Obama still looks to 16-month pullout

Sadrist lawmakers chanting and raising placards reading: "No, no to the agreement" react in Iraq's parliament in Baghdad, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, as lawmakers vote to approve a security pact with the United States that lets American troops stay in the country for three more years - setting a clear timetable for a U.S. exit for the first time since the 2003 invasion. The vote in favor of the pact was backed by the ruling coalition's Shiite and Kurdish blocs as well as the largest Sunni Arab bloc, which had demanded concessions for supporting the deal. The Shiite bloc agreed to a Sunni demand that the pact be put to a referendum by July 30, meaning the deal must undergo an additional hurdle next year. Under the agreement, U.S. forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30 and the entire country by Jan. 1, 2012. Iraq will have strict oversight over U.S. forces. (AP Photo/APTN)

AP

Sadrist lawmakers chanting and raising placards reading: “No, no to the agreement” react in Iraq’s parliament in Baghdad, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, as lawmakers vote to approve a security pact with the United States that lets American troops stay in the country for three more years – setting a clear timetable for a U.S. exit for the first time since the 2003 invasion. The vote in favor of the pact was backed by the ruling coalition’s Shiite and Kurdish blocs as well as the largest Sunni Arab bloc, which had demanded concessions for supporting the deal. The Shiite bloc agreed to a Sunni demand that the pact be put to a referendum by July 30, meaning the deal must undergo an additional hurdle next year. Under the agreement, U.S. forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30 and the entire country by Jan. 1, 2012. Iraq will have strict oversight over U.S. forces. (AP Photo/APTN)

December 1, 2008

CHICAGO (AP) — Barack Obama says the U.S.-Iraq security agreement approved by Iraq’s parliament puts the U.S. on a “glide path” toward reducing forces there.

As he named Robert Gates to continue on as defense chief, with a new mission to reduce U.S. involvement in Iraq, the president-elect said he’ll listen to Gates, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders on the ground in determining how to proceed with a troop withdrawal.

Obama told reporters in Chicago that he still thinks 16 months is the “right time frame” for removing U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

He said the top priority is making sure troops are safe during that transition, and that the Iraqi people are well served as their government takes on more security responsibilities.

He also said the U.S. needs to “remain vigilant” in making sure terrorist elements in Iraq don’t become strengthened by a U.S. pullout.