Lipstick on an Occupation
A ticking timebomb is being assembled in Iraq that, if activated, will blow up in the face of the next US president — ie, Barack Obama.
The agreement between Iraqi and US negotiators to withdraw US troops by December 31, 2011 — 11 months before the 2012 presidential elections — will be used by Republicans to bludgeon Obama all the way to election day, no matter what US troop level remains in Iraq in 2012. If most or all troops are pulled out per the agreement, Obama will have "lost" Iraq. If he and the Iraqis agree that the situation is still dire enough to keep tens of thousands of US troops in Iraq, Obama will be accused of not putting "country first."
Whether the Iraqi parliament and other government bodies will approve the draft is very much in question, and today, 50 thousand supporters of Moqtada al Sadr took to the streets to protest the draft. What's at stake? Emphasis mine:
The agreement is necessary because a United Nations mandate that's allowed U.S. troops to operate in Iraq will expire Dec. 31. If an accord governing their continued presence isn't reached by the end of the year, American forces in Iraq technically could become illegal occupiers.
As opposed to being simply de facto occupiers.
Comments
It could become a problem for Obama, but it might also work against the Republicans simply because of the length of time we'd have been there by then. There were plenty of experts who warned getting out wouldn't be easy and we could be embroiled there for decades. They were right and the Republicans were wrong, and it will be up to you and I to remind them of that fact!
Posted by: Kathy | October 20, 2008 03:27 PM
Wow..the bs never ceases does it?
Posted by: Dusty | October 20, 2008 03:54 PM
Kathy, there's just one problem with what you say - it makes perfect rational sense. And the Republicans don't make rational arguments. They appeal to fears and biases. ;-)
Dusty, I remember that Clinton inherited Somalia from Bush I, but that Somalia ended up being Clinton's mess. I think Rove and his bs-spinning minions are devious enough to cast whatever happens in Iraq under Obama in a negative light. I can't understand why Dems can't effectively counter the spin. The Dems need a Rove. ;-)
Posted by: abi | October 21, 2008 07:53 AM