MSNBC's O'Donnell Hails Obama's 'Organized Exit' From Iraq
The media never let President Bush live down the so-called "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003 when the then-president declared an end of major combat operations in Iraq, even though Bush pointedly noted "Our mission continues. Al-Qaida is wounded, not destroyed....The war on terror is not over." But now that President Obama is earnestly trying to portray himself as the president who is once-and-for-all wrapping up the Iraq War, MSNBC is more than happy to give the commander-in-chief the benefit of the doubt.
"This president seems determined to deliver imagery of an organized exit" from Iraq, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell approvingly noted on today's Andrea Mitchell Reports right after watching live video of President Obama with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Iraqi prime minister is in Washington "for talks aimed at cementing U.S.-Iraqi relations in a new, postwar era," the Washington Post reported today, "kick[ing] off a week in which the administration will trumpet the imminent end of the war, and the fulfillment of Obama’s election pledge to withdraw all U.S. forces from Iraq."
"The nation has waited a long time for this moment," even though it's mostly symbolic, colleague Andrea Mitchell observed, adding it "isn't exactly a Mission Accomplished sign" but then suggested that nonetheless the president was facing "a [presidential] campaign" in which "a lot of pitfalls" like Iran and Syria as well as Iraq's "many, many challenges" could come back to haunt him.
"He's in the position of, in effect, trying to sell to the world and the region... that this exit is going to work, so for him to engage in the hypotheticals of what-if, what-if doesn't make any sense, especially at this stage" O'Donnell argued.
"Surely he's in meetings that are filled with the what-ifs and surely he has worries about the what-ifs and contingency notions about what they're going to have to do if some of the worst what-ifs occur," the Last Word host added.
The same could have been said of President Bush from May 1, 2003 until January 20, 2009, only the media were far too willing to use every opportunity to attack President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq in a crassly political and partisan manner.
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Comments
al-Maliki is another dirty
Submitted by helomech on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 6:03pm.
al-Maliki is another dirty politician Obama is associating himself with; then again, are we not surprised?
"Surely he's in meetings..."
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 6:07pm.
Not exactly, Crazy Larry:
Obama Schedule || December 9, 2011
10:00 am || Receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Busy day, huh?
SoL
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 7:04pm.
You think Barry has time to shine his halo every day?...NAH!!!... he has scores of gaggle lapdogs for that!
Larry O'Donnell -
Submitted by ray johnson on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 6:19pm.
Barry's Head Rimjobber - what would you expect him to blab about? Eventually he'll end up in the psuch ward, but for now, MSLSD will do.
Moon Cheesers
Submitted by Jerry Mack on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 6:29pm.
I can not determine who is the most shameless: The Messiah or Msnbc. I have come to believe that if the Messiah said that he could feed the hungry of the world by importing cheese from the Moon, Msnbc would support and praise him for forward thinking.
I got a 'what if' for you O'Donnell...
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 7:14pm.
What if Iraq falls back into chaos in a couple of years? What's Obama gonna do...invade Iraq for the THIRD time? How about: ' what if' YOU could find your own ass with both hands Larry?...that might be a good start!
What if?
Submitted by Bob K on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 7:38pm.
There is no way that will fail to happen. To me, it is not worth any more lives trying to prevent the inevitable. Anyone who thinks it will not fall into chaos needs to head for crack rehab.
Bush 41 should have taken the
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 9:17pm.
Bush 41 should have taken the oil...He was accused of it by the MSM anyhow. What a wimp! His son was no better. We all know Iraq was about keeping the oil flowing and out of the hands of a wannabe Hitler.
Yeah Obama is so worried about Iraq
Submitted by povertypimpin on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 7:22pm.
He never even spoke to Al-Maliki during the negotations. I wonder if past presidents participated in the negotiations of troop levels/withdrawal from Germany, Japan and Korea. Naaaaaah. Who could be bothered with work like that when you can hold your chin up to the American people and show them your great oratory skills.
Did anyone really...
Submitted by BBallleaper on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 7:32pm.
think that you could establish a democratic state in Iraq and then leave? Iraq will be in the hands of the radical terror groups and clerics within the year. There was NEVER going to be a 'victory' in Iraq since a victory could only occur if the muslim political movement (it is a false 'religion') was eradicated, and that is impossible. The loyalty of all muslims is FIRST to Mohammed, then to themselves, not to a ballot box.
An organized democratic political system can not exist in a muslim state. And since the goal of ALL muslims is the eventual takeover of the world, and the murder of every infidel (that would be all Christians, Jews, and other non-believers) this conflict between good and EVIL will continue if our civilization continues for another 1,000 years, or another 100,000 years. They will never surrender. They must be eradicated.
The Last Word....
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 7:33pm.
We should be so lucky!
Ken-I'd lilke to interject on fine little point in this charade.
Submitted by Gary Hall on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 8:07pm.
This has little to do with Obama.
The MSM needs to phrase that just a wee bit differently, such as:
kick[ing] off a week in which the administration will trumpet the imminent end of the war, and the fulfillment of Obama’s election pledge to uphold President Bush's agreement [Status of Forces Agreement] which set the withdraw all U.S. forces from Iraq at the end of 2011."
Even Wikipedia get this rather straight:
The U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (official name: "Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities during Their Temporary Presence in Iraq") is a status of forces agreement (SOFA) between Iraq and the United States. It establishes that U.S. combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and all U.S. forces will be completely out of Iraq by December 31, 2011, subject to possible further negotiations which could delay withdrawal and a referendum scheduled for mid-2009 in Iraq which may require U.S. forces to completely leave by the middle of 2010.
All that Obama is responsible here, is not providing the proper leadership whereas, because of the recent escalation of the violence in Iraq, he was not engaged in properly (according to many) renegotiating "Bush's agreement," such that some US forces might be allowed to remain longer and/or be in a more strategic position in the event that all hell breaks out again, or such that their presence might provide the security and support needed for Iraqi officials to continue the transition.
(;~/ gary
Saved me some time
Submitted by Tomorama on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 8:50pm.
Interject away my friend...........
You beat me to the punch and saved me from posting the FACTS that Obysmal is just following the Booooooooosh plan that was already signed and Iraq STATED that Obysmal when taking office can't change OR THEY WOULD NOT SIGN IT.
Fact two is that the military leaders wanted 10,000 or so to stay as peace keepers, but Obysmal FAILED to get Iraq to agree because they can't get anyone to agree on anything as he sucks as a "leader".
I still laugh that he is seen as a leader while using drones by all the same liars that hammered Booooooooosh for doing the same.
yup...
Submitted by Hog_Flambe on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 10:00pm.
It's Dubya's fault.... oopsie...
:-D
Always remember: Liberals = “the smart people”
Submitted by needle on Mon, 12/12/2011 - 10:43pm.
“MSNBC's O'Donnell Hails Obama's 'Organized Exit' From Iraq”
This gem of what “the smart people” think needs to be bookmarked for future reference, depending on how thing actually turn out.
Because Obama “kept his promise” and completely bugged out Iraq, I suspect that the likelihood that things in Iraq will turn out well is as close to nil as I can imagine. But, hey, it's all part of his program to "transform America" into a POS. Mission accomplished.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Great success, just like
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 12:46am.
Great success, just like Syria, Libya, Eygpt and Afganistan. the radical muslims are batting 1000.
Did the Vietnam War end just
Submitted by eaglewingz08 on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 9:16am.
Did the Vietnam War end just because we unilaterally surrendered? The now nonexistent South Vietnamese gov't would beg to differ. Seems like this will be fate for Iraq defeat from the jaws of victory.