McCain, Obama edge toward middle on Iraq

A 16-month timetable, tied to "conditions on the ground." Debate over? by Mark Silva It seems that Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain have now met in the middle on Iraq: Obama has long called for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months after election, should he be elected president. McCain this week called that a "pretty good timetable,'' and said U.S. forces should be "out of there'' by the end of his first term, should he be elected. But McCain also has predicated any "horizon'' for troop withdrawals on "conditions on the ground,'' like President Bush. And Obama agrees now, too, that the timetable for withdrawal and continuing support from U.S. troops in Iraq will be "conditions-based.'' Obama even cited Bush in his remarks in an interview. McCain has suggested that forces may remain in Iraq in some capacity... [read full story]