Changing His Tune

" Now about a rock our next story is about president Obama's changing positions on the war there. Here is correspondent James --"

" We can get our combat troops out in sixteen months by march 31 -- next. That was long shot candidate Obama unveiling a firm timetable for withdrawal from Iraq the following year front runner Obama started to head -- I've always said that the pace of withdrawal. Would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops. And the need to maintain stability as commander in chief President Obama refined his plans wants more let me say this as plainly as I can't. By August 31. 2010. Our combat mission in Iraq War --"

" At which point 50000 American advice and assistance brigades will still remain in Iraq slightly less than half the 124000. US forces there now. Which is itself down from the 143000. In theater when President Obama took office. Meaning this president has only cut US troop levels in Iraq by about 9%. If he keeps his plain speaking promise that figure will rise to 65%. -- Numbers -- the immovable object here is the sofa. We're status of forces agreement of 2008 which mandates all US forces -- out of Iraq by the end of 20 look --"

" Some event happens that we believe for some reason securities moving backwards it'll all make a recommendation. Back to Washington. Recommends either we slow down. Slow down or reduction forces."

" Analyst Frederick Kagan an architect of the surge in Iraq says President Obama has moved judiciously. I'm happy to see following recent trip I was in Iraq last into law and that this is. Something that can work that we're not compromising success Megan O'Sullivan was the National Security Council senior director for Iraq under President Bush. And says President Obama will seek his promises tested when Iraq holds national elections in January."

" It's possible that Iraq could be in the government formation period from may -- five months. And in that case it could be a very precarious environments."

" To begin rapidly withdrawing US troops asked today when victory might be declared in Iraq general Odierno said it will be several years maybe five to ten before that's possible. Adding he wasn't sure it would ever happen. In Washington James Rosen Fox News."