... after he reversed his position on Iraq policy, that is. Could this be Election '08's version of 'I reversed my position on Iraq before I was for reversing that position on Iraq'?
In what is turning out to be an almost daily event, Barack Obama announced today that he may have an upcoming policy revision on another major national issue.
Early on Thursday, Obama made statements that left the door open for major alterations in his plans for Iraq in the unfortunate event he happens to become president.
This from Politico.com [5] based on statements from earlier in the day:
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Thursday backed off his firm promise to withdraw combat forces from Iraq immediately and instead said he could "refine" his plan after his trip to Baghdad later this month.
Earlier, a top Obama adviser had said that the senator is not "wedded" to a specific timeline.
Obama told reporters in Fargo, N.D., that he is "going to do a thorough assessment."
"When I go to Iraq and I have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies," he said, according to CBS News. "I have been consistent, throughout this process, that I believe the war in Iraq was a mistake."
Obama later said at a second news conference he still intends to stick to the timeline.
It was in that 'second news conference' of the day that Obama had to try to wiggle out of the pickle he was creating for himself with his inconsistencies. One of the more telling moments of the later news conference came in this exchange between the Democratic nominee and reporters:
Obama: ... I would be a poor Commander-in-Chief if I did not take facts on the ground into account. Alright?
Reporter: You just said that when you use the phrase "refine policy" that it did not refer to the 16-month timetable. Does that mean you can tell us today that you will not change the 16-month timetable?
Obama: (Laughs, Scratches his head, thinks a few seconds) - Here's what I will tell you. I will bring our troops out at a pace of 1 to 2 brigades per month. And at that pace, we will have our combat troops out in 16 months.
So, how does Obama and his supporters reconcile a 16-month timetable being a "done deal" with his self-admission that he is working blind, having no idea of what is currently going on in Iraq until he is able to meet the military leadership over there on the ground - once he actually gets around to making the trip?
By sticking to his latest news conference position of saying "we will have our combat troops out in 16 months", is he not admitting to being a potential "poor Commander-in-Chief" from his words just two sentences previously stated, admonishing any decision-making before taking "facts on the ground into account"?
As more and more time passes and Obama has more and more position changes, I'm almost feeling sorry for his supporters having to figure out what the talking-point is for the current hour. Karl Rove puts it well when he simply says that Obama is a candidate that is "unanchored and untethered". Some "leadership", huh?
