Barack Obama: He'll Meet With Ahmadinejad, But Not With the Troops in Iraq
By Erick Posted in 2008 | Ahmadinejad | Barack Obama | Iran | Iraq | John McCain | Political Stunts — Comments (56) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Barack Obama has not been to Iraq since 2006, when he took a *two day* tour. In fact, for all of Obama's alleged globe trotting, he has pretty much decided to form his foreign policy by reading the editorial page of the New York Times and listening to leftists in Hyde Park, instead of taking field trips to check out the scene for himself.
John McCain has invited Barack Obama to go to Iraq together. But no, Obama will not go. He'll gladly participate in a Townhall meeting with John McCain, but actually going to meet with the commanders in the field is too much.
As Jim Geraghty notes, Obama has rejected the offer calling it a "political stunt." Let's back up to the last paragraph: he'll join McCain in townhall meetings on the campaign trail, but doing so with the troops in Iraq is a political stunt.
The man who has said he would meet unconditionally with Ahmadinejad will not go meet with our soldiers in Iraq. And, as Jim says, that's fine if he thinks it's a political stunt and he does not want to go together. But Obama, thus far, *has chosen to not go at all.*
Even the media's narrative on Iraq has changed more than Obama's. The surge has had a positive impact. The media has acknowledged as much. Not only will Obama not acknowledge that, he'd rather close his eyes and not see the success.
And it's not just the troops in Iraq and General Petraeus that Obama is refusing to meet with. He won't even meet with soldiers from Illinois.
A lot of the left claims to support our soldiers, but not the war. Obama apparently cannot even muster support for our soldiers and sailors.
He's too busy planning his unconditional meetings with American enemies.
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Barack Obama: He'll Meet With Ahmadinejad, But Not With the Troops in Iraq 56 Comments (0 topical, 56 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
That's what happens to a guy when his last opposition was Alan Keyes...
At a rate of 6,000 earmarks per spending bill, Speaker Pelosi is selling America's future to the special intrest groups.
This was pure political jujitsu on the part of John McCain. Obama was in a lose lose situation on this issue. If he agreed to the fact finding trip, then he might realize that things were going great. Not good.
Now, that he has refused, he looks like he is more likely to meet with Mahmoud than Petraeus. Furthermore, he looks like he is willing to accept defeat without even going to Iraq to see how things have changed since the surge.
If McCain plays his cards right, this rejection will be the center of every single foreign policy counter attack. Think about it. The next time that Obama proclaims willingness to meet with our enemies, McCain will be right behind him to remind everyone that he is more willing to meet with Ahmadinejad than he is Petraeus.
The next time he commits to removing troops McCain will remind everyone he is making this remarkabel commitment without the benefit of being on the ground. Not good, not good.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor
a thing or two about knife-fighting during his senatorial tenure.
At a rate of 6,000 earmarks per spending bill, Speaker Pelosi is selling America's future to the special intrest groups.
Obama, as we know, will have the votes of the leftists in this country. This will hopefully show the wishy-washy middle just how depraved Obama's foreign policy is, and how dangerous his presidency would be. Thanks for the post!
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room"
President Merkin Muffley
You can get a good look at a T-bone steak by sticking your head up a bull's tail end, but wouldn't you rather take the butcher's word for it? (for the lamers, this is completely stolen from one of our finest cinematic masterpieces - Tommy Boy)
Seriously though, if Obama knows so little about current conditions in Iraq because he hasn't been personally briefed by GEN Petraeus or spent more than two days in Iraq since 2006, what does that say about what every other person who has also not done either? Do we know less than Obama? Why can't we rely on the judgement of experts, when we ourselves have neither first-hand knowledge nor particular expertise?
Because "we" aren't applying for the highest job in the land. The information gained would only help "us" form our opinions about the war. The information Obama would gain would, one can only hope, form his policy positions.
Next time you need major surgery, have your doctor get his information from experts rather than actually looking at, and evaluating, the patient.
See how well that works out for you. :)
What particular datum do you suppose Obama would gain by attending Power Point briefings and photo ops in Iraq that would inform his policy positions that could not be gained, for example, by receiving the same briefings at the Pentagon or on Capitol Hill? If Obama lacks expertise in military matters (which I agree, he lacks), on what basis would he personally make an assessment of the situation in Iraq?
The next time I need surgery, I hope the surgeon relies on the diagnosis of an internist, the x-rays made by a radiologist, anesthesia given by an anesthesiologist, etc. Furthermore, if someone was not a surgeon, I would not expect them to learn much by reading my diagnosis or looking at my x-rays, unless someone was on hand to help explain what those things really meant to them.
why wouldn't he go out and see the actual country? Why wouldn't he speak to Iraqi politicians? Why wouldn't he have some lunch with military personnell? he can design the trip anyway he wants in Iraq. he doesn't merely need to have a briefing. Why doesn't he go out and visit a market? Why doesn't he meet an Iraqi family? Why doesn't he visit a jail? There is an endless number of things he could do there.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor
Say he did all the things you identify in your post. I'll ask again, what in particular do you suppose he would learn from those activities? How would any of those things impact his decision to keep troops in Iraq or bring them home? How would having lunch with the troops give him better insight into the military situation than receiving a briefing on the situation at the Pentagon? How would walking around a market in the Green Zone give him any insight into enemy capabilities? How would visiting a jail give insight into how well our various operations are contributing to our overall strategic goals?
Bush could have just relied on numbers and advisers to give him a feeling about Russia and Putin. But instead he met face to face, and looked into Putin's soul.
Similarly, how can Obama know how to judge Maliki and the rest of the Iraqi government if he doesn't meet face to face? The numbers game he can get anywhere, but there is the critical human element that you can only get by shaking a man's hand and looking him in the eye.
Even simply walking around the Green Zone one can get a sense for the people. And with repeated visits one can build up this sense over time to give a sixth sense about the course of the war. Numbers won't do that.
The next time I need surgery, I hope the surgeon relies on the diagnosis of an internist, the x-rays made by a radiologist
When I needed surgery, I insisted on my surgeon going over my CT scan films himself. With me standing there. Not rely on the radiologist's report. And it's a good thing we did too, because the surgeon's more experienced eye spotted something that the radiologist had missed.
As for Obama, he is asking the public to make him Commander-in-Chief over U.S. troops in a theater of war. Yet he has less experience with that subject than just about any other candidate who was running this year. He needs more hands-on exposure to the troops who may one day be under his command.
For example, if you're applying to be the manager of a department or the Vice President of a company, you ought to meet the place and see who and what you'll be working with, before they offer you the job.
making commitments to troop withdrawals. If he is elected, he will likely follow through on those withdrawals. You don't find it troubling at all that he at the same time refuses to visit Iraq to get a look at the situation first hand.
He isn't deciding whether to wear the red or blue tie without trying on either. He is deciding whether to stay or remove troops from a war theater. One would think that decision should only be made after gathering as much evidence as possible. McCain has made nine trips and plans more. McCain made his first assessment that there weren't enough troops AFTER he visited Iraq. He didn't make that assessment by talking to advisers. He saw the situation himself and figured out we had the wrong strategy. How is Obama formulating his opinion?
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor
A foolish idea, telegraph to suicidal enemy forces you are bringing a high value target into the green zone. This type of nonsense is classic who get their glory from non-combatant grandstanding.
Why would you want to put our troops in higher risk situations having to protect two presidential candidates, simply because McCain needs to politicize the war zone to boost his campaign.
It seems Obama has a clear assessment of the situation... we are losing ground in the real war in the Afghan/Pakistan theater, mainly because we are wasting assets in Iraq to protect oil contracts for the likes of Haliburton.
It is also clear sending McCain to Iraq every two months is a waste of taxpayer money. He cannot separate hype from fact, look at how he voted on the war and he wants to continue neglecting the war on terror. Might have been a flag that he lacks in intellect, he was second from the bottom of his graduating class.... probably only got into Annapolis because his daddy was an Admiral.
your competence to make this statement.
Even if Obama accepted the invite, it wouldn't telegraph diddly squat to anyone as it did not disclose anything. For the enemy to act on this they would have to at least know the day of the visit. Unless your version of the transcript is different from those posted on the internet, I'd suggest you've just participated in a tragic self-beclowning.
"A man does what he can and endures what he must."
26th marines, and 5th force recon. RSVN 1966-69. Jungles of Viet Nam while McCain was signing documents calling me a war criminal....... he does not know what "death before dishonor" means to a marine...... he talks of surrender, definitely something he knows about. Hate to think what he would give away if he were captured on one of his Iraq trips.
butt.
You haven't answered the question.
What position did you serve in that required you to believe that the enemy knowing you were going to do something, unattached to specifics of "where", "when", "what strength" was somehow a security violation?
I don't really care where you were in the 1960s, because idiocy transcends time.
"A man does what he can and endures what he must."
way to be an opportunistic supporter of our vets.
I think there's a difference between 1) Obama touring Iraq to see the status of the war in Iraq first-hand, and 2) being willing to meet the troops in Iraq.
His spokesperson said he thinks that the photo-op of walking through the green zone is not worth the $ or potential lives. That does not equal refusing to talk to the troops.
We just finished hearings with the two primary Generals that will manage strategy and tactics. Both of them and Gates clearly agree with Senator Obama's assessment of the Iraq and Afghan/Paki situation. None of them agreed with McCains assessment or the idea we need a long term base in Iraq.
http://armed-services.senate.gov/hearings2006.cfm
You cannot possibly believe McCain's judgment and inability to grasp the relationship of Sunni/Saudi and Shia/Iranian politics will provide any enlightenment to Obama.
In fact, I'm pretty sure that it's yours.
Now go answer the nice moderator's original question, and stop trying to impress him with your military service.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
...the Candidate Who May Not Be Named Here?
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
He Who Must Not Be Named wants to reduce the size of the federal government. Drown it in a bathtub? No, he'd draw and quarter it.
in 2006. Assuming people can't read may work well at dKos but it is a highly flawed evolutionary strategy here.
"A man does what he can and endures what he must."
both this year and recent hearings on Patreaus's confirmation to his new post, 2 weeks ago.
You need to follow along with the progress of things in this country if you want to participate in the outcome.
The link you posted is from two years ago.
There is no disagreement between the position of Petraeus, Odierno, Gates, and McCain.
There is, on the other hand, a huge discrepancy between their position and that of Obama.
I'm willing to debate all day. I'm not willing to waste time with someone who is willfully deceptive, though in a very hamhanded and obvious type of way, and apparently incapable of reading their own posts.
So, with that, I bid you a sad adieu. It isn't you, it's me. I'm sure you'll find someone out there who can appreciate your talents.
"A man does what he can and endures what he must."
Obama's predilections on the war are well known. In fact, if I remember correctly surrender and failure should have happened about two months ago. Support the troops, indeed.
Yes, of course going on an in-country assessment and supporting the troops needs to be two separate trips. What in Heavens name were we thinking?
Honestly, it's not like many people want him there, save AQ or perhaps JAM.
Don't worry though, the troops know who supports them; I suspect they are glad he is not coming. In fact, they will welcome a warrior who was tortured, chewed the dirt and supports their efforts; alone.
"Nec Aspera Terrent"
bene ambula et redambula
Contributor to The Minority Report
the same communist collaborator that does not want to give them VA benefits when they get home? Is that who you support? Have you been in a VA clinic or hospital of late......be proud of these characters that have run the country for the past 35 years.... real proud.
You remind me of the former Soviet Union. Obviously, no one could survive an enemy POW camp w/o collaborating. Why don't you go help Kieth Olbermann write one his drunken rants?
At a rate of 6,000 earmarks per spending bill, Speaker Pelosi is selling America's future to the special intrest groups.
"Reply To" is your friend. Otherwise your post is a string of son sequiturs which makes you look like an asshat.
Obama is the only candidate in the field, of either party, who hasn't been to Iraq.
If he goes, unless he does a reenactment of John Kerry's secret mission to Cambodia, it will be a photo op. Or unless he's afraid to leave a bunker.
It is cheaper if he goes with someone else, that is, if he plans to go.
As a veteran I plead guilty to being a supporter of veterans. Opportunistic, I suppose, depends upon where you stand about seeing a loudmouthed poseur pretending to care about the country.
"A man does what he can and endures what he must."
and you called McCain a "Communist Collaborator" without a cite. Who's really wasting the bandwidth? Go back to reading Broowaha.
I give him another hour.
The Unofficial RedState FAQ
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. ” - Martin Luther
That's probably why I've never been offered an official RS +5 Light Sabre of Blamming.
At a rate of 6,000 earmarks per spending bill, Speaker Pelosi is selling America's future to the special intrest groups.
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Obama supporters don't have a name for confusing freedom of speech with respect for private property; that particular quirk is a hallmark of Ronulans.
So, I apologize to the former for associating this fellow with them.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
No matter the flavor...
Ronulan, usually some self righteous "soldier" who somehow finds it the highest form of patriotism to blast all things Iraq because after all it's not the "real" war.
Obama acolytes, usually a freshman or sophmore in college who can't understand the difference between Marx's words and Jesus' actions.
Oh and on a side note Frank Gasper of the 10th SFG(A) died this weekend in Iraq due to an IED, he was a great soldier and a friend and he believed in what we are doing. Do not disrespect his memory and the sacrifice his young wife and family are dealing with by refering to Iraq as not being "real". He was 22 and he knew more about the world than Obama or any of his supporters ever will. RIP Frankie, I love you brother.
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Since you're singing our praises, it seems a shame to avoid that one - given that it's the only one of the three that would actually directly apply.
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Hate to think what he would give away if he were captured on one of his Iraq trips.
At least he's a high value target.
What would Obama give away if he were captured? Reverend Wright's cell phone number? Whether Michelle likes to be on top or on the bottom?
It seems Obama has a clear assessment of the situation... we are losing ground in the real war in the Afghan/Pakistan theater, mainly because we are wasting assets in Iraq to protect oil contracts for the likes of Haliburton.
How did you reach such a sweeping conclusion, with absolutely no first-hand knowledge of the subject? Evidently:
You've never been to Iraq.
You've never worked for Halliburton.
You've never been to Afghanistan.
You've never been to Pakistan.
So what, exactly, was your source material from which you formulated this sweeping theory of yours?
hope you had fun while it lasted.....
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
It's not like he was drafted.
rents out porta-johns for a rally and manages to drop them in the middle of a memorial for fallen police officers is not going to be terribly interested in speaking to some guys wearing a uniform.
At a rate of 6,000 earmarks per spending bill, Speaker Pelosi is selling America's future to the special intrest groups.
office has shut down until he becomes the nominee? I thought he'd been ordained already. No, he won't meet with the troops, unless it's the dead ones he sees. By his actions, he's shown he doesn't support, or respect, anyone in uniform. But "I would" meet, without condition, the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, and other assorted dictatorships. What a maroon!!
According to the latest news, Obama now says that yes, he wanted to take a fact-finding trip abroad to places like Iraq; but he hasn't been able to, because of the campaign. He may go to Iraq later, on his own--not with McCain.
Sounds like his staff realized the rhetorical trap McCain was laying for him, and decided they couldn't reject the idea of a fact-finding trip out of hand after all.
Smeone took Jr by the hand and walked him through a Child's Garden of political logic.
At a rate of 6,000 earmarks per spending bill, Speaker Pelosi is selling America's future to the special intrest groups.
Obama knows all he wants to know about Iraq. He's sure we are loosing and if elected will definitely prove it.......
Is there not any bottom when it comes to this man's no class politics? Absence of character in the guy's make-up is finally coming to light as a genuine flaw and can no longer be dismissed as misspoken words as a result of fatigue from the rigors of campaigning.
Richard