Obama on the Surge: “Had Those Political Factors Not Occurred, I Think That My Assessment Would Have Been Correct”
Email"I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence" in Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, said in January 2007. "In fact, I think it will do the reverse."
In Baghdad yesterday, after a day spent witnessing the reduction in violence in Iraq, Obama was asked by ABC News’ Terry Moran if he was wrong..
"Here is what I will say," Obama said, "I think that, I did not anticipate, and I think that this is a fair characterization, the convergence of not only the surge but the Sunni awakening in which a whole host of Sunni tribal leaders decided that they had had enough with Al Qaeda, in the Shii’a community the militias standing down to some degrees. So what you had is a combination of political factors inside of Iraq that then came right at the same time as terrific work by our troops. Had those political factors not occurred, I think that my assessment would have been correct."
Obama went on to say "the fact is that there was a combination, I think. Look, the troops and General Petreaus and Ambassador Crocker deserve enormous credit for that and that is credit that I have given publicly. And I will say, again this is the danger of politics is that I can probably show you a couple of other quotes, in which I said ‘Look, whenever you put US soldiers on the ground, in those particular areas, they are going to have an impact.’ So it wasn’t any doubt that you have an additional 20 thousand troops and where they are right there it is going to have an impact."
"Well, you were saying that it would not make a significant dent in the violence," Moran said.
"In the violence in Iraq overall, right," Obama acknowledged. "So the point that I was making at the time was that the political dynamic was the driving force between that sectarian violence. And we could try to keep a lid on it, but if these underlining dynamic continued to bubble up and explode the way they were, then we would be in a difficult situation. I am glad that in fact those political dynamic shifted at the same time that our troops did outstanding work."
Moran asked what Iraq would look like now if Obama’s policy of withdrawing in the face of the violence had been implemented.
"That is a hard thing to speculate," Obama said, "The Sunnis might have made the same decisions at that time. The Shii’as might have made some similar decisions based on political calculation. There was ethnic cleansing in Baghdad that actually took the violence level down. And so, as I said before. Nobody has a crystal ball. If we did you just hire the guy with the crystal ball."
Obama maintained that his decision was not wrong. "In the meantime we have spent an additional 200-to-300 billion dollars. The situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated, by every measure. Al Qaeda is still running loose, right. So the problem with these debates is that, if you focus narrowly on the tactics inside of Iraq then you get one perspective. If on the other hand, your job, which I believe is the president’s job, is to make a series of difficult choices and calculations about what is going to lead to our long term security then you get a different perspective. What I’ve been trying to push throughout this campaign is for that broader view."
Obama continued: "And listen, here is something that I probably don’t say often enough. John McCain doesn’t want to see us take a wrong strategy when it comes to fighting the war on Terror. I think John McCain wants to see America safe just like I do. And so I respect his best judgments in many of these issues, but I think it’s important to recognize that on the majority of issues that we’ve faced in terms of foreign policy, not just over the past 4 years but over the past 6, 7 years that my batting average is pretty darn good."
If you had to do it over again, Moran asked, knowing what you know now, would you support the surge?
"No," Obama said. "These kinds of hypotheticals are very difficult. Hindsight is 20/20. But I think that what I am absolutely convinced of is at that time we had to change the political debate because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with and one that I continue to disagree with is to look narrowly at Iraq and not focus on these broader issues."
- jpt
White House Blinks Amid Catholic Church Anger? 
Navy SEAL Commander Advised: Get the Hell Out of the Media
The Obama was wrong then, the Obama is wrong now. The Obama is wrong for America.
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Consider voting for Not-the-Obama!
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | July 22, 2008, 2:04 am 2:04 am
Obama is putting his foot deep inside his mouth.
BTW did you hear Obama has a back up airplane for the extra press it is called ‘WITHDRAWAL TWO”
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli | July 22, 2008, 2:14 am 2:14 am
Obama the man to twist and turn and alter things to suit himself and make it look like he is always right.
What a pathetic soul he is and a poor excuse of a candidate.
Has there been anyone so self centered, egotistical and arrogant as obama?
I think not!
Posted by: seah | July 22, 2008, 2:31 am 2:31 am
McCain is a lame duck.
Face it, and move on.
Posted by: Sam | July 22, 2008, 2:37 am 2:37 am
McCain VOTED for the WAR!
Judgment?
Posted by: Sam | July 22, 2008, 2:38 am 2:38 am
The Great Obama is never wrong even when he is wrong according to the Great Obama. He is such a dud. He is not fit to be commander in chief.
Posted by: Mary | July 22, 2008, 2:42 am 2:42 am
The surge is just Iraq’s “peace with honor.”
Shiites are behaving until we leave and then they will tilt toward Tehran.
At best we will have an Iraq divided into 3 parts. The Kurds near Turkey, the Sunnis in the middle and west and the Shiites in the south and east.
Iran will get control/great influence of the southern oil areas. This was made possible by the ill-thought invasion.
Posted by: Last Call | July 22, 2008, 2:48 am 2:48 am
Obama is just great!
Intelligent, introspective, young, strong, well spoken, knowledgeable, well mannered, soft spoken and non-reactive.
Obama is the best America can hope for…all the rest is old kitchen cloths.
Republicans would love to have a candidate like Obama…
Posted by: Andy | July 22, 2008, 3:01 am 3:01 am
John McCain is not the solution for America’s problems in terms of security both international or national. The man doesn’t realize that the border between Pakistan and Iraq is Iran. Before you folks seek to elect the man, you should at least request that he take a geography class or at least basic training in geopolitics.
The simple fact is that Barack has made the decision to go and see for himself the “progress in Iraq” that all of us have paid dearly for – not only in terms of American lives lost fighting in a country that had no links to Al-Queda (or 9/11) prior to our arrival but financially for which our childrens’ children will be in debt for. At some point, the Neo-cons are going to have to take solace in the fact that victory may just be nothing more than the toppling of Saddam.
We need to wrap up this debacle as soon as possible and bring our brave military personnel home to their families. There is no doubt that they have done everything asked of them, but enough is enough. This war has done nothing to quell the violence or secure us and has come at too great a price to our country.
Let’s move on from the last 8 years and evolve as Darwin said…
Posted by: awakenedinLA | July 22, 2008, 3:17 am 3:17 am
It’s like a slap in the face for the military for Obama to make those statements!!Lima Company & others took massive casualties fighting the insurgents from town to town, and did it with courage & pride. If Obama is elected it will be mass chaos again, just like vietnam. We know we have a job to do in afghanistan,and we are doing it. We always step up & do it, with our allies and Gods grace.We will accomplish these things.Please don’t let the Obama fad brainwash you. He says he can do EVERYTHING!!!! But he’s a fairy tale.
Posted by: Beth Lunsford | July 22, 2008, 3:18 am 3:18 am
By the way, some troops staying in Iraq will ensure that all the shias’ don’t collude with Iran & shut off the oil supply. This is what Iran is counting on, & with John McCain it won’t happen. Some of you ObamaFANS need to learn foreign policy.Hey, maybe you could take classes with him!!By the way, he went to Harvard & either studied law or became a lawyer. No wonder he can tell you anything and you’ll believe it.Not me. I’m smarter!
Posted by: Beth Lunsford | July 22, 2008, 3:38 am 3:38 am
Well our terrific soldiers only succeeded because the Sunni awakening—-good thing to say to the world if you are going to be the President of the US.
Posted by: Anne | July 22, 2008, 4:25 am 4:25 am
Obama is the new AL GORE
Posted by: youii | July 22, 2008, 6:43 am 6:43 am
Yikes. And did you guys see the airplane dude is flying around in? With his logo on the side? Damn, scary. Hail the new master, folks… symbols and all.
Something about him going over there playing president doesn’t sit well with me, and I am a democrat. I think this guy is a media creation, one more tool to keep the american people distracted and dumbed down with fancy words and rhedoric. Just because he’s a democrat doesn’t make it better.
We are screwed, really screwed.
Posted by: Disgruntled Democrat | July 22, 2008, 8:00 am 8:00 am
Why not admit the surge helped? It doesn’t mean we should stay in Iraq. John McCain is no idiot.
Posted by: rafraf | July 22, 2008, 8:08 am 8:08 am
the surse or splurge is just what it is –an attempt to make bush and repub partsy look a little better before getting KICKED out of office—-nothing more and nothing less—be real–trying to justify the unjustifiable.
Posted by: rodney | July 22, 2008, 8:08 am 8:08 am
“My batting average is pretty darn good.” This whole discussion gets down to being right rather than being deeply concerned about what’s right for the country. None of us want to hear bragging and self-defense, we want to hear leadership and courage.
Posted by: rafraf | July 22, 2008, 8:13 am 8:13 am
Yup the surge worked, and we’ll be greeted as liberators, and oil will pay for the war, and tax cuts pay for themselves, and the check’s in the mail, and I won’t cu… Suckers
Posted by: AkaDad | July 22, 2008, 8:15 am 8:15 am
Obama committed an incredible blunder by going to Iraq then discussing and announcing policy as if he were the President. A US Senator does not set unilateral policy and an experienced politician does not presume on the chain of command. Once again, Obama has shown his lack of experience and his dominating arrogant ambition. Ignoring the fact of the success of the surge shows how he places himself above the accomplishments of the US troops, the effective policies of the commanders, and the good of the country.
The man is not suitable.
Posted by: len | July 22, 2008, 8:24 am 8:24 am
bush is living proof as to what bad government is like and mccain is his brother—we do not need or want 4 or 8 years of the same dumb irrisponsible crap—what a price we have paid–and that is a fact
Posted by: rodney | July 22, 2008, 8:24 am 8:24 am
I was willing to give Obama a chance but the fact that he went over there and negotiated policy shows his lack of experience. I’m leaning toward McCain. Leadership is more important than electing a rock star.
Posted by: Steve | July 22, 2008, 8:33 am 8:33 am
If pride truly does goeth before a fall,Obama is gonna fall hard, very hard. He is the most sinfully proud, arrogan person I have ever seen. NO OBAMA NO WAY
Posted by: dazey | July 22, 2008, 8:36 am 8:36 am
…and if I were three inches taller, I’d be 5’6″. Unbearable, truly unbearable. The man is narcissistic to the point of psychosis. Folks, do some reading on “Narcissism” — he is the classic case. Please wake up!!!
Posted by: dazy | July 22, 2008, 8:40 am 8:40 am
Obama cannot admit he was wrong. Who does that remind you of? It reminds me of Bush, another inexperienced leader but sly politician who got elected to office by catering to the zealots of his party while conniving more moderate voters into electing him.
Posted by: HoosierSue | July 22, 2008, 8:46 am 8:46 am
it is very lame when repubs compare obama to their bushy failure–and promote mccain—–bomb bomb iran
Posted by: rodney | July 22, 2008, 8:52 am 8:52 am
WAKE UP FOLKS….PLS DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS MAN. HE MAY BE A DECENT MAN …CHARISMATIC AND A A FANTASTIC SPEAKER WITH A GOOD HEART ….BUT HE IS NOT READY YET.
Posted by: satish raman | July 22, 2008, 8:59 am 8:59 am
satish
and mccain is—???????????????????
Posted by: rodney | July 22, 2008, 9:00 am 9:00 am
Spin, Spin, Spin
Obama tries to spin, twist, manipulate anything to try to right
Obama is evil
Obama does Lie
Obama does manipulate innocent minds
Obama will Destory America
Obama will destroy your life.
You are being used by Obama.
Posted by: eahs | July 22, 2008, 9:06 am 9:06 am
Sen. Obama: “Had those political factors not occurred, I think that my assessment would have been correct.”
Translation: “Had we not begun to win the battle of Iraq we would have failed like I said all along!”
AwakenedinLA, you wrote: “This war has done nothing to quell the violence or secure us and has come at too great a price to our country.” I thank God that our founding father’s didn’t have that attitude 2/3 of the way through our Revolutionary War.
How much is too great a price to defeat the Islamic extremists?
While Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, Saddam Hussein had given more than $10 million to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers (up to $25,000 per family). And Saddam Hussein had several of his own terrorist training camps spread throughout Iraq. Saddam Hussein supported terrorism. He is gone! Those terrorist training camps are now gone!
We cannot defeat the Islamic extremists on the battlefield alone. We need to change their mindset. A democratic Iraq and Afghanistan that are able to defend themselves, govern themselves and sustain themselves, with thriving economies, will be great role models for their neighbors. Spreading democracy throughout the Middle East is only one small step towards changing the mindset in the Middle East. The root of the problem–the Israel-Palestinian conflict–must be solved with the two-state solution. But also, the Muslim schools must end the indoctrination of their youth with their curricula of hatred towards Israel and Western Civilization. THAT is the only way that we will defeat the Islamic extremists.
But if the American electorate feels that this investment is just too costly and not worth the effort, so be it! I, for one, pray that we don’t give up on the Middle East. Because if we do, it may take a few years or even a decade or two, but giving up on the Middle East will eventually come back to bite us. The next time won’t be just four planes used as missiles. Our future will be filled with IEDs and suicide bombings “from sea to shining sea.”
Posted by: James Danley | July 22, 2008, 9:08 am 9:08 am
And, to think that for the next 10 years he might be president of these 58 states!
Posted by: Thank God for Karma | July 22, 2008, 9:15 am 9:15 am
The republicans continue to be one tactic thinkers…this argument over the surge is out touch with what is really going on in the world and how it operates. McCain needs to go back the senate and fast.
Posted by: leslie | July 22, 2008, 9:22 am 9:22 am
God forbid we get attacked here again, because we went to Iraq, which allowed Osama freedom to plot more attacks.
Posted by: AkaDad | July 22, 2008, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Obama
one lie..after another lie..after another lie
THE CHICAGO ANNENBERG CHALLENGE…!!!!
Posted by: bruce | July 22, 2008, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Gee, absolutely shocked that Obama is flip-flopping yet again on yet another issue. (rolling eyes repeatedly)
Posted by: D'Obama | July 22, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am
RE: Chicago Annenberg Challenge:
So once again it surfaces that Barack has been lieing about his achievements and his connections to Ayers, fudging on his resume, doctoring his past to cover up his lack of good judgement?
Wow. Whatta shocker.
Patiently awaiting the spin doctor to come tell us he was only mildly involved and actually never met with these people. Yawn…
Posted by: len | July 22, 2008, 10:33 am 10:33 am
Can this guy talk straight??? and they thought Bush was arrogant and can not admit a mistake. Obama is more like Bush than McCain seems to be
Posted by: frieda | July 22, 2008, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Obama is incredible. The man can correctly predict the lotto drawing each and every time. Well, it’s not Obama’s fault the wrong numbers came up. Obama had the right numbers.
Posted by: geevill | July 22, 2008, 10:43 am 10:43 am
May be Obama does not realize that the Sunnis/Shias made those decisions because of the surge. May be Obama does not understand because he got into Harvard due to affirmative action.
Posted by: Roger Miller | July 22, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am
McCain must focus on the surge. It’s all he has going for him right now.
And Obama is right. You cannot discount other factors that contributed to success. Had the Sunnis been fighting against us instead of with us against Al Qaeda, the surge may not have succeeded in bringing down violence.
Posted by: cincyr | July 22, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am
“my batting average is pretty darn good”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 11:53 am 11:53 am
“Obama continued: “And listen, here is something that I probably don’t say often enough. John McCain doesn’t want to see us take a wrong strategy when it comes to fighting the war on Terror. I think John McCain wants to see America safe just like I do. And so I respect his best judgments in many of these issues, but I think it’s important to recognize that on the majority of issues that we’ve faced in terms of foreign policy, not just over the past 4 years but over the past 6, 7 years that my batting average is pretty darn good.”
A. MEN.
Posted by: Nobodys fool | July 22, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Let’s see- the surge worked but Obama still would not have voted for it.
And they say he doesn’t want to lose the war.
Hmmmm
Posted by: drjohn | July 22, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am
“So once again it surfaces that Barack has been lieing about his achievements and his connections to Ayers, fudging on his resume, doctoring his past to cover up his lack of good judgement?”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 11:56 am 11:56 am
“..over the past 6, 7 years that my batting average is pretty darn good.”
Jeremiah Wright
Tony Rezko
Michael Phleger
William Ayers
Bernadatte Dohrn
Jim Johnson
For FISA, against FISA
For guns, against guns
For death penalty, against dath penalty
Yup, pretty darned good.
6-7 years? Does he mean the 6-7 years he’s been a US Senator or the 6-7 years since he’s been President?
Posted by: drjohn | July 22, 2008, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Our military is awesome, but still we are in Iraq. We went to Iraq for “WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION”. There were no weapons of mass destruction so we came up with excuses to stay because this administartion was wrong and didn’t want to admit it. We stayed to calm down a civil war. That is NOT America’s job. We should have kept our focus on Osama Bin Laden like Obama and other democrats have been saying all along.So what the violence is down in Iraq. Was our purpose for invading Iraq to calm down violence.This context that McCain and his supporters of this dumb and costly war want to put us in is sad.We need to leave Iraq. We should have never invaded Iraq. Iraq was NOT responsible for 9/11. Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda in Afganistan was the source of terrorism that attacked us. President Bush capitalized off our vulnerability after 9/11 and used our military to take out an adversary he wanted to get all along.Bush said, ” After all this is the guy who tried to kill my dad”.Fighting terrorism means getting the number one terrorist….Osama Bin Laden.Osama Bin Laden is NOT in Iraq!
Posted by: TV | July 22, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
“..over the past 6, 7 years that my batting average is pretty darn good.”
So the Pretend-to-be President is now pretending to be a start hitter for the Yankees too?
Wow!! This guy has a boundless imagination. Does he do children’s birthday parties? Bozo died and we need someone else to wear the inflatable shoes.
Posted by: len | July 22, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
See Obama should show up more in the Senate and read papers, the surge is what gave the political scene a chance to work, not the other way around.
What is it with these Socialists, why cant they give our brave soldiers credit!!
Pelosi gives Iran credit, Obama gives the sunnis credit
Hey Pres. bush’s plan worked, grow up now and admit it!!
Posted by: spock | July 22, 2008, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
dr john wrote:
Jeremiah Wright
Tony Rezko
Michael Phleger
William Ayers
Bernadatte Dohrn
Jim Johnson
For FISA, against FISA
For guns, against guns
For death penalty, against dath penalty
***********
Ok, let’s do John McCains list:
Phil Gramm
Charlie Black
We will stop there and exam those two headliners (and McCain’s co-chair and McCains Chief Political Adviser, respectively).
Phil Gramm – Vice President of UBS, a bank currently under investigation by the FBI for helping uber-rich Americans hide their wealth so they don’t have to pay taxes on it. Phil Gramm – author of the Gramm-Bliley-Leach Act – deregulating the banking system allowing credit card companies to rape the American public. Also allow bank to create the current Mortgage Meltdown. Phil Gramm and his wife made MILLIONS of dollars on the Enron collapse, while Enron workers saw their Retirement Accounts go broke.
Charlie Black – Lobbyist for some of the worst mass murders, terrorists and Dictators the world has ever seen.
So YOU want to compare a distant relationship Obama had with Ayers twenty years ago, with McCain’s having Black on his PAYROLL???
And YOU want to compare some real estate deal between Obama and Rezko with the relationship McCain has with Gramm, author of everything that is wrong with the American Banking system?
The relationship Obama had with those two were transient, while McCain’s relationship with Gramm and Black is CURRENT and PAID!!!
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 22, 2008, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
Violence down in Iraq is irrelevant.We need and should have captured Osama Bin Laden. Anyone who backs the Bush war that McCain is so proud of needs to wake up and or get their head examined.The man who killed thousands of Americans on Sept 11, 2001 is still loose.Why are we so focused on Iraq.This is like we are allowing ourselves to continously be mentally manipulated by an obvious colossal blunder.Our current president has allowed a man to murder Americans and go unpunished.Troop surge, violence down, mission accomplished. Come on people Wake up!The bottom line is Obama wanted us to get Osama Bin Laden.This current president and John McCain obviously don’t care about that and they are spinning the news cycle to keep America ignorant to the facts.Osama Bin Laden is loose and president Bush and John McCain for all his g_d_ experience have done nothing about it.John McCain should have used his passion for a surge to put a fire under the hunt for Bin Laden.Don’t you think?
Posted by: TV | July 22, 2008, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
It’s just a coincidence that violence escalated after the surge and subsided after Muqtada al-Sadr declared a cease-fire.
Posted by: AkaDad | July 22, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Arguing over Iraq is stupid regardless of any progress. Iraq did NOT attack America in Sept. of 2001. Therefore we should NOT have went to Iraq.Obama was right from the beginning.Period!Capture and or Kill Bin Laden!
Posted by: TV | July 22, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
TV, Saddam Hussein supported terrorism and even had his own terrorist training camps. He is now gone.
We have never dropped the ball on Afghanistan. It has been the NATO forces that has dropped the ball. Some of the other countries under NATO command refuse to allow their soldiers to fight. They are acting as peace keepers instead of combatants. This has allowed the Taliban and al Qaeda to strengthen their forces in Afghanistan.
Now then, just getting rid of Usama bin Laden won’t end terrorism. Al Qaeda is not the only terrorist group out there. There are dozens of well organized terrorist militias, many of which have the same goals — turning the world into one caliphate. We can’t fight them all. So the best offense is spreading democracy; implementing the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and convincing the Muslim schools to stop teaching their anti-Israel and anti-Western Civilization curricula.
Posted by: James Danley | July 22, 2008, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
“Capture and or Kill Bin Laden!”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
The scary thing is how far people go in defending this kind of obfuscation. So, what would have happened had the troop increase not been ordered? Do supporters here really believe that the improvements just happened magically?
Obama might win…four years of this kind of arrogance! Obama is the one who is the new Bush with regard to changing positions yet claiming he was right all along.
Posted by: Wade | July 22, 2008, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
Right, but Saddam Hussein did not attack us.Osama did.Obviously there are many terrorists organizations in the world.These people will kill innocents without remorse.They will sacrifice their own lives to advance their cause.Winning their “hearts and minds” is not something you do with bullets or bombs.We need a leader that can communicate a message of unity first.Obama has this ability down pact.His qualities need to be used for America’s benefit. We take miltary action only when necessary. Not as a first choice as McCain would.if the whole world takes military action there will be no world left.
Posted by: TV | July 22, 2008, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
“Had those political factors not occurred, I think that my assessment would have been correct.”
In a round-about way….. could this be a concession by Barack.. that he was
W R O N G?????
HILLARY OR MCCAIN…
BUT ALWAYS,
COUNTRY BEFORE BROKEN DOWN DNC!!!!!
Posted by: between the ears | July 22, 2008, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
jANE…..
Gramm is gone!
Al of Obama’s unsavory associates… are STILL Obama’s unsavory associates…. and frankly I don’t want THEM littering up the White House!
Posted by: between the ears | July 22, 2008, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
“Obama was asked by ABC News’ Terry Moran if he was wrong..”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
“Had those political factors not occurred, I think that my assessment would have been correct.”
If I wasn’t wrong I would of been right.
Posted by: geevill | July 22, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
Andrea Mitchell (on Obama-worship show “Hardball”) on O’Mobba’s “message management”:
“Let me just say something about the message management. He didn’t have reporters with him, he didn’t have a press pool, he didn’t do a press conference while he was on the ground in either Afghanistan or Iraq. What you’re seeing is not reporters brought in. You’re seeing selected pictures taken by the military, questions by the military, and what some would call fake interviews, because they’re not interviews from a journalist. So, there’s a real press issue here. Politically it’s smart as can be. But we’ve not seen a presidential candidate do this, in my recollection, ever before.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
If someone wants to attack America it is still possible.From inside our country.More than likely there are terrorist cells with another attack planned still in our country.What makes anyone think they have left our country or that 9/11 was the end of the inside job. 9/11 was murderous, horrific, vile, militarily and strategically brilliant.They are not dumb guns screaming Allah.They are cold calculating, patient and symbolic killers. To think that McCain and his foreign policy of threats at the helm will stop our enemies is sad and pathetic.The world does not fear us or McCains threats.They will attack if the feel a need and they are smart enough to do it without us seeing it coming.We didn’t see 9/11 coming and we won’t see the next attack if they really want to attack us.I feel more confident with a president that energized to 2008 primaries and millions of americans and other citzens around the world seem happy to welcome.The world is willing to listen to Obama.He brings hope.The world knows there is a possibility of inclusiveness with Obama.McCain doesn’t seem capable of comunicating our best interests to the world. He is qualified to communicate war though. No doubt about that.Terrorists do NOT fear war.They thrive, live and die for it.
Posted by: TV | July 22, 2008, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
“The world knows there is a possibility of inclusiveness with Obama.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
Obama is wrong. The surge allowed security which allowed political progress. Before the surge Basra was controlled by the madhi army. Our military helped the iraqi military take control of basra. Now markets are back open and they can sell liquor without getting their heads cut off. Also the surge forced sadr to back down in sadr city and let the iraqi military in. Also the iraqi military took control in mosul.
Posted by: Steve | July 22, 2008, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
“More than likely there are terrorist cells with another attack planned still in our country.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
“Isn’t the world full of dangerous shady people?”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Obama on the Surge: “Had Those Political Factors Not Occurred, I Think That My Assessment Would Have Been Correct”
But those Political Factors did Occurr and you are now WRONG.
Obama is always Twisting and Wriggling himself in words to excuse and award himself credit —TOTALLY UNDESERVING,
Watch Obama’s Favorabilty ratings go down….and people who “somewhat” viewed him unfavorably will now have no questions to his UNFAVORABILITY being VERY UNFAVORABLE…..
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | July 22, 2008, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm
Andrea Mitchell’s statement about Obama’s “Fake Interviews” is only appropriate as Obama is a FAKE ALL TOGETHER.
Obama is a Phony….was, is always will be.
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | July 22, 2008, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
TV, actually Saddam Hussein did attack us. On several occasions he fired missiles at our planes. And on at least one of those occasions our plane was in Kuwaiti airspace at the time.
You wrote: “We need a leader that can communicate a message of unity first.” You can’t reason with people who are dedicated to killing you. The Islamic extremists will listen to a President Obama ONLY IF he is talking about converting America to Islam.
Posted by: James Danley | July 22, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
Don’t look now, but the bull-chips are getting deeper . . .
“The U.S. troop “surge” in Iraq that President George W. Bush ordered last year has ended after the last of five additional combat brigades left the country, a U.S. military spokesman said on Tuesday.” (Reuters)
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 22, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Thank you, Terry Moran! Your interview with Obama on the War and Surge is the best I have seen. Incredibly he refused to credit the surge for creating the security to achieve the political gains and he basically refused to answer your direct question on whether he wanted to “win” the War! That is because a “yes” would have contradicted himself and enraged the extreme Left which has always wanted us to lose in Iraq.
Posted by: Tom Sullivan | July 22, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
Obama Gets It Bass-Ackwards
“I was right because the surge wouldn’t have worked if all the things that happened after the surge hadn’t happened.” “I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence” in Iraq, Sen….
Posted by: Rhymes With Right | July 22, 2008, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
The so-called success of the surge really confuses me. I’m British and at the same time as the US was increasing troops in their areas, we were withdrawing troops in ours. Both areas have since seen a large reduction in violence.
The conclusion has to be that the surge itself did little and it is the overall political situation changing that has made the difference.
Posted by: Pete | July 22, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
Perhaps the most dishonest statements I have heard from any Politician since Clinton denied Monica.
Posted by: Dennis D | July 22, 2008, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
Let’s see… he fails to agree that our troop surged worked in Iraq, by giving all the credit to the Iraqis, and yet he now wants to send a troop surge to Afghanistan. Why does he want to do that if thinks our men and women in uniform had nothing to with our victory? Does he want to get them killed, and then not credit them when credit is due?
This man is pathetic.
Posted by: Gary | July 22, 2008, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
ABC interview with Obama was a disaster for him. After his “NO” re. would he reconsider his vote on surge, now knowing that it was a great success – he went into a monolog that left people wondering what the heck he was talking about. Even his tone was was weak as if unsure of himself.
Posted by: Temgami | July 22, 2008, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Obama thinks he was right for votin against the successful policy.
Sometimes hindsight is not 20/20, especially when it’s clouded by egoracts.
Posted by: drjohn | July 22, 2008, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
Lets see… I guess the libs are now going to say that the success of the Surge is a “LIE!!” Remember, “PEOPLE DIED WHEN BUSH LIED?” SAME BS.
Posted by: Manitu | July 22, 2008, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
Pete
Nice try but that is pure BS.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 22, 2008, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
Pete
Pretty lousey inductive reasoning if you consider those support statements.
Posted by: Temagami | July 22, 2008, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
Tom
Excellent Post!! Now that was a prime example of INDUCTIVE REASONING!!
Posted by: Temagami | July 22, 2008, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
What happened to this post? KGB?
Posted by: Manitu | July 22, 2008, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
The Anbar Awakening began in September of 2006 – before the elections. Obama and the dems cannot claim that they had any influence there. If this guy wants to be CIC he’d better learn how to give the troops more than mush-mouth praise. He is not exactly filling me with confidence that he knows what the hell he’s about. I keep thinking of Robert Redford in The Candidate. My hope in Obama is gone.
Posted by: mari | July 22, 2008, 10:13 pm 10:13 pm
does anyone really expect anything more of bho than arrogance on any level?
Posted by: tr | July 22, 2008, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Yea, the surge worked alright, the MONEY SURGE, which is what we are PAYING the sunnis and shiites to cooperate.
If Muqtada S had not ordered his guys to stand down the causualties would be mounting terribly (you read how many so far?). Somebody must have promised him a lot for that but he better not trust anybody, shiite, sunni or US. We’ll sell him down the river in a heartbeat.
When all the smoke clears, you can believe Muqtada won’t be around; he’ll be up there somewhere enjoying his ten virgins
As for McCain, while commendable, his five years as a pow doesn’t qualify him as a military genius. There was another pilot that was a pow for eight years, it seems, that makes no such claims. He has done some flip-flops and tap dancing around issues too.
Posted by: all | July 23, 2008, 12:20 am 12:20 am
The Surge CREATED THE CONDITIONS for THE “POLITICAL FACTORS” to occur. Obama is struggling.
Posted by: Manitu | July 23, 2008, 6:41 am 6:41 am
“Had those political factors not occurred, I think that my assessment would have been correct.” How many politicians said same things after they messed up? Remind me, what was his main qualification for presidency. Superior judgment?
Posted by: Mladen | July 23, 2008, 6:46 am 6:46 am
First it’s that the US has lost the war in Iraq. Then the surge will never work. Then OK, maybe the surge has worked, but not the political solution. Then “I didn’t expect the political factors to work (or something like that).” Then the Surge only worked because the US passed money around to the leaders. THIS GOBBLEDEGOOK IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE – THANKS LIBS FOR NOT BEING AROUND IN World War 11.
Posted by: Temagami | July 23, 2008, 6:52 am 6:52 am
Thank you networks for giving Obama a microphone. While I believe the Repubs have not earned another 4 years in the White House it is very difficult for me to want to listen to Obama for another 4 (8?) years. When you speak clearly and know what you believe in (McCain) the story stays the same and you are willing to admit your mistakes. When you only want to get elected (Obama)they are subject to frequent change and revision.
Posted by: Tom Paine | July 23, 2008, 10:50 am 10:50 am
The Iraq operation was an
outright medieval style
invasion. It was undertaken
believing the task would be
easy. After Operation Desert
Storm the country was severely
degraded and struggling.
This was an example of a
predator seeking a weak prey.
It was not about 9/11, Al Qaeda,
WMDs, Saddam Hussein or even
the prospect of cheap oil.
It was to show the Islamic
world we are in Iraq to stay
and there’s nothing they can
do about it.
Posted by: anon | July 23, 2008, 11:42 am 11:42 am
“Just Say Nobama.”
Posted by: vanderleun | July 23, 2008, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
“Just Say Nobama.”
Posted by: vanderleun | July 23, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm