Obama pays US troops a surprise visit
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Obama pays US troops a surprise visit
| Tue, 04-07-2009 - 4:12pm |
Barack Obama says: time for Iraqis to take back Iraq
• Barack Obama pays US troops a surprise visit
• President insists he is committed to withdrawal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/07/barack-obama-iraq

Barack Obama greets troops during a visit to Camp Victory, just outside Baghdad.



"I have a responsibility to make sure that as we bring troops out, that we do so in a careful enough way that we don't see a complete collapse into violence," he said. "So some people might say, wait, I thought you were opposed to the war, why don't you just get them all out right away? Well, just because I was opposed at the outset it doesn't mean that I don't have now responsibilities to make sure that we do things in a responsible fashion."
This statement makes sense - he does have to do things in an organized manner and make sure that he is responsible in his approach.
"Obama is interested in the wealth of Iraq. He has come for the oil."
if there were tons of oil there .. wouldnt we have uncovered it by now?
Way back, during the early rumblings of a possibility of war in Iraq, I was very against it as well....and for precisely the same reasons that Obama explained:
"~~I have a responsibility to make sure that as we bring troops out, that we do so in a careful enough way that we don't see a complete collapse into violence," he said. "So some people might say, wait, I thought you were opposed to the war, why don't you just get them all out right away? Well, just because I was opposed at the outset it doesn't mean that I don't have now responsibilities to make sure that we do things in a responsible fashion.~~"
As predicted, the foolhardy act of invading the country has made Iraq America's responsibility. I've always been a strong believer in the expression "you broke it, you own it". I foresaw that this will result in the need to maintain America's extensive involvement in that country for untold decades to come.
Throughout all this time, I have also never agreed with those who (after realizing what a serious mistake this war was) have pushed for "getting our troops out now."
I'm glad the new president appreciates that reality as well. It's useless to close the barn door once you've allowed the horse to leave the barn.
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She has contradicted herself in this sentence because this is the situation in a nutshell and also what Obama has been saying (so he is actually telling the truth).
<<"Now American interests need to move on, so they are looking to us to help them.>>
True. These are mutually beneficial goals - getting Iraqis invested in helping themselves and providing them with tools (e.g. enough trained security forces, fix the infrastructure destroyed as a result of this war etc.) in which to do so.
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LOL! Not even close.
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Unfortunately (unfortunate because of the Congress that currently exists) that IS one of the the major roles of the president of the United States. So the only REAL similarity that holds any water between Obama and bush is that they were/are both presidents.
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Obviously.....because enabling the fair management and distribution of that wealth is one of the key elements in improving the lives of everyday Iraqis which will contribute to added stability in the country.
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She had it right the first time. It's to attempt to clean up the disastrous mess that the bush administration made.
You said....<>
There ARE tons (and TONS) of oil in Iraq. A fair bit of the fighting and unrest between the factions has been over who will get to control that oil. Unfortunately the reality of the situation there has now made it virtually impossible for the Iraqis (or the Americans) to use that source of wealth to improve the situation in that country in any meaningful way.
Edited 4/8/2009 3:03 pm ET by moxysuvous
if there were tons of oil there .. wouldnt we have uncovered it by now?>
The oil is there:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Iraq/Oil.html
Getting Iraq to guarantee American companies oil rights is up there on the "to do" list:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IB28Ak01.html
They need to be assured that they will be going home in time for it will be good for their moral.
That was nice of Obama to stop over at Bagdad.
As I recall Iraq was labeled Bush's war by Democrats, though most of them signed on for it.
I wonder why he didn't visit Obama's war in Afghanistan?
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Well, he had already been there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/us/politics/20cnd-obama.html
....also, looking at the map, I can see why it would have been a very practical thing to do once he had wrapped up his trip to Turkey. At some point in the near future, he would have had to pay a visit to Iraq....this way, he would be able save the taxpayers a substantial amount of money as he and security/staff were already in the neighbourhood.
http://www.hotels-europe.com/turkije/map-turkey.jpg
"I wonder why he didn't visit Obama's war in Afghanistan?"