Obama welcomes 'growing consensus' on timeline

Speaking to reporters in Amman, Jordan, Barack Obama built on a week in which the Iraqi prime minister expressed explicit support for his timeline.

"I welcome the growing consensus in the United States and Iraq for a timeline," Obama said, citing "the peril and the promise of this moment."

Obama said the U.S. could strengthen the military, send troops to Afghanistan, and leave Iraq intact.

Asked about Iraqi officials who don't think the country is ready for American troops to leave, Obama said they only oppose a "precipitous drawdown."

"I haven't proposed a precipitous withdrawal."

He also characterized his "terrific conversation" with General David Petraeus.

"His concern has to do with retaining as much flexibility as possible. The focus of our conversation was not how precipitous my proposal was," he said, saying they shared the goals of reducing violence, removing troops, and leaving a functioning government.

"What I emphasized to him is that, 'If I were in your shoes i'd probably feel the same way,'" he said. "My job as a candidate for president and a potential commander-in-chief extends beyond Iraq."

ALSO: He condemned today's terror attack in Jerusalem, calling it "a reminder of what Israelis have courageously lived with on a daily basis for far too long."