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
straight curve
October 21st, 2011
4:11 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.
On that we can agree. It’s rather trite, however, for critics – and you may not be among them – to have calling Obama to stop (rightfully, accurately) blaming Bush for our pressing issues, only to then cry foul when Obama fails to mention Bush in this announcement. Since, as others have mentioned, Bush merely acquiesced to the locals’ demands, I find myself wondering just how much credit is truly due.
By the way, I truly appreciate your responses. It’s great to see writers engage with their readers.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
4:11 pm
And Hillbilly D, the Red Sox will always be a feast or famine ballclub; everything goes right or everything goes wrong.
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
4:11 pm
@@ 3:57
Good words from you quoting President Bush. I surely do miss his good character and his fine sense of what is right and just. That feeling no longer comes from Washington.
independent thinker
October 21st, 2011
4:14 pm
You folks are really funny- trying to give George Bush all the credit for the pullout from Iraq. That’s like giving a prostitute credit for only give you a mid case of herpes. The Republican candidate in 2008 who ran against Obama was John McCain and not George Bush. He and his party were of the firm belief we needed to stay permanently in Iraq like we are in Germany, Korea, Japan, Italy and god knows where else at great cost. Obama made a promise to get us out and he kept it.
MarkV
October 21st, 2011
4:18 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate! @4:03 pm: “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?”
I have not denied anything about the agreement as negotiated by Bush. It is irrelevant to the fact that Obama has made a promise, and has kept it.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
4:20 pm
“You folks are really funny- trying to give George Bush all the credit for the pullout from Iraq.”
Except that we’re not. But otherwise, your statement is right on point!
Maybe you might wish to actually read the responses, which merely express a wish that this President had given his predecessor a shout out for crafting the policy that he simply followed to the letter.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
4:22 pm
“It is irrelevant to the fact that Obama has made a promise, and has kept it.”
Except that the promise was based on United States policy crafted and ratified before he was President, which for some reason you seem to want to dismiss as being relevant.
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
HillBilly D,
Wren makes Walker sound like a great addition and gives him an assistant too.
Another nice touch. Walker is from Georgia. Sounds good to me.
@@
October 21st, 2011
4:27 pm
It’s the end of October!!! I thought baseball season was over.
Dusty:
It’s the Southern manners vs Eastern manners thingy. I can go either way depending on the circumstances. (ISH)
Make no mistake, I’m grateful that our troops are coming home from Iraq. Afghanistan on the other hand? Never should’ve set a withdrawal date. There are none more patient than the Taliban. May as well pull out now. There’s no reason to stay.
Having said all that, Victor D. Hanson points to advantages awarded a Democratic CiC.
Wartime Democratic presidents enjoy domestic advantages conservatives do not, whether in conventional or anti-terrorism wars. If Bush were president and bombing Libya, Harold Koh would be filing writs to stop it, not filing arguments that exempt such bombing from the War Powers Act. Ditto the entire Bush-Cheney anti-terrorism protocols, which magically became orthodox around January 2009. When war crimes are defined as water-boarding three confessed terrorists rather than blowing up over 2,000 suspected terrorists (sometimes American citizens) and any collaterals in the wrong place at the wrong time, there are clearly advantages in a liberal commander in chief being immune from the anti-war hysteria. To Obama’s credit, he gauged correctly that the 2003–7 hysteria was mostly partisan, and would entirely vaporize when he flipped and continued the Bush-Cheney protocols. And it did on spec.
@@
October 21st, 2011
4:29 pm
A mid case of herpes?
Would that be somewhere in the navel area? You know that’s not what it’s for, don’t you?
schnirt
@@
October 21st, 2011
4:30 pm
Tiberius:
It looks like Mark V just wants to hang onto ONE kept promise. There have been so few…I’m willing to let him have it.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
4:31 pm
“You know that’s not what it’s for, don’t you?”
It’s not what it’s for – what – @@?
Geo
October 21st, 2011
4:35 pm
What a bunch of hypicritical clowns most of you are.
I congratulate OUR president Obama for taking credit.
This is the same as him being blamed for our economy for the unregulated government Bush allowed that got us in this financial mess.
Everyone blames Obama for this economic mess when the true cause was the failed policies of Bush and Co.
As long as you dont give CREDIT to Republicans for this economic mess, don’t get mad when Obama takes credit for this.
@@
October 21st, 2011
4:37 pm
It’s not what it’s for – what – @@?
It’s for collecting lint, not herpes.
(ISH)
MarkV
October 21st, 2011
4:42 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate! @4:22 pm
I understand that you have difficulties with logic, but I will try to explain it in elementary terms.
One can imagine following possibilities (perhaps among others), all starting with Bush’s negotiated agreement:
1. Obama does not make any promise. He keeps the agreement. Outcome: Obama has kept Bush’s agreement.
2. Obama does not make any promise. He does not keep the agreement. Outcome: Obama has not kept Bush’s agreement.
3. Obama makes a promise of a decision different from Bush’s agreement. Outcome: Obama either keeps his promise or does not keep it (the latter may include abiding by Bush’s agreement).
4. Obama makes a promise that keeps the terms of the agreement. He keeps the agreement. Outcome: Obama has kept his promise.
Geo
October 21st, 2011
4:44 pm
Obama should get credit for the troop withdraw that Bush originated.
Just like you all give him credit for the anemic economy Bush created!!!
Odis
October 21st, 2011
4:45 pm
Are all republicans batS&%t crazy with hate?
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
4:46 pm
Dusty
I don’t know a lot about Greg Walker as a hitting coach but he was a good hitter, in his playing days.
It’s the end of October!!! I thought baseball season was over.
Actually, the Winter Leagues are going strong right now. They are playing every night in Liga de Beisbol Dominicano (Domincan Professional Baseball League), Liga Mexicana del Pacifico (Mexican Pacific League), and Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) and the Arizona Fall League is going strong in the daytime. As a matter of fact, the Atlanta Braves’, Jose Constanza, stole 3 bases just a few nights ago, in a game against Estrellas Orientales (Eastern Stars). Jose plays for Los Toros del Este (Bulls of the East), of the Dominican League. He’s hitting .455, after 3 games.
You see, baseball never ends. (ISH)
joemama
October 21st, 2011
4:46 pm
Thank you Mr President ! Please make the necessary commitments of force, diplomacy, and law so that whoever is the next president is can do the same in Afghanistan !
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
4:48 pm
@@
Baseball season is NEVER over (for some people!).
As to the good manners of Prez Bush, I think he learned from his parents. He was born in Conn. and “raised” in Texas. Nice mixture. (You think he needed some “California?”)
As to Democratic presidents having more leeway on tough decision from liberals, I have noticed the anti-war people calmed down a lot with Obama. No big white flag demonstrations. No campouts at his vacation homes. OH, the double standard!
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
October 21st, 2011
4:52 pm
MarkV, we’re not talking about logic here, we’re talking about politics and statesmanship. This President is very, very cognizant of the former, and very, very ignorant of the latter.
As, apparently, are you.
MarkV
October 21st, 2011
4:57 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate! @4:52 pm
I agree with the lack of logic on your side.
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
5:02 pm
Odis, @4:45
You posted on the wrong blog. This is not a liberal blog. Republicans here are not filled with hate. Some are filled with disappointment and chagrin which is not the same as hate. Isn’t it fine that we have free speech in this country?
As Americans, most of us do try to “get along”. Some try harder than others. Why don’t you try it?
@@
October 21st, 2011
5:08 pm
Hillbilly:
You see, baseball never ends.
Obviously! My sports knowledge needs an adjustment. I just googled. They’re playing the World Series!!??!! I guess that’s why they refer to The Boys of October…emphasis on BOYS.
J/K
Dusty:
“Yes maam” “Yes sir” in California? More like yeah..yeah..yeah..whatever.
I would’ve never said either or to my parents. Okay was acceptable though.
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
5:09 pm
That bush feller was very bad for this country. Led by his gut, but then got sucker punched. The worst of it is how he ran up the credit card and hos disciples want to blame this president for the spending. Yes, that spoiled son of a gun, born on third thinking he hit a triple only to be thrown out at home
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
5:10 pm
HillBilly D
Constanza is hitting 455 after 3 games!!!! I hope he keeps that energy going for springtime. Gonna be fun next year.
@@
October 21st, 2011
5:16 pm
hos disciples
Is sailfish drinking from a hose?
@@
October 21st, 2011
5:17 pm
Bush served two terms. Not sure Obama’s gonna given the same privilege.
@@
October 21st, 2011
5:17 pm
put a “be” in there. gonna be given
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
5:18 pm
sailfish 5:09
Looks like you got hooked with the liberal bait and thrown in with the other suckers.
Do you live in a tent on a downtown park by any chance? Just wondering.
carlosgvv
October 21st, 2011
5:19 pm
If if were up to me, ALL of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan would be out of there in a month. In the meanwhile, I would have a heart to heart with the leaders of those two countries and tell them that our spy sattelites and other assets would be watching them for any terrorist activity that we percieved as a threat. I would further inform them that if said activities were found, it would be bombs away, and that if they were hiding in a school, hospital or mosque, it would not matter. Finally, I would make it crystal clear to them that, if necessary, they would be bombed back to the stone age. Somehow, I doubt that either Obama or any of those clowns running for the Republican nomination would have the stones to do this.
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
5:20 pm
D
Sorry ma’am didn’t mean to upset you, have a nice evening, you hear?
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
5:21 pm
Need not be so rude to a mighty fish.
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
5:23 pm
@@
Baseball is a thinking man (or woman’s) game. That’s what I like about it. There are so many things going on at one time and most of them are so subtle, that a casual viewer never has a clue.
JDW
October 21st, 2011
5:29 pm
George W. Bush lied to the American people, mismanaged the ensuing Iraq War, wasted over $800 billion in taxpayer dollars, cost the lives of over 4500 US troops, injured who knows how many and wreaked havoc on the Iraqi civilian population all to create what will likely be a long-term adversary.
There I gave credit where credit is due…happy?
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
5:30 pm
S 5:21 (aka sailfish)
Upset??? Rude??? It’s just that you smell FISHY!
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
5:32 pm
Hillbilly D
“most of them are so subtle, that a casual viewer never has a clue.”
Here’s one, someone thinking ahead-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DzQ_drd1AI
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
5:35 pm
d
I don’t no what to make of that last comment? Peace be with you!
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
5:35 pm
sailfish
I once saw the St Louis Cardinals get 4 stolen bases on one play, against the Cubs. It started with runners at first and second, and a double steal…………and nobody covered home.
Know your history
October 21st, 2011
5:36 pm
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.
And exactly when did the Dems have a 60 seat supermajority? Can you please cite? Or are you talking about the 111th Senate (2008-2010) when there were a record number of filibusters made by the Republicans?
Dusty
October 21st, 2011
5:37 pm
JDW 5:29
My goodness, you surely did learn the liberal mantra and coughed it all up for us. I think you did fail to mention that Bush once choked on a pretzel. Liberals value such points as that.
Well, happy brain washing. You are the perfect example.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
October 21st, 2011
5:37 pm
Obozo is a graceless turd.
Lil' Barry Bailout (Revised Downward)
October 21st, 2011
5:40 pm
Dems had a filibuster proof Senate after Al Franken was sworn in. If Republicans filibustered, they must have had Democrat help.
dom youngross
October 21st, 2011
5:42 pm
Good job Kyle Wingfield. Good too that so few still have the blinders on about President Obama.
Plus:
The Iraq War Ain’t Over, No Matter What Obama Says
“On January 1, 2012, the State Department will command a hired army of about 5,500 security contractors, all to protect the largest U.S. diplomatic presence anywhere overseas.”
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/10/obama-iraq-eternal/
Now is the time for everyone to relentlessly get on Obama’s back to do much better than drawing down only half of the number of troops he escalated to Afghanistan by the end of 2012.
sailfish
October 21st, 2011
5:44 pm
Hillbilly
The strangest play I ever saw was with my brother. We were facing a barn burner who was throwing a no hitter. My brother got up to the plate in the 6th. The pitcher fired in a fastball and my brother smacked it into right field, it got there in about .2 seconds, the crowd oooed and we all started yelling. The right fielder caught it on one hop and threw my brother out by ten feet. Talk about a high and low in an instant
Gm
October 21st, 2011
5:47 pm
Hey kyle, you represent why Georgia is considered the backwood state of the south, you and the rest of the hicks who vote for these rep are the reason we are last in job growth, education, and moving forward to the 21st century.
I guess bush killed bid ladin, helped killed the most hated leader in libya””’
You and the rest of the tea party bigots are a disgrace to our country always trying to give bush credit for something he did not do, I am ashamed to call you and the Rush Limbaugh and the Hannities of the world Americans, you people are a bunch of jealous hating bigots, the ugly side of America.
JKL2
October 21st, 2011
5:48 pm
Odis- Are all democrats batS&%t crazy with hate?
Fixed your typo
@@
October 21st, 2011
5:50 pm
Hillbilly:
There are so many things going on at one time and most of them are so subtle, that a casual viewer never has a clue.
And some things not so subtle. (ISH)
At least in football (don’t watch it either) everybody spends most of the game clumped together. If there’s somethin’ (you know what I mean) goin’ on, I can’t see it.
Of course, the only time I can see the ball is when it’s under the center or in the air. After that, I’m at a loss. All I see is a bunch of men being drawn to some centralized location.
@@
October 21st, 2011
5:52 pm
All I see is a bunch of men being drawn to some centralized location.
Only to arise from the tangled mess bumping boobs and patting each other on the butt.
schnirt
@@
October 21st, 2011
5:55 pm
Kinda sad!
The reeling housing market has come to this: To shore it up, two Senators are preparing to introduce a bipartisan bill Thursday that would give residence visas to foreigners who spend at least $500,000 to buy houses in the U.S.
The provision is part of a larger package of immigration measures, co-authored by Sens. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Mike Lee (R., Utah), designed to spur more foreign investment in the U.S.
First our jobs go overseas, and now the politicians are bringing wealthy foreigners over here to buy our houses because we can’t.