Obama urges gradual withdrawal from Iraq

[oberliner]

CHICAGO - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who is contemplating a run for the presidency, on Monday called for a "gradual and substantial" reduction of U.S. forces from
Iraq that would begin in four to six months.

Speaking to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Obama envisioned a flexible timetable for withdrawal linked to conditions on the ground in Iraq and based on the advice of U.S. commanders. He also called for intensified efforts to train Iraqi security forces, U.S. aid packages tied to Iraqi progress in reducing sectarian violence and new diplomacy with
Syria and
Iran.

"I believe that it remains possible to salvage an acceptable outcome to this long and misguided war," he said. "But I have to be honest today, it will not be easy. For the fact is that there are no good options left in this war."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061120/ap_on_go_co/obama_iraq