Barack Obama has an Iraq problem and New Yorker writer George Packer is worried. The problem is that the surge has been a great success:
In February, 2007, when Barack Obama declared that he was running for President, violence in Iraq had reached apocalyptic levels, and he based his candidacy, in part, on a bold promise to begin a rapid withdrawal of American forces upon taking office. At the time, this pledge represented conventional thinking among Democrats and was guaranteed to play well with primary voters. But in the year and a half since then two improbable, though not unforeseeable, events have occurred: Obama has won the Democratic nomination, and Iraq, despite myriad crises, has begun to stabilize. With the general election four months away, Obama’s rhetoric on the topic now seems outdated and out of touch, and the nominee-apparent may have a political problem concerning the very issue that did so much to bring him this far.
Packer then casts aspersions upon Obama's foreign policy judgement:
Obama’s plan, which was formally laid out last September, called for the remaining combat brigades to be pulled out at a brisk pace of about one per month, along with a strategic shift of resources and attention away from Iraq and toward Afghanistan. At that rate, all combat troops would be withdrawn in sixteen months. In hindsight, it was a mistake—an understandable one, given the nature of the media and of Presidential politics today—for Obama to offer such a specific timetable. In matters of foreign policy, flexibility is a President’s primary defense against surprise.
What to do? What to do? A pandering political stance undone by success in Iraq. Fortunately Packer takes solace in Obama's high level of cynicism, such as his "pragmatic" move to break his public financing pledge, which can help him in this crises:
Obama, whatever the idealistic yearnings of his admirers, has turned out to be a cold-eyed, shrewd politician. The same pragmatism that prompted him last month to forgo public financing of his campaign will surely lead him, if he becomes President, to recalibrate his stance on Iraq. He doubtless realizes that his original plan, if implemented now, could revive the badly wounded Al Qaeda in Iraq, reënergize the Sunni insurgency, embolden Moqtada al-Sadr to recoup his militia’s recent losses to the Iraqi Army, and return the central government to a state of collapse. The question is whether Obama will publicly change course before November. So far, he has offered nothing more concrete than this: “We must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in.”
And now the money quote in this piece:
Obama has shown, with his speech on race, that he has a talent for candor.
Oh yeah. Wonderful candor there when he lamely expained why he had to break his pledge about accepting public campaign financing. A move that Packer thought was "pragmatic."
Packer proves that he is no mere unbiased bystander since he gives Obama a few tips just oozing with cynicism such as this:
If pressed on his timetable for withdrawal, he could say, “That was always a goal, not a blueprint. When circumstances change, I don’t close my eyes—I adapt.”
Say George, tell us again about Obama's "talent for candor."
—P.J. Gladnick is a freelance writer and creator of the DUmmie FUnnies blog.
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Comments Policy
Obama will slide into a new opinion
July 1, 2008 - 21:12 ET by jefflebowskiand once again, the MSM will not make mention of it. The MSM's protection of Obama is sickening.
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Sickening, but totally
July 1, 2008 - 21:14 ET by Clear thinkerSickening, but totally expected.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
I think he is out-slickin'
July 1, 2008 - 21:46 ET by RukusI think he is out-slickin' Slick Willie! Of course the leftist MSM oil helps a lot! It won't surprise me what his new CHANGE is about Iraq, the MSM, no, msm will make sure it slides off as it does with all his flip-flopping, uh, I mean NUANCES does. I need a drink!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
The MSM and Obama (et al)
July 2, 2008 - 00:18 ET by UnsaneAnd that's just it. If the MSM actually did their jobs, neither Clinton or Obama would be able to get away with this nonsense. (Hence also the need for the MRC and NB.) But since they have consciously taken on the role of advocacy for one side of the aisle, you get what we have: a politician that has carte blanche to be as dishonest as possible, with resulting corrosive effects on the U.S. political system.
I don't think a visit to Iraq will do anything for him. His mind is made up and he is aching to surrender there.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Obama credited Dems in congress with reduced Iraq violence
July 1, 2008 - 21:31 ET by krendlerDuring one of the debates with Clinton (this was while he was still pandering to the liberal base and before the start of his marathon towards the middle), Obama, for the umpteenth time, declared that the surge had failed and modestly gave credit to the Dems in congress for the reduced violence we were seeing. Hiis logic was that the 06 Dem victory had pressured the competing factions in Iraq to reconcile their differences before Barack and Co pulled US troops out.
He also continued with his well-worn line about the "lowered expectations" that allowed the Republicans and Petraeus to claim that the surge was working.
Obama is the friggin' poster boy for the "The Surge Had Failed Before It Started" crowd.
I hope McCain stuffs those statements down Obama's throat during the debates.
No, I think McCain will
July 1, 2008 - 21:50 ET by RukusNo, I think McCain will play nice and not do that, though he would get a lot of votes that he wouldn't have otherwise if he did. OK, that sentence confused even me, I hope you see what I'm tryin' to say. LOL!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
How sad
July 1, 2008 - 21:33 ET by Captain KirockHow sad that an entire political party has become so vested in the defeat of America that it cannot admit, for purely political purposes, when America is actually winning a war.
It proves an old point: never bet against the US military.
Bingo!!! You got that right
July 1, 2008 - 21:51 ET by RukusBingo!!! You got that right CK!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Why isn't the MSN showing all the victory parades?
July 1, 2008 - 21:55 ET by Biff McCainHe should hug the war, say it was a great idea to free a billion people
and pledge to free a billion more no matter how much it cost. We're
almost bankrupt anyway, why not got down the way the USSR did?
"Burn that mother down." -- Jimmy Ellis
Because we are a free
July 1, 2008 - 22:04 ET by RukusBecause we are a free Republic not communist you twit! We didn't get to be the greatest country on Earth with socialist/communist ideals! You should go troll somewhere else troll, no, imp! Unlike you, most of us here love our country and hate the crappy, FAILED policies of other countries! The USSR when down because that system didn't/doesn't work. Grow up junior! Go back to Huffingthepost or Kus where you belong.
Sorry NS, I couldn't help it!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Silliness
July 2, 2008 - 00:22 ET by UnsaneReally, we are almost bankrupt? There are countries with much worse debt problems than the United States. Japan, for instance. Besides, those are all crocodile tears. If we had a coddling Nanny State, you would be HAPPY.
But I agree for once: it was a GREAT idea to free a billion people and an even better idea to free a billion more.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Bankrupt? We are spending
July 2, 2008 - 10:55 ET by BDBankrupt? We are spending less on the military even including Iraq than we did in nearly all previous US history.
If we were going bankrupt , it would be because of the ruinous social porgrams we have sucked up in the past fourty years.
An Obama's Witness disciple
July 1, 2008 - 22:04 ET by CJK51An Obama's Witness disciple doubts the power of the almight one? Can't he lose his liberal union card for that?
Seriously, how anyone can abide by the condescending, empty rhetoric spewing from this sad excuse of a political hack is beyond me. Unfortunately, I don't think McCain will go for the kill, which wouldn't really require much effort on his part.
Obama WILL RETREAT, and LIe on the Way out the Door
July 1, 2008 - 22:05 ET by JayTeeObama fell off the Wall,
and all the Kings horses, and all the Kings men,
can't get him to go back to Iraq again.
He's Out of touch....with Real Americans. IF he doesn't Shut up the McCain Critique from the 3 Star General, the former Pres. candidate, he's gonna lock in his anti American, flag Pin hating, Lying SOB Profile.
We have met the Enemy from within...and found him wanting...
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Actually, I'm seeing the
July 1, 2008 - 22:13 ET by RukusActually, I'm seeing the Obami as being a diplomat for the left...
He call tell you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the ride, at least to the left. Juz sayin'.
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
Rukus
July 1, 2008 - 22:56 ET by Biff McCainThere is nothing in our constitution for or against communism or capitalism.
Corrupt ExxonMobilEnron capitalism is just as bad as corrupt USSR like communism.
Betsy Ross's shop was run the state, before and after 1776. Take the tour someday.
Biff
"Burn that mother down." -- Jimmy Ellis
Wrong Biffo...obviously you never met a Russian in America
July 2, 2008 - 00:00 ET by JayTeeVIsit Russia for 6 weeks, Take the Constitution with you, Translate it in Russian, and ask for an Expert Russian Opinion on your Opinion..
"There is nothing in our constitution for or against communism or capitalism."
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised
Recommendation
July 2, 2008 - 00:29 ET by UnsaneYou really need to spend less time on NB and more time studying history. The Constitution is stacked against communism in that there are no provisions for the state ownership of property, thus opening the door to capitalism. And you can whine, bitch and scream about how evil ExxonMobil is, but they have a LONG way to go to catch up with the State in terms of blood spilled. In fact, ALL corporations have a very long way to go in order to beat out the State in terms of blood spilled.
See, you hate Exxon for daring to make profits. All you need to do is not buy from them or change them from within. You have to spill blood to free yourself from the State, and usually, lots of it.
Personally, I wish that one day ExxonMobil would completely destroy all of its property and assets, and then throw the whole thing in the faces of lazy, whiny ingrates such as yourself and demand that YOU run it. (h/t to Ayn Rand) That would be a fun thing to see!
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Do you ever get the
July 2, 2008 - 10:59 ET by BDDo you ever get the impression that Biff McCain is a simple pitching machine in a batting cage?
I must be just as bad. . .
July 2, 2008 - 08:07 ET by WingletDriverbecause I've owned stock in ExxonMobile for at least a decade.
The differences between USSR and ExxonMobile:
1) ExxonMobile is in competition with other oil companies to provide a product at a competitive price. They are "governed" by the laws of economics and constantly hindered by countries like the USSR and Venezuela who have stolen from stock owners like me by nationalizing their oil industries. The USSR abhorred competition.
2) The USSR killed or imprisoned hundreds of millions of people. They purged folks who were deemed enemies of the state. Please provide proof of ExxonMobile doing that. I'd like to see where their gulags are.
3) The USSR hated the free market. ExxonMobile hates closed markets. I get to keep the dividends from my stocks and will pay taxes on my capital gains when I cash out. In the USSR, I would have got nothing for the fruits of my labor or for the risk involved in investment.
4) Folks like you make excuses for why communism failed in Russia: It wasn't really communist; we didn't go far enough; they lacked the industrial base from which to launch a real communist revolution; blah blah blah. Meanwhile you criticize and demonize the business model that obviously works: They price gouge (which has never been demonstrated and every government in the world makes more on gas taxes than ExxonMobile makes in profit); they destroy the environment (even though that's demonstrably untrue); their just plain evil. We got it Biff. Wow, you're amazing.
Obama has shown, with his
July 1, 2008 - 22:12 ET by motherbeltObama has shown, with his speech on race, that he has a talent for candor.
<Insert hysterical laughter>
In an article that pretty much chronicles Obama's shifting policies and expedient position changes and "recalibrations" and "nuances" ...Packer has the unmitigated gall to say Obama has a talent for CANDOR?
These OAS (Obama Adoration Syndrome) sufferers just keep re-defining things to fit him. Just like they now define HIM as a "centrist."
These are some serious contortions here....is this a campaign or a game of "Twister"?
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
15 of 18 benchmarks now satisfiled
July 1, 2008 - 22:20 ET by wdhorningThe surge has worked.
Iraqi training of soldiers and police has worked.
Self-governing is working as well as can be expected and improving continuously.
Violence is down.
The only "loser" is Obama
It's an amazing thing
July 1, 2008 - 22:23 ET by MidAmericaIt's an amazing thing to watch. Obama's campaign is dissolving before our eyes. Does anyone know now what he really plans to do as President? If his policies keep 'evolving' he's going to end up politically to the right of John McCain. In a couple of months he will be babbling incoherant statements like John Kerry did when he tried to tie all his inconsistant remarks into a consistant whole.
it still is true
July 1, 2008 - 22:34 ET by bigpapa"this pledge represented conventional thinking among Democrats and was guaranteed to play well with primary voters"
It's just that Obamalongadingdongs minders have decided he should moderate it...
The moonbats will still go with him,, now they're trying to go moderate...
A moonbat is a moonbat is a moonbat...
edit to add:
I cannot imagine how many "focus groups" and individuals are telling this empty suit what to do on a daily basis...
And how many would do the same thing if he were elected, sickening...
The biggest problem is that
July 1, 2008 - 22:57 ET by RukusThe biggest problem is that he could do ANYTHING stupid, wrong, flip-flop, (insert your thing here) and all the Obamamaniacs are going to follow him anyway! Centrist! BS! Left is left is left! Period. I hate politics! You are right Papa, you are right!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
roger
July 1, 2008 - 23:42 ET by bigpaparoger that...
I'm with ya!
Rukus, (insert your thing here) ??????????
July 1, 2008 - 23:48 ET by R D HelmLOL.
The truth is insensitive. - Neal Boortz
Well ND, what can I say!
July 2, 2008 - 00:04 ET by RukusWell ND, what can I say! There have been SO many things he has flip-flopped or changed or whatever he has done overe the times, hell, what am I going to expect from him?? Insert your own thing, You have somethinng you have to add, I'm sure you do. LOL! That was the point! Get it? You get my meaning I hope, don't you? I'm sure you do. He CHANGES constently! That was my point! I know you get that my freind. I get the feeling you are just feeling what I do, so the thus the ?????????. I hope so...
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
On Obama “redefining" his position
July 1, 2008 - 23:28 ET by needleLet’s pretend, nay assume, that Obama “redefines” his position concerning Iraq along the lines that George Packer and his ilk would advise. There is no way that he can really do so with anything remotely resembling “candor” because – think about this for a moment: Who is there from the Democratic Party and especially from his base who will staff his cabinet, and who has the both the sense and the backbone to advise or support Obama on policy counter to fulmination of the BDS Left?
If, as somebody aptly noted above, Obama is slicker than slick Willie, it is because he is an entirely empty suit. Should Obama actually become President – perish the thought – I imagine his cabinet will become one super focus group guided by the “wisdom” that guides Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
Sweet dreams…
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
super focus group guided by
July 1, 2008 - 23:36 ET by Rukussuper focus group guided by the “wisdom” that guides Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid."
Wisdom! Pelosi and Reid??? Har!!
Wisdom and Pelosi and Reid don't go together. Good point Nee, they don't go together! Ugh!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
This reminds me why I have
July 1, 2008 - 23:09 ET by mostlymoderateThis reminds me why I have to put my differences with McCain aside and vote for him in the election. There is seriously something wrong when the liberal media is THIS supportive of a candidate.
I despise McCain, I think he is a joke of a Republican; however, what is the alternative? Obama? I think not. Vote McCain.
Does anyone see any of the
July 1, 2008 - 23:08 ET by motherbeltDoes anyone see any of the MSM worrying about what problems McCain might have, and offering solutions?
Yeah, right.
They are past pathetic.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
The bottom line to all
July 1, 2008 - 23:14 ET by ConservativeRexThe bottom line to all this mess is; we have to find the yellow bellied coward that is leaking a lot of classified military information to the New Yorker Magazine. Whether it be a military person or a politician, it needs to stop, now.
The New Yorker is never going to stand up for America's best interest. If Eric Rudolph were still around, the New Yorker would be a good place to start. At any rate, we need to find the leaks and plug the leaks. They are harming our military, and no one should stand for that.
CR... I agree. This is
July 1, 2008 - 23:20 ET by bigtimerCR...
I agree.
This is what has infuriated me more than anything...and it just will NOT happen.
Seems nobody cares about who the leaker or leakers are...EVER.
Unless of course they happen to be affiliated with the 'R' party somehow.
This is ll beyond despicable to me..treason, plain treason.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
Treason is treason. I
July 1, 2008 - 23:40 ET by RukusTreason is treason. I agree. Pelosi and Reid are perfect examples, yes!!!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"
BTW, I'd like to thank
July 2, 2008 - 00:22 ET by RukusBTW, I'd like to thank Shawn, our resident troll, sorry Shawn, about giving me alternative names for trolls, I.E. Biff, he's an Imp! Thanks Shawn, you have a good sense of humor. We appreciate that!
"Nuke 'em 'til they... oh hell, just shoot 'em!"