On a timeline for withdrawal

Obama has committed to immediately begin a phased withdrawal of one to two combat brigades per month, with the goal of removing what their campaign terms as ‘combat troops’ within 16 months of taking office. Obama has stated his commitment to building no permanent bases in Iraq.

On residual forces

Obama supports leaving behind an unspecified number of what the Obama campaign refers to as ‘non-combat’ troops in and around Iraq for counter-terrorism, force protection, and training of Iraqi security forces, for an undetermined amount of time. The size of this ‘residual force’ could number in the tens of thousands.

On regional diplomacy

Obama supports pursuing regional diplomacy that would include all of Iraq’s neighbors, including directly engaging Iran, without preconditions.  The diplomatic effort would be aimed at engaging Iraq’s neighbors in supporting reconstruction, cooling sectarian conflict, as well as securing Iraq’s border and isolating al-Qaeda.

On humanitarian aid

Obama has pledged to increase the American investment in addressing the Iraqi refugee crisis to at least $2 billion, and to expedite the review of Iraqi applications for US asylum. He has also pledged to work towards greater regional and international support for humanitarian relief, and to work with coalition partners to get them to expand their refugee quotas.