2009.06.30
Iraq's sovereignty day
Today marks a very important milestone in Iraq: U.S. troops officially withdrew from the nation's city and towns, clustering on forward operating bases where they'll be available if called upon. Day-to-day security now rests with the Iraqi military and police force.
It's a huge step forward for Iraqis who want to take charge of their own destiny. But it's also a dangerous time, both for Iraqis and U.S. troops, as the withdrawal may embolden insurgents, who have been ratcheting up violence in recent weeks.
We'll discuss all this in an editorial we're working on for tomorrow.
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Ha! Obama did in five months what Bush couldn't get done in five years, turn power over to the Iraqis. It was a long time coming. Thankfully we're out of that morass.
Comment by The Professor — June 30, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
I'll be crossing my fingers that this goes over well. But in any case, it is so so great to actually see steps being taken in this direction.
Comment by HCS — June 30, 2009 @ 1:49 pm
I guess we'll find out pretty quick how well we did in 'bringing democracy to Iraq'. Hopefully they'll hold off slaughtering eachother until our people can get out of the way.
Comment by Kristen — June 30, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
"Obama did in five months what Bush couldn't get done in five years"
Get unemployment to 10%?
Comment by Henry — June 30, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
Henry, you constantly misunderestimate your man, Bush would have done in by February fer sure!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — June 30, 2009 @ 2:03 pm
Slow down Professor, we're not out yet.
Comment by Patrick — June 30, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Henry,
Bush set the stage for the 10% unemployment. That was all pretty much done by the time Obama got to power.
Comment by The Professor — June 30, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Didn't the Bush administration start the wheels turning for this withdrawal?
Comment by Danny — June 30, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
So Professor. Do you mean that 10% unemployment managed to stay hidden for 8 years waiting for Bush to leave office and then jumped out from behind the couch and yelled "Surprise" when it noticed that Obama was in office?
Neat concept. Rather far-fetched I would say. After 8 years of a rather good economy under Bush, I don't think we can suddenly blame Bush when the economy goes completely south when Obama takes the helm. I don't think it is a mere coincidence. Remember, the Democrats said that the economy was the worst since the Depression when unemployment was 7%. Now it is at 10% and we are hearing that things are looking rosy.
Comment by Henry — June 30, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
Now that President Obama has been able to do in 5 months what Bush couldn't get done if 5 years it may be time to ask how are things going in Afganistan. Why are we there? Did Afganistan, a soveriegn nation attack us? How many American military have been killed so far? Is our presence there causing the recruitment of more terrorists and hatred of America? Will we reinstate the previous government? Is Obama hot on the trail of Osama bin Laden? Is Afganistan's poppy production more important than Iraq's oil? What are our goals and exit strategy? Is more troops, the surge, working? Are we seeing the flag draped coffins, that were so important before, shown on the evening news?
Comment by wayne p. — June 30, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
It looks like we won. We sent our young men and women in to Iraq and they delivered a great victory. They defeated Saddam's army in the field in less than a month, occupied the capital, captured or killed their leaders, and courtmartialed and executed their dictator. A contsitutional convention was held, a national constitution ratified by their voters, national elections were held, and a democratic government established. A national army was formed, equipped and trained, a police force was established to bring order and justice to the country, the country's oil production was brought up and now the security of the country is being turned over to the Iraqi government. All the while the Dems and the Roanoke Times were saying the surge wasn't working and the war was lost. We should have a national celebration honoring the courage, skill and bravery of our men and women in our military who have performed so magnificently. Its being treated as a non-event by this commander in chief.
Comment by wayne p. — June 30, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
Haven't the gun nuts already provided the way out of Afghanistan and Iraq?
Just have the troops walk away, and leave their weapons behind. Once every Afghani and Iraqi is walking around with a concealed gun, they'll all be safe and free.
Comment by Ed H — June 30, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
Henry,
Bush set the stage for the 10% unemployment. That was all pretty much done by the time Obama got to power.
Comment by The Professor — June 30, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Bush also set the stage for the current handover to the Iraqi's and the American withdrawal, not Obama.
Comment by Jim W. — July 1, 2009 @ 10:00 am
It looks like we won. We sent our young men and women in to Iraq and they delivered a great victory. They defeated Saddam's army in the field in less than a month, occupied the capital, captured or killed their leaders, and courtmartialed and executed their dictator. A contsitutional convention was held, a national constitution ratified by their voters, national elections were held, and a democratic government established. A national army was formed, equipped and trained, a police force was established to bring order and justice to the country, the country's oil production was brought up and now the security of the country is being turned over to the Iraqi government. All the while the Dems and the Roanoke Times were saying the surge wasn't working and the war was lost. We should have a national celebration honoring the courage, skill and bravery of our men and women in our military who have performed so magnificently. Its being treated as a non-event by this commander in chief.
Comment by wayne p. — June 30, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
Excellent post Wayne P. However, the libs will never, ever give George Bush or our military for that matter, credit when it's due.
Comment by Jim W. — July 1, 2009 @ 10:04 am
Bush also set the stage for the current handover to the Iraqi's and the American withdrawal, not Obama.
Comment by Jim W. — July 1, 2009 @ 10:00 am
- Thanks for pointing that out. It's funny how that little bit of "fact" gets forgotten...
Comment by Danny — July 1, 2009 @ 10:15 am
To Wayne and Jim...
There is no one that I know of that doesn't give the highest degree of respect for our Military for the work they've been forced to do by an administration that had no idea what they wanted to do. Our brave soldiers put their lives on the line for a bunch of bumbling idiots (Rumsfeld, Bush, Cheney and a host of others) that were clueless when it came to planning for the entire process.
Our troops deserve all the respect in the world as they followed their orders valiantly. The administration that put them in harms way in the first place should be imprisoned.
Comment by Will — July 1, 2009 @ 10:23 am
Excuse me Jim# 14, I support our troops not a war we shouldn't have started.
I respect our troops very much and am very proud of everyone that I know that has served and very proud of my loved ones that are still in Iraq now. HOWEVER, that does not mean that Bush should have sent them there. I will respect them for sacrificing themselves I will not respect Bush for sacrificing their lives unnecessarily.
Comment by HCS — July 1, 2009 @ 10:23 am
Jim W and wayne p, you can revise and restate that story till your cows come home. You can conflate appreciating the service and sacrifice of our military with the "politics" of their Commander in Chief till your fingers ache. You can call us names and insult us for telling the truth till you are hoarse from the effort. None of that will change the fact that "our young men and women" should never have been sent into Iraq. That nothing we have gained (if we have gained anything) was worth the losses suffered and sacrifices made by the USA or the Iragi people.
While I agree that we should celebrate and honor "the courage, skill and bravery of our men and women in our military who have performed so magnificently", since they are not all coming home at the same time and in close enough proximity, I am not sure of the logistics of doing that. I have no doubt that there will be plenty of political hay made on the backs of these brave men and women, just as has been done in the past, by pols and posters.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — July 1, 2009 @ 10:27 am