War+&+Terrirism+Obama+RP


 * Since the surge began, more than 1,000 American troops have died, and despite the improved security situation, the Iraqi government has not stepped forward to lead the Iraqi people and to reach the genuine political accommodation that was the stated purpose of the surge. Our troops have heroically helped reduce civilian casualties in Iraq to early 2006 levels. More than 1.75 million servicemen and women have served in Iraq or Afghanistan; more than 620,000 troops have completed multiple deployments. The Iraq war has lasted longer than World War I, World War II, and the Civil War. More than 4,000 Americans have died. More than 60,000 have been injured and wounded. The United States may spend $2.7 trillion on this war and its aftermath, yet we are less safe around the globe and more divided at home.

a residual force will remain in Iraq and in the region to conduct targeted counter-terrorism missions against al Qaeda in Iraq and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel. I will form an international working group to address this crisis. I will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find sanctuary. I believe that the U.S. must apply pressure on the Iraqi government to work toward real political accommodation. I believe we must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in. Immediately upon taking office, I will give his Secretary of Defense and military commanders a new mission in Iraq: ending the war. The removal of our troops will be responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Military experts believe we can safely redeploy combat brigades from Iraq at a pace of 1 to 2 brigades a month that would remove them in 16 months. That would be the summer of 2010 – more than 7 years after the war began.The first responsibility of any president is to protect the American people. Yet, seven years after the 9/11 attacks, we are not as safe as we can and should be.Barack Obama's strategy for securing the homeland against 21st century threats is focused on preventing terrorist attacks on our homeland.As president, I will strengthen our homeland against natural or accidental disasters and terrorist threats - ensuring the federal government works with states, localities, and the private sector as a true partner in prevention, mitigation, and response. I will responsibly end the war in Iraq and focus on the right battlefield in Afghanistan. An Administration will work with other nations to strengthen their capacity to eliminate shared enemies.

I will improve the American intelligence apparatus by investing in its capacity to collect and analyze information, share information with other agencies and carry out operations to disrupt terrorist operations and networks. I will not hesitate to use military force to take out terrorists who pose a threat to America. I will ensure that our military becomes more stealthy, agile, and lethal in its ability to capture or kill terrorists. He will bolster our military's ability to speak different languages, navigate different cultures, and coordinate complex missions with our civilian agencies.

An Administration will defeat al Qaeda in what the 9-11 Commission called "the Battle of Ideas" by returning to an American foreign policy consistent with America's traditional values and by working with moderates within the Islamic world to counter al Qaeda propaganda. I will establish a $2 billion Global Education Fund to work to eliminate the global education deficit and offer an alternative to extremist schools. Thwarting terrorist networks requires international partnerships in military, intelligence, law enforcement, financial transactions, border controls, and transportation security. To make diplomacy more effective, I will stop shuttering consulates and start opening them in the tough and hopeless corners of the world. He will expand our foreign service, and develop the capacity of our civilian aid workers to work alongside the military.

I, Barack Obama, am fully against the war and terrorism. Since the surge began more than 1,000 American troops have died and despite the improved security situation, the Iraqi government has not stepped forward to lead the Iraqi people. More than 1.75 million servicemen and women have served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

I will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find sanctuary.I believe that the U.S. must apply pressure on the Iraqi government to work toward real political accommodation. Immediately upon taking office, I will give his Secretary of Defense and military commanders a new mission in Iraq: ending the war.The removal of our troops will be responsible and phased. The first responsibility of any president is to protect the American people. Yet, seven years after the 9/11 attacks, we are not as safe as we can and should be.As president, I will strengthen our homeland against natural or accidental disasters and terrorist threats. I am fully committed to ending the war in Iraq as president.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/ ||