July 22, 2008 Obama no longer wants troops in combat in Iraq Play video

(NECN: Amman, Jordan) - "We get troops out at the pace of one to two brigades per month," said Barack Obama. "My goal is to no longer have U.S. troops engaged in combat operations in Iraq," said Obama.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says that security in Iraq has improved but now the country's needs must be addressed politically and diplomatically.

Obama says he is extremely impressed by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama says U.S. military can't be in Iraq forever.

Obama says the Israelis and Palestinians both need to make compromises.

The Illinois senator was speaking in Amman, Jordan, during the first news conference of his highly publicized trip abroad. Obama summarized what he saw in Iraq this way: "There is security progress, but now we need a political solution."