Chicago – Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who is contemplating a run for the presidency, called on Monday for a “gradual and substantial” reduction of U.S. forces in Iraq that would begin in four to six months.
Speaking to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Obama envisioned a flexible timetable for withdrawal linked to conditions on the ground and based on the advice of U.S. commanders.
He also called for intensified efforts to train Iraqi security forces, U.S. aid packages tied to Iraqi progress in reducing sectarian violence and new diplomacy with Syria and Iran.
“I believe that it remains possible to salvage an acceptable outcome to this long and misguided war,” he said. “But I have to be honest today – it will not be easy. For the fact is that there are no good options left in this war.”
Obama was not in the Senate when President Bush sought and received support from Congress in 2002 to use military force against Saddam Hussein. But he has opposed the war since then.
“We can’t afford to be a country of isolationists in the 21st century,” he said, adding that it’s “absolutely vital that we maintain a strong and active foreign policy, relentless in pursuing our enemies and hopeful in promoting our values around the world.”
