Obama hails Maliki's troop withdrawal call

NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama hailed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's call for a schedule for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq as an "enormous opportunity."

"We should seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that ... that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States," Obama said in an op-ed column published Monday in The New York Times.

"That is why, on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war," Obama, D-Ill., said.

Obama, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, praised the efforts of U.S. troops since U.S. President George Bush announced the surge in forces 18 months ago, saying they "performed heroically in bringing down the level of violence."

Maliki's linking a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal to discussions of future U.S. military presence in Iraq "presents an enormous opportunity," he said in "My Plan for Iraq." Voicing such a demand indicates "Iraq's leaders want to take responsibility for their country."

Obamareiterated his 18-month timetable of redeploying combat brigades, stressing he would consult with U.S. military leaders on the ground and the Iraqi government to ensure the redeployment would be conducted safely. Troops remaining in Iraq would have limited roles.

"That would not be a precipitous withdrawal," he said.

U.S. troops would be redeployed to meet "our broader strategic goals, starting in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.