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
JKL2
October 21st, 2011
5:59 pm
gm- You and the rest of the tea party bigots are a disgrace to our country
I guess you really miss Tucker and her daily race-hating columns. Thanks for supporting our president based on the color of his skin.
FedUpWithPeopleAndTheirIdeas
October 21st, 2011
6:01 pm
This person had it correct and this country did not listen.
” continues to advance his idea of the dangers of sectionalism and expands his warning to include the dangers of political parties to the government and country as a whole.
….he also argues that every government has recognized political parties as an enemy and has sought to repress them because of their tendency to seek more power than other groups and take revenge on political opponents.
…goes on to acknowledge the fact that parties are sometimes beneficial in promoting liberty in monarchies, but argues that political parties must be restrained in a popularly elected government because of their tendency to distract the government from their duties, create unfounded jealousies among groups and regions, raise false alarms amongst the people, promote riots and insurrection, and provide foreign nations and interests access to the government where they can impose their will upon the country.”
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
6:03 pm
You and the rest of the tea party bigots
Bigotry takes many forms. Perhaps a look in the mirror……….
Michael H. Smith
October 21st, 2011
6:03 pm
Oh no, don’t tell me obumer isn’t going to blame Bush for the end of the Iraq war Kyle ?!
Next maybe obumer will be re-writing the union label song as well as re-inventing the Internet and Al Gore too.
Hillbilly D
October 21st, 2011
6:06 pm
And some things not so subtle. (ISH)
You know you love it. (IWH)
Know your history
October 21st, 2011
6:08 pm
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.
Franken was sworn in on into the Senate on July 7, 2009. During this time, Kennedy was too sick to even vote, and the badly ailing Kennedy was unable to vote and break filibusters. The Senate was in session from July 9 to August 2nd. Kennedy died on Aug.25, 2009. A five week supermajority if Kennedy would have been well enough to vote.
And the Republicans still set a new filibuster record in the 111th Senate!
JKL2
October 21st, 2011
6:08 pm
Hillbilly- I once saw the St Louis Cardinals get 4 stolen bases on one play, against the Cubs.
As you said, it was the Cubs…
I saw a game every year old Busch Stadium was in existence. Mike Shannon spoke at my high school graduation. Now I’m going to watch them win the toe ring. Go Cardinals! Thanks Braves (doing tomahawk chop in your honor).
FedUpWithPeopleAndTheirIdeas
October 21st, 2011
6:30 pm
I read all these comments and relize that you do not see the final outcome. Who cares who gets the credit. Our sons and daughters are coming home. This is a typical problem with this country. ME ME ME.
Stop working against each other and work as one. I see ideas the Dems and Rep, and both have valid points at times. Instead I want to be elected so Lie to get elected. I listen and most people have no idea of whats going on. I have a hard time my self to figure politics out.
Why have I never heard of polititions taking salary pay cut.
“We the people have to suffer and not the elected people who work for us.”
@@
October 21st, 2011
6:35 pm
Hillbilly:
“IT”??????
Please continue with your sports discussion. I’ll be thinking out loud if it’s okay with everyone.
Iraq’s parliament speaker has proposed that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and Iraq hold conferences on a regular basis aimed at forming an understanding on political stability and security in the region after the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is complete. It is not clear yet whether the proposed summits will take place, but each party has its own interests it would like to secure in Iraq, and Iraq itself is hoping to avoid becoming the battlefield where regional rivalries play out. However, because of Iraq’s sectarian divisions, it will be difficult for the Iraqis themselves to agree on what an understanding should look like, and the country’s geographic location in the heart of the Middle East make it the natural battleground for influence for its more powerful neighbors. Iran is in the strongest position in Iraq, but the potential for regime change in Syria — Tehran’s closest ally — could put a damper on its aims.–STRATFOR
It’s like I said earlier. Win or lose, the outcome in Syria could be a game changer. Only thing is, I don’t know who, if anyone, gets the trophy.
Hezbollah Considers a Future Without Syria’s Assad
BonQuisha
October 21st, 2011
6:36 pm
“…he offered no credit to the people who set this withdrawal in motion.”
You mean the former administration, that invaded Iraq on the pretext of ‘weapons of mass destruction’? If BHO didn’t act now, judging by the reactions coming from the GOP candidates if one of them won the next election we might be there forever.
@@
October 21st, 2011
6:37 pm
Now I’m going to watch them win the toe ring.
They wear toe rings!!??!!
ME TOO!!!!!!!!!
@@
October 21st, 2011
6:42 pm
BonQ:
You mean the former administration, that invaded Iraq on the pretext of ‘weapons of mass destruction’?
Follow the thread ^^^ UP! That one really has become stale.
Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil
October 21st, 2011
6:43 pm
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.
It does not matter who struck the agreement; what does matter is who carried it out and succeed!
Talk is cheap as we all know (capturing Bin Laden, weapons of mass destruction, 7.12 billion dollars spent on the war in Iraq, on and on and on)!
Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil
October 21st, 2011
6:50 pm
@JKL2 October 21st, 2011 5:59 pm
White people have been voting for white people for centuries. Now the shoe is on the other foot and they don’t like it. Get over it. Blacks can vote for blacks if they choose too.
Whats good for the goose is……well you know.
BonQ
October 21st, 2011
6:56 pm
@@
October 21st, 2011
6:42 pm
BonQ:
“That one really has become stale.”
oooh, I think I touched a nerve!
@@
October 21st, 2011
7:06 pm
BonQ:
I think I touched a nerve!
Nope! It’s a matter of systematic desensitization.
Hold the Champagne for Libya and Iraq « Verus Politics: Truth and Reason
October 21st, 2011
7:27 pm
[...] the potential fate of the country and the return on investment there, let’s not forget that the Obama administration is simply adhering to the agreement that the Bush administration put in pla…. Anyone excited about the current President’s decision should also thank former President [...]
H. Crew
October 21st, 2011
7:47 pm
This president does not instill confidence. His mouth runs away with him. After saying he would leave no more than 5,000 troops in Iraq, there was no reason for Iraq’s leaders to negotiate further. This president runs from losses while our brave men and women fought for a cause. He is a political opportunist and nothing more.
JDW
October 21st, 2011
7:48 pm
Dusty 5:37
You are entitled to you opinion but facts are facts
Bullet County
October 21st, 2011
10:25 pm
Kyle,
Here’s a partial scorecard for President Obama who is “Strong on terror and national security.” Here’s the list:
1. Bin Laden – fish food
2. Al Alwahri (Al Qaeda’s number 2) – done
3. Somali pirates – Who Dat?
4. End to torture (which is against international law)
5. Winding down the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (saving us billions that the GOP says we can spend, but won’t spend a dime to help the citizens that created the wealth in the first place)
6. Gadhafi – history, good riddance
Surely you’re aware of the Clown Contingent’s (aka GOPers running for president) responses to the Iraq drawdown that Bush negotiated and Obama had the wisdom to execute. They were the very ones falsely criticizing (but then all they do is critize our POTUS) our POTUS for going around the world “apologizing for America,” being “weak on terror, dithering,” and “leading from behind.”
Well, President Obama does more than talk he get results, results that would be higher if the GOPers weren’t able to obstruct on the domestic side like they can’t on the foreign policy side. It’s time the American people remedy that by voting them out en masse next year and say goodbye to the GOPers who want and are doing their best to crash the economy for political gain. They just voted unanimously to kill the jobs bill that’s so sorely needed. Its obvious that the Clown Contingent would have us in Iraq forever and ever and they can’t wati to bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
JKL2
October 21st, 2011
10:38 pm
@@- They wear toe rings!!??!!
Since they already have ten, the next one is going to have to be a toe ring.
JKL2
October 21st, 2011
10:45 pm
Tell the truth- Now the shoe is on the other foot and they don’t like it
First, either your name is a lie or you are clueless. I would hope you would vote for someone who was competent. Not that we had very good choices this time, but obama was elected as much by his skin color as anything he said. I thought the idea of equal rights is that we are all equal. The Demwits racial and class warfare has done nothing but divide this country farther apart than it has ever been outside of the civil war. So much for the “great uniter” theory.
Obama to make announcement on Iraq – msnbc.com | | SociaMore
October 22nd, 2011
1:25 am
[...] of Iraq WarMTV.comObama: U.S Troops Will Be Withdrawn from Iraq by the End of the YearThe AtlanticAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -CNN (blog)all 2,562 news [...]
Now with Ten Percent More Flavor
October 22nd, 2011
9:30 am
Kyle,
As I recall, Obama has tried repeatedly to get you anti-Democrats to acknowledge all that is (or was) Bush’s. NOW, you come along and want to cherry-pick. So typical.
Odis
October 22nd, 2011
1:05 pm
Dusty- You obviously don’t read the comments in there blogs and drink the toxic kool-aid that the republicans keep serving up. Keep drinkin it my friend, eventually it will catch up to ya!
JKL2. sorry dude, I had it right the first time and you just proved my point.
Hope can any clear thinking educated person not see what the republicans are up to? Take your head out of the sand people. How can you keep supporting politicians that are against the American people and are only in it for the greed? WAKE THE F UP!
Sbinf
October 23rd, 2011
6:53 am
So….Obama should credit Bush for removing troops from a war that never should have been started (by Bush). This logic would be absolutely hilarious if you weren’t actually serious.
JKL2
October 23rd, 2011
4:23 pm
Odis- WAKE THE F UP!
How can any clear thinking, educated person not see what the democrats are up to? Take your head out of the sand people. How can you keep supporting politicians that are against the American people and are only in it for the greed.
All the hate and violence is coming from the left.