Iraq Platform

Barack Obama says he...

• Opposed military force in Iraq when voting in 2002 and has voted for a war spending bill containing a redeployment timetable.
• Would bring home troops at a rate of one to two brigades per month. With this plan, all American forces would be out of Iraq by the summer of 2010.
• Would keep a very small portion of the military deployed to carry out specific things, such as protecting U.S. service persons and diplomatic officials and tracking remaining Al Qaeda members.
• Would create a compact or treaty with Iraq that would protect the country's borders, give financial assistance towards Iraq's reconstruction, and target Al Qaeda.
• Opposed the troop surge of January 2007 but believes it has been successful in "quell[ing] the violence."*
  

John McCain says he...

• Supported military force in Iraq when voting in 2002, and was one of the earliest supporters of deploying additional troops to Iraq.
  
• Has and would veto any legislature that contains a timetable for redeployment in Iraq.
• Would suggest that the international community fund effective financial plans within Iraq to boost small businesses and entrepreneurs
• Would ask Middle Eastern countries to help stabilize Iraq's economy by giving a portion of their income from oil exports to Iraq.
• Supported the counterinsurgency troop surge and believes it has been successful.

*Quote from a speech made by Senator Obama in July of this year
-Christina