From the article:
Following the Dec. 15 Iraqi elections, Obama said the United States should focus over the course of the next year on how to reduce its troops there.
"Notice that I say 'reduce' and not 'fully withdraw,'" Obama said.
The freshman lawmaker also joined the chorus of politicians defending decorated Vietnam War veteran Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), D-Pa., who was criticized by the Bush administration, other Republicans and the public after calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"We watched the shameful attempt to paint John Murtha — a Marine Corp recipient of two purple hearts and a Bronze Star — into a coward of questionable patriotism," Obama said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051122/ap_on_go_co/obama_iraq;_ylt=AssYB14jLYD1rS0mNlPn1LSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-