He had said he plans to have most US combat troops home by the end of his first term. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama today said he would "refine" his position on withdrawal from Iraq after meeting with military commanders there this summer, then later insisted he had not softened his commitment to remove US combat forces with 16 months of taking office.
Speaking with reporters at an airport in Fargo, North Dakota, the Illinois senator appeared open to altering his campaign pledge to have US combat troops home from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.
"I am going to do a thorough assessment when I'm there,'' he said. "I'm sure I'll have more information and continue to refine my policy."
The Republican party leapt at the comments and accused Obama of reversing himself, and at a press conference later, Obama sought to clarify his remarks.
"Let me be as clear as I can be: I tend to end this war," he said. "I have seen no information that contradicts the notion that we can bring out troops out safely at a pace of one to two brigades per month," with all out within 16 months. "This is the same position that I had four months ago."
Obama founded his campaign on a strident anti-war message, which dates back to a speech he gave in Chicago in 2002, while still a state senator.
Republican nominee John McCain was an early supporter of the troop surge in Iraq and has backed the war from the beginning.
He said he will keep US forces there to maintain the security gains the surge has facilitated. He has said he plans to have most US combat troops home by the end of his first term.