A new president always gets his challenges from the deeply imbedded establishment. When you inherit wars that goes double. We’re about to find out whether Obama can listen to the military, respect what they’re saying, but stand by his commitment to honor the Status of Forces Agreement, as well as his promise to begin to withdraw from Iraq in a substantial way, which is also, by the way, what Iraqis want. What Odierno is suggesting is his best judgment, a suggestion based on being close inside the battle in Iraq, one field of battle Obama must take into consideration, but not the only one. President Obama has to judge the politics and strategic interests of the U.S. over the globe, and the costs of a slow drawn down politically and what message it will send to Iraqis and the world if he doesn’t keep to a significant troop withdrawal this spring.
Odeirno is talking about relatively small withdrawal commitment over 14 months. It’s the exact opposite of what needs to be done.
“I believe that if we can get through the next year peacefully, with incidents about what they are today or better, I think we’re getting close to enduring stability, which enables us to really reduce,” General Odierno said as he inspected a polling center south of Baghdad in advance of provincial elections on Saturday.
Marc Lynch speaks for me today:
The CFR/Brookings/Odierno “go slow” approach ignores the reality of the new Status of Forces Agreement and the impending referendum this summer — which may well fail if there is no sign of departing American troops. It sends the wrong messages to Iraqi politicians and the Iraqi population. It would badly hurt Obama’s credibility in the region and with Iraqis, who will see his most important public commitment fall by the wayside. And it would lose the unique window of opportunity offered by the transition to signal real change.
President Obama is being challenged by Odierno. He should accept the challenge, then the president should begin a significant withdrawal from Iraq. As commander in chief, it is civilian leadership who decides our priorities. Of course Odierno wants a slow, very cautious withdrawal. He’s a soldier, one of the best, but he’s only got Iraq to consider. Even then, what Odeirno is suggesting is not in any way in line with the Iraqis. That’s a problem.
I agree with you Taylor ….Obama was elected to get us out of Iraq…
Blago bloviating…MSNBC
OUT OF IRAQ! as he promised.
Our hosts in Iraq want us OUT. I defer to them.
Blagoviating…MSNBC
Lake Lady | 01.29.2009 – 11:58 am | #
This is one promise he MUST keep or he will lose his core base supporters.
Re:Blago
How can they throw him out without proving his guilt? Is that even legal?
How can they throw him out without proving his guilt? Is that even legal?
IndyRobin | 01.29.2009 – 12:07 pm | #
it’s not a legal proceeding… the question is his “ability to govern”
I think they’ll impeach him, but I don’t think the DOJ has enough to convict.
ohhh got it. Do they have a Psych assessment stating he is mentally ill and incapable to do his job or is a threat to himself or others?
Or will they just impeach do to illegal activity ( which ahsn’t been proven yet)
One good thing Blago did for Illinois, is the I-Pass system
justlen | 01.29.2009 – 12:14 pm | #
Exactly. If they only have him on tapes saying he wanted to take money, they will never get a conviction. They would need to prove he actually received something in a bank account or something. He talked alot of shit, but did he actually receive anything?
Plus, he has been wooing the jury pool for the last two weeks, so all he needs is ONE juror, to have sympathy for him.
yeah … can’t convict a guy for having a potty mouth
ohhh got it. Do they have a Psych assessment stating he is mentally ill and incapable to do his
job or is a threat to himself or others?
IndyRobin | 01.29.2009 – 12:15 pm | #
they measured the curve on his coiff and it’s over the legal limit :=)
justlen is right, that’s twice in one day.
justlen is right, that’s twice in one day.
GeoT | 01.29.2009 – 12:25 pm | #
Just like a broken clock.
they measured the curve on his coiff and it’s over the legal limit :=)
GeoT
Damn curves … they’ll get ya every time.
Yikes … speaking in third person again
Hubby just said Blago is giving a pretty strong argument. I wonder what will happen now. Why did Fitzpatrick have him arrested if they didn’t think they had a case. Should all be interesting.
Lol … applied to Harvard on Monday … got my rejection letter on Tuesday. This is priceless.
This guy is some piece of work.
Just a note about the Ledbetter post… I got some color on it that might interest some of you, so I added it in the post. It’s worth a glance when you get the chance.
http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=29039
Why
did Fitzpatrick have him arrested if they didn’t think they had a case. Should all be
interesting.
Betsy | 01.29.2009 – 12:29 pm | #
If you remember it was because the Chicago Tribune forced their hand.
Before Obama entered with Ledbetter, Rep. Steny Hoyer, for whatever reason, said “Let’s not screw it up. It’s a good day so far.” Everyone laughed, though it’s not clear to me if it was with Mr. Hoyer or at his expense. But I have a built in gag reflex to this type of humor.
Me too Taylor. Wonder WTF he was referring to?
How innapropriate.
justlen | 01.29.2009 – 12:34 pm | #
yep, and now Fitzgerald has had to ask for a 90 day extension.
IndyRobin | 01.29.2009 – 12:38 pm | #
Who knows, trying to be funny. I guess also that they all feel the opportunity. Hoyer’s been around a long time, so I probably should give him a break.
fyi… FLOUS Michelle Obama hosted a reception for Ms. Ledbetter afterwards. MO introduced her as “an inspiration to women and men all across the country.”
I’m putting Ms. Ledbetter’s remarks up in the other post for those interested.
Any comments on Obama v. Odierno? Curious to get everyone’s thoughts on this one.
Taylor – the Iraqi people want us out; the American people want us out. Obama in the Commander in Chief. He makes the ultimate decision and I say let the chips fall where they may. I’m tired of spending trillions in another country on a war I was against and had nothing to do with what happened to this country at the time.
The military is really challenging him on this one, JA. No doubt Biden’s in his ear, as is Jones. The outcome will tell us everything.
The military is really challenging him on this one, JA. No doubt Biden’s in his ear, as is
Jones. The outcome will tell us everything.
TaylorMarsh | Homepage | 01.29.2009 – 1:11 pm |
I hope Obama holds to his beliefs and values about Iraq; otherwise he’s going to go down in my book as just another politician willing to say and do anything to get elected. And up to this point I have avoided saying that because of what I felt was his deep commitment to getting us out of Iraq. It’s the military’s responsibility to get us out of Iraq in a safe and orderly way once the CIC gives the order.
Any comments on Obama v. Odierno? Curious to get everyone’s thoughts on this one.
TaylorMarsh | Homepage | 01.29.2009 – 12:51 pm | #
yeah, Obama needs to exert his authority. No placating the brass.