Mar. 19, Feature - On this fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, with protests taking place around the country, and with this war unlikely to end this year, the next President will inherit this war. The major party candidates have planned Iraq related events this week to re-affirm their stance on the war.

Democrat Hillary Clinton gave a speech on Iraq Monday where she highlighted some recent changes to her Iraq policy, and bloated her previous positions.

"I've been working day in and day out in the Senate to provide leadership to end this war."

Not until Clinton started running for President did she voice opposition to the war.

As for what she'd do as President in Iraq, her policies have shifted to the left, according to this speech. She would now aim to have all combat troops out with in a year.

"As president, one of my first official actions will be to convene the Joint Chiefs of Staff, my Secretary of Defense and my National Security Council and direct them to draw up a clear, viable plan to start bringing our troops home within the first 60 days of my taking office."

She fails to provide a number as to how many residual troops would remain.

Clinton will convene a regional summit, an updated part of the plan is that she will now invite Iran and Syria. Her latest policy shift on Iraq is that she will bring military contractors home. The use of defense contractors was expanded by her husband Bill Clinton in the 1990's.

Barack Obama responds to Hillary Clinton's more ardent anti-Iraq war stance by saying she is not leading, but following on crucial issues, such as opposition to contractors.

"I am the one who's been opposed to those operators. Senator Clinton is a late comer to that."

Obama continues to highlight that he had the judgment to oppose the war from the start through a speech made three weeks after the Congress voted to authorize the President's to use military force.

Obama maintains that he will remove 1 - 2 combat brigades per month. He too says he will keep troops for security reasons and in the region.

With Clinton's recent changes to her Iraq stance, her and Obama's positions are quite similar. A main difference now, is that Obama will keep counter-terrorism troops, in the region, outside of Iraq, Clinton has not committed to moving counter-terrorism troops to the periphery of the county.

Meanwhile, Republican John McCain traveled to Iraq this week to re-iterate his support for the war. Here he is on the Hugh Hewitt Show, a conservative radio talk show host. He uses the influence of Iran in Iraq and one reason to continue combat operations, but he also incorrectly states that Iran as supporting Al Qaeda in Iraq where Iran reportedly backs Shiite extremists.

"There are Al Qaeda operatives.. moving from Iran to Iraq. I think Americans should be very angry when Iran is moving into Iraq and are killing Americans."

Green party candidate Cynthia McKinney supports an immediate withdrawal of troops and contractors. And Independent Ralph Nader supports a complete overhaul of US policy in the Middle East.