Unlike the foreign policy disaster that WAS George Bush, Obama has had incredibly stunning success in the foreign policy arena. And of course, Republicans are crucifying him for it.
First we had an incredibly bold and daring raid to find and kill Bin Laden in Pakistan, a move that took enormous courage for Obama to make. Mission Accomplished.
Then we had Obama commit to helping rebel forces in Libya, a move which surely saved countless innocent lives when Gadhafi’s forces were first moving against the rebels, and a move which ultimately led to the capture and death of Gadhafi himself. Mission Accomplished.
Just a few days later, Obama announces that all U.S. combat troops will be leaving Iraq by the end of the year, fulfilling a key pledge he made during his election. Mission Accomplished.
So of COURSE Republicans were falling all over themselves today to criticize Obama’s Iraq move and his foreign policy credentials. WTH!?!?!!? Republicans are CRUSHING Obama in the press for announcing we’re leaving Iraq, calling it yet another failure of Obama’s foreign policy. IRAQ IS A SOVEREIGN NATION, AND THEY DO NOT WANT US THERE ANY MORE. There were attempts to negotiate with Iraq to keep some troops on the ground and help with the transition, but the SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENT of Iraq says it’s time for us to leave. Is 9 years not enough?!?! Evidently for Republicans, the answer is NO, 9 years is not enough, and we should be staying even longer!! We have been at war for FAR longer than anyone expected when Bush invaded Iraq. The American people, the Iraqi people, and the Iraqi government ALL want us out of Iraq. Evidently someone forgot to CC’ Republicans on that message.
You can knock Obama for the economy, even though frankly, there’s not a hell of a lot government can do to pull us out of this rut, especially with obstructionist Republicans who block even the most innocent of jobs bills to get Americans working again. You can knock him for his handling of the environment. I certainly have, as he’s seemed to continually cave in on environmental issues. But it’s completely LAUGHABLE for Republicans to be bashing Obama on foreign policy, ESPECIALLY GOP candidates who to a man (or woman) are miserably deficient in terms of ANY foreign policy credentials.
I for one thank you, President Obama, for keeping your campaign promise. I thank you for listening to the people of Iraq, the Iraqi government, and the American people in making this decision. I’ve not been thrilled with many of your actions since election, but you have done wonders in repairing America’s greatly damaged reputation overseas after the Bush debacle, and have continually shown a terrific knack for making the right foreign policy decisions. Here’s to you, Mr. Obama….MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
