Stupid mccain tries to give bush credit for withdrawal in Iraq..what an idiot.

[Cha]

"CREDIT WHERE CREDIT ISN'T NECESSARILY DUE.... The U.S. presence in Iraq is obviously not over, but the developments that began last night are still very important. While 50,000 American troops remain in the country, the last American combat soldiers have begun heading home -- two weeks early -- and Operation Iraqi Freedom has come to a formal end.

It's a significant milestone, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) wants to congratulate the troops. No, wait, that's not it. McCain wants to applaud President Obama's work in making these developments a reality. No, hold on, that's not right, either.

Now I remember: McCain wants Bush to get credit.

President George W. Bush deserves "some credit" for the last combat units leaving Iraq on Wednesday night, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said.

McCain, one of the foremost supporters of the war effort there, posted a late-night message on his Twitter account, which is followed by 1.7 million people:

"Last American combat troops leave Iraq. I think President George W. Bush deserves some credit for victory."

Putting aside the premature nature of declaring "victory," I can't help but find it fascinating to see how we're supposed to perceive Bush's role in current events. If Democrats at any level suggest the failed former president bears some responsibility for the economy or the budget mess, for example, the response from the right is fierce: "Stop blaming Bush! He's gone! Take some responsibility!"

But if something positive happens, there's John McCain, insisting Bush get "some credit."

Tell you what, John. I'll give Bush "some credit" for developments in Iraq just as soon as you give him "some blame" for the economy, the deficit, and for launching this misguided conflict in the first place.

Also note that McCain's familiarity with the details may be a little off. The Status of Forces Agreement signed in 2008 reflected the approach presented by Barack Obama. While McCain offered a very different vision, Obama's policy was embraced by Iraqi leaders, Bush's Defense Secretary, and U.S. officials negotiating the SOFA terms.

What's more, while that agreement scheduled the end of U.S. troops' presence in Iraq for the end of the 2011, the end of the combat mission -- the early end of Operation Iraqi Freedom -- was on the Obama timetable, not Bush's.

Still waiting for McCain's tweet extending "some credit" to this president, not the last one."

—Steve Benen 1:15 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (28) http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025279.php#1814495>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_08/025279.php#1814495

[POAS]

1. McCain Give credit to Obama? That's a joke! n/t

[Cha]

4. A stupid joke and that goes for anyone else who tries

to give the credit to bush.. just pissing in the wind like the idiot john mccain.

"What's more, while that agreement scheduled the end of U.S. troops' presence in Iraq for the end of the 2011, the end of the combat mission -- the early end of Operation Iraqi Freedom -- was on the Obama timetable, not Bush's."

[JuniperLea]

2. Poor ol' Johnny McCain...

Tried to think without a brain.

[azmouse]

3. He's senile.

[Political Tiger]

5. Obama sets date for withdrawal of troops from Iraq

Obama sets date for withdrawal of troops from Iraq
Updated: Friday, February 27th, 2009 | By Robert Farley

"Today, I have come to speak to you about how the war in Iraq will end," President Obama said in a formal announcement of a new Iraq strategy at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, on Feb. 27.

Under the new plan, Obama said, the United States will remove all combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010.

The plan came about, Obama said, after a comprehensive review of the U.S. strategy in Iraq by a national security team that included the defense secretary, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and commanders on the ground in Iraq. The plan to "transition to full Iraqi responsibility" begins, he said, with the "responsible removal of our combat brigades from Iraq."

"As a candidate for president, I made clear my support for a timeline of 16 months to carry out this drawdown, while pledging to consult closely with our military commanders upon taking office to ensure that we preserve the gains we’ve made and protect our troops," Obama said. "Those consultations are now complete, and I have chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next 18 months.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/126/begin-removing-combat-brigades-from-iraq/

[Political Tiger]

6. UPDATE!

Begin removing combat brigades from Iraq
"Barack Obama will work with military commanders on the ground in Iraq and in consultation with the Iraqi government to end the war safely and responsibly within 16 months."



Last of the "combat" troops leave Iraq; peacekeepers stay behind

Updated: Friday, August 20th, 2010 | By Angie Drobnic Holan

The last of American combat troops are leaving Iraq, and journalists on the ground have been documenting the departure of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. "Goodbye Iraq: Last US combat brigade heads home," reported the Associated Press. "Iraq in the rear-view mirror; Final combat brigade exits through a landscape littered with memories," said the Los Angeles Times. And "U.S. mission in Iraq switches from combat to assist," said the report from Reuters.

It's important to note here that the description "combat brigade" is critical. About 50,000 troops will remain in Iraq as a transitional force.

Obama described what those remaining troops will be doing in a speech on Aug. 2, 2010: "As agreed to with the Iraqi government, we will maintain a transitional force until we remove all our troops from Iraq by the end of next year," he said. "And during this period, our forces will have a focused mission -- supporting and training Iraqi forces, partnering with Iraqis in counterterrorism missions, and protecting our civilian and military efforts. These are dangerous tasks. There are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq"s progress. And the hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq. But make no mistake: Our commitment in Iraq is changing -- from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats."

This is consistent with Obama's promises from the campaign, when he emphasized removing combat troops but keeping other types of troops. Here's what Obama said at debate on Jan. 15, 2008: "We are going to have to protect our embassy. Were going to have to protect our civilians. We"re engaged in humanitarian activity there. We are going to have to have some presence that allows us to strike if Al Qaida is creating bases inside of Iraq. ... but it is not going to be engaged in a war, and it will not be this sort of permanent bases and permanent military occupation that George Bush seems to be intent on."

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/promise/126/begin-removing-combat-brigades-from-iraq/

[Cha]

8. And thank you for the UPDATE, PT!~

"It's important to note here that the description "combat brigade" is critical. About 50,000 troops will remain in Iraq as a transitional force.

Obama described what those remaining troops will be doing in a speech on Aug. 2, 2010: "As agreed to with the Iraqi government, we will maintain a transitional force until we remove all our troops from Iraq by the end of next year," he said. "And during this period, our forces will have a focused mission -- supporting and training Iraqi forces, partnering with Iraqis in counterterrorism missions, and protecting our civilian and military efforts. These are dangerous tasks. There are still those with bombs and bullets who will try to stop Iraq"s progress. And the hard truth is we have not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq. But make no mistake: Our commitment in Iraq is changing -- from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats."

This is grand..and I appreciate it so much!~

[Cha]

7. Thanks for the history on that, Political Tiger, from

politicalfact. There's opinion's all over the place but I'd rather see the facts.

[ismnotwasm]

9. My son was stationed at a FOB over there

That has started closing down. It's no victory, it's a withdrawal. (My daughter was a year in Afghanistan, home and out of the military now)

Bush gets credit for nothing but pain and heartache and evil trouble. McCain, of all people, should now better than to try to give him credit for anything with the word 'victory' in it.

[Cha]

10. Thanks for that, ismnotwasm..glad your

kids are alright.

mccain is a shell of his former self.