CNN: But the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said he would only do that if military chiefs deemed the "conditions on the ground" safe enough.
Speaking from Bakersfield, California, the Arizona senator said he would not stick to a "hard and firm date" suggested by Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
"Now whether that fits into 16 months or not, or one month, or whatever, the point is it's got to be conditions-based," he added, saying that's the point Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, "is trying to get over as we go into this political season."
Had Bush McCain had some sort of overarching strategy for Iraq or set a timetable to start, perhaps the plan could be further along. I think we all realize that withdrawal will not go exactly as planned but if you don't have a vision or a goal for the end game, then you'll never get there. It's really basic management/leadership skills.
