Senator Barack Obama said the United States should immediately start removing one to two combat brigades from Iraq a month, with a goal of withdrawing all combat troops by the end of next year and leaving a substantial presence of American forces for a limited humanitarian mission.
“The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq’s leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops,” Mr. Obama said. “Not in six months or one year – now.”
In a speech in Clinton, Iowa – yes, you read that correctly – Mr. Obama sought to differentiate himself from fellow Democratic presidential candidates by reminding voters yet again that he opposed the war in 2002. But his strategy going forward – leaving residual forces to fight Al Qaeda, train Iraqis and protect American forces and diplomats – is similar to the plan embraced by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and other rivals.
Mr. Obama delivered his remarks during an address at Ashford University. He did not directly mention the name of his leading rival, Mrs. Clinton, but the words in his speech and the name of the city in which he chose to give a major speech made his point clear.
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