By Douglas V. Gibbs
President Barack Obama has announced that the end of the combat mission in Iraq is approaching. He plans to bring the Iraq War to a close on August 31. As the combat mission ends in Iraq, he also plans to work to bring the conflict in Afghanistan to a conclusion.
In Atlanta, President Obama said, “I made clear that by Aug. 31, 2010, America’s combat mission in Iraq would end. And that is exactly what we are doing, as promised.”
Obama also said, “As a candidate for president, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end. Shortly after taking office, I announced our new strategy for Iraq and for a transition to full Iraqi responsibility. And I made it clear that by Aug. 31, 2010, America’s combat mission in Iraq would end. And that is exactly what we are doing, as promised and on schedule.”
Except, that is not what he originally promised.
In the above video Obama indicated he would have troops out of Iraq by March 31, 2008; then he indicated he didn't want to make any promises at all regarding when the troops would be out of Iraq. So how is ending the combat mission on August 31, 2010 right on schedule, as promised?
It is also interesting how suddenly he is taking sudden interest in the wars as the economy further tanks (distraction ploy?), and that he is taking credit for success in Iraq. Wasn't he the one that was against all of the strategies that were being used (like the troop surge), claiming they would worsen the situation?
The mission in Iraq is being renamed Operation New Dawn, as combat troops depart, and transitional troops are expected to be out of Iraq by 2011. Obama has hailed the improved security, is calling Iraq a success, and is not only failing to mention his opposition to the strategies that brought about these favorable conditions, but is actually taking credit for the improved situation in Iraq, without mention that the draw-down was actually prepared for, and the process was begun, by the Bush Administration.
The Obama Administration has decided that Iraq is a success story, and that it succeeded because of them. They opposed it, they opposed the strategies, they called it a lost war; Bush improved the conditions with the troops surge, and began the process to bring the troops home by this summer. . . and yet the leftists are taking credit.
What is even more interesting is that during Obama's campaign, Obama constantly reminded us that he believed Iraq was the bad war, and Afghanistan was the good war; now, it seems, Iraq has become the good war that has ended in triumph, and Afghanistan is now the sour note.
Once again, the liberal progressives of the Democrat Party have changed their wording in order to make themselves look good, regardless of the facts.
Then again, I am not surprised. After all, they wouldn't dare mention that this success they are trying to adopt regarding Iraq was brought into being by the policies of George W. Bush.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
In Speech on Iraq, Obama Reaffirms Drawdown - New York Times
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