A flexible plan for troop withdrawal

Last week, President Obama discussed his plans to end combat operations in Iraq. A deadline was announced for August 31, 2010 with the stipulation that 35,000 to 50,000 troops would remain after that date.

The remaining troops will stay behind for another sixteen months to support counterterrorism activities. Obama has promised Rep. John McHugh, a Republican member of the Armed Services Committee, that he will reconsider the timeline if violence rises.

Obama’s plan coincides with the agreement former President Bush made to be out completely by 2011. While accelerating the time Bush established, Obama is actually taking longer than the 16-month deadline spoken of during the presidential campaign.

The president is now finding that he can’t satisfy anyone. Republicans are wary of removing troops too soon, while Democrats think the number of troops left behind is too high.

The timeline should not catch anyone by surprise. During his campaign, Obama was forward about his plans for withdrawal. Changing the deadline by a few months is not going against his promises; it is merely an adjustment to new conditions.

It’s reasonable to think there is new intelligence and data that is only available to Obama now that he’s president. It’s better for Obama to change the timeline based on updated intelligence rather than stay the course to uphold his image.

The opinions of the Iraqis should be key in determining when and if we leave. The Obama administration should focus on its agreement with the Iraqi government instead of populist calls to withdraw.

Leaving troops in Iraq is a sound move considering the instability of the region. With elections coming up and oil revenues going down, progress in Iraq could easily be reversed.

Though troops will be pulled out of Iraq, that doesn’t mean fighting is finished. Troops will be sent in greater numbers to Afghanistan, with Obama’s intention to “only send (the troops) into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary.”

For now, we believe Obama will handle the troop placement responsibly.