Washblog

Lietta,

Although I have not yet heard the official statement from Obama, I am nevertheless pleased that he is finally making an official announcement on ending our military presence in Iraq. I am especially happy for you and your family and for the thousands of other families who have made the real sacrifices during this ill-conceived travesty.

Having said that, I will be taking a few minutes later today (over at the Left Shue) to express some of my reservations and lingering disappointments in, what in the end, may still be a victory for George W. Bush the neocon chicken-hawks who directed him.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

by The Left Shue on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 10:59:21 AM PST

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Where the announcement was made, the respect shown to the troops there and the respect shown to the advice from military. I'm not overjoyed that it will take so long, or the continued use of mercenaries. But, there is a plan. There is a plan. I'm especially happy that your daughter's family is being reunited.

by ktkeller on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 01:28:19 AM PST

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50,000 troops in Iraq?

I imagine that eventually the country will be so broke that we won't even be able to afford that many troops there.

by DWE on Sat Feb 28, 2009 at 07:30:53 AM PST

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Mission Accomplished.

Sounds familiar.

by jeffuppy on Sun Mar 01, 2009 at 02:45:28 PM PST

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Jeff,

I know our hearts are in the right place, but I try to keep in mind how useless and dispiriting it is to expect promises to be followed that were not made.  Obama was not elected to fulfill our dreams and wishes for him and his administration.  He was elected to follow the plan that he laid out and the campaign promises that he made on the campaign trail.  He did not say that he would remove all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, we only wish he had.  He did not say that he would de-fund the Pentagon, we only wish he had.  He did not say that he would reverse the Reagan Tax Cuts, we only wish he had.  He did not say that he would push Single Payer Universal Health Care, we only wish he had.

Barack Obama as a candidate pledged to listen to the commanders on the ground, and remove our combat forces from Iraq as soon as practical given the realities on the ground.  He spoke about a 16 month timeframe as his initial position before taking office.  He told us up front from the very beginning that he considered the real war to be in Afghanistan, and that he would increase troops in that theatre.

Let's be sure that we are not discouraging ourselves and our allies by trying to hold his administration to promises he did not make.  The only way we will accomplish what WE want is if we stay active and keep pushing.

Chad

by chadlupkes on Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 06:55:20 AM PST

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It is good and refreshing to have our president talk openly about "the war's end" and reflect the true financial cost as part of the budget.
We remain a long way form peace time though, with a huge embassy supported by 50,000 troops and who knows how many contractors in Iraq and a rotation of fighting forces in Afghanistan of unknown size and for an undetermined number of years.

Even so, we are taking steps forward for the first time in six years.

by Particle Man on Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 08:44:26 AM PST

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