“Progress in Iraq cannot be measured by the same ideological fantasies that got us into this war, it must be measured by the reality of the facts on the ground, and today those sobering facts tell us to change our strategy and bring a responsible end to this war."

"No matter how much this Administration wishes it to be true, the idea that the situation in Iraq is improving because it only takes a security detail of 100 soldiers, three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships to walk through a market in the middle of Baghdad is simply not credible or reflective of the facts on the ground."

"What we need today is a surge in honesty. The truth is, the Iraqis have made little progress toward the political solution between Shiia and Sunni which is the last, best hope to end this war. I believe that letting the Iraqi government know America will not be there forever is the best way to pressure the warring factions toward this political settlement, which is why my plan begins a phased withdrawal from Iraq on May 1st, 2007, with the goal of removing all combat troops by March 31st, 2008."

What does Obama NOT say? He does not say that it is NOT his advice that the Congress:

immediately pass a new bill to provide support to our troops in Iraq . . .

Obama "reply" is a nonsequitor. The question is Senator Obama -- do you believe the Congress should, in the face of a Presidential veto of the Iraq supplemental funding bill, immediately pass a new bill to provide support to our troops in Iraq?

Yes or no. It seems a simple question to answer. I do not understand why it is so difficult for Senator Obama to give a straight answer to this question.