Obama stands firm on withdrawing troops

In a wide-ranging speech on foreign policy, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) affirmed his intentions to end the war in Iraq.

The Democratic presidential candidate laid out a broad set of proposals on what his administration’s priorities would be in Afghanistan, toward Iran, and on a whole host of other issues.

{mosads}Obama said he “strongly stands” by his commitment to end the war in Iraq, and slammed Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) support for the surge as a strategy for staying in Iraq. Building off Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s recent call for a timetable, the Democrat called for a redeployment of American troops by the summer of 2010, though he left the door open for what he called “tactical adjustments” as that strategy is put in place.

“I want Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future, and to reach the political accommodation necessary for long-term stability,” Obama said. “That's victory. That's success.”

At the same time, he promised to send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan. “I have argued for years that we lack the resources to finish the job because of our commitment to Iraq,” Obama stated, adding that he would make fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority in his administration.

The Illinois senator likened his call for $1 billion in annual, nonmilitary assistance to Afghanistan to the U.S.’s post-World War II Marshall Plan of assistance to European nations ravaged by war, a recurring theme in the speech, which was rife with diplomatic initiatives to complement the military strategy.

Obama called for a stronger Pakistani democracy, announcing his support to triple nonmilitary aid to Pakistan, which shares a key border with Afghanistan. It is in the border region where key terrorist leaders, including Osama bin Laden, have been suspected of hiding.

The senator also restated that he would enter diplomatic talks with the leadership of Iran, though he noted it would be on his administration’s terms.

Other key elements of Obama’s plan were a push for nuclear nonproliferation, especially for rogue states, as well as a $150 billion investment in alternative and environmentally friendly energy over the next 10 years.

“We cannot afford four more years of a strategy that is out of balance and out of step with this defining moment,” Obama said.