U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Thursday that he could "refine" his Iraq policy while pledging he won't change his basic policy position on the issue.
At a brief press conference in Fargo, N.D., the Illinois senator said his plan to withdraw troops within 16 months after taking office had always been relying on ground situation and that he would "do a thorough assessment" when he visits Iraq, a trip he will make before the Nov. 4 presidential election.
"My position has not changed but keep in mind what that original position was. I have always said that I will listen to commanders on the ground; 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," he said.
"That assessment has not changed and when I go to Iraq and I have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies," Obama added.
The Republican National Committee caught the chance to accuse Obama of opportunism.
"There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience," said the committee's spokesman Alex Conant.
"Obama's Iraq problem undermines the central premise of his candidacy and shows him to be a typical politician," he said.
Obama's Republican rival John McCain put out a statement, saying Obama's words "do not matter."
In fact, this is not the first time that Obama has showed flexibility on the Iraq issue.
The remarks echoes what he said at a debate in Dartmouth, N.H., on Sept. 26, last year, that he wouldn't commit to having all troops out of Iraq by 2013.
"I think it is hard to project four years from now, and I think it would be irresponsible," he said then.
Source:Xinhua
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