Obama pressed on trip to Iraq

Says visit could refine his policy

Barack Obama traveled to Fargo, N.D., yesterday, for a town hall meeting with veterans. (Associated Press)

FARGO, N.D. - Democrat Barack Obama struggled yesterday to explain how his upcoming trip to Iraq might refine, but not basically alter, his promise to quickly remove US combat troops from the war.

A dustup over war policy - one of the main issues separating the Illinois senator from his Republican opponent, John McCain - overshadowed Obama's town hall meeting with veterans to talk about patriotism and his plans to care for them. Republicans pounced on the chance to characterize Obama as altering one of the core policies that drove his candidacy "for the sake of political expedience." He denied equally forcefully that he was shifting positions.

In Fargo, Obama hastily called a news conference to discuss news of a sixth straight month of nationwide job losses, but the questioning turned to Iraq policy and his impending trip there.

He left the impression that his talks with military commanders there could refine his promise to remove US combat troops within 16 months of taking office.

Less than four hours later, after the town hall meeting, Obama appeared before reporters for another statement and round of questions to "try this again."

"Apparently I was not clear enough this morning," he said. He blamed any confusion on the McCain campaign, which he said had "primed the pump with the press" to suggest "we were changing our policy when we haven't."

"I have said throughout this campaign that this war was ill-conceived, that it was a strategic blunder, and that it needs to come to an end," he said. "I have also said I would be deliberate and careful about how we get out. That position has not changed. I am not searching for maneuvering room with respect to that position."

He said when he talked earlier about refining his policy after talking with commanders in Iraq, he was referring not to his 16-month timeline, but to how many troops may need to remain in Iraq to train the local army and police and what troop presence might be needed "to be sure Al Qaeda doesn't reestablish a foothold there."

Later in the session, he said it is possible that the 16-month timeline could change if the pace of withdrawal needs to be slowed some months to ensure troop safety. "I have always said . . . I would always reserve the right to do what's best," Obama said.

During his presidential campaign, Obama has gone from the hard-edged, vocal opposition to Iraq that defined his early candidacy to more nuanced rhetoric that calls for the phased-out drawdown of all combat brigades that, at a rate of one or two a month, could take 16 months. He has said that if Al Qaeda builds bases in Iraq, he would keep troops either in the country or the region to carry out "targeted strikes."