At the risk of heading into la-la land, I think Obama should have tipped his hat ever so slightly today to President Bush, Sen. McCain, and other Republicans who had supported the surge strategy, naming them and thanking them. Of course, there’s no telling how Iraq would look today had the surge never happened, but it’s likely that conditions would be pretty grim and that this withdrawal plan would have the smell of defeat to it, rather than the opposite, as it does.
Obama could have caveated this to death — “I opposed Bush’s decision to begin this war, I opposed how he sold it to America, I opposed the way he prosecuted it,” etc. But he could have recognized that Bush’s decision to change strategies in 2007 is in large part why the security situation in Iraq has turned around more than anyone could have hoped, why we can now begin drawing down our forces with a good measure of confidence, and why our troops now feel more and more that their sacrifice is worth it.
Not only would this have been magnanimous, it would have been smart politics. It would have acknowledged the bipartisanship that underlies the decision to begin bringing our troops home by drawing an important line of continuity through our Iraq efforts of the past two years.
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He is too arrogant for that.
Mark1971 on February 28, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Yeah, that would have required humility, personal generosity and graciousness, none of which are evident in Barack Obama.
Kensington on February 28, 2009 at 4:30 PM
That doesn’t suit The Messiah’s narcissism.
johnsteele on February 28, 2009 at 4:32 PM
He was too busy peddling the “we inherited nothing but Bush crap” meme.
T J Green on February 28, 2009 at 4:37 PM
It doesn’t fit The Narrative.
backwoods conservative on February 28, 2009 at 4:48 PM
It would have also required character. Obama has none. He is a fast talking Chicago politician who’s fronting for the Read – Pelosi crime syndicate.
RadioFreeUSA on February 28, 2009 at 4:49 PM
This is a joke right?
Joe Caps on February 28, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Acknowledging Bush is NOT bi-partisanship. Democrats don’t yield. Only Republicans do.
SouthernGent on February 28, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Bipartisanship for Zer0 and the members of his party doesn’t mean what you obviously think it means, Mr. Brose – think more along the lines of “my way or the highway.”
TeeDee on February 28, 2009 at 5:00 PM
credited bush with what? choosing to send us to war when he didnt have to?
ernesto on February 28, 2009 at 5:03 PM
The Left commend the Right, or even the Middle? Not in their book of rules!
OldEnglish on February 28, 2009 at 5:24 PM
If that is your criteria, why should Obama have even credited the troops for anything?
rockmom on February 28, 2009 at 5:26 PM
You mean like how Bush acknowledged Canada’s help during 9/11? Face it, no American President (or World Leader for that matter) likes to give anyone who’s ideology differs, credit. There is no such thing as ‘bi-partisanship’ when trying to take credit OR place blame.
pcbedamned on February 28, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Because I think you’re confused, let me explain your side’s position: Afghanistan was the Good War(TM) and Iraq was the Evil War Which Took Away Troops from the Good War.
Or has it suddenly been changed to an evil war now that Iraq is pretty stable?
eforhan on February 28, 2009 at 5:39 PM
because the troops were given a task, and performed it excellently. that doesnt mean the guy who decided it was a worthy task should be thanked.
ernesto on February 28, 2009 at 5:39 PM
If Obama didn’t think the task was worthy, why thank the troops who performed it?
rockmom on February 28, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Obama has been complaining on and on about “inheriting” a deficit from Bush.
Well that may be true but uhm … NEWSFLASH BAMBI … You also inherited a VICTORY in Iraq from him.
Haven’t heard one single mention of this ever.
HondaV65 on February 28, 2009 at 8:05 PM
It’s a victory? Awesome! Why aren’t we withdrawing all our troops now instead of next year? It must be because Obama hates the troops.
Proud Rino on February 28, 2009 at 8:33 PM
Obama is a coward. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING he does requires any courage. He is unfit to be commander in chief.
JustTruth101 on February 28, 2009 at 9:19 PM