July 15, 2008--In the past couple of days, the campaign's
focus has shifted from the economy to international affairs. Sen.
Barack Obama (D-IL) delivered a major address on Iraq and American
national security at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade
Center ("A New Strategy for a New World"). Obama set out five
goals:
"ending the war in Iraq responsibly;
finishing the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban; securing all
nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states;
achieving true energy security; and rebuilding our alliances to meet
the challenges of the 21st century." On Iraq Obama
stated, "I will give our military a new
mission on my first day in office: ending this war." "We
can safely redeploy our combat brigades at a pace that would remove
them in 16 months," he said. Obama said he would
send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan. "As
President, I will make the fight against al Qaeda
and the Taliban the top priority that it should be," he said.
"This is a war that
we have to win."
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Obama previewed the speech in an
Op-Ed in the New York Times
on Monday ("My Plan for Iraq"). Spokeswoman Linda Douglass said
Obama's speech laid out an approach to foreign policy that is "tough,
smart and pragmatic" in contrast to "stubborn adherence to old,
failed policies." Obama is planning a trip to Europe and
the Middle East next week. Presumptive Republican nominee Sen.
John McCain (R-AZ) and other Republicans criticized
Obama on a number of points. McCain, in prepared remarks
delivered at a town hall meeting today in New Mexico, stated, "I
note that he is speaking today about his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan
before he has even left, before he has talked to General Petraeus,
before he has seen the progress in Iraq, and before he has set foot in
Afghanistan for the first time. According to a counter on the
Republican National Committee website, Obama has not visited Iraq in
919 days. Further criticisms were presented in a McCain campaign conference
call. (more
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