Barack Obama

let me start by congratul a great_american __PUNCT__ al_gore __PUNCT__ for be name thi year winner of the nobel_peac peac_prize __PUNCT__

vice_presid gore ha been an extraordinari leader for thi countri __PUNCT__

through hi mani year of public_servic __PUNCT__ hi earli and vocal opposit to the war in iraq __PUNCT__ and __PUNCT__ abov all __PUNCT__ hi singular leadership in draw_attent to the global_climat climat_crisi __PUNCT__ al_gore ha advanc the caus of peac at home and around the world __PUNCT__

thi award is richli deserv __PUNCT__

you know __PUNCT__ it wa five year_ago yesterdai that the unit_state state_senat senat_vote to give presid_bush the author to wage_war in iraq __PUNCT__

at the time __PUNCT__ i wa a candid for the u. __PUNCT__ senat and i spoke out strongli in opposit to go to war __PUNCT__

nearli all of my oppon for the democrat_nomin for presid_made a differ choic __PUNCT__ and vote to author the war __PUNCT__

now __PUNCT__ some have ask me __PUNCT__ why ar you alwai remind us that you oppos the war __PUNCT__ isn't that yesterdai new __PUNCT__ is that experi realli relev __PUNCT__

and what i alwai sai is thi __PUNCT__ thi isn't just about the past __PUNCT__ it about the futur __PUNCT__

i don't talk about my opposit to the war to sai __PUNCT__ i told you so __PUNCT__

i wish the war had gone differ __PUNCT__

but the reason i talk about it is becaus i truli believ that the judgment __PUNCT__ and the convict __PUNCT__ and the account that each of us show on the most import foreign_polici polici_decis of our live is the best indic you have of how each of us will make those decis go forward __PUNCT__

how we made that decis __PUNCT__ and how we talk about it __PUNCT__ is critic to understand what we would do as presid __PUNCT__

will we carefulli evalu the evid and the consequ of action __PUNCT__ or will we skip over the intellig and scare peopl with the consequ of inact __PUNCT__ will we make these decis base on poll __PUNCT__ or base on our principl __PUNCT__ will we have the courag to make the tough choic __PUNCT__ or will we just choos the cours that make us look tough __PUNCT__

these decis aren't just washington parlor game about who up and who down __PUNCT__

these ar life and death decis __PUNCT__

thei impact your safeti and secur __PUNCT__

abov all __PUNCT__ thei impact the soldier from iowa __PUNCT__ or the airman from illinoi __PUNCT__ and everi singl on of our brave young_men and women who ar in harm wai __PUNCT__ and all of their famili and friend back_home __PUNCT__

now __PUNCT__ it easi to oppos a war after it ha gone wrong __PUNCT__

it easi to sai __PUNCT__ year later __PUNCT__ that the war shouldn't have happen __PUNCT__ given what we know now about how badli it ha turn out __PUNCT__

but everi singl on of us run for presid onli had on chanc to make a judgment about whether or not to go to war __PUNCT__

as i travel around the countri __PUNCT__ so mani american ask me __PUNCT__ how did we go so wrong in iraq __PUNCT__ and thei not just ask becaus thei want to understand the past __PUNCT__ thei ask becaus thei don't want their leader to make the same mistak again in the futur __PUNCT__

thei don't want leader who will bog us down in unnecessari_war __PUNCT__ thei don't want leader who allow america to lose it stand __PUNCT__ and thei don't want leader who tell the american_peopl anyth less than the full truth about where thei stand and what thei do __PUNCT__

that is a big_part of what thi campaign is about __PUNCT__

becaus we need to learn the pain lesson of the iraq_war if we go to secur thi countri and renew america leadership __PUNCT__

the first thing we have to understand is what happen in iraq __PUNCT__

becaus there ar two wai to look at thi __PUNCT__

the first wai is to sai that iraq is a disast becaus of georg_bush mismanag __PUNCT__

or becaus of the arrog and incompet of dick_chenei or donald_rumsfeld in prosecut the war __PUNCT__

or becaus iraq prime_minist just hasn't been up to the job __PUNCT__

but i take a differ view __PUNCT__

i think the problem isn't just how we fought the war __PUNCT__ it that we fought the war in the first place __PUNCT__

becaus the truth is __PUNCT__ the war in iraq should never have been author __PUNCT__ and it should never have been wage __PUNCT__

the iraq_war had noth to do with al_qaeda or 9/11 __PUNCT__

it wa base on exagger fear and unconvinc intellig __PUNCT__

and it ha left america less safe __PUNCT__ and less respect around the world __PUNCT__

five year_ago __PUNCT__ my friend warn me not to speak up against the war __PUNCT__

go to war wa popular __PUNCT__

so wa presid_bush __PUNCT__

you be put your polit_career on the line __PUNCT__ thei said __PUNCT__

but i just didn't see how saddam_hussein pose an immin_threat __PUNCT__

i wa convinc that a war would distract us from afghanistan and al_qaeda __PUNCT__ and fan the flame of extrem and terror __PUNCT__

and i didn't get into polit to stai silent on the tough issu __PUNCT__ or to tailor my posit to the poll __PUNCT__

i didn't want to look back __PUNCT__ after an unnecessari_war had been wage __PUNCT__ and regret that i didn't speak out against go to war just becaus go to war wa popular __PUNCT__

so i spoke out against what i call a __PUNCT__ rash war __PUNCT__ a __PUNCT__ war base not on reason but on polit __PUNCT__

but the convent think in washington line up for war __PUNCT__

the presid and hi advisor told us that the onli wai to stop saddam_hussein from get a nuclear_weapon wa to go to war __PUNCT__ that we couldn't let the smoke gun be a mushroom cloud __PUNCT__

lead_democrat __PUNCT__ includ senat_clinton __PUNCT__ echo the erron line that there wa a connect between saddam_hussein and al_qaeda __PUNCT__

we were counsel by some of the most experienc voic in washington that the onli wai for democrat to look tough wa to talk __PUNCT__ act __PUNCT__ and vote like republican __PUNCT__

there is no doubt that presid_bush fail us in the run __PUNCT__ up to war __PUNCT__

but the american_peopl weren't just fail by the presid __PUNCT__ thei were fail by the congress __PUNCT__

too mani member of congress fail to ask hard question __PUNCT__

too mani member of congress __PUNCT__ includ some of my oppon in thi race __PUNCT__ fail to read the nation_intellig estim for themselv __PUNCT__ an intellig_report that wa so unconvinc __PUNCT__ and so fill with qualif __PUNCT__ that the chairman of the senat intellig committe decid to vote against the war when he read it for himself __PUNCT__

too mani democrat fell in line with georg_bush __PUNCT__ and vote to give him the open __PUNCT__ end author to wage_war that he us to thi dai __PUNCT__

so let be clear __PUNCT__ without that vote __PUNCT__ there would be no war __PUNCT__

senat edward vote for the war in __NUM__ __PUNCT__

he ha renounc that vote __PUNCT__ instead of pretend that it wa a vote for anyth but war __PUNCT__

but senat_clinton make a differ argument __PUNCT__

she sai that she wasn't realli vote for war back in __NUM__ she wa vote for more inspect __PUNCT__ or she wa vote for more diplomaci __PUNCT__

but all of us know what wa be debat in the congress in the fall of __NUM__ __PUNCT__

we didn't need to author a war in order to have unit_nation weapon inspect __PUNCT__

no on thought congress wa debat whether or not to conduct diplomaci __PUNCT__

the headlin on __DATE__ did not read __PUNCT__ congress author diplomaci with iraq __PUNCT__ the headlin on __DATE__ read __PUNCT__ congress back war __PUNCT__

in the cours of thi campaign __PUNCT__ we haven't just seen differ candid talk about their vote in differ wai __PUNCT__ we seen how differ candid have drawn differ lesson from their experi of the iraq_war __PUNCT__

five year later __PUNCT__ we should all have learn the lesson of that vote __PUNCT__ we should all have learn that you can't give thi administr an excus to wage_war __PUNCT__

but just last month __PUNCT__ the senat_vote for an amend that rais the risk that we could repeat the mistak of iraq __PUNCT__

here is why thi amend is so reckless __PUNCT__

it open with seventeen find that highlight iran influenc insid of iraq __PUNCT__

then it sai we have to structur our militari_presenc insid iraq to counter iran __PUNCT__

it goe on to sai that it is __PUNCT__ a critic nation_interest of the unit_state __PUNCT__ to prevent the iranian_govern from exert influenc insid iraq __PUNCT__

why is thi amend so danger __PUNCT__ becaus georg_bush and dick_chenei could us thi languag to justifi keep our troop in iraq as long as thei can point to a threat from iran __PUNCT__

and becaus thei could us thi languag to justifi an attack on iran as a part of the ongo war in iraq __PUNCT__

i don't want to give thi presid ani excus __PUNCT__ or ani open for war __PUNCT__

becaus as we learn with the author of the iraq_war __PUNCT__ when you give thi presid a blank check __PUNCT__ you can't be surpris when he cash it __PUNCT__

senat_clinton is the onli democrat_candid for presid who support thi amend __PUNCT__

she said __PUNCT__ like she did five year_ago __PUNCT__ that it is a wai to support diplomaci __PUNCT__

i disagre __PUNCT__

we all know that iran pose a threat __PUNCT__

we do need to mount intern pressur to stop iran_nuclear nuclear_program __PUNCT__

we do need to tighten sanction on the iranian_regim __PUNCT__ particularli on iran revolutionari_guard __PUNCT__ which support terror __PUNCT__

but thi must be done separ from ani saber __PUNCT__ rattl about check iranian influenc with our militari_presenc in iraq __PUNCT__

we should not be argu that our troop have to stai in iraq to counter iran __PUNCT__

now is the time to end the war in iraq __PUNCT__

now is the time to start bring our troop out of iraq __PUNCT__ immedi __PUNCT__

that why i have a plan to remov on or two combat brigad a month so that we get all of our combat troop out of iraq within __NUM___month __PUNCT__ that as quickli and respons as we can do thi __PUNCT__

the onli troop i will keep in iraq for a limit time will protect our diplomat and carri out target strike on al_qaeda __PUNCT__ not sustain combat __PUNCT__

and i will launch the diplomat and humanitarian initi that ar so badli need __PUNCT__

so let there be no doubt __PUNCT__ i will end thi war __PUNCT__

now is not the time to give georg_bush and dick_chenei ani excus to escal thi war __PUNCT__

now is not the time for the congress to send mix messag __PUNCT__

that why my posit todai is the same as it wa when i stood up in iowa on __DATE__ and said __PUNCT__ georg_bush and dick_chenei must hear __PUNCT__ loud and clear __PUNCT__ from the american_peopl and the congress __PUNCT__ you don't have our support __PUNCT__ and you don't have our author for anoth war __PUNCT__

five year after that vote for war __PUNCT__ we should all have learn the lesson that the cowboi diplomaci of not talk to peopl we don't like doesn't work __PUNCT__

we do need tougher diplomaci with iran __PUNCT__

but the wai to support tough diplomaci is not to vote for reckless amend __PUNCT__ the wai to support diplomaci is to actual pursu it __PUNCT__

that what i call for throughout thi campaign __PUNCT__ direct diplomaci __PUNCT__ without precondit __PUNCT__

and that what i do as presid __PUNCT__

not the bush __PUNCT__ chenei diplomaci of talk to our friend and ignor our enemi __PUNCT__

real __PUNCT__ direct __PUNCT__ and sustain diplomaci __PUNCT__

a coupl of month_ago __PUNCT__ senat_clinton call me __PUNCT__ naïv and irrespons __PUNCT__ for take thi posit __PUNCT__ and said that we could lose propaganda battl if we met with leader we didn't like __PUNCT__

just yesterdai __PUNCT__ though __PUNCT__ she call for diplomaci with iran without precondit __PUNCT__

so i not sure if ani of us know exactli where she stand on thi __PUNCT__

but i can tell you thi __PUNCT__ when i am presid of the unit_state __PUNCT__ the american_peopl and the world will alwai know where i stand __PUNCT__

i don't see how we can ralli the world unless we have a presid who is will to lead __PUNCT__

i not afraid that america will lose a propaganda battl with a petti tyrant __PUNCT__ we need to go befor the world and win those battl __PUNCT__

and as presid __PUNCT__ i will __PUNCT__

you know __PUNCT__ the cautiou __PUNCT__ convent think in washington sai that democrat can't take these posit __PUNCT__

or that we need to sai on thing in a caucu and primari_campaign __PUNCT__ but anoth in a gener_elect __PUNCT__

thi is the convent think that said that democrat had to vote for war in __NUM__ becaus there wa an elect come up __PUNCT__ an elect that we lost __PUNCT__

the convent think that sai that democrat can't win_elect __PUNCT__ unless thei talk __PUNCT__ act and vote like republican when it come to foreign_polici and nation_secur __PUNCT__

well __PUNCT__ i not run to conform to washington convent think __PUNCT__ i run to challeng it __PUNCT__

that what i did in __NUM__ __PUNCT__

that what i did in __NUM__ __PUNCT__

and that what i will do as presid of the unit_state __PUNCT__

becaus i think the pundit have it wrong __PUNCT__

i think the american_peopl have had enough of politician who go out of their wai to look tough __PUNCT__ who sai on thing in a caucu and anoth in a gener_elect __PUNCT__

when i am the nomine of our parti __PUNCT__ the choic will be clear __PUNCT__

my republican oppon won't be abl to sai that we both support thi war in iraq __PUNCT__

he won't be abl to sai that we realli agre about us the war in iraq to justifi militari_action against iran __PUNCT__ or about the diplomaci of not talk and saber __PUNCT__ rattl __PUNCT__

he won't be abl to sai that i haven't been open and straight with the american_peopl __PUNCT__ or that i chang my posit __PUNCT__

and you know what __PUNCT__ the american peopl want that choic __PUNCT__

becaus i believ that what we need in our next presid __PUNCT__

we had enough of a misguid war in iraq that never should have been fought __PUNCT__ a war that need to end __PUNCT__

we had enough of presid who put tough talk ahead of real diplomaci __PUNCT__

and we had enough of politician who put power over principl __PUNCT__ of a govern in washington that shut you out __PUNCT__ and of presid who don't hold themselv account __PUNCT__

thi is about what we stand for as democrat __PUNCT__

but much more than that __PUNCT__ it about what we stand for as american __PUNCT__

becaus there ar plenti of democrat and plenti of independ and __PUNCT__ ye __PUNCT__ plenti of republican out there who ar readi to turn the page on the broken polit and bluster foreign_polici come from washington __PUNCT__

that how we go to bring thi countri togeth __PUNCT__

that how we go to restor our secur and renew our stand in the world __PUNCT__

not by shift with the polit wind __PUNCT__ but by stand strong in ani storm __PUNCT__ and stand up for what we believ __PUNCT__

i would not be on thi stage todai if the promis of america had not brought my father across an ocean __PUNCT__

i would not be on thi stage if gener of american had not fought befor me so that the american_dream could be extend to a man name barack_obama __PUNCT__

that why i have spent my own life fight for that dream __PUNCT__ no matter how difficult it been __PUNCT__ no matter how tough it wa to take a stand __PUNCT__

that why i will alwai tell you where i stand and what i believ __PUNCT__

and when i am presid __PUNCT__ that is how we will meet the hard challeng __PUNCT__ and reclaim that dream __PUNCT__ and make the unit_state of america a light to the world onc more __PUNCT__