Obama Peddles Snake Oil on Iraq
The Illinois senator had a lot to say about the Iraq War in a recent speech. Unfortunately, his so-called policy is "just words."
On the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, Barack Obama stood in front of a hand-picked audience in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and lied to them.
“Fighting a war without end will not make the American people safer,” Obama told an audience of veterans, military family members, and local officials at Fayetteville Technical Community College. “When I am commander-in-chief, I will set a new goal on Day One: I will end this war … because it is the right thing to do for our national security and it will ultimately make us safer.”
So how would he get us out of Iraq?
Obama proposed pulling one or two combat brigades from Iraq each month, making a complete withdrawal –- enough troops would remain to guard the U.S. embassy and to provide a counter-terrorism strike force –- possible within 16 months.
Unless he hides powers even more messianic than his followers give him credit for, Barack Obama does not have the power to end the Iraq War. What he may have the power to do, if elected, is implement plans to withdraw American military forces from Iraq.
Perhaps for some in the United States this would be considered “ending the war.” For the Iraqis and other citizens of the region, however, the abandonment of Iraq by Barack Obama would likely be viewed in much darker terms, as an event that may trigger a far more bloody regional war.
Obama’s stated plan — indeed, a plan he reiterated in Fayetteville — is to begin an immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq once he becomes president, at a rate of one to two brigades (up to 5,000 personnel per brigade) per month, for a complete withdrawal in 16 months.
But that rate of withdrawal is not possible.
Maj. Gen. Michael Diamond, deputy director of the logistics directorate at U.S. Central Command, stated in 2007 that it would take two years “to do it right” and bring about an orderly withdrawal from Iraq. A withdrawal of American forces from Kuwait after the 1991 Gulf War took 18 months, a feat that required moving three times as many men, but moving them a much shorter distance and through non-hostile territory. A headlong withdrawal from Iraq is unlikely to be peaceful as the security situation diminishes as a result of the pace Obama promises.
Samantha Power, who was an Obama insider and foreign policy advisor until recently calling Hillary Clinton a “monster” and stepping down from the campaign, admitted during an interview on the BBC TV show Hardtalk that Obama’s 16-month withdrawal timetable isn’t really a commitment, but just a “best-case scenario,” “crafted as a presidential candidate.”
Removing American combat forces and their equipment, shutting down American bases in an orderly manner, and removing tons of military-generated toxic waste created by the conflict will take 20 months or longer.
Barack Obama cannot honor his stated commitment to withdraw all American combat units within 16 months without instituting a disorderly retreat that leaves behind billions of dollars of equipment purchased by the American taxpayer, toxic waste, and a gaping security vacuum that will lead to a far higher loss of innocent civilian lives.
That the Iraqi government and the governments of bordering nations also recommend against a forced retreat and may be drawn into a regional conflict in order to protect their own national interests seems to have fallen upon deaf ears in the Obama campaign, which cares far more about manufacturing a foreign policy position based on domestic political consumption than pragmatic realities in the region.
No reputable expert, allied nation, or regional partner backs such a headlong retreat as the Obama campaign continually promises.
Obama cannot honor his commitment.
Barack Obama’s pledge to withdraw from Iraq in just 16 months after taking office if elected is unsustainable rhetoric — “just words.”
Bob Owens blogs at Confederate Yankee.
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10 Comments
1. Ed Wallis:Snake oil indeed….
(gets good around 00:26 sec.)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_bkXNfvGHvk
Mar 21, 2008 - 2:48 am 2. rvastar:Of course it’s all bullsh**, Mr. Owens, but do you honestly think that matters to your typical Obama supporter? The last thing they’re concerned with is what he’ll actually do when he’s elected…all they care about is the self-involved gratification they’ll feel when he’s elected.
Leftists will get to feel good about themselves because they got a fellow Leftist elected.
Your “typical white person” will get to feel good about themselves because they showed how oh-so cosmopolitan they are by voting for a black man.
Blacks will get to feel good about themselves for…well, you get the point.
And it isn’t going to matter what happens in Iraq…at least not in the short term. You know why? Because any eventuality that could possibly be harmful to Obama – which, by extension means anything harmful to the Leftist agenda – will simply be repackaged and/or ignored by the Western media.
If he breaks his campaign promise and keeps troops in Iraq (which he will), look for the media to create some new meme explaining why it was absolutely crucial for him to do so. They will then use a combination of ceaseless supporting editorials and minimal hard news coverage to beat the American people across the head with this meme for the following year until the sheep swallow it.
If he actually does withdraw precipitously and there is a bloodbath, guess what?…you’ll hear next to nothing about it…except how it’s really the fault of the Bush Administration and the “intractable” Iraqis.
For he is, remember, the Alpha and the Obama!
Mar 21, 2008 - 11:15 am 3. Angry African:Uh, duh guys. The war is over – didn’t you hear the speech by President Bush a few years back? Mission accomplished. And according to Cheney and Bush everything is just so fine over there. People playing in the parks and having picknicks. So Obama will have no problem to get our troops out of there. Shock, horror. Don’t tell me that we were lied to? Could it be that this honorable administration somehow lied to us. Not them. And of course mac knows all about the war – just can’t remember detail like Iraq and Iran and the Sonny’s and Cher’s over there. More on my blog on this. http://angryafrican.net/2008/03/21/views-on-the-weekly-news-2/
Mar 21, 2008 - 12:06 pm 4. Ed Wallis:As a President you just need one bit of experience. Being right in the past. Obama was. Hillary and McCain not. One against the war. Two for the war. Why should I pick those who got us in a wrong war to get us out?
Sorry AA, Your apologia is wrong again. NObama wasn’t in the Senate when the vote took place. Have fun at your own undoubtedly successful website (advertising too expensive?).
Mar 21, 2008 - 12:13 pm 5. jrdroll:WASHINGTON – In July of 2004, the day after his speech at the Democratic convention catapulted him into the national spotlight, Barack Obama told a group of reporters in Boston that the United States had an “absolute obligation” to remain in Iraq long enough to make it a success.
Mar 21, 2008 - 5:22 pm 6. John the Libertarian:http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/03/08/obama_stance_on_iraq_shows_evolving_view/
Obama is done. His 20-year association with Rev. Wright is more damaging than the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth.
Most Democrats are in denial of just how much trouble they’re in. It remains to be seen that if, in a desperate Clintonian grasp for power, the Democrat Party as we know it will select Hillary and damage the party beyond repair.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer party.
G’day, mates.
Mar 21, 2008 - 9:58 pm 7. Cid:Obamasa already sees himself as commander-in-chief, but what army? May be of the demons of the New Black Panther Party and Farrakhan’s Islam Nation?
Mar 22, 2008 - 12:36 pm 8. Claire W Solt, PhD:Maybe we should amend the war powers act and constitution to require lawmakers consult obscure state senators before voting on the use of force. It just didn’t occur to anyone that know nothings like Obama would claim superior judgment,
Mar 22, 2008 - 9:01 pm 9. Michael T:Don’t be taken in by Obama. He is a smoothtalker and he exudes the freshness of youth that many mistake for talent and ability. In Canada in the late 60’s we had a similar phenomenon by the name of Pierre Eliot Trudeau, who sold us a bill of goods with his youth and fresh approach to politics. He mesmerised the country, became our Prime Minister and ruined the country socially and economically.There is an excellent article in today’s National Post newspaper(available online) describing this issue. It’s a must read for all Americans.
Mar 25, 2008 - 8:27 am 10. The Red Pill:“As a President you just need one bit of experience. Being right in the past. Obama was.”
You mean like he was right in his past dealings with Rezko?
Mar 27, 2008 - 5:54 pm