President Obama issued a few brief remarks yesterday afternoon, after polls closed in Iraq. Most of it was fairly standard stuff -- glad to see the brave Iraqi people exercising their right to vote, terrorists tried and failed to disrupt the election, etc. -- but he also made a slightly interesting comment about the withdrawal timetable.
And as they go forward, the Iraqi people must know that the United States will fulfill its obligations. We will continue with the responsible removal of United States forces from Iraq. Indeed, for the first time in years, there are no -- now fewer than 100,000 American troops serving in Iraq. By the end of August, our combat mission will end. As I said last year when I announced our new strategy in Iraq, we will continue to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces, carry out targeted counterterrorism operations with our Iraqi partners, and protect our forces and civilians. And by the end of next year, all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq.
I emphasize that first sentence because it's the first time I've seen Obama frame the withdrawal in such a way -- as an American obligation to Iraq. For one thing, he's right: The end-of-2011 withdrawal is an obligation, both legally (pursuant to the status-of-forces agreement) and morally (most Iraqis want the U.S. to leave). Proponents of turning Iraq into Korea on the Tigris tend to overlook these two inconvenient facts.
It also seems like smart domestic politics -- casting the withdrawal as an agreed-upon bargain between the U.S. and Iraq, not a unilateral move by his administration. Makes it easier to short-circuit the inevitable bleating about an "irresponsible" or "hasty" U.S. pullout.
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Categories: Iraq, Iraqi Elections (2010), Obama Administration, Politics, Regional News, War and Terrorism, War in Iraq
Tags: Barack Obama, Iraq withdrawal, Iraqi elections, Status of Forces Agreement
1 Comment
Barack Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope," contains a appealing title. It has an idea of bravery mixed confidently. You'll find nothing Pollyanna about that. I won't support every part he tells, but he's our president, as well as for me, he inspires trust. Which will do more for just a region than any number of backroom deals. Hope gives us energy, and energy sustains us through trying times. Boy, we've had them. I'm from West Texas, and I did not vote for Bush. When McCain ran against Obama, I was a citizen of Arizona, but I gave audacious hope a chance. The fight for progress and laying the foundations of prosperity will not be over. I've seen the quips of those that don't think Obama can do it. But step back a second. Would anyone have all of us fail just to tarnish the star of an incumbent for whom they did not vote? Keeping our priorities straight, let's work together with this president and build our future.
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