Obama on Iraq

From AP:

Barack Obama said Saturday he would be willing to send more soldiers to Iraq if it is part of a strategy that the president and military leaders believe will stabilize the country and eventually allow America to withdraw.

"If that strategy made sense and would lead ultimately to the pullout of U.S. troops but in the short term required additional troop strength to protect those who are already on the ground, then that's something I would support," said Obama. ***

A quick withdrawal would add to the chaos there and make it "an extraordinary hotbed of terrorist activity," he said. It would also damage America's international prestige and amount to "a slap in the face" to the troops fighting there, he said.

Kerry has accused Bush of hiding a plan to mobilize more National Guard and Reserve troops after the election. Kerry says if elected, he would withdraw American troops from Iraq within four years - a timetable that Obama said he can accept.

"Given the situation on the ground, I think if we had our troops out in four years, that would be an extraordinary accomplishment," Obama said.

Okay, but lets not forget the first rule of getting out of a hole.