A thread for administration bungling, particularly in regards to Iraq.
“We’re Leaving Behind A Stable And Self-Reliant Iraq”
You could put it that way.
It seems to be receding rapidly in the rear view mirror.
UPDATE: So now we’re going back in again. Maybe taking those troops out wasn’t so clever after all. So let’s talk about this stable and self reliant Iraq has somehow turned into deja vu.
Iraq was never quite stable or self reliant, but it was pretty close… until some knowitall in golf pants decided to pull the rug out.
Those rambunctious sand pirates had better take advantage of their long leash while they still have time. Word has it the US is evaluating the situation and could bring stability back to the area soon
Latest development: Once rebels seize Baghdad, Obama plans to consult with world leaders and publicly denounce their actions. This is likely to shame them into a period of self-reflection and mitigate further unrest
It’s certainly not a problem of Obama’s creation. It was stupid to ever enter Iraq and even dumber to think the US could ever change its underlying dynamics. All those killed and maimed for nothing
[quote=“urodacus”]
Don’t saddle Obama with this, please. It’s mostly Rumsfeld and his ilk.[/quote]
Until the Smartest President Ever came along and fixed everything.
I seem to recall things were going along somewhat better in that part of the world in 2008 than they are now. Isn’t it sad when the only thing you can say in favor of any the current Fearless Leader’s policies – foreign or domestic – is that it wasn’t his fault somehow?
Here’s a guy who saw this mess coming, which is more than can be said for Fearless Leader:
The RWBHs have a point here, The Democrats were too pussified to do the right thing and oppose the Iraq invasion, they let the GOP bully them with the flag and patriotism and all that other bullshit Americans slurp up and they compromised their position and went from stern opponents to cheerleaders. They let the American people down, they didn’t put up resistance to a war they knew was retarded.
I hope the next time Blair and Bush turn their televisions on and see the carnage their campaign has caused, they’ll sit back and think to themselves, I did that…
So, Rowland,you supported leaving American troops in Iraq without a Status-of-Forces Agreement? IOW, US troops get in a fire-fight, kill somebody, and the Iraqis have the legal right to arrest them and put them on trial in an Iraqi court- because that was what was on offer from Maliki’s government.
The blame for this rests on Maliki, who decided that co-operation with the Sunnis was out and implemented a hard-line Shiite dominant regime. Now he’s paying the price.
Of course, if McCain or Romney had been in charge, the Sunnis and Shiites would have quailed in face of their Steely Determination and Stern Resolve.
Can’t we just build a big wall around the whole Middle East and North Africa and just let them fester in there without bothering us nice people?? Sheesh.
Plenty of blame to go around, without Bush these rebels, who were disavowed by Al Qaida for being too extreme would never have been formed. Obama gets blame for pulling all forces out without ensuring Iraq was secure. Or blame Maliki for alienating the Sunnis, or the Saudis for funding ISIS. Blame a Syrian civil war, where Obama declares Bashar Al-Assad must go, siding with the Sunnis, while in Iraq supporting the Shite led government who are now fighting the same group the Syrian government is. Not to suggest the Americans ever supported ISIS, far too extreme, but they are allied with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, who it seems don’t share the same reservations and see the American as not offering enough support to the Sunnis. What a bloody mess!
Dude, this started in Syria, where Ozymandias backed the wrong rebels. Try to follow the plot.[/quote]
I think you’ll find they started out in Iraq shortly after the Iraq war, then spread to Syria. Obama didnt back ISIS (or ISIL) they backed the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front. Which is not to say some of those arms didnt end up in ISIS hands, or that other countries didnt also fund ISIS, but they have returned in force to Iraq now, with not much resistance so far in the Sunni majority areas. Baghdad I think will be another story.
[quote]
The photograph, released by Mr McCain’s office, shows the US senator standing with a group of rebels during his highly-publicised trip to Syria this week.
Two of the men in the image are Mohamed Nour and Abu Ibrahim, claimed Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star. The men are described as being part of a group who kidnapped 11 Shias last year.
…
Today, Mr McCain’s office said that no one who met with the senator identified themselves by those names. “None of the individuals the senator planned to meet with was named Mohamad Nour or Abu Ibrahim,” a spokesman said. “A number of other Syrian commanders joined the meeting, but none of them identified himself as Mohamad Nour or Abu Ibrahim.” [/quote]
Amazing- they didn’t come out and tell poor Johnny they were Islamist terrorists- that’s how sneaky these guys are- they don’t even wear team jerseys so you can tell them apart.
P.S. I know it’s hard for righties, but things did happen in the Middle East before this week’s Fox News talking points
Years ago on here I posted details of the plans from the early 80s to dissect Iraq into three sections.
Fred Smith said it was a load of rubbish but shut up when I showed the links.
This looks like it is going to happen.
It really is mission accomplished and a success. Iraq is no longer a threat to Israel and the Saudi backers of Islamic nut jobs. Billions were made by the likes of Halliburton for contracts that were never completed. Shareholders rubbed their hands together with glee at the returns.
However the Islamic nut jobs are something that probably wasn’t planned (or the severity of them) and has caused even deeper issues.
Like Libya with their own Islamic nut case factions, Iraq is a basket case and thus, the war was a success.
