Barack Obama ends the war in Iraq. 'Now it's time to turn the page'

[Destino]

So you mean the surge didn't actually work? How dare you suggest such a thing.

I think the surge worked well but the name wasn't accurate. It should have been known as the "Carrot and the Stick!" We offered insurgents a choice, get paid and help us or we'll meet you on the battlefield and kill you. Many took the pay option.

Some may think that is bad but I don't. It's basic military strategy: you had a chance to take players off the board that opposed you and add them to your own ranks at a cheaper rate in terms of money and risk than if you fought them. You take that every day of the week IMO.

[luckydevil]

I think the surge worked well but the name wasn't accurate. It should have been known as the "Carrot and the Stick!" We offered insurgents a choice, get paid and help us or we'll meet you on the battlefield and kill you. Many took the pay option.

Some may think that is bad but I don't. It's basic military strategy: you had a chance to take players off the board that opposed you and add them to your own ranks at a cheaper rate in terms of money and risk than if you fought them. You take that every day of the week IMO.

Yep, we paid them off, it's going to be interesting to see what happens when that money is no longer in play.

[Ax]

He kept a campaign promise, so it wouldn't be used against the D's this fall.

That's it.

He's an empty suit. He didn't appear to believe in what he was saying. Then, he usually doesn't. A speech full of flowery words, cultivated in BS.

Typical politician.

He's being managed poorly.

[Smoot Point Really]

I remember when Bush was President, the liberals kept wanting him to admit he was wrong... I wonder where that mantra went?

[AsburySkinsFan]

I remember when Bush was President, the liberals kept wanting him to admit he was wrong... I wonder where that mantra went?

Bush was wrong, and I want him to admit he was wrong...but he's convinced himself that God told him to invade Iraq, so my guess is that he'll never admit he was wrong.

*There it is.

[Redskins Diehard]

Did you read my post? He mentioned that specifically:

"Going forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain in Iraq with a different mission: advising and assisting Iraq's Security Forces, supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counter terrorism missions, and protecting our civilians."

He even gave a date for when those troops would join the bulk of US forces that have exited Iraq.

What kind of forces do you think will do those CT missions now that the "combat forces" are gone? Oh, he made up a name for them "transitional forces".

Saying "combat forces" are gone could be used the same way as "major combat operations are over" if anyone wanted to be honest about it. I doubt anyone will.

[AsburySkinsFan]

I think if Obama really wanted to do this speech right he would held it on an aircraft carrier with a big banner hanging behind him.

[Gibbsisgod2006]

This was a preplanned withdrawl before Obama got in office. The plan for a withdrawl was decided in August of 08. So Obama did not end this war at all he was just following the guidelines that were laid out.

[AsburySkinsFan]

This was a preplanned withdrawal before Obama got in office. The plan for a withdrawal was decided in August of 08. So Obama did not end this war at all he was just following the guidelines that were laid out.

Link?

[twa]

Link?

getting senile?

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11071

Article 24

Withdrawal of American Forces from Iraq

Admitting to the performance of Iraqi forces, their increased capabilities and assuming full responsibility for security and based upon the strong relationship between the two parties the two parties agreed to the following:

All U.S. forces are to withdraw from all Iraqi territory, water and airspace no later than the 31st of December of 2011.

All U.S. combat forces are to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages, and towns not later than the date that Iraqi forces assume complete responsibility of security in any Iraqi province. The withdrawal of U.S. forces from the above-mentioned places is on a date no later than the 30 June 2009. The withdrawing U.S. forces mentioned in item (2) above are to gather in the installations and areas agreed upon that are located outside of cities, villages and towns that will be determined by the Joint Military Operation Coordinating Committee (JMOCC) before the date determined in item (2) above.

The United States admits to the sovereign right of the Iraqi government to demand the departure of the U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime. The Iraqi government admits to the sovereign right of the United States to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime.

The two parties agree to put a mechanism and preparations for reducing the number of U.S. forces during the appointed period. And they are to agree on the locations where the forces are to settle.

[JimboDaMan]

getting senile?

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11071

Article 24

Withdrawal of American Forces from Iraq

Admitting to the performance of Iraqi forces, their increased capabilities and assuming full responsibility for security and based upon the strong relationship between the two parties the two parties agreed to the following:

All U.S. forces are to withdraw from all Iraqi territory, water and airspace no later than the 31st of December of 2011.

All U.S. combat forces are to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages, and towns not later than the date that Iraqi forces assume complete responsibility of security in any Iraqi province. The withdrawal of U.S. forces from the above-mentioned places is on a date no later than the 30 June 2009. The withdrawing U.S. forces mentioned in item (2) above are to gather in the installations and areas agreed upon that are located outside of cities, villages and towns that will be determined by the Joint Military Operation Coordinating Committee (JMOCC) before the date determined in item (2) above.

The United States admits to the sovereign right of the Iraqi government to demand the departure of the U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime. The Iraqi government admits to the sovereign right of the United States to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime.

The two parties agree to put a mechanism and preparations for reducing the number of U.S. forces during the appointed period. And they are to agree on the locations where the forces are to settle.

Excellent. So any blood shed in that region will be on the hands of....wait for it....Bush. Right?

[twa]

Excellent. So any blood shed in that region will be on the hands of....wait for it....Bush. Right?

I prefer to believe it is on the hands of the person that sheds it,but you can (and most certainly will:ols:) blame W.

I'm fine with that

[Duckus]

I was listening to NPR yesterday and they were talking about how we will never know how much the Iraq War actually cost.

It is interesting that in a time where there American public has become hyper-aware of government spending (which is a good thing), the public for the most part gave a blank check for Iraq.

[Destino]

This was a preplanned withdrawl before Obama got in office. The plan for a withdrawl was decided in August of 08. So Obama did not end this war at all he was just following the guidelines that were laid out.

Amazing how short people's memories are. They've entirely forgotten the debate surrounding this that took place while the Presidential election was in full swing. Bush and McCain at the time rejected the notion of a time line and argued that such a time line would equate to "letting the terrorists win" and Obama's stance of an exit strategy was seen as "cut and run".

Obama floated the idea of ending combat operations in 2010 and the Iraqi government publicly supported the idea and that time line before anything was agreed upon... not long after the Bush administration agreed to that time line as well.

But you're right the agreement was put in place before Obama. Technically. Allow me to take those of you with bad memories, or selective memories, back to July of 2008:

Obama

http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-maliki-may-soon-talk-of-a-timeline/82274/

July 21, 2008

WASHINGTON — When Senator Obama arrives in Baghdad this week, he will have a chance to hear directly from Prime Minister al-Maliki whether the Iraqi leader supports the 16-month withdrawal timeline that Mr. Obama has embraced on the campaign trail.

Mr. Maliki landed in the center of the American presidential campaign during the weekend when a German magazine, Der Spiegel, printed an interview that quoted him as endorsing in principle Mr. Obama's timetable. A spokesman for Mr. Maliki yesterday issued a statement saying the prime minister had been misquoted but did not specify which part of the interview contained the error; the magazine said on its Web site that the interview was accurate.

Asked whether Mr. Obama would seek clarification from Mr. Maliki when the two meet this week, a spokeswoman for the Obama campaign, Wendy Morigi, said: "Senator Obama looks forward to a conversation with Prime Minister Maliki, but as Senator Obama has said, he is going to be listening on this trip. There is one president at a time in the United States."

Bush

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN2036813120080720

July 2008

(Reuters) - President George W. Bush's top military adviser said on Sunday setting an unconditional two-year timetable for getting U.S. troops out of Iraq in two years would be dangerous.

But Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would be able to recommend more troop reductions this fall if conditions there continued to improve.

Asked about a hypothetical two-year withdrawal timeline, Mullen told "Fox News Sunday, "I think the consequences could be very dangerous."

"I'm convinced (that) making reductions based on conditions on the ground are very important. We've been able to do that. We've reduced five brigades in the last several months and, again, if conditions continue to improve, I would be able to make recommendations to President Bush in the fall to continue those reductions."

[War Paint]

Awesome. Our troops are leaving Iraq. The war is over...oh wait, we'll still have a presence there, just not "Combat" troops. Some troops will probably come home for a few months before being sent to Afghanistan, a place far worse than Iraq. Then sometime in the future, the new Neocon President will play the "I'm ending the war in Afghanistan, while invading Iran". I can't believe people still listen to these damn Neocons.

[Redskins Diehard]

I think if Obama really wanted to do this speech right he would held it on an aircraft carrier with a big banner hanging behind him.

One day perhaps we will be able to evaluate and discuss things on their own merits.

[Kilmer17]

Im pretty sure we still have troops in germany too.

Obama is continuing the Bush plan. I applaud him.

[Redskins Diehard]

Im pretty sure we still have troops in germany too.

Obama is continuing the Bush plan. I applaud him.

Yeah, the plan is the right thing to do. Saying there are no longer "combat troops" in Iraq is misleading.

[mjah]

It is interesting that in a time where there American public has become hyper-aware of government spending (which is a good thing), the public for the most part gave a blank check for Iraq.

Many of us were hyper-aware of government spending way back in 2001, when we were gearing up for war while taking note of tax cuts we hadn't asked for and really didn't need. Tax cuts which weren't getting reconsidered even though, uh, there was this war we had to pay for!

And then there was 2003, when we were gearing up for a second simultaneous land war in Asia while hearing about another tax cut which we hadn't asked for. We read through our history books and noted precious little precedent for massively slashing government revenues while waging two concurrent regional land wars, one purely elective. But nobody was of a mind to listen at that time, for a variety of reasons (some irrational, some political, some both).

During those years and the 5 to follow, a different part of the public was curiously mute, until suddenly becoming publicly vocal and organized about government spending right around the end of 2008/beginning of 2009. Interesting timing there. Either they weren't worried about, or they didn't notice, two separate trillion-dollar deficit-fueled wars; two separate deficit-fueled tax cuts totalling over a trillion dollars; a deficit-fueled prescription drug benefit plan totalling nearly a trillion dollars; and of course other matters like the Wall Street bailout. Or as a third option, maybe they just thought all of those things "had to happen" ... and "had to be funded by minimizing political courage and maximizing irresponsibility."

These particular folks only started noticing deficit spending -- or to be more specific, only starting talking about it -- after most of the damage was done. But just as it costs money to dig a big hole, it costs money to (try to) fill it in, which you have to do once you've been foolish enough to dig it. The filling-it-in stage is a very stupid time to start whining about the price of moving dirt. And yet, having supported the hole digging with their silence, today certain folks sudden feel it's their "duty" to flip-flop and complain about where it led ... while posturing as if they're just opposed to all use of shovels by anyone at any time, regardless of party. Riiiiiight.

Were they either myopic, easily duped, or politically selfish back then? I don't know and I'm sure it differs by individual. But one thing is for sure: given their track record, they certainly aren't reliable narrators right now.

[Kilmer17]

Yeah, the plan is the right thing to do. Saying there are no longer "combat troops" in Iraq is misleading.

That's just semantics.

[@DCGoldPants]

I think if anybody was expecting some formal end of war signing between Al-Queda and the Allies, they are mistaken.

This may never really be over.

Just another trillion spent by the U.S., outside the U.S..

[Gibbsisgod2006]

Amazing how short people's memories are. They've entirely forgotten the debate surrounding this that took place while the Presidential election was in full swing. Bush and McCain at the time rejected the notion of a time line and argued that such a time line would equate to "letting the terrorists win" and Obama's stance of an exit strategy was seen as "cut and run".

Obama floated the idea of ending combat operations in 2010 and the Iraqi government publicly supported the idea and that time line before anything was agreed upon... not long after the Bush administration agreed to that time line as well.

But you're right the agreement was put in place before Obama. Technically. Allow me to take those of you with bad memories, or selective memories, back to July of 2008:

Obama

http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-maliki-may-soon-talk-of-a-timeline/82274/

Bush

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN2036813120080720

It doesnt matter it was under the Bush administration that set the timeline not President Obama. Regardless how President Bush felt when the pullout should have been set.Ultoimatly Presidnet Bush by agreed on the August 2010 timeline. President Obama was not in offfice at the time of the agreement so really he shouldnt get any of the credit for ending the Iraq war.

[@DCGoldPants]

It doesnt matter it was under the Bush administration that set the timeline not President Obama. Regardless how President Bush felt when the pullout should have been set.Ultoimatly Presidnet Bush by agreed on the August 2010 timeline. President Obama was not in offfice at the time of the agreement so really he shouldnt get any of the credit for ending the Iraq war.

Using that logic, then he shouldn't get any credit for the economy being in a ****ty way either.

[Gibbsisgod2006]

Using that logic, then he shouldn't get any credit for the economy being in a ****ty way either.

Comparing our poor economy and the Iraq war pullout are 2 different subjects. President Obama is taking credit for something that was laid out before he was in office that is pretty cut and dry. Our poor economy was caused by many Factors that just wasn’t President Bush's policies. But President Bush has gotten the majority of the blame for the economy if you talk to average person on the street.

[@DCGoldPants]

Obama could have come into office and changed everything on Iraq once there. I'm not saying he deserves ALL the credit. I'm just saying he said this would be his path.