Obama '08?

Amid intense speculation about whether he will run for president, Sen. Barack Obama on Monday used the spotlight to showcase his strategy for the war in Iraq, excoriating the Bush administration for its "misguided" war and describing a solution that includes dialogue with hostile nations in the region.

In his speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Illinois Democrat said the U.S. should end its "coddling" of the Iraqi government by beginning a reduction of troops in the next four to six months and pressuring Iraqis to work out agreements among their warring factions.

"Our troops can help suppress the violence, but they cannot solve its root causes," Obama told members of the council. "And all the troops in the world won't be able to force Shia, Sunni, and Kurd to sit down at a table, resolve their differences, and forge a lasting peace."

Offering a few new specifics, Obama said he thinks Iraq should convene a regional conference that includes Syria and Iran, two countries with which the U.S. does not currently have diplomatic relations. He also said that, as the U.S. redistributes troops around the Middle East, some should be deployed to Afghanistan and northern Iraq.

Substantively, Obama's talk to the council was not markedly different from the one he gave there a year ago. He echoed many of the themes of that speech--as well as from his highly publicized new book, "The Audacity of Hope." Politically, the plan he embraced positions him alongside many centrist Democrats in Congress who are calling for a slow and careful withdrawal of troops, rather than a quick exit or a buildup of military personnel in Iraq.

But while the speech was mostly the same, the environment in which he delivered it was radically different. Voters registered dissatisfaction with the Iraq war this month, handing Congress over to Democrats for a fresh start. Obama will serve on the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee as part of the new majority.

Perhaps of greater significance to the crowd at the Chicago Hilton on Monday is Obama's status as a possible presidential contender in 2008. The buzz surrounding his possible candidacy drew a crowd and the speech attracted national media and was followed by an interview with CNN. The council sold 1,400 tickets, which meant organizers had to move it from the previously scheduled ballroom to a larger one.

"If we'd put this thing on for another senator, we could have held it in a phone booth," said Dick Longworth, a former Tribune reporter and senior fellow at the council, a non-partisan organization devoted to educating people about foreign affairs.

A year ago, Obama asked for a platform at the council to talk about a phased withdrawal from Iraq, much of it by the end of 2006. Obama revised that time frame on Monday, saying he thinks the drawdown should begin within six months.

Though much of this speech was devoted to criticizing the administration and the war, Obama said he thinks it's possible to "salvage an acceptable outcome."

He suggests a redeployment of troops and stepped-up efforts to train Iraqi security forces, and says the U.S. should link economic aid to Iraq with "measurable progress on reducing sectarian violence."

Obama indirectly criticized a suggestion by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that the U.S. increase its troop levels in Iraq, saying there is little reason to believe that adding thousands of troops would achieve the desired results.

Afterward, Obama said he doesn't think that proposals to partition Iraq into three separate regions--Kurdish, Shiite and Sunni--would work if it were a U.S. initiative. Also, Obama said he would not support a proposal to reinstate the draft.

Although the speech did not cover a lot of new ground, some in the audience said that made it more credible.

"What makes his speech even stronger in his case is the consistency and continuity from what he said a year ago," said Marshall Bouton, president of the council. "He's not a Johnny-come-lately to this debate. It locates him along with a lot of others, embracing a measured, thoughtful, multifaceted approach."

The false and intellectually slipshod derogation of him as "far left" is perhaps predictable, but you should know better than to repeat it, you nasty wingnut from Lubbock.

Bill, What exactly about Murtha makes him a "far left fool", in your estimation? Was the fact that he was the loudest and earliest proponent of immediate withdrawal from Iraq enough for you to tag him as such?

snood wrote:

Bill, What exactly about Murtha makes him a "far left fool", in your estimation? Was the fact that he was the loudest and earliest proponent of immediate withdrawal from Iraq enough for you to tag him as such?

Not so much a "far left fool" as a corrupt good ole boy.

Back to Obama... "coddling' Iraq" I see he thinks talks with Iran and Syria would be good...
Didn't Iraq and Syria just get done talking, with the result being a decision to set up embassies in each other's countries? Did I catch that news wrong?

ps...next spring/summer, a whole skad of folks are heading here to beat up on Walter. You oughta come help out.

Obama reaches out in key 2008 states

By Mike Dorning
Washington Bureau

November 29, 2006

WASHINGTON -- As Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) nears a decision on a White House bid, he is taking steps to reach out to potential supporters in important states in the nominating process, including headlining a Dec. 10 rally in New Hampshire, home of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

Granite State Democrats asked Obama to be the star attraction at a party event to celebrate sweeping victories in the state in the November election.

The senator also recently has discussed a potential campaign with leading Democratic activists in Iowa, which holds the influential caucus that kicks off the presidential primary campaign in early 2008. Among those he has spoken with are the former Iowa campaign managers for 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry and 2000 Democratic nominee Al Gore, an Obama campaign adviser said.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said an announcement of the senator's presidential intentions is "several weeks away."

The recent release of his second memoir, "The Audacity of Hope," and a publicity tour to promote the book have bolstered his already high visibility just as he is contemplating a presidential run. This fall he has been featured on the cover of Time magazine and made several television appearances, including on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Meet the Press" and "Late Show With David Letterman." This Friday he appears on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

His book is No. 1 on The New York Times' non-fiction best-seller list.

"That's pretty stunning, boggling really," said Jim Jordan, a former Kerry national campaign manager. "The fact that so many people are willing to plunk down 30 bucks to access his thoughts, ideas and political philosophy is pretty impressive."

Among those urging Obama to run is his fellow Illinois senator, Democrat Dick Durbin, who on Monday started an online petition asking Obama to enter the presidential race. Such a petition can be a useful tool for gathering contact information for potential donors and campaign volunteers.

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan said she raised the idea of an appearance in the state during a call Obama made to her shortly after the November election congratulating her on the party's performance in the Granite State.

"A lot of people in the Democratic base are excited to see him. I even talked to a Republican who asked if he could get a ticket," Sullivan said.

William Shaheen, husband of former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and the state chairman or co-chairman for three prior winning presidential primary campaigns, said the event will provide an auspicious introduction for Obama.

"When you're invited to speak at an event like this, you get access to the activists, the shakers and the movers of this thing," Shaheen said. "He may acquire some converts. Depending on how well he does, he may start a movement."

Obama already has made several appearances in Iowa. He was the keynote speaker in September at one of the premier events for Democratic activists in that state, an annual fish fry hosted by the state's long-serving Democratic senator, Tom Harkin.