I have a feeling some people are missing the point regarding Obama's stance on Iraq withdraw. The point is he does not want a long term presence in Iraq. Mccain openly says he is ok with long term bases in Iraq. So we are talking about roughly 5 or so years to get 90% of our the troops out of Iraq with Obama (then 5 more years to be totally out), or keep at least 15% to 35% of the current troops levels in Iraq over the next 50 years under Mccain and at least 60% current levels for the next 5 years.
If you listen to many of Obama's foreign and military advisors most of them since the beginning have talk about a careful withdraw, and Obama after staying the 16 month "goal" would almost always follow it with the "as careful getting out, as careless getting in". I've always read that as, it could take at least twice the time he hopes for with the "goal". I realize some people here think it’s totally possible and practical get to 95% of the troops out within 6 to 8 months. However Obama has never consider a withdraw for within a 12 month period.
So 16 month timeline with a practical and careful caveat puts him at having most of the troops out before his first term is over. It’s important as his supporters that we understand this, and we know how to explain first term Iraq withdraw window against Mccain's 50 year "cold-war" approach. We must let Americans know that we are not ok with using our police, nurses, and firefighters in Iraq to serve as the oil companies publically funded military. That the money spent trying to just hold down the land could be better used here at home.
Invest in America, Instead of Iraq. Vote Democratic.