During the campaing, (then) Sen. Obama called for an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and vowed that, if elected president, he would withdraw all US troops within 16 months. (Then) President Bush rejected any time-table and stated that US troops could only be withdrawn after Iraq was stable, after it was no longer a safe haven for terrorist organization, and after the Iraqis proved themselves ready to take over.
So, below is what President Obama said during a speech in Baghdad today. Was he channeling GW??? Is he finally realizing that a fixed time-table will not work if the job is not “done” or is he implying that he will withdraw troops from Iraq even if it isn’t stable and it is a safe haven for terrorists?
THEN:
The first-term Illinois senator has also campaigned on a pledge to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months of becoming president.
This is going to be a critical period, these next 18 months," Obama said, referring to the Aug 2010 deadline for the withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops from Iraq.
“You will be critical in terms of us being able to make sure Iraq is stable, that it is not a safe haven for terrorists, and we can start bringing our folks home,” Obama told troops at Camp Victory, the sprawling U.S. military base on the outskirts of Baghdad. .
Sounds to me like he can see reality and adjust to it, which (at least on the military front, so far), makes me a bit more confident in his abilities as commander in chief. Besides, he seems to realize we’re “all in,” to use a poker term, when it comes to Iraq, and that really cutting-and-running isn’t a smart move for us as a nation. This may actually perturb his wild-eyed lefty base but who gives a damn about those shabby, flea-ridden lunatics, anyway? (hahaha!)
Yes, but then he would not have had those catchy sound-bites during the campaign.
He’s a politician, which automatically makes him a liar and a cheat. When we all wise up to how politicians behave, maybe we can make some sense of the mess they’ve dragged all of us into.
Sounds to me like he can see reality and adjust to it, which (at least on the military front, so far), makes me a bit more confident in his abilities as commander in chief. Besides, he seems to realize we’re “all in,” to use a poker term, when it comes to Iraq, and that really cutting-and-running isn’t a smart move for us as a nation. This may actually perturb his wild-eyed lefty base but who gives a damn about those shabby, flea-ridden lunatics, anyway? (hahaha!)
T.
Exactly. I think the view from the oval office is quite different from outside it. Especially when it comes to the intelligence reports the Prez. receives.
Agree. I give him minus points for another campaign lie but a mild high five (not with a stinging slap) for adjusting to a realsitic expectation in Iraq.
I’m glad that the adults have gotten to him on this, tourture, and Gitmo.
If they could just get to him on taxes and spending. But when it comes to spending there aren’t many adults left in DC.
Would those be the same adults that got us into the mess in Iraq?
Once you get the gig, you can change the set list, band members and genre to whatever you want. Contract already signed. Nothing else to do now minus get reelected. Shocking the timeline maps to the next campaign cycle.
If it’s timetables you’re worried about, the Bush administratio had agreed to a timeline for withdrawl prior to the election, anyway. This had to be done before the end of the year, when the UN mandate ran out.
If it’s timetables you’re worried about, the Bush administratio had agreed to a timeline for withdrawl prior to the election, anyway. This had to be done before the end of the year, when the UN mandate ran out.
A time table for reductions. GW never agreed to a drop-dead date for withdrawal of all troops.
The Status of Forces document does mandate a total withdrawl by Dec. 31, 2011 unless the Iraqi prime minister requests otherwise, I believe.
There is supposed to be a public referendum in Iraq in June/July about the agreement, with Iraqis being able to vote on it. If they vote against, all troops are to be removed within one year (June/July 2010).
