Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Speaks on the Iraq War

Naturally as a military spouse with a husband who has served and is currently serving terms in Iraq, my main concerns are those of the 2008 Candidate views on the Iraq war. I do stress that we are currently in war with Iraq. It did not end, it has never ended! If Iraq were at a state of peace we, American Troops, would not still be there fighting for our lives and the lives of the Iraqi people.

I begin with the stance of Barack Obama on war. I will address his views of the Iraq war and how he plans to express his views to the American people. In the past, Senator Obama has always voiced a strong opinion on the war. In 2002, Senator Obama addressed a crowd of supporters at an Anti-War Rally in Chicago. He stated ""I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war." (Obama, 2002)

The Iraq war began in May 2003. Senator Obama immediately addresses the fact that the President's decision to "embark military action without broad-based international support" would be a "major issue".

At the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations in November 2005, Senator Obama laid out very specific details of how best to improve the efforts of Iraq's reconstruction. These efforts included reducing troop levels, implement phasing efforts of troop withdrawal, assembling Iraqi Government accountability, improved reconstruction efforts, and a call for more support from the "international community". All of which are very reasonable request.

In November 2006, Senator Obama, once again, addressed the sectarian violence in Iraq and how it's now transformed into outright civil war. He states "Month after month and then year after year I've watched with a heavy heart as my deepest suspicions about this war's conception have been confirmed and exacerbated into its disastrous implementation." (Obama, 2006)

In January 2007, Senator Obama introduced legislation in response to President Bush's "failed escalation policy". The most important direction of Senator Obama's legislation is to call for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. He called for this redeployment to begin May 1, 2007. Of course, this did not happen. As a matter of fact, more troops have continued to be deployed to the war. All while our Congress continues to debate and ponder over its purpose and budget.

On May 19, 2007, Senator Obama reached out to his New Hampshire Senate counterparts to gain support on ending the war in Iraq. He is hoping that these efforts will convince the Senate to override President Bush's veto on legislation to end the war.

Reference: Obama, 2002 - 2006. Posted at BarackObama.com.