About that Iraq withdrawal

By Glenn Greenwald

President Obama announced today that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year, and this announcement is being seized upon exactly the way you would predict: by the Right to argue that Obama is a weak, appeasing Chamberlain and by Democrats to hail his greatness for keeping his promise and (yet again) Ending the War. It’s obviously a good thing that these troops are leaving Iraq, but let’s note three clear facts before either of these absurd narratives ossify:

First, the troop withdrawal is required by an agreement which George W. Bush negotiated and entered into with Iraq and which was ratified by the Iraqi Parliament prior to Obama’s inauguration. Let’s listen to the White House itself today: "’This deal was cut by the Bush administration, the agreement was always that at end of the year we would leave. . . .’ an administration official said.” As I said, it’s a good thing that this agreement is being adhered to, and one can reasonably argue that Obama’s campaign advocacy for the war’s end influenced the making of that agreement, but the Year End 2011 withdrawal date was agreed to by the Bush administration and codified by them in a binding agreement.

Second, the Obama administration has been working for months to persuade, pressure and cajole Iraq to allow U.S. troops to remain in that country beyond the deadline. The reason they’re being withdrawn isn’t because Obama insisted on this, but because he tried — but failed — to get out of this obligation.

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denmason

Posted: Oct 23 2011, 12:01 PM

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Yep. The US just lost the war in Iraq and are being kicked out.

Dennis in MI

Posted: Oct 24 2011, 8:59 AM

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24213

What you talkin about? We won years ago, when Bush posed aboard an aircraft carrier, in his costume, in front of the banner saying "Mission Accomplished"
The rest is just jobs, training, and profits for our military industrial overlords.

Dave

Posted: Oct 24 2011, 10:40 AM

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<The schedule for my book tour, beginning next week, has been updated and changed; that will likely continue to happen, so those interested should periodically check that schedule, though I’ll try to note significant changes here as well.>

a book sale, not buying the book or the story

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