Power exposed Obama’s exit strategy as best case scenario
Barack Obama’s top foreign policy adviser Samantha Power, whose name had begun to float around Washington as Obama’s possible Secretary of Defense resigned from her post in the campaign last week. The reason for her resignation that was widely stated in the press was her off the record comment where she was quoted calling Hillary Clinton a monster. But did her now internationally circulated interview on the BBC have anything to do with her being ousted from her position in Obama’s campaign. In the interview she stated that Obama’s claim that he will have troops withdrawn from Iraq in 16 months is a best case scenario.
Power stated in the same interview,
“He will of course not rely upon some plan he’s crafted as a Presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator, he will rely upon a plan, an operational plan that he pulls together in consolation with people that are on the ground to whom he doesn’t have daily access to now…”
So essentially in the matter of several minutes Obama’s foreign policy advisor managed to undermine one of the centerpieces of his campaign, which was to redeploy combat troops in Iraq in the first 16 months of this Presidency.
Power admitted in an interview after her resignation from the campaign to being a “political rookie.” That description may better describe the real reason for Power’s resignation. There is evidently no room in Obamas campaign for a pragmatic scholar as the foreign policy advisor who began to undercut that lofty rhetoric with a realistic view of the campaigns stated goals.
It is obvious that Power was speaking from an essentially unfiltered position and actually was reflecting conversations that she has had with Obama, rather than herself spouting the lofty rhetoric Obama has made a staple on the campaign trail.
Obama has now indirectly addressed Power’s Iraq comments on the campaign trail by saying, “Don’t be confused, I will end the Iraq war in 2009.”
But in light of his former foreign policy advisor’s comments steeped in the reality of the situation on the ground, it is becoming clear that Obama’s exit strategy will be highly contingent on continued cooperation from Iraqi’s such as Al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army.
Obama has repeatedly qualified his exit strategy as a responsible. Which is to be expected, but he needs to define his meaning of responsible, otherwise he is leaving himself a large loophole once he would take office.
Comment by mali on 10 March 2008:
The ONLY reason we are even talking about Obamaboy is the fact that the press shows complete favoritism and its sickening. No voter wants a candidate shoved down their throat! Cable news pundits are irresponsible predicting Obamas win and MUST stop trying to control what our society thinks and how we vote and stick to reporting facts. It’s sickening to hear all the endless chatter about speeches, momentum or charisma. WE NEED FACTS, SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERES, not obama continued lies and diversions to the truth, his lies about telling voters one thing and countries another, appears he took allot of training from his cousin Chaney and Bush. all the geniuses in mainstream media, cable news, need to summon the courage to tell their audiences about important issues and facts before permitting a public coronation of Obama based on RACE, speeches, momentum or charisma, we need solutions, which seem to be absent from obama. God save us all, our great but troubled United States needs strong, experienced and principled leadership to restore faith in our government and repair its credibility at home and abroad, and to end the destructive policies that have eroded rights for all Americans, women’s rights, minorities and civil liberties and increased injustice and inequality in our society. Clinton is just such a leader. She has a long history of support for women’s empowerment, and her outstanding long public service record is a testimony to her leadership on issues important to women Afro-Americans, minorities and children around the globe. She has eloquently articulated the need for full economic, political and social equality for everyone in every institution of society, taking action throughout her career – as a lawyer, community leader, 2-term First Lady, Senator and candidate for the presidency – to advance the civil and human rights.
WE CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY TO GIVE THE PRESIDENCY AWAY BASED MEDIA COVERAGE OF SKIN COLOR….
HELP Hillary Clinton Make History
Comment by Alma Ludivina on 10 March 2008:
Former President Cinton wants to re-elect himself by proxy using wife Mrs. Clinton who has magnified her experience abroad drinking tea and cookies as former first lady.
Re-election by proxy of Mr. Clinton is a ticket for corruption just remember the big scandals where Senator Cinton played an important role, She blantly cooperated with husband to shreed citizen Lewinki due fear to loose white house, even to the price of own dignity, She manipulated the mind of many latino texans by infusing fear against Senator Obama.
Do we want a corrupted behavior with no scruples, no dignity and money greed as an example for our daughters?
Comment by Dave Garry on 10 March 2008:
Ron Paul for president..stop the madness!