Obama Takes Credit For Bush’s Iraq Withdrawal Timeline

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Obama Takes Credit For Bush’s Iraq Withdrawal Timeline

Written By : William Teach

The one time Obama should be referencing George Bush, and, nary a mention

President Barack Obama told disabled veterans in Atlanta on Monday that he was fulfilling a campaign promise by ending U.S. combat operations in Iraq “on schedule,” by Aug. 31.

But the timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops in Iraq was decided during the Bush administration with the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by U.S. and Iraq officials on Nov. 16, 2008. The Iraqi parliament signed SOFA on Nov. 27, 2008.

The agreement, which had been in negotiations since 2007, set a timetable calling for most U.S. troops to leave Iraqi towns and cities by June 30, 2009, with about 50,000 troops left in place until the final withdrawal of all U.S. military forces by Dec. 31, 2011.

Details, schmetails, Obama has a narrative about Himself to tell

At the convention for disabled vets on Monday, many of whom served in Iraq, President Obama took credit for ending the war.

“As a candidate for president, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end,” Obama said. “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 August 31st, 2010, America’s combat mission in Iraq would end,” Obama said. “And that is exactly what we are doing – as promised and on schedule.”

Obama’s campaign Web site, Organizing for America, said that if he was elected, the war would end in May 2010.

The duplicity of this guy is, sad to say, completely believable. He takes credit for what others accomplished, and blames others for his own mistakes. He came to the forefront of the Democrat party by giving an anti-Iraq war speech, he’s whined about it ever since, he’s voted to defund the war, he was against the Surge, and now he wants to take credit for the framework that Bush put in place.

BTW, during the speech, he received mostly polite applause. It was only when he actually mentioned defeating Al Qaeda that he received real applause.

More: Must read story at This ain’t Hell… about far left VoteVets giving Obama all the credit.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach

Lee

If you want examples of what a leader is NOT, do a case study on Obama.

StanW

Obama is not a leader, he is a Boss. He does not lead or inspire or create. All he does is sit there and take credit for the work of others, while at the same time blaming everyone else for his failures. He likes the perks of being in charge, but runs away from the responsibility of being in charge.

Obama is a failure in every meaningful sense of the word!

mightysamurai

I suppose we can't blame him. If Obama didn't take credit for other people's accomplishments he wouldn't have any accomplishments at all.

StanW

He has plenty of accomplishments, Sam.

Think of all the politicians that he campaigned for that won… well… What about getting the Olympics for Chicago? Ahhhhh, so his sports teams win….

Hey, his golf game sure has improved since you and I have been paying his greens fees!

http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/C3IKAXMRVZNEU5BZKUD7LK6WBA Pete Moss

Wait, aren't you the side that always complains about a date for withdrawal and how it emboldens the enemies? And now you're saying that Bush set a timeline?

It's difficult to make sense of your inconsistencies.

Anyway, kudos to Obama for sticking with the timeline.

No accomplishments? How about health care reform, financial reform,for starters. At least Obama tackles actual problems rather than creating problems with unnecessary and unpaid wars, like your guy did.

StanW

Healthcare reform, which the majority of the country doesn't want, and that only makes the healthcare system in this country WORSE?

Financial reform, that gave us double-digit unemployment and skyrocketing deficits?

So you have no idea what the word 'accomplishment' means, do you Petey?
http://www.thepiratescove.us/ William_Teach

Premature withdrawal, Pete. Please try and pay attention. We never said we would be there forever.

As for accomplishments, Obama outsourced healthcare to Congress, and the legislation will hurt America's healthcare, not help it. It will not reduce costs, it will make it harder to get service, and, if you like your health insurance, you will not get to keep it.

But, hey, keep drinking the kool aid!
mightysamurai

No accomplishments? How about health care reform, financial reform,for starters.

Both of which were outsourced to the Democratic Congress and Obama had little to nothing to do with other than signing his name on them.
Hotspur1

Yes, because that “terrorism” thing is somehow not an “actual” problem.
http://conservativebootcamp.com Martin Hale

Petey, we all know Mr. Bush executed an agreement containing a timetable for withdrawl. Some of us on the right didn't agree with his strategy in doing so, but I've never met anyone, right or left, who's argued that it didn't happen.

So now you're trying to make the case that the right is “inconsistent”, basing your argument solely on your own statement that we're now suddenly agreeing that a timetable exists?

I don't think the existence of that timetable has ever been contentious. The merits of the timetable have been contentious, but that's a completely different issue, and it's not the subject of Mr. Teach's article, is it? Nope – this is just another a strawman argument/distraction you've introduced into the discussion in a feeble attempt to press your hackneyed attacks.

Hint: Mr. Teach is in no way holding the timetable up as a model of exemplary war strategy. He's merely reporting that Mr. Obama is seemingly taking credit for things he didn't do; things which happened before he ascended to the office of president.

He does, however, point out the inconsistency and hypocrisy of a man who rose to power in part based upon his opposition to the war in Iraq, now taking credit for the success there.

I realise that all might be a bit subtle for that head full of peat moss you call a brain to process without a doobie or two to get the neurons and axions connecting again.
Kingfisher

No accomplishments? How about health care reform, financial reform,for starters.

You actually consider them accomplishments?

ROFLMAO!

Yeah, sure Sparky! Keep dreaming!
Christopher_Taylor

Anyone else think its sadly significant that infantile troll Pete Moss posts the same idiotic question as Vega?

D-Vega

Because it's glaring hypocrisy.

StanW

I agree, it IS hypocritical of Obama to try to claim credit for something he did not put into place and that he actively opposed. Good point, Vega. Thanks

D-Vega

Obama didn't oppose a timeline, Stan. You guys did. Try to get close to the area code of the truth.
StanW

After the most recent lies you have told, Vega, you are the last person on the board (even behind whats_up and Pete Moss) to lecture ANYONE on telling the truth!
D-Vega

Then stop lying and you won't have to be lectured to.
StanW

While I can point out RECENT lies you have told, you have yet to find a single lie in anything I said Vega.

Stinks to be you, on many levels!
D-Vega

You just said he opposed a timeline. And he didn't. So that's not the truth.
StanW

I said Obama opposed everything having to do with Iraq. I also said Bush put the timeline in place and Obama is taking credit for it, WHICH IS WHAT THIS POST IS ABOUT.

So, like a good little Obama sycophant, you have diverted the topic away from Obama's obvious hypocrisy and tried to blame others for his failures. Your master is proud of you, now back on your knees!

Christopher_Taylor

No, because despite knowing better you are desperate to deflect away from the glaring truth you do not want to face. You were DEAD SOLID WRONG on Iraq in every single instance and cannot admit it.

D-Vega

The benefits of invading and rebuilding Iraq are still yet to be seen. It's debatable whether it was worth it or not. That is a separate issue.

I would admit that I am pleasantly surprised that the internal frictions in Iraq have subsided and there is not any more civil war.

I am happy to admit I was wrong on that.
StanW

And how will you feel three months after our withdrawal, when the insurgency flares back up and the Iraqis that helped us are slaughtered for their effort? I mean after you blame Bush for the whole thing.
D-Vega

Are you hoping for that? Or do you have a reasonable expectation of that?
StanW

Well, you have already established that you think expecting something to happen and hoping it will happen are the same, Vega.

Personally, I hope it doesn't happen. But with a published timeline for withdrawal, and past history in other countries, it is a possibility. Not that you care.
D-Vega

What matters is the Iraqis, Stan. The reason why AfPak is floundering is because the Afghanis have been quicker to switch sides. The Iraqis have been somewhat consistent. As long as that consistency is maintained, the timeline doesn't matter.
StanW

I'll remember you said that, Vega.
D-Vega

You do that, Stan. Because I am right. Ayatollah Sistani could make the entire thing blow up tomorrow if he wanted. It's all about the people and what they want. Until the Afghanis get on board, AfPak cannot be resolved, no matter how many troops we have there.
StanW

I would expect a treasonous bastard lile you to give up on the troops, declare defeat, and run away. You do it often enough on this board.

That's it then folks. Afghanistan is lost BECAUSE VEGA SAID SO! Nothing else here for us… move along!

D-Vega

Wait, I thought a timeline was a horrible idea? That it would appease the bad guys? That Obama's endorsement of a timeline, from the very beginning, was “waving the white flag of surrender”?

Hotspur1

Good idea or bad, passing off someone else's plan as if it were your own is not maturity at all. Like the kind of guy in the office everyone hates because you know he'll try and steal your ideas.

StanW

He only steals ideas when they have been proven to be successful. Any idea that doesn't work, even if it was his to begin with, will be blamed on others.

These kinds of people rarely last long in the business world, but are destined for delusions of adequacy in politics.

http://www.thepiratescove.us/ William_Teach

No, a premature, artificial timeline, based on petty politics, rather than conditions on the ground, was the problem, Vega.

Say, what do you think about Obama taking credit for the framework?

D-Vega

“No, a premature, artificial timeline, based on petty politics, rather than conditions on the ground, was the problem, Vega.”

No one had any artificial timeline. The timeline included in the SOFA doesn't mention any specific conditions.

Recognizing the performance and increasing capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces, the assumption of full security responsibility by those Forces, and based upon the strong relationship between the Parties, an agreement on the following has been reached: 1. All the United States Forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory no later than December 31, 2011.

It's a timeline. Or a deadline depending on who you are. It's the exact same friggin thing most people have been saying for years, including Obama. Bush knew this, and it's why it was done.

The right screeched about any mention of any timeline. The same criteria applies today. All the insurgents could just be waiting for Dec '11 to strike back. And now the rightwing is applauding, even demanding, recognition for Bush when they were against this from the very beginning.

“Say, what do you think about Obama taking credit for the framework?”

He did not take credit for the framework, he is taking credit for being Commander-in-Chief in meeting the goals set out in the SOFA.

That's something you all said he wouldn't, or couldn't, do. And yet here we are.

The short term memory is baffling. Where is all the talk about cuttin' and runnin' now? The white flag of surrender?

Kingfisher

Wait, I thought a timeline was a wonderful idea. Isn't that what you liberal bitches wanted this whole time?

I thought we were creating “quadrillions” of terrorists every second we remained in Iraq.

That's right, it's time to deflect now that Obama is president. Let's avoid the issue.
StanW

Not what the post is about, Vega. Try to stay on topic.

D-Vega

I am right on topic, Stan. The right said no timeline should be used. Now they are demanding recognition for Bush, who does deserve credit, but Obama does as well as he is President and Iraq hasn't been on autopilot all this time.

This is simply a refusal to give Obama any credit. Ever.

StanW

Listen carefully, you simpering idiot. Obama is taking credit for something he had NOTHING to do with. THAT is the topic of this thread. Take your ignorant “You Hate Obama” lies with you when you run away again.

D-Vega

Nothing to do with?

The man is Commander-in-Chief, you bitter fool.
StanW

Who opposed the surge and denegrated anything and everything having to do with Iraq. He blames Bush for everythign that happens there… EXCEPT in the case of something he thinks will make him look good.

It is pathetic and hypocritical, and completely consistent for you to kiss his ass on this, Vega.
D-Vega

Who opposed a timeline, Stan?
StanW

I did, Vega, REPEATEDLY. When Bush talked about it, when the Democrats demanded on… I DID!!!
Norseman

“Who opposed the surge and denegrated anything and everything having to do with Iraq.”

Right on the money Stan. The trouble with the Bamster and his regime is that the American people are on to them. A poll came out today showing his approval rating at an all time low of 36%. The emperor has no clothes. The jig is up. Nothing left to do but to clean up the mess come November and throw this Jimmy Carter on steroids out on his ass in 2012.

Christopher_Taylor

There's always a withdrawal time line; announcing it before you've achieved victory is a sign of surrender and emboldens your enemies (see Afghanistan). Announcing it once you've won is a sign you've finished the job.

Consider: Truman announces withdrawal of US troops from Europe during the Battle of the Bulge. Its become a quagmire, its bringing home too many soldiers in body bags, we're wasting money, etc. Good idea or not? Plainly, not; it would not just embolden the Germans, but tell them all they have to do is wait a little while and they can win.

Withdrawing troops after Germany signed their unconditional surrender and Europe is well on the way to rebuilding… smart move.

But then, I'm sure you knew that already, you just had to throw out a trollish cheap shot for lack of anything you can possibly do to defend President Obama. Sorry your dream of leftist utopia is in tatters.

D-Vega

We announced it before we achieved victory, CT.

When exactly did we achieve victory in Iraq?

Try to avoid the ad hominem attacks, please.

At the time the SOFA was agreed on, not only had we not achieved victory, but there was a new President coming in.

Christopher_Taylor

We achieved victory in Iraq in 2003. We secured Iraq and had enough of the provinces stabilized and rebuilt that we could begin the withdrawal when the SOFA was announced (late 2008).

And what you call “ad hominem” is simply an accurate depiction of what you typed here. You know better, but can't resist crap stirring and trying to flail about somehow to defend President Obama who declared Iraq a complete failure, the surge a mistake, and the entire enterprise a quagmire as late as September 2008.

D-Vega

That doesn't make sense, CT. If we achieved victory in Iraq in 2003, then it means we achieved victory in Afghanistan in 2002. It would also mean that we could have set a timeline anytime after 2003.

We have achieved success in Iraq when they can protect themselves and prevent instability. That has yet to be seen since we still have so many troops there.

The timeline gave the Iraqis goal deadlines that had to be met, which is what I have been saying all along.

The President has maintained to this day that we took our eye off the ball with the invasion of Iraq, and he is correct.

The “complete failure” quote is attributing to Obama when he said efforts to stop the violence up to that point were a complete failure.

The surge, I would admit, was a mistake to oppose. I didn't necessary oppose it. I was weary of it because I felt it would all come down to how comitted the Iraqis were. I am happy to wrong when it means less people die and we can get troops out.
Christopher_Taylor

That doesn't make sense, CT. If we achieved victory in Iraq in 2003, then it means we achieved victory in Afghanistan in 2002. It would also mean that we could have set a timeline anytime after 2003.

We won the war to invade and destroy the armies of both nations in those years, yes. However, the troops needed to stay to pacify the area and rebuild, which is a much longer effort. Pulling out before that was done would leave the nation vulnerable to foreign powers (Iran, for example) and internal strife (“insurgents”).

I imagine you've not spent a lot of time studying military history, so you probably aren't aware of how this pattern works: you conquer a nation's army, then you rebuild. WW2 was a huge exception to the general rule, normally it takes decades, even centuries to reach the point Iraq is at right now. Some nations never get there (Ireland, for example).

Calling the right's support of eventual withdrawal when the job is done enough to support it hypocrisy when the right opposed withdrawal announcements too soon leaves you with two choices:

1. You're deliberately trolling as you previously admitted you do (“I sometimes post just to stir up trouble”)
2. You're stupid enough to think that the one withdrawal is equal to the other.

Which is it? Neither one is particularly attractive.

Norseman

The unmitigated gall of this clown! Apparantly Petey is one of the few imbeciles that still believes in the community organizer. His approval rating just came out and it is at an all time low of 36%. Unlike Petey, the American people are on to this imposter. Can anyone say bloodbath in November? It will be interesting to see how much this clown accomplishes without a Democrip Congress. As far as health care goes, the house can defund it until we get a real leader in the White House where it can be repealed. The regime has gone against the American people again and again and now the chickens are coming home to roost.
Christopher_Taylor

I think the withdrawal plan by President Bush was too early but there's nothing to do about it now but pray and hope.
D-Vega

I will say one thing that I think we all can agree on. It's a very, very good thing that we are at this point in Iraq, and all the credit goes to 1) our armed forces who had a very difficult goal, and 2) the Iraqi people, who realized that working with us could make their country a much better place.

It's still too early to declare victory, I think, but this is a good thing and in the end you guys can credit whomever you want. I am just glad it's better and let's worked towards the same goal in AfPak which is a lot more difficult.

StanW

We don't know it's a good thing yet, Vega… and we won't for a while. Because the terrorists knew this date was coming, and had the confidence that Obama woudl stab America in the back and stand by the date, there is a strong possibility that the terrorists have been low-keyed for a while and will ramp up their attacks once the troops are gone.

I just hope that (if there is a resurgence) that the Democrats won't do to the Iraqis what they did to the Vietnamese.

D-Vega

Wait, so now Obama is stabbing America in the bank by standing by this date?

You just said he had nothing to do with it, and didn't deserve credit.

You walked right into that one. You don't want to give Obama any credit for something positive, but would blame him for anything negative. You are truly full of crap.

StanW

Don't even try that Vega. What a pathetic jackass you are.

The withdrawal deadline was a bad idea. I don't care who did it. And I would have said the same thing if Bush was still in office. Obama is trying to take credit for something he didn't do, and America hating jerks like you think it is a good thing.

A firm withdrawal data while combat operations are ongoing is a plus to our enemy and a bad thing all around. I have been VERY consistent in saying that. YOU are the one that wants to give Obama credit for this withdrawal, then he is the one stabbing America in the back. You can;t have it both ways, Vega, although to try all the time.

D-Vega

So the timeline was bad, and Obama had nothing to do with it, so any problem you have should be with Bush then.

At least, following your ridiculous logic.
StanW

So why are you trying to defend Obama taking credit for it Vega? Here you admit that Obama had nothign to do with the timeline, so why aren't you calling him out for his hypocrisy?

Oh, that's right. You are incapable of giving a Republican credit for anything, but you will credit Obama with whatever you can call a sucess, whether he had anything to do with it or not.

I am amazed that you can type with your head and shoulders so far up Obama's ass!
D-Vega

My first post on the subject said:

“He did not take credit for the framework, he is taking credit for being Commander-in-Chief in meeting the goals set out in the SOFA.”

Pay attention.
StanW

Oh, so he gets to take credit because it happened on his watch? Is THAT what you are saying Vega?
D-Vega

He isn't taking credit for the timeline, but in reaching those goals. He is CoC, silly.
StanW

Silly? Seriously?

You are reverting back to that pissy little bitch again, Vega. I guess next you'll wet your panties and run away crying.

Interesting how you are willing to give Obama credit for being CoC when you think it's a positive. But you then turn around and blame “the mess Bush left” when it is uncomfortable for poor Barak.

What a pathetic joke you have become, Vega!

Christopher_Taylor

I'd add 3) A president in Bush who stood fast with the troops, defied the nay-sayers and defeatists, and gave the troops what they needed, when they needed it.

I understand you can't bring yourself to say that, Vega, so I had to say it for you.

D-Vega

Very well, CT. I should have included Bush.

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