Obama: Surge Was An Unnecessary Success
Katie Couric—well known for creampuff interviews—nonetheless presses a befuddled Barack Obama into admitting that even with today's perfect 20/20 hindsight, he'd still reject the surge.
What character... admitting to 25 million Iraqis that their lives are nothing more than marks to be counted against in a ledger, chits with a firm price. Gives you pause when considering what he'll do if allowed into office to socialize your healthcare, doesn't it?
Couric: But talking microcosmically, did the surge, the addition of 30,000 additional troops ... help the situation in Iraq? Obama: Katie, as … you've asked me three different times, and I have said repeatedly that there is no doubt that our troops helped to reduce violence. There's no doubt. Couric: But yet you're saying … given what you know now, you still wouldn't support it … so I'm just trying to understand this. Obama: Because … it's pretty straightforward. By us putting $10 billion to $12 billion a month, $200 billion, that's money that could have gone into Afghanistan. Those additional troops could have gone into Afghanistan. That money also could have been used to shore up a declining economic situation in the United States. That money could have been applied to having a serious energy security plan so that we were reducing our demand on oil, which is helping to fund the insurgents in many countries. So those are all factors that would be taken into consideration in my decision-- to deal with a specific tactic or strategy inside of Iraq. Couric: And I really don't mean to belabor this, Senator, because I'm really, I'm trying … to figure out your position. Do you think the level of security in Iraq … Obama: Yes. Couric … would exist today without the surge? Obama: Katie, I have no idea what would have happened had we applied my approach, which was to put more pressure on the Iraqis to arrive at a political reconciliation. So this is all hypotheticals. What I can say is that there's no doubt that our U.S. troops have contributed to a reduction of violence in Iraq. I said that, not just today, not just yesterday, but I've said that previously. What that doesn't change is that we've got to have a different strategic approach if we're going to make America as safe as possible.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 11:27 PM
Comments
Obama says his approach was "to put more pressure on the Iraqis to arrive at a political reconciliation." How does that equate to putting a price on 25 million Iraqi lives? Especially when the folks that blog here seem to think that Sunnis and Shias have no problems cooperating with one another at all.
It's worth noting that there's a decent argument to be made that we should never have invaded Iraq in the first place, and that our very presence in Iraq put a lot of Iraqi lives in jeopardy.
Many conservatives in America might not share your apparent sentiment that you cannot put a price on human life. If they did, they wouldn't push for extensive tax cuts when millions of Americans (not Iraqis) go without health insurance and, effectively, adequate health care all the time.
You certainly have a good argument on your side that Obama's approach to Iraq has been inconsistent and, to your way of thinking, wrong. But to pretend that Obama or any other human being would cavalierly write off 25 million lives of ANY nationality seems a mite incredible.
That's really the problem caused in the last eight years, the Karl Rove school of thought: it's not enough to debate your political opponents (Democrats), you have to vilify them (evil Commie bastards) and then destroy them. It's why the Republican Party lost the COngress in 2006, and why they may well lose the White House in 2008. Think about it: if Obama is clearly so inadequate as a candidate for President, how on earth could he ever get elected? Only if a majority of Americans are somehow disapproving of the current Republican approach to governance.
Go ahead. Blast away. :-)
Posted by: Diogenes at July 23, 2008 01:57 AM (PMlL4)
Whether or not we 'should have gone in' is not really relevant to the facts in this case dio. We are there, you play with the cards you have you know? He's basically saying that if he had been the one pulling the trigger; he would have put the Iraqi nation under his ego-swelling bus and diverted everything somewhere else. And damned if even he knows what would have happened (or damned if he even seems to care).
I just can't believe that $15m Katie asked those distracting questions to Mr. H&C08
Posted by: Lord Nazh at July 23, 2008 03:33 AM (sBNzZ)
Posted by: Joe at July 23, 2008 04:14 AM (IHkXF)
With the help of an utterly complicit media that simply will not show the man for anything like what he really is.
Besides the WSJ, who covered this one?
http://cancelthebee.blogspot.com/2008/05/obamas-shady-teamsters-deal.html
Some blogs, and that's about it.
The guy consistantly shows poor judgement. If it weren't for that first wave of teenager in college who think that haveing a black president is the answer to the worlds problems, this guy would never have gotten off of the ground.
His background shows his inexperience, and even for being that inexperienced, he's got a lot of weird connections going on in his background.
http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/
Read around in there for a while and see why this guy shouldn't be president.
Hope/ Change...pfft.
Posted by: Xerock at July 23, 2008 05:37 AM (kX5hh)
Posted by: Dave at July 23, 2008 10:31 AM (gv18Z)
Posted by: Zelsdorf Ragshaft III at July 23, 2008 12:04 PM (W3y8V)
Saying Obama is a product of affirmative action starts to hint at your real objection, Z, doesn't it? It's not true, of course, that he was admitted to Columbia and Harvard Law via affirmative action, but even if it were true, you don't graduate magna cum laude and as president of the Law Review due to affirmative action. Do you have some sort of chip on your shoulder about college boys, Z? Because it sure sounds like it. Really, there's no crime involved in using one's brain.
On the subject of getting flustered by a Katie Couric interview, what about McCain's talk with the little lady? This is exactly what concerns me about McCain.
"On Katie Couric tonight McCain says:
Kate Couric: Senator McCain, Senator Obama says, while the increased number of US troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?
McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is as -- such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel McFarlane [phonetic] was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history. Thanks to General Petraeus, our leadership, and the sacrifice of brave young Americans. I mean, to deny that their sacrifice didn't make possible the success of the surge in Iraq, I think, does a great disservice to young men and women who are serving and have sacrificed.
One problem. The surge wasn't even announced until a few months after the Anbar Awakening. Via Spencer Ackerman, here is Colonel MacFarland explaining the Anbar Awakening to Pam Hass of UPI, on September 29, 2006. That would be almost four months before the President even announced the surge. Petraeus wasn't even in Iraq yet."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ilan-goldenberg/not-a-gaffe-a-fundaemtnal_b_114394.html
You can read all the tea leaves you want and declare that Obama is totally lacking in anything resembling a smidge of character, and that's your opinion. You've also dismissed out of hand all of McCain's "gaffes". Do none of these "gaffes" ever give you one second of doubt or concern? I'm very very concerned that McCain has lost a step, and this latest episode certainly adds to that concern.
Posted by: Diogenes at July 23, 2008 12:30 PM (PMlL4)
Posted by: mbabbitt at July 23, 2008 01:47 PM (p/jtE)
But I guess I'm the only one here who sees a potential danger in an old man taking charge when he doesn't have it all together anymore.
Posted by: dioegenes at July 23, 2008 02:22 PM (PMlL4)
If Obama's gaffes don't give you one second of doubt or concern, why should McCain's give us one second of doubt or concern?
Sauce for the goose, sir.
Posted by: C-C-G at July 23, 2008 04:50 PM (e+Bm0)
You sure you wanna continue to talk about McCain not having it all together? At least he knows what committees he's on.
Posted by: C-C-G at July 23, 2008 05:32 PM (e+Bm0)
They always seem to forget that Iraq had ignored multiple UN resolutions, to allow UN weapons inspectors in, and had defied all time-tables and ultimatums, contrary to the agreed upon terms of the cease-fire terms of Operation Desert Storm.
That had they not tied Bush 1's hands we could have gone all the way to Baghdad and taken Hussein out in 1991.
That had Bill Clinton not been such a wuss we could have had Bin Laden from the Sudanese, thus no 9/11, and no Iraq War.
That the consensus was that Iraq had WMD, and Saddam Hussein had gassed his own people.
That most of the elected Democrats (Senate and Representatives) voted to go into Iraq.
That Al Qaeda flocked into Iraq, and were defeated by our military, and duh, they were getting killed over there instead of over here.
That we are still fighting a GLOBAL War on Terrorism.
...and that the US has not been attacked since 9/11.
Posted by: art at July 23, 2008 05:39 PM (3DErI)
The Democrats always favor "something else." They want to fulfill the objective "some other way."
They don't want oil, nuclear power, or natural gas -- they want wind. They don't want troops in Iraq, they want them in Afghanistan.
In truth, they're in favor of NOTHING, but they're too hypocritical to say so.
Posted by: Larry at July 23, 2008 07:22 PM (noIIk)
"Well... the Dems did this.... the Dems did that... Obama said this...."
What do you have to say about John McCain completely mssing the complete chronology of the surge -- not just messing up a few dates, but getting it completely inside out -- and then, today, digging himself even deeper with a totally incomprehensible "answer".
Rule One when you find yourself in a hole: quit digging. McCain must have forgotten that rule, too.
Posted by: Diogenes at July 23, 2008 08:43 PM (PMlL4)
Kinda gives new meaning to "confused," doesn't it, Diogenes?
Posted by: C-C-G at July 23, 2008 10:12 PM (e+Bm0)
I have NO IDEA what would possess Obama to say he was on the Senate Banking Committee when he isn't. That's pretty dumb.
But McCain claims he should be President because of his vast foreign affairs experience, yet he continually messes up on his very area of "expertise". He gets countries confused all the time. Now he tries to rewrite history in Iraq re: the Anbar Awakening and the Surge (and he has the balls to mistakenly call out Obama on that topic, claiming Obama doesn't know the history!).
And you're playing infantile "gotcha" games. Grow up and recognize the issue, please.
Posted by: diogenes at July 23, 2008 10:27 PM (PMlL4)
You are always hung up on McCain's supposed Suni vs. Shiite gaff, but you see nothing wrong with Obama's outright lies about his involvement with the Senate Banking Committee. You see nothing wrong with a foreign policy wimp (with the advice from over 300 advisors) who changes his story according to the audience he addresses.
Tell me, diogenes, just where does your Obamassiah stand on the major issues that concern American citizens? Don't give me your usual crap about nuance and Carl Rove -- just the real facts, diogenes, that is if you have the intelligence and patience to dig them out!
Posted by: Mescalero at July 23, 2008 11:40 PM (8w+SF)
Posted by: William Fortner at July 24, 2008 12:00 AM (YnfH9)
Posted by: C-C-G at July 24, 2008 07:18 AM (e+Bm0)
Well, it really makes no difference, guys. Obama's gonna be the next President. Better start getting used to it.
Posted by: diogenes at July 24, 2008 09:21 AM (PMlL4)
Obama goofed. He was talking about a bill that he sponsored that was approved by the Senate Banking Committee. Instead of saying "my bill" he said "my committee".
Wow. Earth-shattering stuff.
Almost exactly like McCain's explanation of the Surge chronology. I paraphrase:
Well, you see, ummm, the Anbar Awakening was part of..... a counter-insurgency. And then the Surge came in 8 months later. Now, the Surge is the same thing as a counter-insurgency. Well, no, not the same thing, but a counter-insurgency is part of a Surge... no, wait.... a Surge is part of a counter-insurgency.... (is that what Lieberman told me to say?).... yeah, that's it! Look at the words, right? SURGE.... counter-inSURGEncy. See? It's the same thing!!
Posted by: diogenes at July 24, 2008 09:59 AM (PMlL4)
Obama will only be President if something supernatural intervenes. Otherwise his empty suit status will be shown long before November. Despite their vocal status on blogs and talk radio, there just aren't enough kool-aid drinkers to win the election for Obama.
Posted by: C-C-G at July 24, 2008 05:14 PM (e+Bm0)
Obama goofed. He was talking about a bill that he sponsored that was approved by the Senate Banking Committee. Instead of saying "my bill" he said "my committee".
You (and, if it gives you comfort, many others here) have one speed: ATTACK. You know nothing else, you understand nothing else, you do nothing else. And it explains not only your actions on this particularly little blog, but it also explains your world view. You identify your true-blue buddies first, and then look to level everybody else in sight.
Sad.
Posted by: diogenes at July 24, 2008 05:21 PM (PMlL4)
Keep it up, please. Keep showing all us neanderthals how a superior person debates using personal attacks.
Posted by: C-C-G at July 24, 2008 06:33 PM (e+Bm0)
You commented that Obama's statement about being on the Banking Committee, and you ended "Kinda gives new meaning to "confused," doesn't it, Diogenes?"
Last evening, I responded: "I have NO IDEA what would possess Obama to say he was on the Senate Banking Committee when he isn't. That's pretty dumb."
This morning, I Googled to see what was out there on this issue because, at that point, I hadn't heard anything about it except for your comment. I found what I thought was a reasonable explanation of Obama's mistake, so I posted:
"Obama goofed. He was talking about a bill that he sponsored that was approved by the Senate Banking Committee. Instead of saying 'my bill' he said 'my committee'."
You responded: "We point out Obama's idiotic claim that he was on the Banking committee, what do you do? Attack McCain."
So yeah, I questioned your willingness to read, and reposted my original statement: OBAMA GOOFED.
No personal attack against you there, C-C-G, at least not until you ignored not one but two admissions that Obama screwed up in his comment.
(Memo to self: quit wasting your time.)
Posted by: diogenes at July 24, 2008 07:36 PM (PMlL4)
What was that you were saying about us having one speed, "ATTACK"? Look in the mirror.
Posted by: C-C-G at July 24, 2008 07:54 PM (e+Bm0)
Posted by: diogenes at July 24, 2008 07:58 PM (PMlL4)
Posted by: diogenes at July 24, 2008 07:59 PM (PMlL4)
Got that diogenes, I've waited for years to use this expression against marxist fellow travelers, brain-dead liberals, and the occasionally misguided Republican like yourself. Regarding Obama's Sderot gaff, he just plain ole lied, period.
He's flip-flopped so much that after he threatened the usual liberal-white-guilt zombies and black racists like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson with his principled stances against the left/Green railroading of three innocent Duke LaCrosse players for rape as well as his calls for fairness in the Jena 6 case, he then betrays the confidence he established with my wife and myself by pandering to the worst hypocrites to ever set foot in this country -- those crooks living on San Francisco's billionaire's row, a few of which I got to know and despise as a graduate student at UC Berkeley.
Posted by: Mescalero at July 24, 2008 10:40 PM (8w+SF)
Of course, one may wonder what he would gain by lying like that, but... awwww never mind, he's a just lyin', thievin', no-account Commie.
Nope, ole Barry HUSSEIN Obama thought he'd get away with that one. Thank God somebody was awake enough to alert us to his pernicious lies!!!
Posted by: diogenes at July 24, 2008 11:46 PM (PMlL4)
Posted by: eaglewingz08 at July 25, 2008 04:32 PM (W88Qb)
Posted by: Nine-of-Diamonds at July 25, 2008 10:24 PM (sk9If)
I haven't seen anyone post Obamanation's claim, "I've already campaigned in all 57 states."
Posted by: Otto at July 27, 2008 05:17 PM (vsHEm)
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