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Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) addresses a news conference after meeting with his foreign policy advisory panel of former Democratic U.S. government officials at a hotel in Washington June 18, 2008. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

Obama "puzzled" by Iraq comment frenzy

2 hours, 36 minutes ago

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Saturday his plan to end the Iraq war was unchanged and he was puzzled by the sharp reaction to his statement this week that he might "refine" his timetable for withdrawing U.S. combat troops.

  • Former Republican Sen. Jesse Helms is shown in this undated file image. (Robert Padgett/Reuters)
    Former Senator Jesse Helms dies at 86 Fri Jul 4, 9:23 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jesse Helms, a die-hard anti-communist firebrand who championed a wide range of conservative causes in his 30 years in the U.S. Senate, died early on Friday, aged 86, his foundation said.

  • Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain and his wife Cindy attend a news conference during a visit to a new federal police center in Mexico City July 3, 2008. (Daniel Aguilar/Reuters)
    McCain, in Mexico, faults Obama on trade Thu Jul 3, 5:37 PM ET

    MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain took a veiled swipe at Democratic rival Barack Obama over trade on Thursday in the final leg of a Latin American trip aimed at showcasing the Arizona senator's foreign policy credentials.

  • Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks to a National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) conference in Washington, June 28, 2008. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
    Obama mixes holiday and politics in Montana Sat Jul 5, 4:12 PM ET

    BUTTE, Montana (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama mixed presidential politics with parades and barbecue on Independence Day on Friday, celebrating his daughter's birthday with a picnic and fireworks in Montana.

  • Panama says no to U.S. military base Fri Jul 4, 4:38 PM ET

    PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama has ruled out hosting a U.S. military base to replace one in Ecuador which is being reclaimed by the Quito government, a senior Panamanian official said on Friday.

  • Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk listens to a question from the media during a news conference at the Prime Ministers Chancellery in Warsaw July 1, 2008. (Peter Andrews/Reuters)
    Poland rejects U.S. missile shield offer Fri Jul 4, 2:41 PM ET

    WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland spurned as insufficient on Friday a U.S. offer to boost its air defenses in return for basing anti-missile interceptors on its soil but said it remained open to talks with Washington.

  • Robert M. Kimmitt, Deputy Secretary ofthe U.S. Department of Treasury, speaks during a conference on Sovereign Wealth Funds at the Asia Society in New York, April 14, 2008. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
    Kimmitt confident in economic fundamentals Fri Jul 4, 9:18 AM ET

    BERLIN (Reuters) - Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt said on Friday he was confident about the United States' economic fundamentals in the long term despite a current rough patch and was quite optimistic about the future.

  • President Bush waves from the steps of the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington before his departure July 3, 2008. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)
    Bush to attend China Olympics opening ceremonies Thu Jul 3, 4:51 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush will attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in China next month, the White House said on Thursday.

  • Paula Killen, 48, sits on the beach in Long Beach, New York in this picture taken July 1, 2008. U.S. voters are in the midst of one of the world's longest election campaigns--the race will have lasted nearly two years by the time the nation's 44th president is chosen on Nov. 4 to succeed Republican President George W. Bush. But experts say, despite earlier predictions, voters do not seem fatigued by the campaign. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
    Long presidential campaign not yet tiring voters Thu Jul 3, 4:46 AM ET

    LONG BEACH, New York (Reuters) - With his wetsuit around his waist, Peter Flintoft walks wearily along the Long Beach boardwalk. While worn out by the surf, he is not yet tired of the lengthy U.S. presidential campaign.

  • U.S. employers cut workers from their payrolls for the sixth straight month in June for the longest losing employment streak since 2002, government data on Thursday showed. (Graphics/Reuters)
    U.S. in period of slow growth amid job losses: White House Thu Jul 3, 11:32 AM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday a report showing a sixth straight month of job losses in June was another sign of slower U.S. economic growth.

  • A U.S. officer walks in front of a column of armoured vehicles from Bravo Company (Bulldogs), 1-502 Infantry Battalion during a patrol on the edge of the Shi'ite-dominated Baghdad neighbourhood of Shulla May 12, 2008. (Oleg Popov/Reuters)
    Obama wades into controversy with Iraq comments Fri Jul 4, 1:14 AM ET

    FARGO, North Dakota (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama waded into controversy on Thursday over his plans to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq, first saying he might "refine" his views but later declaring his stance had remained unchanged for more than a year.

  • A woman stands next to an anti-Israel banner during a demonstration to mark the anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran November 4, 2007. (Caren Firouz/Reuters)
    U.S. envoy in Israel plays down talk of Iran attack Thu Jul 3, 10:26 AM ET

    JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Israel played down speculation on Thursday that an attack by either country on Iranian nuclear sites was imminent, saying the allies agreed sanctions should run their course.

  • Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani addresses the National Assembly in Islamabad March 29, 2008. (Stringer/Reuters)
    Bush to meet new Pakistani PM Gilani amid tensions Thu Jul 3, 11:17 AM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush will meet new Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on July 28 in Washington, the White House said on Thursday, amid tensions about battling Taliban and al Qaeda militants in Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan.

  • US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain points at a journalist during a press conference in Cartagena, Colombia. McCain's campaign Wednesday raised the stakes ahead of Democratic White House rival Barack Obama's expected trip to Iraq, demanding changes to his plan for immediate troop cuts.(AFP/Mauricio Duenas)
    McCain arrives in Mexico for free trade push Wed Jul 2, 10:58 PM ET

    MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain arrived in Mexico on Wednesday to promote free trade after his visit to Colombia coincided with the daring rescue of 15 hostages from leftist rebels.

  • U. S. officials condoned Hunt-Kurd oil deal-documents Thu Jul 3, 3:26 AM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials condoned Hunt Oil Co efforts to obtain an exploration deal with Iraq's Kurdish regional government, contrary to public statements discouraging it, according to documents cited by a congressional committee.

  • US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks to a National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) conference in Washington, June 28, 2008. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
    Obama says he might "refine" his Iraq position Thu Jul 3, 4:55 PM ET

    FARGO, North Dakota (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama left open the possibility on Thursday of revising his 16-month timetable for withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq, saying he could "refine" his stance after he visits the country.

  • Senior communist leader Sitaram Yechury addresses the media after a meeting in New Delhi July 4, 2008. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
    Key Indian party still has doubts over nuclear deal Thu Jul 3, 1:38 PM ET

    NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A regional party that could hold the balance of power in India said on Thursday it had to clear up doubts before supporting a nuclear deal with the United States, but hinted it may give crucial backing to the embattled government.

  • South Korean protesters attend a rally against the government's policy on US beef imports in Seoul. Tens of thousands of South Koreans marched through the streets of Seoul demanding the scrapping of US beef imports and the resignation of President Lee Myung-Bak, witnesses said.(AFP/Kim Jae-Hwan)
    S.Korea's Lee calls for end of protests on U.S. beef Thu Jul 3, 5:17 AM ET

    SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday called for an end to street protests against his U.S. beef import deal, saying they no longer have public support and it was time to get to work on the economy.

  • A man walks near the bridge in the northern Kosovo town of Mitrovica June 13, 2008. (Nebojsa Markovic/Reuters)
    U.S. to pledge $400 million in aid for Kosovo Wed Jul 2, 7:10 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will pledge $400 million in aid to Kosovo next week at a donors conference expected to raise more than $1 billion for the newly independent state, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.