He said that the troops would be out by the end of 2011.
He also said that he was fulfilling a campaign promise!
Sen McCain responded:
"“Today marks a harmful and sad setback for the United States in the world,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in a statement Friday.
“I respectfully disagree with the president: this decision will be viewed as a strategic victory for our enemies in the Middle East, especially the Iranian regime, which has worked relentlessly to ensure a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.”
The ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee added, “I fear that all of the gains made possible by these brave Americans in Iraq, at such grave cost, are now at risk.”" (Politico)
McCain is right again.
First of all, this is not what candidate BO promised! This is the agreement that Pres Bush negotiated with Iraq in 2008.
Secondly, even The NY Times confirmed that the US was desperately looking to keep troops in Iraq:
"President Obama’s announcement on Friday that all American troops would leave Iraq by the end of the year was an occasion for celebration for many, but some top American military officials were dismayed by the announcement, seeing it as the president’s putting the best face on a breakdown in tortured negotiations with the Iraqis." (NY Times)
In other words, this is not the statement that Pres BO wanted to make. He would preferred to tell us that an agreement was reached to leave troops in Iraq.
Third, what message are we sending Iran and Israel? The message is simple. We are weak and will not stand up for our interests!
Third, what message are we sending Iran and Israel? The message is simple. We are weak and will not stand up for our interests!
Fourth, Max Boot is right:
"If there is one constant of American military history it is that the longer our troops stay in a country the better the prospects of a successful outcome.
Of course, we all want our guys to come home.
"If there is one constant of American military history it is that the longer our troops stay in a country the better the prospects of a successful outcome.
Think of Germany, Italy, Japan or South Korea. Conversely when U.S. troops rush for the exits hard-won wartime gains can quickly evaporate.
Think of the post-Civil War South, post-World War I Germany, post-1933 (and post-1995) Haiti, post-1972 Vietnam, or, more recently, post-1983 Lebanon and post-1993 Somalia."
Of course, we all want our guys to come home.
However, Iraq has not been much of a war for 3 years. We have not been in combat. Our troops have been performing back up duties and serving as a reminder to Iran that we will protect our allies.
I don't get it. It looks to me like Pres BO is trying to make up with the left that was furious with his continuation of the Bush-McCain policy in Iraq.
Bill Katz wrote about Iraq on Saturday. We spoke about this with Bill on Sunday:
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