Spring Break
Column: Obama finishes what Bush started
Matt Zimmerman/Columnist
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: Opinions
President Barack Obama announced his plan for ending the war in Iraq on Feb. 27.
He said, "Today, I can announce that our review is complete, and that the United States will pursue a new strategy to end the war in Iraq … This strategy is grounded in a clear and achievable goal shared by the Iraqi people and the American people: an Iraq that is sovereign, stable and self-reliant."
He went on to outline a plan that gets combat troops out by August 2010 and all troops out by the end of 2011.
I am glad Obama is finally seeing things George W. Bush's way, who set in stone a nearly identical plan in November.
It's odd the way Obama phrased his statement: "The United States will pursue a new strategy to end the war in Iraq." As if Bush wasn't trying.
It's as though Obama plans to build upon Bush's successes in Iraq, finishing the war with Bush's plans, and then taking credit for it.
Obama gave a soaring speech calling for compassion for the world's forgotten citizens in July. He said we should feed the starving children in Bangladesh, stand up for dissidents in Burma and say "never again" when situations like Darfur arise again. The United States needs to play a responsible role in the world.
However, he showed no compassion for the tens of thousands killed in Iraq. He showed no concern for the hundreds of thousands that would be killed had we left. He did not care about the national security disaster that leaving would exacerbate.
Even though Iraq was completely incapable of taking control of its own security, Obama simply argued that we couldn't fight other peoples' wars. He saw no problem in neglecting to clean up a mess that we ourselves created. His goal was never a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant" Iraq.
His argument was that because we shouldn't have been there in the first place (the only thing he got right, though not for the right reasons) and that our strategy wasn't working, we shouldn't even try to find a better strategy (he skipped that part of Lincoln's biography) and leave as quickly as possible.
Only by making Iraq 10 times worse than we already had, then showing compassion to other countries, America would somehow claim the moral high ground again.
Now that Bush and our heroic service men and women have finished the heavy lifting that Obama criticized every step of the way, Obama sees some low-hanging political fruit.
While Iraq was disintegrating into a Somalia-like anarchy, he campaigned on a 16-month leave-and-pray plan.
Now it happens to coincide with victory and he plans on taking credit for ending the war, establishing democracy and allowing prosperity in Iraq.
Obama never had compassion for the people of Iraq. He cared about opposing Bush.
Now, Obama will continue ridiculing him while taking credit for his victory.
Matt Zimmerman is a senior political science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
He said, "Today, I can announce that our review is complete, and that the United States will pursue a new strategy to end the war in Iraq … This strategy is grounded in a clear and achievable goal shared by the Iraqi people and the American people: an Iraq that is sovereign, stable and self-reliant."
He went on to outline a plan that gets combat troops out by August 2010 and all troops out by the end of 2011.
I am glad Obama is finally seeing things George W. Bush's way, who set in stone a nearly identical plan in November.
It's odd the way Obama phrased his statement: "The United States will pursue a new strategy to end the war in Iraq." As if Bush wasn't trying.
It's as though Obama plans to build upon Bush's successes in Iraq, finishing the war with Bush's plans, and then taking credit for it.
Obama gave a soaring speech calling for compassion for the world's forgotten citizens in July. He said we should feed the starving children in Bangladesh, stand up for dissidents in Burma and say "never again" when situations like Darfur arise again. The United States needs to play a responsible role in the world.
However, he showed no compassion for the tens of thousands killed in Iraq. He showed no concern for the hundreds of thousands that would be killed had we left. He did not care about the national security disaster that leaving would exacerbate.
Even though Iraq was completely incapable of taking control of its own security, Obama simply argued that we couldn't fight other peoples' wars. He saw no problem in neglecting to clean up a mess that we ourselves created. His goal was never a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant" Iraq.
His argument was that because we shouldn't have been there in the first place (the only thing he got right, though not for the right reasons) and that our strategy wasn't working, we shouldn't even try to find a better strategy (he skipped that part of Lincoln's biography) and leave as quickly as possible.
Only by making Iraq 10 times worse than we already had, then showing compassion to other countries, America would somehow claim the moral high ground again.
Now that Bush and our heroic service men and women have finished the heavy lifting that Obama criticized every step of the way, Obama sees some low-hanging political fruit.
While Iraq was disintegrating into a Somalia-like anarchy, he campaigned on a 16-month leave-and-pray plan.
Now it happens to coincide with victory and he plans on taking credit for ending the war, establishing democracy and allowing prosperity in Iraq.
Obama never had compassion for the people of Iraq. He cared about opposing Bush.
Now, Obama will continue ridiculing him while taking credit for his victory.
Matt Zimmerman is a senior political science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
amen
posted 3/10/09 @ 12:17 AM CST
About time someone said it. Obama has nothing to do with the end of the war, and i would love to hear him explain to the soldiers in Iraq the difference between combat soldiers and none combat soldiers to all those who daily face IED's, rocket attacks, and mortar attacks. (Continued…)
Mr. Wright
posted 3/10/09 @ 8:45 AM CST
Or actually more like Bush trying to make up for his poor decisions at the last minute by putting a plan in place for leaving Iraq. You honestly think he'd do the same thing had there not been a limit to his time as President? As they say, ignorance is bliss. (Continued…)
Proof?
posted 3/10/09 @ 9:12 AM CST
Mr. Wright, do you have anything to back up your assertion? The burden of proof is on you.
moop
posted 3/10/09 @ 9:59 AM CST
It does not bother me that conservatives are given a voice in the DEN as open debate is crucial to a strong democracy, but can we at least get someone to make a cogent argument citing facts and statistics instead of the random drivel of some neo-con apoligist. (Continued…)
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