From Sen. Webb's office, this is an excellent statement with which I agree wholeheartedly. In short, this war -- as ineptly waged by the Bush Administration -- violated every tenet of the Powell Doctrine, including no clear objectives and no exit strategy. While the military has generally done an outstanding job, the country's political leadership has failed miserably. This has got to change, but sadly, Sen. Webb is right when he says that "we are not going to see that kind of leadership from the Bush administration." And just remember, anyone who's tempted to support John McCain, that we're highly unlikely to see "that kind of leadership" from him either. In other words, if you liked Bush on foreign policy, you're gonna LOVE John McCain!
On the 5th anniversary of the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, I want to share with you my thoughts on the current situation there and how I see the United States moving forward in that part of the region.The invasion and occupation of Iraq began five years ago today in the absence of a clearly articulated strategy that should have defined our national objectives as well as the circumstances that would bring about an end point to our military presence in that country. Five years later, the American people are still waiting for the kind of political and diplomatic leadership that will end the occupation, stabilize the region, and allow our country to focus on other, vital strategic challenges around the world.
At the same time, the debate over the current situation in Iraq is being conducted as if Iraq was an isolated island rather than one country in a region that has grown ever more volatile over the past five years. Our occupation in Iraq has tied down our highly-maneuverable military forces on the streets of that country's violence-prone cities while the forces of international terrorism retain their own fluidity. International terrorism, by nature, knows no country boundaries, which is one reason that the situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan have become more precarious.Only when our political leadership matches the high quality of our military performance will we be able to resolve our current occupation of Iraq. And it is clear that we are not going to see that kind of leadership from the Bush administration. It is imperative that our next President places great emphasis on robust diplomacy in this region to a degree that allows us to reduce our presence in Iraq and increase stability in this region.
In the coming months we must guard against allowing this Administration to position the next President into a situation where we have agreed to support a long-term military presence in Iraq. For more than six years, the Administration has been less than open with the American public or Congress about its long-term intentions in Iraq. We must ensure that the future military presence in Iraq is decided not behind closed doors, but through the open air of free debate, including congressional consent.
One of the lessons of the build-up to the Iraq War was that the advice of our most senior military officers was too often ignored by the civilian leadership within the Bush administration. I look forward to hearing more from these leaders on the ground--including Admiral Fallon--in upcoming congressional hearings. And, I will continue to work with my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pursue meaningful policies to protect the well-being of our military and advance our strategic interests in that part of the world.
Senator Jim Webb
Five years ago today, President George W. Bush launched a war that should never have been authorized based on faulty premises and bad intelligence.This war has now lasted longer than World War I, World War II, or the Civil War.
Nearly four thousand Americans have given their lives. Thousands more have been wounded. Even under the best-case scenarios, this war will cost American taxpayers well over a trillion dollars.
And where are we for all of this sacrifice?
We are less safe and less able to shape events abroad. We are divided at home, and our alliances around the world have been strained. The threats of a new century have roiled the waters of peace and stability, and yet America remains anchored in Iraq.
I am running for President because it's time to turn the page on a failed ideology and a fundamentally flawed political strategy, so that we can make pragmatic judgments to keep our country safe.
That's what I did when I stood up and opposed this war from the start and said that we needed to finish the fight against al Qaeda. And that's what I'll do as President of the United States.
Please take a few minutes to read my strategy for ending the war in Iraq and making America safer. I hope you will sign on and show your support:
http://my.barackobama.com/five...
Senator Clinton says that she and Senator McCain have passed a "Commander-in-Chief test" -- not because of the judgments they've made, but because of the years they've spent in Washington.
She made a similar argument when she said her vote for war was based on her experience at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.
But here is the stark reality: there is a security gap in this country -- a gap between the rhetoric of those who claim to be tough on national security, and the reality of growing insecurity caused by their decisions.
It is time to have a debate with Senator McCain about the future of our national security. And the way to win that debate and keep America safe is to offer a clear contrast -- a clean break from the failed policies and politics of the past.
Nowhere is that break more badly needed than in Iraq.
Join me in supporting an end to this war and a plan for a safer America:
http://my.barackobama.com/five...
The judgment that matters most on Iraq -- and on any decision to deploy military force -- is the judgment made first.
If you believe we are fighting the right war, then the problems we face are purely tactical in nature. That is what Senator McCain wants to discuss -- tactics. What he and the Administration have failed to present is an overarching strategy: how the war in Iraq enhances our long-term security, or will in the future.
That's why this Administration cannot answer the simple question posed by Senator John Warner in hearings last year: Are we safer because of this war? And that is why Senator McCain can argue -- as he did last year -- that we couldn't leave Iraq because violence was up, and then argue this year that we can't leave Iraq because violence is down.
When you have no overarching strategy, there is no clear definition of success.
Success comes to be defined as the ability to maintain a flawed policy indefinitely. Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.
When I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on Day One: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden -- as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.
Show your support for a clear strategy to end the war in Iraq and focus our national security efforts on making America safer:
http://my.barackobama.com/five...
Here are the core elements of my strategy to address our critical national security challenges in the 21st century:
* End the war in Iraq, removing our troops at a pace of 1 to 2 combat brigades per month;
* Finally finish the fight against the Taliban, root out al Qaeda and invest in the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, while making aid to the Pakistani government conditional;
* Act aggressively to stop nuclear proliferation and to secure all loose nuclear materials around the world;
* Double our foreign assistance to cut extreme poverty in half;
* Invest in a clean energy future to wean the U.S. off of foreign oil and to lead the world against the threat of global climate change;
* Rebuild our military capability by increasing the number of soldiers, marines, and special forces troops, and insist on adequate training and time off between deployments;
* Renew American diplomacy by talking to our adversaries as well as our friends; increasing the size of the Foreign Service and the Peace Corps; and creating an America's Voice Corps.Please take a minute to show your support for this plan:
http://my.barackobama.com/five...
We are at a defining moment in our history.
This must be the election when America comes together behind a common purpose on behalf of our security and our values.
That is what we do as Americans. It's how we founded a republic based on freedom, and faced down fascism. It's how we defended democracy through a Cold War, and shined a light of hope bright enough to be seen in the darkest corners of the world.
When America leads with principle and pragmatism, hope can triumph over fear. It is time, once again, for America to lead.
Thank you,
Barack Obama
McLean, VA - "Today marks the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Yet, even as the poorly planned and misguided war now enters its sixth year, Rep. Frank Wolf continues to be a rubber stamp for George Bush's failed approach, consistently voting against a responsible end to the war.""Despite five full years, nearly 4,000 brave American soldiers killed, and more than half a trillion dollars spent, Frank Wolf continues to stand in the way of change. Too many of our brave service members and too many military families are paying the ultimate price for George Bush's war in Iraq, and we need to bring them home. The rest of us are paying a pretty high price, too. This war has already cost the taxpayers of Virginia $12.4 billion through the end of 20071. Every year, with the money spent on this foreign policy disaster, we could have insured nearly 40 million Americans. Or, we could have funded desperately needed transportation and infrastructure projects including Rail to Dulles - and begun to alleviate our traffic crisis."
"For years I've worked with the Pentagon to train battle-tested soldiers and if I'm elected to Congress, I will do what Frank Wolf refuses to do - end the war, support a responsible of redeployment of our troops, rebuild our military, and honor the debts owed to the brave men and women who have served their country."
1 According to the National Priorities Project, the war in Iraq has so far cost the taxpayers of Virginia $12.4 billion, which could otherwise be invested in providing people with affordable health care, building new schools, addressing critical infrastructure needs and investing in renewable energy. .
Journalist may be liberals at a individual level, but they deliver conservative news and perspectives.
Iraq is a great case. Although the last two weeks have seen a dramatic increase in violence, the media is still reporting that Iraq has peace.
Someone needs to call out the Administration on this nonsense.
"Today marks the fifth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq. It is a day to remember the bravery and commitment of our soldiers who have served and who continue to serve every day in Iraq. It is a day to remember the 4,000 brave American soldiers killed, many of them from right here in Hampton Roads.It is also a day to consider where our nation goes next as the war heads into its sixth year. I recently returned from Iraq where I worked to provide jobs and help lead the economic side of the counter-insurgency. And I believe we have an important decision to make. Do we continue to spend $720 million a day and continue to pursue the same failed policies that have led to astronomical costs and little progress? Or do we implement a new strategy to win the war and bring our troops home by beginning to implement an exit strategy, pressuring the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own security and pay for rebuilding their own economy.
The war has already cost the taxpayers of Virginia $14.2 billion alone, which could be invested in real priorities here at home. If I'm elected to Congress, I will do what Thelma Drake refuses to do - support a new strategy to win the war by forcing the Iraqi government to take responsibility for the security of their own country, and shift our focus to ensuring our military remains strong and ready.
Background:
* So far Congress has appropriated $526 Billion to fund the war in Iraq.[Congressional Research Service; 2/22/08]
* War costing $720 million a day [Washington Post; 9/22/07]
* According to the National Priorities Project, taxpayers in Virginia have spent $14.2 billion dollars on the war in Iraq which could otherwise be invested in providing affordable health care, repairing our roads and investing in renewable energy. .