Friend --I'm James Kvaal, the new policy director for President Obama's 2012 campaign. You'll be hearing from me occasionally about the President's policies and those of our opponents, and how we can all help bring about change for our country.
Yesterday, we accomplished one major change when President Obama announced that all American troops in Iraq will be home before the holidays.
With that action, the Iraq war will end. And one of the President's central promises will have been kept.
Both as Americans and as supporters of President Obama, this is something for us to reflect on, and be proud of.
Watch the video of the President's announcement -- then please pass this on:
The war in Iraq was a divisive, defining issue in our country for nearly nine years, and was the catalyst for many Americans to get involved in politics for the first time.
Now, thanks to the actions of this President, we can say that conflict is coming to a close.
The end of this war reflects a larger transition in our foreign policy as, in the President's words, "the tide of war is receding." The drawdown in Iraq has allowed us to refocus on the fight against al Qaeda, even as we begin to bring troops home from Afghanistan. And of course, this week also marked the definitive end of the Qaddafi regime in Libya.
These outcomes are an example of what happens when a leader sets a plan and sees it through. In the last campaign, the President committed to getting American troops home while leaving behind a stable and secure Iraq. You rallied around that vision, and now that promise has been fulfilled.
On behalf of this campaign and supporters of the President across the country, I want to thank the more than 1 million Americans who have served in Iraq, and all those who worked to make this possible.
Thanks,
James
James Kvaal
Policy Director
Obama for America
++++++++++++++++++++
"a stable and secure Iraq." Let's see how well that works out once we leave.
The trouble is you don't "end" a war by walking away. This has been proven over and over - Vietnam, the Soviets in Afghanistan, Korea, the first Iraq war - all you do is give up.
Walking away from Iraq will not cause instant peace. It will likely just free up manpower for Afghanistan, or Africa. Those hundred advisers Osama sent in could easily become another Vietnam.
It certainly will not remove the threat of terrorist attacks on American soil - the big reason we were over there in the first place.
Let's hear from some of the servicemen who served and risked life and limb in Iraq. How do they feel?
Let's keep in mind that the troop withdrawal from Iraq by Dec 31, 2011 was an agreement made by George Bush in 2008. All 0bama did was decide not to ignore the agreement. Of course, he'll claim all the credit.
ReplyDeleteIs it a "war" if end dates are negotiated with the country the "war" is being fought in?
ReplyDeleteMore like some sort of police action with the cooperation of the hosting country. The rules of engagement our guys are stuck with certainly don't say "war' to me.
War is where you inflict death and damage on the enemy until they surrender, or you lose. Where you are not allowed to shoot at the bad guys except under very specific rules, it's not "war" any more.
I still want to hear from veterans from over there.