March 31, 2009
This is a good montage of barry’s ever changing position on Iraq - here the Surge is highlighted. Note that barry has never admitted the Surge worked.
speakmymind02
Next month will mark the sixth anniversary of the war in Iraq. By any measure, this has already been a long war. For the men and women of America’s armed forces – and for your families – this war has been one of the most extraordinary chapters of service in the history of our nation. You have endured tour after tour after tour of duty. You have known the dangers of combat and the lonely distance of loved ones. You have fought against tyranny and disorder. You have bled for your best friends and for unknown Iraqis. And you have borne an enormous burden for your fellow citizens, while extending a precious opportunity to the people of Iraq.
Under tough circumstances, the men and women of the United States military have served with honor, and succeeded beyond any expectation.
That is as close as he will get to admitting the Surge worked. If there’s one thing about barry - he will never come out and say I was wrong. Geithner he said he “screwed up” which was the first time he even got close. On O’Reilly - when barry finally got the courage to go on - he was forced to admit that the Surge “succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.” Again “our” not his. His dream was that it not be done.
To understand where we need to go in Iraq, it is important for the American people to understand where we now stand. Thanks in great measure to your service, [not the Surge] the situation in Iraq has improved. Violence has been reduced substantially from the horrific sectarian killing of 2006 and 2007. Al Qaeda in Iraq has been dealt a serious blow by our troops and Iraq’s Security Forces, and through our partnership with Sunni Arabs. The capacity of Iraq’s Security Forces has improved, and Iraq’s leaders have taken steps toward political accommodation. The relative peace and strong participation in January’s provincial elections sent a powerful message to the world about how far Iraqis have come in pursuing their aspirations through a peaceful political process.
….
In short, today there is a renewed cause for hope in Iraq, but that hope rests upon an emerging foundation.
On my first full day in office, [after he was sworn in a second time] I directed my national security team to undertake a comprehensive review of our strategy in Iraq to determine the best way to strengthen that foundation, while strengthening American national security. I have listened to my Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and commanders on the ground. We have acted with careful consideration of events on the respect for the security agreements between the United States and Iraq; and with a critical recognition that the long-term solution in Iraq must be political – not military. Because the most important decisions that have to be made about Iraq’s future must now be made by Iraqis.
Here’s his “mission accomplished”
America’s men and women in uniform have fought block by block, province by province, year after year, to give the Iraqis this chance to choose a better future. Now, we must ask the Iraqi people to seize it.
And here is lie about his campaign promise. Listen to the video. He was going to have all combat troops home in 16 months. Well, his initial promise when he announced his running was to have the combat troops home by March 2008 = 10 months before he even had a chance to be inaugurated. And then he “refined” it after that according to the polls.
He broke his fundamental promise - what got him the nomination - which basically meant the presidency. The press didn’t even grill him over it. Hilary Rosen said she had “precessed” it.
As a candidate for President, I made clear my support for a timeline of 16 months [Period. It was unconditional.] to carry out this drawdown, [not drawdown - he said withdrawal - very different words with very different meanings.] while pledging to consult closely with our military commanders upon taking office [nope] to ensure that we preserve the gains we’ve made [nope - thought the Surge was wrong and still hasn't admitted it worked] and protect our troops [never mentioned]. Those consultations are now complete, and I have chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next 18 months.
He picked the middle option. Surprise. He had a chance to stick to his promise and he chose not to - proving once and for all his words on Iraq start to finish were a politically expedient fairy tale.
Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.
And how many “non combat” troops will remain?
As I have long said, [here comes another barry out] we will retain a transitional force [who carry the same weapons, who have the same obligations, who get the same pay, and who have the same one life to give] to carry out three distinct functions: training, equipping, and advising Iraqi Security Forces as long as they remain non-sectarian [same risk]; conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions [same risk]; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts within Iraq [same risk].
Initially, [can go up or down] this force will likely [can't pin down] be made up of 35-50,000 U.S. troops.
How is “conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts” not combat troops? Tell those 35-50K troops they won’t be involved in combat and see what they think.
Fine print:
Through this period of transition, we will carry out further redeployments.
So how much change is it really going to mean? It’s just like his momemntous signing of the Gitmo shut down.
And here he admits he is basically following President Bush’s plan in Senator McCain’s wordage. Note also the campaign: “As president, I will” - instead it’s: “I intend”.
And under the Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government, I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. [No change with Bush's plans] We will complete this transition to Iraqi responsibility, and we will bring our troops home with the honor that they have earned. [Almost verbatim to what Senator McCain campaigned on.]
And had he been president before the Surge? If Bush had listened to him and Biden? Where would those troops be?
And how will the last troops to remain feel knowing that the savages have a deadline in which to provoke and attack? What is going to happen on August 30, 2010?
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