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Iraq War the greatest Obama Administration Achievement?
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Anonymous
Anonymous
That they were wrong that the surge would fail is old news. The credit Biden is taking here is about the fact that it looks like we may succeed in getting most of our troops out. The article might have debated the truth of that claim, but instead, it distorted what the claim was. Or did I misunderstand? |
Anonymous
|
I don't know about "greatest achievement".
But he was elected in part to bring the troops back home. If he does, then he fulfilled his promise. It seems impossible to credit the previous administration, since they were adamant about not setting a withdrawal timetable. Do we have total amnesia about how adamant they were that a timetable was caving in to the enemy? When they finally signed a withdrawal timeline, it was because the Iraqis themselves forced it and because the UN resolution authorizing our presence was due to expire at the end of the year, meaning we had no legal basis to maintain our presence. Even so, there is no indication to me that the next Republican administration would have in good faith taken the necessary action to withdraw on that timetable, much less ahead of time. The bottom line here is that the Bush Administration rejected timetables. The next president was willing to honor timetables and we will bring troops home. Every voter who wanted that to happen should be happy with the outcome and be happy that they were flexible about getting to that outcome. |
Anonymous
| And I should add that anyone who thinks the wheels were in motion and that Obama is just presiding over a fait accompli is totally fooling themselves. Withdrawal from a major combat operation is difficult and complex beyond belief. Nothing is ever on cruise control, and the lack of chaos during this time is a sign of good, hard work being done. |
Anonymous
| by the military. And Obama is following a plan that was already in place |
Anonymous
So the withdrawal is Bush's, but the recession belongs to Obama, right? And the military gets credit for any success in Iraq and Afghanistan, but a guy who tries to blow up a plane (along with his genitals) is Obama's fault? |
Anonymous
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I'm sorry--did I say any of that?
President Obama is following the exact plan that the military had on paper before his election. I am just stating a fact. I also don't mind tough love for Iraq, but I do hope he is invested in their success after we leave. A lot of American and Iraqi lives have gone into that place; if it takes a little extra to withdraw and contribute to stabilization and political process I think the US should be mindful. |
Anonymous
| BTW, what on earth would the military have to do with the undie-bomber? I thought this was a civilian affair? |
Anonymous
Sorry, I did not mean the military, just the generalized "foot soldiers" of security. Also sorry about the assumption that I was replying to one of the take-any-opportunity-to-attack-O posters; one of the disadvantages of an anonymous list. |
Anonymous
You have not the foggiest idea of what was involved in this withdrawal. |
Anonymous
I'm not the PP, but I'm curious what you think is involved in the withdrawal. I can't tell whether you approve or disapprove of Obama's policy. |