Why did Romney react so harshly to news of Iraqi withdrawal?
Last week, after President Obama’s announcement that U.S. troops would leave Iraq by the end of the year, GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney responded with a particularly harsh attack:
“President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women. The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government. The American people deserve to hear the recommendations that were made by our military commanders in Iraq.”
To many ears, the outburst seemed overwrought and tone deaf. From the beginning of our negotiations with Iraq dating back to the Bush administration, the most difficult stumbling block has been the guarantee of legal immunity for U.S. troops stationed in that country. The Bush administration wanted to ensure that if our men and women in uniform were charged with doing something wrong during their time in Iraq, they would be tried by American authorities, under American law. Because they couldn’t overcome Iraqi resistance to that provision, President Bush was forced to sign an agreement in 2008 committing the United States to leave Iraq by the end of 2011.
Upon taking office, President Obama and his team confronted that same resistance in attempting to extend the withdrawal deadline. And as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made clear over the weekend, that wasn’t going to change:
“When the Americans asked for immunity, the Iraqi side answered that it was not possible. The discussions over the number of trainers and the place of training stopped. Now that the issue of immunity was decided and that no immunity to be given, the withdrawal has started.”
Given Iraq’s intransigence on that critical issue, what alternative course would a President Romney have taken? Would he have surrendered to Iraqi demands and exposed our troops to Iraqi law, which under Iraq’s constitution is based on Islamic law? Under President Romney, would our men and women in uniform be stripped of their constitutional rights as Americans and be subject to arrest by Iraqi authorities, subject to trial in Iraqi courts, and subject to punishment in Iraqi prisons?
Or would President Romney simply keep our troops in Iraq without permission of the Iraqi government? That would have been quite an ending to a war ostensibly fought for Iraqi freedom, and in fact labeled “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” The irony would have been compounded by the fact that we would be in defiance of international law, the very charge we used against Saddam Hussein to justify our invasion. We would reveal ourselves to be conquerors, not liberators, just as our worst critics claimed.
However, the overly emotional response from the Romney camp becomes a little easier to understand, if not defend, once you look at the team of foreign-policy advisers assembled by the former Massachusetts governor to advise him.
It includes Eliot Cohen, who had advocated a U.S. invasion of Iraq for a decade prior to Sept. 11. Cohen was a founding member of the Project for a New American Century, a group of neoconservatives dedicated to a much more aggressive and militaristic posture by the United States. In fact, Romney selected Cohen to write the forward to his campaign’s foreign-policy “white paper,” titled “An American Century.”
Ten years ago, in December 2001, Cohen wrote a piece in the Wall Street Journal headlined “Iraq Can’t Resist Us: The Gulf War was a cakewalk. The enemy is even weaker now.” He began pushing the line that, as he told CNN, “we do know that there is a connection with the 9/11 terrorists. We do know that Mohamed Atta, the ringleader of the 9/11 terrorists, met with Iraqi intelligence in Prague.” He also dismissed the silly notion that an invasion might risk a breakout of ethnic violence in post-invasion Iraq.
Even now, Cohen argues that the chief lesson of Iraq is not that we should not attempt such things in the future; the lesson is that when we do it again, we should do it more competently.
Other members of the Romney foreign-policy team have equally deep roots in the Iraq adventure and the neoconservative movement that pushed it. Cofer Black, a former CIA official, served as vice chairman of Blackwater USA from 2005 to 2008, a fact not mentioned in the biography provided by the Romney campaign.
Robert Kagan was a co-founder, along with Bill Kristol, of the Project for a New American Century and a longtime vocal advocate of invading Iraq. Eric Edelman served as a national security assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney in the early years of the Bush administration.
Dov Zakheim was also a charter member of the Project for a New American Century and had been part of the team assembled by Cheney to update then-candidate George Bush on foreign policy. He served as undersecretary of Defense under Donald Rumsfeld. Andrew Natsios served as head of USAID in the Bush administration, memorably promising the American public that total reconstruction costs in Iraq would come to no more than $1.7 billion
Paula Dobriansky, another neoconservative and PNAC signatory, was also a staunch advocate of using military force to remake the Middle East, as was Vin Weber, a former GOP congressman and PNAC signatory. Robert Joseph, a National Security Council adviser under Bush, arranged to smuggle an allegation that Saddam was seeking uranium into Bush’s 2003 State of the Union Address, a claim that later had to be withdrawn. And Meghan O’Sullivan and Dan Senor were top aides to Paul Bremer, the man who badly mismanaged the Coalition Provisional Authority in post-invasion Iraq. As Bremer’s spokesman, Senor in particular became infamous for insisting that great progress was being made, even as everyone else saw it all crumbling around their ears.
These are the people who dominate Romney’s foreign policy team. These are the people who would have his ear if he were to become our next president. Once that is understood, the reaction of the Romney team to Obama’s announcement becomes not only understandable. It becomes a warning.
– Jay Bookman
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458 comments Add your comment
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:25 pm
md,
For the most part I agree with that post. However, I think there is a stigma today which dictates that most parents wants their kid to go to college. I feel they think they won’t be successful without those tools, and studies suggest that people fare better financially if they complete college.
But you can certainly do it alot cheaper than some chose too, that’s true.
Generation$crewed
October 25th, 2011
12:25 pm
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:14 pm
Going to college does not make one not a dumb@ss.
Nor does not attending college make one a dumb@ss.
I was simply asking about a statement you made.
Odd how many kids without resources to pay for college find a way to get it done, without taking on any loans? Yet many kids from the middle class take out some of the largest loans. Weird huh?
TaxPayer
October 25th, 2011
12:26 pm
Jm’s lonliness is turning to desperation for intellectual stimulation. So it is only natural that he would attempt to strike up a conversation with non-Republicans. Must be tough in Florida during the winter months.
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:26 pm
GS,
And you again, are assuming that every kid takes out a 10K loan every semester — again, you are getting outraged at the exceptions, not the norm.
Generation$crewed
October 25th, 2011
12:28 pm
USinUK
October 25th, 2011
12:24 pm
I would have a couple I see everyday that ain’t paying a dime because of it.
So weird I guess…
http://afps.dodlive.mil/2009/11/04/military-kids-can-gain-free-money-for-college/
Do you also think a kid 18-25 needs $10k per semester in order to recieve an education?
Guy Incognito
October 25th, 2011
12:29 pm
“Or eliminating tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas?”
Or Apple making the majority of it’s parts in China?
Could I get a list from the Left regarding which corporations are ok, and which ones are not?
Common Sense isn't very Common
October 25th, 2011
12:29 pm
Jm is correct we need to go back to the 60’s before student loans.
AND higher tax rates on the wealthy.
AND manufacturing jobs available in the USA.
And affordable housing.
AND…AND…AND
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:29 pm
I know GS, it’s called hyperbole (on my part) —
“Odd how many kids without resources to pay for college find a way to get it done, without taking on any loans?”
Yes, again, you are assuming, but I can buy that argument — kids who don’t have much don’t need much….vs….
“Yet many kids from the middle class take out some of the largest loans.”
Kids who have things handed things to them and are accustomed to that, need more cash.
“Weird huh?”
Not really, just shows how spoiled some people can be.
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:30 pm
In the words of Adam….
LUNCH!!!
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 25th, 2011
12:31 pm
Jm: “Libs are dimwitted
One brings up student loans and they start talking GI bill / When people have been going to college in this country for 200 years and longer.”
Are you familiar with the concept of class? In the socio-economic sense, I mean.
One of conservativism’s most characteristic features — it’s centerpiece really — is the refusal to acknowledge the existence of social class.
Generation$crewed
October 25th, 2011
12:31 pm
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:26 pm
Again I work in this field and do it every day.
from your post i can make aneducated guess you do not.
and i can tell you that what you think is the exception, is quickly becoming the norm and is increasing every year.
Kids are taking out more now than ever.
Again if you do not want to believe it that is fine, if you do not want to research this and actually talk to financial aide counselors and directors thats fine.
I speak with them daily, and i see kids abuse the system daily. Abuse is becoming the norm if it is not already.
But you can bury your head in the sand if you chose.
Adam
October 25th, 2011
12:32 pm
Join me as I race to the bottom! Eliminate minimum wage! Take the poor’s TVs and appliances! Repeal the 8 hour work day and 40 hour work week! MUSH! MUSH! OOnly then will we be able to COMPETE!
Jefferson
October 25th, 2011
12:32 pm
The lotto money in GA was just sitting there waiting for schools for money to jump on the bandwagon, while traditional schools just jacked the price. The well heeled prefer their kids not to have to compete with everyone, so they see little need for financial aid.
Granny Godzilla
October 25th, 2011
12:34 pm
Generation Screwed
Is there a penalty for abusing the system?
A requirement to report abuse?
moonbat betty
October 25th, 2011
12:34 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please! Please calm down!
Now…
I want you all to take 20 deep inhales and exhales then hold your breath for 30 seconds.
.
Ok, now I would like you to assume the lotus position and give me 3 OHHHHHHMMS.
Next position yourself in the crow position and finish with the peacock position.
Now hold the peacock position for your next 3 blog entries.
FAAAAAAAAAAA!
SERENITY NOW!
USinUK
October 25th, 2011
12:35 pm
“Do you also think a kid 18-25 needs $10k per semester in order to recieve an education?”
going by the average cost of tuition + fees + housing + books … YES.
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
GS,
I’m not saying I don’t believe you, if that is becoming the norm, that’s too bad, it’s unfortunate for those kids who will be paying off that debt for most of their lives!
Now, gotta eat (and maybe grab a quick nap!)
Generation$crewed
October 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:29 pm
I am not assuming, I see it every day.
You are assuming as this is an area you see only from the outside, and limited views from a family member who may be in college.
You should see the amount of students who drop every class the week after loans disperse. The student owes that money back to the federal government. But they must pay it to the institution who loaned it to them. Only problem if the student does not pay the money back within 1 year the college is on the hook for the money. Another reason for rising tution cost, they are anticipating this practice getting worse.
md
October 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
“But you can certainly do it alot cheaper than some chose too, that’s true”
Mine went to local community schools to complete the 1st 2 years……which is nothing but core classes anyway………then transferred to the party school of their choice…….with much better grades had they got caught up in the party system to start………
Look at the hope…….kids are losing it after the 1st year because they are failing……..at which point they may or may not get their act together to get it back.
Mick
October 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
Social security is a brilliant plan. Each generation takes care of the preceding to make sure that all americans can age with dignity. It is not an entitlement, it is a return for paying in. Too bad we have so many rubes out there following blindly to ayn randian bullship. Funny how she herself collected social security and admitted that medicare gave her precious years of more life. “Do as I say but don’t do as I do”. We are amongst a whole new breed of self centered, don’t give a damn, citizens who will be only too glad when we save social security for them too. God willing, one day you just might find yourself older…
Generation$crewed
October 25th, 2011
12:37 pm
Bosch
October 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
currently those kids are not paying it off.
Go check the amount of unpaid student loan debt, also check the amount of student loans in default.
USinUK
October 25th, 2011
12:37 pm
“SERENITY NOW!”
that never ceases to make me laugh
md
October 25th, 2011
12:39 pm
“Only then will we be able to COMPETE!”
Adam……..the guidelines to compete have been set by the global marketplace……now we have to decide if we want to play the game by the new rules……………
Soothsayer
October 25th, 2011
12:42 pm
“the guidelines to compete have been set by the global marketplace……now we have to decide if we want to play the game by the new rules……………”
China imposes a 25% tariff on all goods coming into their country from America. We impose a 2.5% tariff on goods coming into our country from China. Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with that? And it’s not just China, many of the ASEAN nations do the same thing.
The Scarlet A
October 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
Wow GenerationScrewed. You are SO wrong on your description about loan money that I don’t even know where to begin trying to educate you……….
Finn McCool
October 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
You’d be steamed too if you invested all your savings in defense contractor stocks.
I mean, what’s a wealthy guy to do? I think Mitch needs a bail-out. He hasn’t gotten one yet so he is due.
The Scarlet A
October 25th, 2011
12:46 pm
Adam……..the guidelines to compete have been set by the global marketplace……now we have to decide if we want to play the game by the new rules……………
Nice. So you are supporting 25% tariffs on imports, slaver labor, and child labor? Sweet. My daughter is 9, it’s about time she got a job to support herself. And look, to compete with the Chinese kids she can work 20 hours a day for 7 cents an hour……….
Paul
October 25th, 2011
12:46 pm
Mick
“Each generation takes care of the preceding to make sure that all americans can age with dignity.”
Remind me again which Party it is that has as a significant part of its base people who preach Christian values?
The Scarlet A
October 25th, 2011
12:46 pm
gotta relearn how to turn off the italics…….
Let’s see if that worked
Generation$crewed
October 25th, 2011
12:48 pm
Granny Godzilla
October 25th, 2011
12:34 pm
Currently much of the abuse is through loopholes, such as you can claim only one parents income, even if they are married and live together, you can claim they are seperated. Too many people in the system to check each and every one. Most schools do not verify, nor does FAFSA. Or the ability to claim members in the house, not dependants, but a student claims how many people live in the household, allowing them to recieve more money than they would otherwise qualify for.
Its kinda like taxes, many people use the loop holes in place to defraud the system in a legal way.
All known cases of abuse are to be reported by financial aide directors. However if the financial aide director does not have proof which is difficult to obtain because of privacy laws, there is little they can do except monitor that student and their account and process it wuickly when they either drop their classes or default on their loan.
Also director cn not force a student to take a work study position that would pay as much as the student would recieve in student loans. many sadly choose to take the loan instead of the work.
Generation$crewed
October 25th, 2011
12:48 pm
The Scarlet A
October 25th, 2011
12:43 pm
Actually no I am not.
But if it makes you feel better then by all means say it.
GM
October 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
Hey mitt, tell what a failure to the women and men who lost loves ones in this war,
This shows what idiots that are running on the rep tickets Obama has done everthing and beyond to keep our troops safe and the America people but these retards on the right continue to bash him, these people are not Americans they are a disgrace to this country””’
Paulo977
October 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
Normal
:Ore. city’s schools to allow anti-war groups…….
maybe , just maybe, this sensibility will spread ?
Soothsayer
October 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
Fresh sheets upstairs
getalife
October 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
Actions and outcome of actions.
Europe is forced to act again and again and again…….
The gop will obstruct any other actions so our President will act alone.
The gop plan on our economy is let it collapse again.
They want to default to end SS and Medicare.
They acted on that in the debt debacle
So, we have a choice of acting to help our economy or the gop plan to let it collapse again.
If the gop win, Americans should be ready for default and start working on our new Constitution to get corporate money out of elections.
md
October 25th, 2011
12:51 pm
“China imposes a 25% tariff on all goods coming into their country from America. We impose a 2.5% tariff on goods coming into our country from China. Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with that? And it’s not just China, many of the ASEAN nations do the same thing.”
Might want to discuss that with the powers-that-be………
Mick
October 25th, 2011
12:53 pm
paul
They don’t equate christian values with the “nanny state”. I respect our elders and listen to what they have to say. One of the lessons of the great depression was poverty in old age. Really, who’s going to hire someone in their late sixties or seventies? Hell, people in their fifties and late forties can’t find work these days. It’s just the best way to take care of our brother, plus we are PAYING INTO it, so it is not a freebie…
md
October 25th, 2011
12:53 pm
“Nice. So you are supporting 25% tariffs on imports, slaver labor, and child labor? Sweet. My daughter is 9, it’s about time she got a job to support herself. And look, to compete with the Chinese kids she can work 20 hours a day for 7 cents an hour……….”
Nice knee-jerk reaction there…………..ever heard of “don’t shoot the messenger”……….
And you can keep the rest of your assumptions, they do me no good………..
Charles
October 25th, 2011
1:05 pm
Why is anyone upset about him trying to extend the deadline. Everytime he talks about pulling troops out or drawing them down the Wrong-Right dumps all over it talking about how he’s giving the enemy a chance to sit on the sideline and then come running back into the country to take over. They claim he’s soft on terrorism. He has no foreign policy. The Wrong-Right will never give him credit for anything as evidenced time and again. Is it possible he had good reasons for attempting to stay longer and that this was something he put on the table for the Iraqis to consider? The fact that they said no is neither here nor there. It could quite possibly be the simple, thanks but no thanks. Happens in life all the time.
I agree, Mitt is trying to pull a McCain. I liked McCain until the middle of the campaign season when folks were pushing him to be more “conservative” than moderate. He’s obviously still ticked off about not winning, but I bet if we were able to dig deeper it wouldn’t be Obama that he’s really p*ssed off at. It could be his own party for blowing his last chance at ever being president.
Darwin
October 25th, 2011
1:06 pm
About 1/3 of voters want the US to indefinitely occupy Iraq. Which of course is 100% of the Republican base. Romney is just trying to tap that segment of voters.
Paulo977
October 25th, 2011
1:10 pm
Mike Luckovich says it all!!
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/
Jm
October 25th, 2011
1:10 pm
Bosch 12:21
No. People can get scholarships, people can work through school. Their parents can save. Or they can get private market loans (they do exist).
The problem with your paradigm is that you think if the government doesn’t do it, then nothing will happen. That’s just not the case.
As for the rest of you dimwits (bosch’s question was a fair one) who just hurl insults. Obviously I struck a nerve. Good, maybe you turned on your brains, but likely not.
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 25th, 2011
1:15 pm
Jm: “No. People can get scholarships, people can work through school”
You could work your way through college working at the local restaurant or filling station in 1965. But not in 2011.
Education is a right and should be funded on the backs of the rentier class.
Tax rates of 90% on top incomes and 100% inheritance taxes should fund free education and until that happens we need social pressure to turn the screws on the resisters.
md
October 25th, 2011
1:21 pm
“Education is a righ”
And is provided through High school……….after that, folks should have taken advantage of the free part to further any additional………but no, they want to concentrate on the social aspects and coast through on a free ride and then expect others to provide an even bigger free ride……..
You can keep your socialist utopia……most folks want no part of it.
liberalefty
October 25th, 2011
1:24 pm
soon ROMNEY will court the birther crowd, he has nothing else to offer
Jm
October 25th, 2011
1:24 pm
Amen MD
liberalefty
October 25th, 2011
1:26 pm
its amazing how tough the republicans are with other people [military] lives. ROMNEY just wanna look tough with his mannequin looking self
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 25th, 2011
1:31 pm
md: “You can keep your socialist utopia……most folks want no part of it.”
Keep my socialist utopia?
The current system is collapsing. Everyone knows it.
The only solution is a rewritten social contract .
Tax and inheritance rates pushing 100% are an essential plank to that. You watch.
No just society can be sustained long term with a tiny 1% rentier class that hijacks control of the money and then eventually the fiscal policy apparatus to immiserate the bulk of the population.
Manufacturers and industrialists like Henry Ford knew it, patricians like Franklin Roosevelt knew it. And any intelligent observer of our current predicament knows it. The fact that it evidently hasn’t dawned on you yet is only evidence of your clinging to a bankrupt mythology of free markets. The game is up.
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 25th, 2011
1:34 pm
The current Occupy movements we are now seeing are just the tip of the iceberg of the social unrest that is coming. It would behoove our leaders — beginning with our conservative president — to face up to the writing on the wall sooner rather than later. The policy points I’ve mentioned are just a suggestion of the direction we must go in.
Matti's Revulsion
October 25th, 2011
1:35 pm
I hope jm will get back to us on this subject AFTER he finally knocks up his wife a couple times, raises children to the age of 18 successfully, and get them on their way to reaching their full potential through higher education.
To those who actually HAVE this issue to worry about, sure, if your kid is totally brilliant, top of his/her class, he/she can get scholarships to so-so schools. Good schools are more competitive than ever, just to get accepted, let alone financial assistance. They also have less money to offer worthy, financially-challenged students. Simple math tells us not every smart, hard-working kid will qualify for a handful of scholarships. Anyone who knows today’s kids knows the ambitious ones are working harder than ever just to keep up. Furthemore, with UE hovering around 10%, it’s harder than ever for kids to get jobs OR loans to pay for school themselves.
REALITY: It’s what’s left for the rest of us after the hate mongers have hogged all the delusions.
Common Sense isn't very Common
October 25th, 2011
1:43 pm
Matti – long time no see.
I agree about the hard working (middle of the class grades) kids having a hard time of it.
There were once entry level jobs in this country that allowed kids like that to make a living. Some evn matured a few years later and returned to school.
Those entry level jobs are almost all gone now. Taken over by the kids parents to keep a roof and food available to their families. Sad to be a kid these days.
md
October 25th, 2011
1:44 pm
“Tax and inheritance rates pushing 100% are an essential plank to that. You watch. ”
Doubt that very seriously………you really think folks will stand for that? Not in today’s very mobile world…………you want it, get off your duff and go get it……or not…….your choice.
Adam
October 25th, 2011
1:50 pm
md: You can keep your socialist utopia……most folks want no part of it.
Incorrect. (look up polling data on the subject)
Richard
October 25th, 2011
3:22 pm
Another reason not to vote for Romney, like I needed one. Still not as bad as Obama though.
md
October 25th, 2011
4:23 pm
“Incorrect. (look up polling data on the subject)”
I did…”More than one-third of Americans (36%) have a positive image of “socialism,” while 58% have a negative image.”
http://www.gallup.com/poll/125645/socialism-viewed-positively-americans.aspx
Unless you have more current info…………..
Lucifer
October 25th, 2011
7:01 pm
OK. Pubs must be feeling pretty challenged in maintaining a defense of the current field of GOP presidential chuckleheads. Really, in all of my life I have never witnessed a more sorry lot of candidates. The only person with a slight amount of brains and common sense appears to be Huntsman and he is trailing so badly he has become invisible. Come on, I voted for Bush’s old man until he went back on his “Read My Lips” pledge. But honestly, do you believe that Mitt, Rick, Herman, Ron, Newt, the other Rick, or Buffoon Buchmann are really competent enough to lead the Free World? If you do, give them your vote. If your choice wins it will only prove what Dems fear: The inmates are unquestionably running the asylum
Martin Williams
October 25th, 2011
9:17 pm
I have a serious chance of defeating Obama in 2012 than ANY of the current GOP idiots competing for the ticket. Maybe ask Rush to run………….oops.
Adam
October 28th, 2011
8:07 am
Yeah md, they don’t like the word. Big whoop. What about all the “socialist policies” such as Social Security and Medicare?