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Republicans criticize Obama over Iraq withdrawal
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/21/8433344-republicans-criticize-obama-over-iraq-withdrawal
By msnbc.com's Michael O'Brien
Mitt Romney issued a scathing rebuke Friday of President Obama's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by year's end, joining a chorus of Republicans critical of the president's decision.
Romney sharply criticized the announcement this afternoon by Obama that all troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, fulfilling one of Obama's main promises from the 2008 campaign, that he would end the war in Iraq.
“President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women," Romney said in a statement. "The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government."
Romney's sentiment is in tune with what Republicans have said Friday afternoon; most GOP voices have expressed concern that the withdrawal would imperil progress made after almost nine years' worth of war in Iraq.
"I feel all we have worked for, fought for, and sacrificed for is very much in jeopardy by today’s announcement. I hope I am wrong and the President is right, but I fear this decision has set in motion events that will come back to haunt our country," said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the most vocal proponents of the war, in a statement.
Obama's decision Friday technically follows through on an agreement struck late during President George W. Bush's administration, which set a goal of rull withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2011. But Republicans have generally criticized Obama for having established timetables to pull out of both Iraq and Afghanistan, arguing that Obama should be more flexible to the requests of commanders on the ground.
"Today's announcement that we will remove all of our forces from Iraq is a political decision and not a military one; it represents the complete failure of President Obama to secure an agreement with Iraq for our troops to remain there to preserve the peace and demonstrates how far our foreign policy leadership has fallen," Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said in a statement. She said the U.s. should have demanded repayment for its cost of liberating Iraq, and demanded that Obama "return to the negotiating table with Iraq and lead from the front and not from weakness in Iraq and in the world."
Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a presidential candidate who's been one of the most critical Republicans of the war, even expressed skepticism toward's Obama's announcement.
"I bet the Embassy doesn't close down," he told NBC's Anthony Terrell in Iowa.
Herman Cain, in Detroit on Friday to promote his economic plan, also disagreed with Obama's decision.
"Whether or not its the right thing to do, I would consult with the commanders. The thing that I wouldn't do that the president is doing is telling the enemy how many troops you gonna bring out and when you're going to bring them out," he told NBC's Andrew Rafferty. "I believe our time there was worth it...But I would not have announced this big draw down, tell the enemy so they are going to basically position themselves."
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Democrats, by contrast, were supportive of the president’s announcement.
Obama "honored our international commitments and advanced our national security," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. "This is the right decision at the right time," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The announcement this afternoon by Obama, which came with short notice even to the media, seemed to have taken Republicans, including most of the presidential candidates, off-guard. Hours after Obama's announcement, most Republican leaders hadn't issued a statement on the withdrawal. And there was a protracted public dispute between the White House and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) over whether the administration had reached out to Boehner to brief the GOP Speaker on the decision before it was announced.
Boehner, in a statement, was less pointed in his criticism than some of his other GOP colleagues.
"While I’m concerned that a full withdrawal could jeopardize those gains, I’m hopeful that both countries will work together to guarantee that a free and democratic Iraq remains a strong and stable partner for the United States in the Middle East," he said.
An ally of Boehner, California Rep. Buck McKeon, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the decision in the same vein as most other Republicans.
"I remain concerned that this full withdrawal of US forces will make that road tougher than it needs to be. Multiple experts have testified before my committee that the Iraqis still lack important capacities in their ability to maintain their internal stability and territorial integrity," he said. "These shortcomings could reverse the decade of hard work and sacrifice both countries have endured to build a free Iraq."
By msnbc.com's Michael O'Brien
Mitt Romney issued a scathing rebuke Friday of President Obama's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by year's end, joining a chorus of Republicans critical of the president's decision.
Romney sharply criticized the announcement this afternoon by Obama that all troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, fulfilling one of Obama's main promises from the 2008 campaign, that he would end the war in Iraq.
“President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women," Romney said in a statement. "The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government."
Romney's sentiment is in tune with what Republicans have said Friday afternoon; most GOP voices have expressed concern that the withdrawal would imperil progress made after almost nine years' worth of war in Iraq.
"I feel all we have worked for, fought for, and sacrificed for is very much in jeopardy by today’s announcement. I hope I am wrong and the President is right, but I fear this decision has set in motion events that will come back to haunt our country," said South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the most vocal proponents of the war, in a statement.
Obama's decision Friday technically follows through on an agreement struck late during President George W. Bush's administration, which set a goal of rull withdrawal from Iraq by the end of 2011. But Republicans have generally criticized Obama for having established timetables to pull out of both Iraq and Afghanistan, arguing that Obama should be more flexible to the requests of commanders on the ground.
"Today's announcement that we will remove all of our forces from Iraq is a political decision and not a military one; it represents the complete failure of President Obama to secure an agreement with Iraq for our troops to remain there to preserve the peace and demonstrates how far our foreign policy leadership has fallen," Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said in a statement. She said the U.s. should have demanded repayment for its cost of liberating Iraq, and demanded that Obama "return to the negotiating table with Iraq and lead from the front and not from weakness in Iraq and in the world."
Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a presidential candidate who's been one of the most critical Republicans of the war, even expressed skepticism toward's Obama's announcement.
"I bet the Embassy doesn't close down," he told NBC's Anthony Terrell in Iowa.
Herman Cain, in Detroit on Friday to promote his economic plan, also disagreed with Obama's decision.
"Whether or not its the right thing to do, I would consult with the commanders. The thing that I wouldn't do that the president is doing is telling the enemy how many troops you gonna bring out and when you're going to bring them out," he told NBC's Andrew Rafferty. "I believe our time there was worth it...But I would not have announced this big draw down, tell the enemy so they are going to basically position themselves."
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Democrats, by contrast, were supportive of the president’s announcement.
Obama "honored our international commitments and advanced our national security," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. "This is the right decision at the right time," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The announcement this afternoon by Obama, which came with short notice even to the media, seemed to have taken Republicans, including most of the presidential candidates, off-guard. Hours after Obama's announcement, most Republican leaders hadn't issued a statement on the withdrawal. And there was a protracted public dispute between the White House and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) over whether the administration had reached out to Boehner to brief the GOP Speaker on the decision before it was announced.
Boehner, in a statement, was less pointed in his criticism than some of his other GOP colleagues.
"While I’m concerned that a full withdrawal could jeopardize those gains, I’m hopeful that both countries will work together to guarantee that a free and democratic Iraq remains a strong and stable partner for the United States in the Middle East," he said.
An ally of Boehner, California Rep. Buck McKeon, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, criticized the decision in the same vein as most other Republicans.
"I remain concerned that this full withdrawal of US forces will make that road tougher than it needs to be. Multiple experts have testified before my committee that the Iraqis still lack important capacities in their ability to maintain their internal stability and territorial integrity," he said. "These shortcomings could reverse the decade of hard work and sacrifice both countries have endured to build a free Iraq."
I have noticed that whenever Obama does something, the Republicans squall about it. Far beit from them to give a hi-five. It is soooo obvious at this point that whoever does not see it has selective sight and hearing. We ALL know that Bush started the war and we all know that bush set a withdrawel date. Facts of the matter are, Obama didnt have to do it, he chose to do it a year ago if we remember correctly? He is following up on his word and all but maybe 40 thou have already been withdrawn. As far as infrastructure, I heard, I think it was Rubio say that we need to stay and rebuild and this and that. Well wasn't he one of those saying in order to get fema here, it had to be dolla for dolla. I too am sick of the sideshow and the more time goes on the more sick I get. I passed a small group at the corner this morning while going to the store. It was a small teaparty group with signs saying remove Obama and the like. I stopped right at the light and wrote on the back window of my car, I am a 99er. The news will not hesitate to tell you that its almost 4 thou of our troops got killed in the Iraq war. Notice they did not tell you how many citizens over there died as a result of the war on terror? 1,455,590", and we wonder why they hate us so. YES it is time to come home. 9 years too late.
It will be definitely be a plus for Obamas approval ratings but you have to remember, we Americans have a short memory.
Our economy will not improve anytime in the near future and this will soon be forgotten when the economy takes the center stage back.
My personal opinion is, it will take a lot more than this to get him re-elected. Who knows, maybe Iran will invade Iraq forcing US intervention. Things like that seem to boost Presidents ratings.
Our economy will not improve anytime in the near future and this will soon be forgotten when the economy takes the center stage back.
My personal opinion is, it will take a lot more than this to get him re-elected. Who knows, maybe Iran will invade Iraq forcing US intervention. Things like that seem to boost Presidents ratings.
I am so fed up with the side show bickering.
Well, no doubt if it was the other way around then the opposite would be happening (ie. Dems screaming if the Republicans were withdrawing). I just think this could be a really bad thing for the Republicans. I mean, from what I see and hear, it seems the majority of Americans want out of there. And R, I agree...I don't think there is a darned thing more that can be done except hope that the new dictator isn't as bad as Saddam was. And it does seem Iran has far more influence there now then the US, which again, not a huge surprise. I don't think the west is going to come out of this with a friend in Iraq sadly. Same thing in Libya, same thing in Egypt. The middle east is seeing changes, but it's a long way from over. So to me, it really seems the Republican candidates/party are shooting themselves in the foot here (and I would say the same thing if the opposite was happening). I think this could wind up being a huge political issue that turns the tides for Obama.
As for using it politically? No doubt there. There were already democratic commentators on different news programs talking about Obama's success with terrorists....Bid Laden, Gadafi, and so on.
As for using it politically? No doubt there. There were already democratic commentators on different news programs talking about Obama's success with terrorists....Bid Laden, Gadafi, and so on.
They have been the way they are for as long as they have been in existence. We could stay there another 10 years and it wouldn’t change a thing. All they’re doing is waiting for us to leave. I hate to be pessimistic but I truly believe a Dictator is the only thing that can keep some places under control.
My only problem with the plan is, I don't know if we left them (Iraqi people/government) with the infrastructure to keep themselves on focus. I am horribly afraid that we will be back there in the very near future.... I hope to the highest of heavens that I am wrong. I'd love to be real wrong about this, but they say history repeats itself......
Withdrawal from Iraq is long over do and I’m glad we are finally pulling out.
I’m not so naïve to not see the political exploitation of Gadahfi’s death. It’s a win/win for Obama. While The U.S. was in the middle of rejoicing over the Tyrant’s death it would make perfect since to cash in and improve his slacking approval ratings, by announcing the Withdrawal from Iraq.
If it backfires all he has to do is blame it on Bush (like everything else) since the withdrawal date was established under the Bush Administration.
“Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities during Their Temporary Presence in Iraq is a status of forces agreement (SOFA) between Iraq and the United States. It establishes that U.S. combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and all U.S. forces will be completely out of Iraq by December 31, 2011”. This was under The Bush Adminastration.
Again, I’m excited about leaving Iraq but I can also see the Politics. As far as the Republicans complaining, is that supposed to be a Great Revelation? If Romney was President and he proclaimed a withdrawal date, the Dems would be cying. That is just the way it is.
I’m not so naïve to not see the political exploitation of Gadahfi’s death. It’s a win/win for Obama. While The U.S. was in the middle of rejoicing over the Tyrant’s death it would make perfect since to cash in and improve his slacking approval ratings, by announcing the Withdrawal from Iraq.
If it backfires all he has to do is blame it on Bush (like everything else) since the withdrawal date was established under the Bush Administration.
“Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities during Their Temporary Presence in Iraq is a status of forces agreement (SOFA) between Iraq and the United States. It establishes that U.S. combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and all U.S. forces will be completely out of Iraq by December 31, 2011”. This was under The Bush Adminastration.
Again, I’m excited about leaving Iraq but I can also see the Politics. As far as the Republicans complaining, is that supposed to be a Great Revelation? If Romney was President and he proclaimed a withdrawal date, the Dems would be cying. That is just the way it is.
Plus, the new Iraqi gov't has made it perfectly clear they no longer want the US there. You can't just stay when unwanted unless your going to make it an occupation. Honestly, this is ridiculous.
And if he had left the troops in he would have been critisized for that as well. It's always been obvious what they are doing, but after this? Super crystal clear. I think their reaction to this may have just won Obama a second term. The reality is that Iran has it's hooks deep into the new Iraqi gov't. Obama had two choices....send all the troops back in order to ensure enough were there to protect those left, or to withdraw and ensure the safety of all. Either way he would have been critisized. I get a lot of what the Republicans have been nattering about in terms of spending etc. But this was over the top and amazes me when you consider how many top Republicans have been screaming for total withdrawal. I think they just hooped themselves..seriously I do.
Oh Yea, lets just keep spending 3.8 billion a month on a war that was not needed......Of course he'll be criticized...He's Damned if he does and Damned if he doesn't.....
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