Declaring "Victory" On "Residual Forces"

By Big Tent Democrat, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 01:44:13 PM EST
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This is pretty funny from Chris Bowers:

In September of 2007, President Obama refused to promise to remove all troops from Iraq by January 20th, 2013. Now, he has promised to remove them all by December 31st, 2011. That is a positive shift. This is huge for no residual forces proponents.

Heh. Now I support President Obama's policy, and always understood the residual forces "issue" to be nonsense (I think Richardson did not even know what he was saying when some seized upon it as a rallying cry.) But I like Chris' declaring victory on the "issue" - so residual forces for 3 more years is "victory" now for the anti-"residual forces" folks. Well, good for Chris. Me, I think the declaration of a date certain for the end of our combat mission in Iraq is the big win here. But to each his own.

Speaking for me only

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Declaring "Victory" On "Residual Forces" | 13 comments (13 topical)

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Ugh.....whatever......okay (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Militarytracy on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 02:53:20 PM EST

I'm glad he's happy today because everyone needs a happy day.

Absolutely hilarious (none / 0) (#1)
by andgarden on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 02:01:14 PM EST

given what he said yesterday:

Why is anyone surprised on this now?

That was referring to a different "this."

Heh (none / 0) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 02:03:41 PM EST

Didn't see that one. What a difference a day makes.

the funny thing is how easy will it be for Obama to say the Iraqis want residual forces for another couple of years? easy as pie.


: Yup. (none / 0) (#3)
by andgarden on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 02:06:52 PM EST

: Withdrawal? Sure. In 2025 or so... (none / 0) (#10)
by tokin librul on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 08:00:40 AM EST

If the Iraqis don't "ask" that the troops remain, we just flip the strongmen til Ahmad Chalabi takes over and does what he's told...

"Victory" On "Residual Forces" (none / 0) (#4)
by dualdiagnosis on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 02:10:21 PM EST

I have to agree with the idea that Richardson didn't know what he was talking about here, he pretty much showed that he had no idea what he was talking about the whole campaign.

The SOFA is the promise to remove all troops, passed during the Bush administration. Obama would have to rip that apart if he wanted to keep troops there longer.

: Tell it to Bowers (none / 0) (#5)
by Big Tent Democrat on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 02:13:50 PM EST

i think you're right (none / 0) (#7)
by blogname on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 06:11:49 PM EST

and i had the same impression

WSWS: Obama to continue US military occupation (none / 0) (#8)
by Andreas on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 12:37:53 AM EST

Obama announces plan to continue US military occupation of Iraq
By Joseph Kishore, 28 February 2009

A victory ? (none / 0) (#11)
by Bornagaindem on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 08:10:43 AM EST

Has no one noticed that the date December 31st, 2011 is the date Obama agrees with now because that is what the Iraqi government told us must happen? ALL american forces must be out by the end of 2011. How is that a victory for any one? Even Bushie baby acknowledged that date.

: Um, I noticed (none / 0) (#12)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 08:33:07 AM EST

: Kinda The Point Of The Thread, No? (none / 0) (#14)
by squeaky on Sun Mar 01, 2009 at 03:03:27 PM EST

In any case, considering what McCain promised, and how seriously BushCo took anything Iraq, or any country for that matter, said.
This seems like a good thing. Imagine the US president respecting Iraqi law. That is a new and recent development, if you hadn't noticed.

Bittersweet - Major Combat Operations Have Ended (none / 0) (#13)
by john horse on Sun Mar 01, 2009 at 10:16:58 AM EST

Obama's announcement came almost six years to the day that George Bush declared on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended."

Bush will only be off by 8 years, over 4,000 Americans killed, and over 30,000 wounded.

Obama's announcement was bittersweet. On the one hand this war will finally be over. On the other hand, I am sorry that this war couldn't have been ended sooner.