Barack Obama denied he's re-thinking U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, but said today things could change after he travels to Iraq, studies the results of a troop surge he opposed and meets with commanders on the ground.

"I've always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability. That assessment has not changed and when I go to Iraq and I have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies,” said Obama.

Obama today said he's always believed he could safely withdraw almost all combat troops in 16 months without sacrificing their safety or Iraqi security.

But now he's leaving open the possibility that might change.

To some, that might sound complicated…a consistent Iraq policy subject to revision based on new information.

So much so even the Obama campaign noticed, forcing it send the Democratic nominee to call a second press conference to clarify.

"I would bring our troops home in one to two brigades a month and we'd have combat troops out in 16 months. That position hasn't changed not searching for maneuvering room."

The days of back and forth on Iraq appeared to undercut this oft-repeated campaign promise.

"I will bring this war to an end in 2009,” said Obama at a campaign rally in May.

The Republican National Committee pounced on what it called a stark Obama policy reversal.

The Republican National Committee says "there appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience. Obama's Iraq problem undermines the central premise of his candidacy and shows him to be a typical politician."

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a former presidential candidate, who debated Obama on Iraq policy early in the campaign and now supports him, denied an Obama shift.

"He's not walking back he's reaffirming his policy and basically saying that he's got to listen to the best military and strategic and national security advise that he can get,” said Richardson.