Barack Obama NYT OpEd, Mon 7/13: My Plan for Iraq

[DrZeeLit]

Here we go!

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/opinion/14obama.html?hp

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The differences on Iraq in this campaign are deep. Unlike Senator John McCain, I opposed the war in Iraq before it began, and would end it as president. I believed it was a grave mistake to allow ourselves to be distracted from the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban by invading a country that posed no imminent threat and had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Since then, more than 4,000 Americans have died and we have spent nearly $1 trillion. Our military is overstretched. Nearly every threat we face — from Afghanistan to Al Qaeda to Iran — has grown.

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Only by redeploying our troops can we press the Iraqis to reach comprehensive political accommodation and achieve a successful transition to Iraqis’ taking responsibility for the security and stability of their country. Instead of seizing the moment and encouraging Iraqis to step up, the Bush administration and Senator McCain are refusing to embrace this transition — despite their previous commitments to respect the will of Iraq’s sovereign government. They call any timetable for the removal of American troops “surrender,” even though we would be turning Iraq over to a sovereign Iraqi government.

But this is not a strategy for success — it is a strategy for staying that runs contrary to the will of the Iraqi people, the American people and the security interests of the United States. That is why, on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war.

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In this campaign, there are honest differences over Iraq, and we should discuss them with the thoroughness they deserve. Unlike Senator McCain, I would make it absolutely clear that we seek no presence in Iraq similar to our permanent bases in South Korea, and would redeploy our troops out of Iraq and focus on the broader security challenges that we face. But for far too long, those responsible for the greatest strategic blunder in the recent history of American foreign policy have ignored useful debate in favor of making false charges about flip-flops and surrender.

It’s not going to work this time. It’s time to end this war.


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Finally, in print... end this war.
Not that he hasn't been saying that since the first debate (and before).
NO FLIP FLOP.

[DrZeeLit]

1. That's fascinating. Nobody's much interested? Hmmm.

[Doctor_J]

2. It has 12 rec's. What do you want?

:shrug:

[DrZeeLit]

3. Oh, jeez, I'm completely blind. I never saw that. DUH. Thanks, you're sweet not to bash me over

the head too much.

I was thinking though that the New Yorker brew-ha-ha (pun intended) would undoubtedly overshadow the op ed.
Ya think?

Everybody "loves" a picture, thousand words, yada yada yada.

Faced with a lot of words (Oh! Not much white space! whatever shall we do?) and complete sentences, not to mention clauses, what will "most" people do?

[kimmylavin]

4. Amen.

"But for far too long, those responsible for the greatest strategic blunder in the recent history of American foreign policy have ignored useful debate in favor of making false charges about flip-flops and surrender."

Of course, you could apply this statement to the whole of Mr. Bush's eight years in office, as well...

[LSK]

5. K&R

[mrs_p]

6. k/r

[Cha]

7. Thanks, DZ~ This is my

issue and how nice of the NYT to print it after they gave judy miller such a pulpit to start the damn thing.