afghanistan...Dumbya is King Midas in reverse...

For the country and to save the Democratic Party (of which this life-long Democrat is no longer a part of) the Superdelegates MUST give us Hillary Clinton...or the next President will be John McCain.

When Obama is elected president all eyes will be on him to see if he keeps his word and brings the troops out of Iraq in 16 months.

Personally I don't believe him, as I don't believe what any politician says, but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and because it terrifies me to think that a McCain could be the one able to appooint as many as 3 Supreme Court Justices.,

If he does not keep his word on getting the troops out of Iraq, I will be the first one to do everything I can to see that he does not get a second term and will begin working against him long before his first term ends.

ACCOUNTABILITY in Politics...what a joke, but Obama will find out the hard way.

I guess McCain is going to have to "flip-flop" on this issue about building permananent bases b/c the Iraqi people don't want one. And now people see that McCain and Bush are both trying to avoid shifting to Barack's opinion on this because everything he said has been correct. This is what I want to see more policy less hype over non-substantive issues.

Pardon me...I was laughing too hard to type. The Bush Administration has already announced the withdrawal of thousands more troops starting in September and here comes Obana trying to shift yet again to make it seem he will have credit for any of it. Ahhhh.....and all the anti-war Obama supporters....don't get too happy.........now he wants to take the troops out of Iraq and redploy them to Afganistan. So much for bring the troops home. They have been deployed to Afganistan for 15 months tours going back and forth from there to Iraq as it is. I feel most sorry for all those young troops and their families who voted for Obama in the primaries becasue they believed him when he said he would bring their soldier home. It's just a slap in the face to them.

It's pretty outrageous when the leader of a supposedly sovereign nation demands a timetable for withdrawl of US forces and the Bush administration and most Republicans STILL refuse. This shoudn't be our choice to make any more.

Doesn't that make us simply foreign invaders? An army of occupation.

So many articles on and photos of Obama! Is McCain MIA?

Seems like a no-brainer-win-win situation to me.

WELL WELL AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE OBAMA HAD IT RIGHT ALL ALONG. THAT REGION KNOWS THAT IT WAS THE INTENTION OF THIS US GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT BASE.

We are not a country of whiners and we are not imagining our hurt McSame. We understand your thoughts since you wife is worth $100 Million, you simply don't understand what we are going through.

obama is such an idiot. He says the first day he would be president ( i hope never) that he would order the military on a new mission. End the war. Ha ha ha. Don't you think Bush wants the war over? Don't you think we all do? Obama dreams about things that can't happen and thinks he is an oracle.

I've got news for obama. He should quit preaching to the black men. He is not an ordained minister or an educated social worker. What qualifications if any does he have to preach. Give me a break.

He is going to Palestine. Wonder what he is going to do there. Seems to me there are a lot of Muslims there. Why not go to a Christian or Jewish Country first. IS HE TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING?

It is quite obvious that the Iraq government no longer favors the occupancy by the US military. And I agree, we need to establish a time table for withdrawl and let them decide their own fate. Afghanistan and Pakistan have now seemed to emerge as the more active parts in the Middle, and because the US military is "so stretched" we need to focus on the major section. Obama would be wised to start campaigning for a timetable, however, that is easier said than done.......he is going to get tremendous resistance....either way.

OK i see now barrack hussein is the reason the Iraq war is ending. It has nothing to do with more boots on the ground by our current admin.

It would be an enormous opportunity indeed. It would mean that Obama wouldn't need to make a decision on Iraq after all. What a relief he must feel. Obamabots can continue believing their emperor has new clothes.

Yes!!! Never should have been in Iraq, overdue to get out!

Obama is already looking old and he hasn't done anything yet.

Omama is a real coward and is ready to quit on freedom. The Democrats cut and run policy will not work. Vote for a American for president..............McCain 08