Obama abides by Bush’s timeline for leaving Iraq, although you wouldn’t know that to hear him tell it (video)
Less than an hour ago, President Obama announced we will abide by the agreement the Bush administration struck in fall 2008 to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Oh, wait — that’s not what he said?
As a candidate for president, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end…. After taking office, I announced a new strategy that would end our combat mission in Iraq and remove all of our troops by the end of 2011. … So, today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over.
That’s what the president said (video here and below). He made no mention of the Status of Forces Agreement from October 2008, ratified by Iraqi lawmakers in November 2008, that stated, in pertinent part:
All the United States Forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory no later than December 31, 2011.
Surely, that part of “as promised” matters at least as much as Obama’s campaign promise.
It’s news that the agreement will be upheld, and it is unquestionably good news for the soldiers and their families that they’ll be leaving a combat zone and returning to their families.
Whether it’s ultimately good news for Iraqis, and whether they’ll be able to secure the gains won by precious American blood and treasure, remains to be seen. The Iraqi military has had several years to prepare for this day, and it had to come sometime. This is probably as good a time as any.
Good for Obama for standing by the agreement he inherited. But it is telling about his weak political position that he offered no credit to the people who set this withdrawal in motion.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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177 comments Add your comment
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
2:38 pm
“Every death that has occurred since 12PM on Jan 20, 2009 is Obama’s responsibility.”
Disagree. We have had (as outlined above) an agreement in place with a sovereign nation as to our involvement and timetable in Iraq. Likewise, certain commitments are also in place in Afghanistan. If both sides had changed those commitments, then you might be able to lay the blame on this President, but I know of no initiative to do so from either side.
AMERICAN
October 21st, 2011
2:39 pm
Stop hating on the President! Good Job MR. PRESIDENT!
Joe The Plumber too.
October 21st, 2011
2:41 pm
the democrat nightly prayer:
Heavenly obama, thank you for all you have provided today, thank you for taking from the evil rich to put food upon my table, thank you oh precious obama for caring enough for me to grace me with your image on every channel as you tour the country touching hands with mere mortals and remind us daily how it is you oh heavenly obama who gives us all we need, who leads us through our daily lives and who gives us every talking point our brainless heads share with others. Oh Lord obama, please take mercy on those heartless republicans that refuse to worship you and instead of having you provide every need have decided that hard work and self worth are the ways to have a bountiful life. Forgive them father obama for they know not what they do. In michelle’s holy name, Amen.
dorn76
October 21st, 2011
2:41 pm
Wowzers. What a bunch on this board!
So Bush made the “tough decisions” that Obama now gets credit for?
So who exactly lied our way into the country in the first place? Was it a tough decision to hoodwink the American public into a War?
Road Scholar
October 21st, 2011
2:42 pm
Kyle, so President Bush set up this “cut and run” (your words previously in objecting to leaving prematurely) in 2008?
“But it is telling about his weak political position that he offered no credit to the people who set this withdrawal in motion.
Do you mean our troops? I think he did on numerous times! W/o them doing the heavy lifting…
Hey
October 21st, 2011
2:45 pm
That’s the point, if Obama had truly wanted to end these conflicts, he would have began to renegotiate immediately upon being sworn in and ended these conflicts many lost lives ago.
straight curve
October 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
“But for a man who has spent nearly three years blaming nearly every one of his problems on his predecessor . . .”
You have got to be kidding me.
The economy collapsed under Bush.
The jobs numbers under Bush were apalling – and the “whiners” were pointing this out for years.
The Iraq War was crafted and peddled by Bush.
Virtually every economist said in ‘08 that it would take several years to recover from the recession, and that the jobs numbers would be the last to improve during this recovery.
The national debt, while subsequently untamed by Obama, skyrocketed under Bush (largely due to Baby Boomers coming of age (how dare they!) and the two wars (only one of which we actually needed to fight – and that has been the less expensive operation)).
Obama’s blame has been redistributed (rightly, wrongly, or parts of both) to Congress over the past year.
Sorry, but the point is hollow. I do wish Obama would give credit where the little credit is due, but when the facts support his assignment of blame I am not going to hold his feet to the fire for snubbing the guy who got us into the quagmire as we set up to exit it.
Jefferson
October 21st, 2011
2:49 pm
Say the President is reelected, will the humur continue?
@@
October 21st, 2011
2:53 pm
I’m also wondering why the left isn’t protesting the security contractors that remain. 9,000 is it? You can bet they’re XE (formerly known as Blackwater). After all the left’s disdain for military contractors, Obama keeps them in Iraq AND Afghanistan.
Over the years, I’ve also noticed that left-wingers are kinda flighty. What was unacceptable under Bush is now acceptable under Obama. No principles on which to stand. No solid ground either. Everyone BUT you sees it.
A bunch of one-trick ponies…END THE WAR!
Name (required)
October 21st, 2011
2:55 pm
Obama may be dumb…..but he’s not dumb enough to want to be Bush.
sparkler
October 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
Oh please Kyle….you’re grasping here. A lot like all the Republicans today wondering if Gaddafi’s death is a good thing and thanking the French for it. This sitting President gets no respect from the right and frankly it’s the most unpatriotic, un-American behavior I have ever witnessed.
Finn McCool
October 21st, 2011
2:58 pm
Oh, he didn’t mention Bush so the conservanuts go into a tizzy. Hre’s what he could have said:
We are finally leaving this money pit where we have lost countless human lives and billions upon billions of American tax dollars and we have what to show for it? Nada, zilch, zero.
Most of the 9/11 highjackers were from Saudi Arabia – but lets not atttack them, let’s attack this country over here….
A waste of gargantuan proportion.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
The deflection force is strong, young Jedi . . . .
Finn McCool
October 21st, 2011
3:01 pm
I recall the conservatives wanting Bush to get credit when Bin Laden was killed, too.
“Oh, me too, me too…someone please mention me too!!!”
Someone finally pulls the trigger, calls the shot and you want the guy who didn’t pull the trigger or call the shot to get credit?
Joe The Plumber too.
October 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
sparkler, you head must have been up something back when little cindy she-man was setting up across from W’s ranch with her spun out buddies, or when the bedwetters thought the shoe being thrown at W was a real laugh. Of course it was a sitting REPUBLICAN President so it wasn’t un-American then.
Finn McCool
October 21st, 2011
3:03 pm
Hey, if St louis wins the World Series, they should give a lot of credit (maybe even part of the trophy) to the Atlanta Braves for not finishing strongly so the Cardinals could clinsh the wildcard??
You folsk are pathetic.
Hey
October 21st, 2011
3:08 pm
Thanks Finn, you make the point well, if the Braves had not collapsed the Cards most definitely would not be in the World Series
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
3:10 pm
joe the plumber
Is joe the plumber, the guy who wan’t a licensed plumber and not named joe, really your hero? You live in fantasy land if you really believe he was ever going to be a business owner. You are and hats off to that…
@@
October 21st, 2011
3:10 pm
I’m thinkin’ the left touts these victories because it’s all Obama has left. Truth is, the American public is focused on jobs and the economy. National security and foreign policy is way down on their list of priorities.
With no victories in the area of jobs and the economy, he’s doomed to one term.
Is anybody else wondering why Libya and not Syria? A humanitarian crisis exists in Syria too. My guess?
With American troops gone from Iraq, Iran has an open corridor to Hezbollah. The thought of that scares the Arabs. In other words, the Obama administration is sacrificing Syrians in their attempt to scare the Arab nations. They thought THAT fear could be used in our negotiations with the Iraqi government.
We can all sit on the SOFA and watch things unfold. Should be interesting.
Kyle Wingfield
October 21st, 2011
3:14 pm
straight curve: Look, no one’s arguing Obama landed in a bed of roses. My only point is that he’s not unaccustomed to referring to Bush; it’s not as if he has some policy about looking only ahead, never back.
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
3:16 pm
“Truth is, the American public is focused on jobs and the economy”
Too bad the republicans in congress aren’t much help, they have put down legislation that creates jobs. They are another do nothing group..
jconservative
October 21st, 2011
3:17 pm
What is the saying – “goes with the territory”?
In todays political market one side does not give the other side credit for anything. Democrats do not give credit to Republicans and Republicans do not give credit to Democrats.
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
kyle
Obama gave bush and cheney the biggest pass of all – an investigation into war crimes through greenlighting systemic torture. Pelosi took impeachment off the table, let’s see if bush or cheney ever travel outside the country again??
Hey
October 21st, 2011
3:18 pm
where were the jobs when the Dems controlled the Presidency, the house and had a 60 seat Super Majority in the Senate.
Joe The Plumber too.
October 21st, 2011
3:20 pm
aah sailfish, let me see if I can break this down real simple for you, you know democrat style. Let’s see, I’m known as Joe and I am a plumbing contractor, so just like hundreds or even thousands of other guys around the country who have some variation of Joe in their names and happen to do plumbing, I am Joe the Plumber too. Hope that was simple enough for you, and if I was to pick a hero in the plumbing trade, that would be my late father, but thanks for asking.
Hey
October 21st, 2011
3:22 pm
war crimes, how about the killing of American citizens without due process. How about all the civilians Obama has caused to be killed in Pakistan as “collateral damage” through the drone attacks? Oh, that’s right this is a Dem president, he gets a pass.
@@
October 21st, 2011
3:27 pm
sailfish:
Too bad the republicans in congress aren’t much help, they have put down legislation that creates jobs. They are another do nothing group..
Last I heard, 3 Democrats and two Independents who caucus with the dems voted against Obama’s piece meal jobs bill.
Democrats voted against his initial jobs bill as well.
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
3:29 pm
@@
Nice try, filibustered to historic proportions. Where are the jobs mcconnel/boehner?
Jeffrey
October 21st, 2011
3:31 pm
The only credit anyone deserves here is for the men and women and their families who have sacrificed and fought the battles their commanders sent them to fight. Bush nor Obama deserve any credit here. The war was a mistake to begin with when Bush started it, and it was a mistake for Obama to continue it for three additional years. Now, when are we going to end the longest war in American history–the one in Afghanistan? These unpaid wars have added trillions to our debt and cost countless men and women–US, coalition and innocent Afghanis and Iraqis–their physical and/or mental health, if not their lives.
MarkV
October 21st, 2011
3:34 pm
Kyle Wingfield @2:24 pm: “MarkV: Actually, he did try to negotiate an extension for several thousand troops. He and Maliki couldn’t strike a deal, so the original plan stood.”
Kyle, that is your interpretation, not necessarily a fact. It is funny that the Republicans always stressed that what was important was the situation on the ground, but when Gates and Mullen wanted to be sure that meeting the terms of the the agreement was the best way for Iraq, even at the possible cost of Obama breaking his promise, the Republicans now try to make political hay out of that. But all of this is also irrelevant with respect to you article. The end result is that Obama has kept his promise, you cannot change that fact, and in his statement he simply stated that, as he should have. Your sniping is silly.
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
3:34 pm
Hey joe
My dad was a plumbing contractor also. If you ever go to New York gaze across the hudson river and see all the hi rises on the palisades. My dad ran that work and every job was done on time and under budget. His jobs were so well laid out, they threw away the chipping hammer. Union work, done correctly the first time…That guy on tv was a fraud.
@@
October 21st, 2011
3:35 pm
sailfish:
Other than the public trough variety, government doesn’t create jobs. It’s economic policies that open the door for job creation. Obama refuses to open that door.
MarkV
October 21st, 2011
3:35 pm
Stevie Ray @2:20 pm
Any other irrelevant silliness you have to offer?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
3:38 pm
“The end result is that Obama has kept the United State’s promise made by his predecessor.”
Fixed your typo again, MarkV.
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
3:40 pm
Good for the soldiers and their families that they are coming home. It appears that it’s the Iraqis who want the deadline met and that’s a good thing, too. If things go south, they can’t rightly blame us, although they probably will anyway. Politicians play politics; it’s what they do and that goes for the entire globe, not just the U. S.
@@
October 21st, 2011
3:42 pm
Now, when are we going to end the longest war in American history–the one in Afghanistan?
Never supported that surge forward. After forcing AQ Prime outta there, we should’ve left. The Taliban’s interests are homebound. Al Qaeda’s interests are global. Bin Laden was so marginalized, he was ineffective.
Since you brought it up, I can also remember how left-wingers opposed invading a sovereign country. Pakistan’s a sovereign country and yet the left had no problem with Obama sending troops in to get Bin Laden. Neither did I. Revenge is sweet.
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
3:43 pm
if the Braves had not collapsed the Cards most definitely would not be in the World Series
That’s why they play 162 games. They all count.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
3:46 pm
“That’s why they play 162 games. They all count.”
Don’t I know it! (Red Sox fan)
At least there were no reports of beer drinking and fried food eating in the Braves clubhouse during the stretch . . .
Hey
October 21st, 2011
3:47 pm
President Obama’s speech formally declaring that the last 43,000 U.S. troops will leave Iraq by the end of the year was designed to mask an unpleasant truth: The troops aren’t being withdrawn because the U.S. wants them out. They’re leaving because the Iraqi government refused to let them stay.
Obama campaigned on ending the war in Iraq but had instead spent the past few months trying to extend it. A 2008 security deal between Washington and Baghdad called for all American forces to leave Iraq by the end of the year, but the White House — anxious about growing Iranian influence and Iraq’s continuing political and security challenges — publicly and privately tried to sell the Iraqis on a troop extension. As recently as last week, the White House was trying to persuade the Iraqis to allow 2,000-3,000 troops to stay beyond the end of the year.
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
3:48 pm
Oh thanks, Kyle, for jumping on this subject right away. No use to let the liberals act like it is their show and their wonderful wizard wanked us right out of Iraq.
Nawww..this is an all American celebration for giving Iraq a free country and now our troops return home. Bush set up the schedule and cleared the way. Obama found the Iraqis are indeed independent and completed the plan Bush had made.
Time to celebrate the return of troops. Most certainly, not to be used as an election “return” of the failing Obama. Not when the country is knee deep in debt and the economy is sputtering. Yep, “hope & change” I’ve got the hope. Let us get the change!!
Hey
October 21st, 2011
3:52 pm
Final thought, God bless our troops and may he bring them all home safely and soon.
Joe The Plumber too.
October 21st, 2011
3:55 pm
@ tiberius, 126 days until pitchers and catchers report, that is some hope and change I can support, I hope it hurries up and that something changes with the Braves. Have a good weekend all, time to roll it up and slide into some family time.
MarkV
October 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate! @3:38 pm:“The end result is that Obama has kept the United State’s promise made by his predecessor.” “Fixed your typo again, MarkV.”
You attempt at cuteness is as silly as usual. No typo. Obama has kept his promise, not the promise of his predecessor.
@@
October 21st, 2011
3:57 pm
This is how it should be done.
Former President George W. Bush, whose entire presidency was defined by the September 11th attacks, said in a statement tonight that President Obama called him to inform him of the news of bin Laden’s death.
Bush called the operation a “momentous achievement” that “marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.”
“I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude,” the former president said in a statement. “The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”
President Obama informs Bush and Bush offers attaboys and appreciation for a job well done.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
4:03 pm
“Obama has kept his promise, not the promise of his predecessor.”
So, you’re denying that an agreement was ratified by the Iraqi government as negotiated by then-President Bush in 2008?
What alternate universe do you live in, MarkV?
Obama
October 21st, 2011
4:03 pm
I am not narcissistic, narcissism is a fault and I have no faults( they are all Bush’s faults)
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
4:04 pm
Hey, I love those Braves! They can’t win every year but they try hard.
They’ll do their beat again next year, win or lose. And…I’ll be right there pulling for ‘em. GO BRAVES!
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
4:06 pm
Tiberius
One has to wonder what is going on with the Red Sox. All the reports that you alluded to, plus they threw Terry Francona overboard and now the ongoing soap opera that is the Theo Epstein situation. I don’t follow the AL, because I see the DH as an abomination from Hell, but I’d suspect the Sox are in for rough sailing, in the immediate future.
At least the Braves are keeping whatever problems they have behind close doors.
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
4:09 pm
Dusty
You might be interested in this. Looks like the Braves have hired Greg Walker as their new hitting coach.
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/10/21/walker-hired-as-braves-hitting-coach/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_braves_blog
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
4:09 pm
“because I see the DH as an abomination from Hell”