Obama’s Iraq Speech: Excerpts Just Hit the Press

Quoted from CNN’s advance excerpts from his upcoming speech:

In advanced excerpts of his remarks, Obama, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, says the “bar for success” now in Iraq “is so low that it is almost buried in the sand… We’ve had enough of a war that should never have been authorized and should never have been waged.”

“I opposed this war from the beginning,” Obama says, according to the excerpts. “I opposed the war in 2002. I opposed it in 2003. I opposed it in 2004. I opposed it in 2005. I opposed it in 2006. I introduced a plan in January to remove all of our combat brigades by next March. And I am here to say that we have to begin to end this war now.”

Follow me below the fold for a brief description of the four point plan he is about to speak about…

1. “Immediately begin to pull out troops engaged in combat operations at a pace of one or two brigades every month, to be completed by the end of next year.”

  1. “Call for a new constitutional convention in Iraq, convened with the United Nations, which would not adjourn until Iraq’s leaders reach a new accord on reconciliation.”
  2. “Use presidential leadership to surge our diplomacy with all of the nations of the region on behalf of a new regional security compact.”
  3. “Take immediate steps to confront the humanitarian disaster in Iraq, and to hold accountable any perpetrators of war crimes.”

I could comment more, but I feel that this is a time to let Obama’s words speak for themselves.  Please tip kindly.

UPDATED with links:

Obama on Iraq: Begin immediate withdrawl, complete it by next year. – another diary with different snippets

Original CNN ticker story

UPDATE #2:

Before I forget to ask and this diary gets off the rec list(this is DailyKos related, where this is crossposted):  A lot of people are talking about Barack doing something to back up his words.  He hasn’t even said his words yet, and the vote on the supplemental hasn’t even begun to be debated yet.  Lets wait to find out what he says before we go bashing him for something he very well may yet do, whatever it is you think that he should be doing.

And, in turn, if you like his Iraq policy and want to help him push it, tell him.  Or better yet, DONATE

Author: turnnoblindeye

My name is Bryan Barash and I am a 24 year old marketing professional and an avid Obama supporter.