This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so co-operate with the President elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterwards.
(Abraham Lincoln, early August 1864)
If Obama is elected president this coming November, Iraq devolves into chaos. So Lincoln’s lament above in 1864 has an echo for George Bush today. If Obama is elected in November, he is going to have to work with the new President to prepare Iraq as quickly as possible to be abandoned.
Roland Martin: If you are elected what is the very first thing that you focus on as Commander in Chief of this country?Barack Obama: Well, we will call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I will give them a new assignment and that is to bring our troops home in a careful, responsible way, but to end this occupation in Iraq. I will call in my Secretary of State and initiate the diplomacy that’s needed to make sure that exit is accompanied by negotiations between the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.
Obama responds to a number of revealing questions, including discussing how he would stop the tax breaks for the wealthy.
As far as the claim that he lacks experience, Obama pointed out that if he lacks experience how is he out organizing political campaigns that have been running for years.
It does no good to point out the idiotic naivete of this “plan” Might it not have occurred to the Iranians and Syrians that Obama’s stupidity offers them the opportunity to simply stall in hopes that the inexperienced and ultimately desperate American would give them most of what they want in his haste to abandon the Iraqis?
And what does Obama think the US government has been tearing its hair out trying to do for the last 4 years with the religious factions in Iraq? Is Obama such a witless child that he believes all we have to do is snap our fingers and everything will be sweetness and light with the Sunnis and Shias?
Not that this matters to the left. Or the American people for that matter. Obama’s election would have been secured as a result of his stated desire to abandon Iraq – no residual forces, no “permanent” bases. Hopefully, he will be gracious enough to allow a small Marine guard at the embassy although whether they will be armed or not will probably be the stuff of a dramatic Senate debate.
Hence, Bush would be in the position that Lincoln never found himself thanks to Admiral Farragut’s stunning victory in Mobile Bay in August of 1864 and ultimately, Sherman’s taking of Atlanta on September 1; he would have to do his best between November 4, 2008 and January 20, 2009 to make Iraq secure because once Obama gets into office, the mission alters dramatically.
If I thought for a minute Obama could pull off a coup that would insure Iraq’s stability both internally and externally while getting our troops home at the same time, I would vote for him in a heartbeat. But in the real world, it is not doable nor is it likely, nor is it even a fantasy.
It is the platitudinous mouthings of a dangerously naive man. But with the American people wild for change, whatever his shortcomings in foreign policy will be forgiven thanks to the desire for a “Why can’t we all get along” kind of government.
7:28 pm
Rick-
If Obama is elected in November, he is going to have to work with the new President to prepare Iraq..
I think you meant to say “Congress” here…
8:44 pm
I look at the ignorance (or willingness to ignore facts for the sake of votes) of the front runners,in both parties,and hang my head in amazement and fear.
You know, we have our military fighting and dying all over the world from Iraq to South America, to the Philippines. People need to realize that Iraq is a battle, NOT a war. Walk away from the battle, you’ll lose the war.
9:04 pm
Yes. He is a Democrat, after all.
10:04 pm
The dumbest thing he said was how could he be considered so inexperienced if he was out organizing political campaigns that have been running for years.
Does he actually believe sane people think it is his political skills that is producing his current results.
I knew this guy was arrogant, but even this took me back a little.
10:24 pm
Barack Obama increasingly looks like someone better suited to teaching graduate students at a pretty good college in the Midwest. He makes the peanut farmer from Plains look as wordly as Machievelli.
7:17 am
Lemmings out there “voting for change,” as if doing so is synonymous with progress, have been seduced by naive idealists whose understanding of the world’s problems is about as deep as their heartfelt deliveries of the “solutions” are sincere.
12:16 pm
For those interested in reading thought-through arguments for peaceful prevention of war, see the following booklet from FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker organization), written partially in response to pleas from people who were unable to answer the question “if war is not the answer, what is?”.
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/int/sup/ppdc_booklet.htm
It, and some of the other publications on the site, are worth reading, rather that just skimming for code words then mocking.
Iraq is a hard case. Currently (according to the site) FCNL is lobbying for “New Diplomatic Offensive for Iraq Act (H.R. 3797)” and S. 2130. As Rick says, the huge problem is preventing civil war/warlordism after we leave.
3:35 pm
Ultimately we will be completely leaving Iraq any way. The military cannot maintain the current forces there for much longer, as it is being worn down, and the American people will not tolerate it. The bases that were supposedly being built are likely for the Iraqi forces we are training. There likely never was a plan to stay long range. No matter who wins the next election the US will be withdrawing from Iraq.
What is not being discussed about the so called “occupation” is Iraq has a soverign government now. It may not be as effective as we might like but it is a soverign government non the less. Some of the Iraqi leaders have said US forces are still needed. Ideally the wishes of those Iraqis and Iraqi leaders who trusted us should be taken into account.
Even so, the primary goal of American leaders needs to be to look out for American interests. The US cannot remain in Iraq. The American people will not support it and the military is being worn down to the point that it cannot maintain the forces there. In addtion to this, whlile the US is busy in Iraq and to a lesser extent Afghanistan far greater threats to American national security of Russia and China are being virtually ignored. This will need to change.
A premature withdrawl from Iraq will be a huge victory for the forces of Islamic terrorism and a huge defeat for us. If we will secure the borders, fully develop our own oil and gas reserves, build more refineries, and palce a moratorium on immigration from Muslim countries it is very likely that we can mitigate this defeat.