In case you haven’t seen the speech, here it is in its entirety with my commentary following:
When Obama called it “a war to disarm a state”, I disagree. It was an aggressive, illegal, Republican war for oil and conquest. It had nothing to do with arms. That was a lie. He should have said so.
I fully agree with his praise for out troops. Their problems came from flawed Republican leadership.
I disagree with him on Afghanistan. I cannot overly fault him, because I voted for him knowing that he planned to expand that war. I think he should be flexible, given that the corruption of Republican puppet Karzai, and recognize a lose-lose situation. At least he confirmed his commitment to start the withdrawal next August.
I agree that the focus needs to shift to the economy and restoring the middle class, but his call for unity is in vain. If he thinks Republicans will cooperate, perhaps he might want to buy the infrastructure I’m selling in Brooklyn.
But at one thing, I felt outrage:
President Obama hailed his predecessor, George W. Bush, in his remarks on the end of combat operations in Iraq Tuesday night, stating that even though "he and I disagreed about the war from its outset," "no one could doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security."
"As I have said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it," he said…
Inserted from <CBS>
Bush and his Republican cronies tried to screw our troops at every opportunity and did more to jeopardize our nation’s security than any of his predecessors. He should have not have lied for Bush’s benefit.
In short, this was not the speech Obama should have given. That said, I still prefer him over the Republicans
12 Responses to “Obama’s Iraq Speech – Complete Video”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I’d prefer stepping on hot coals to the Republicans. I’m not so sure the deed isn’t more important than the words here, maybe?
The deed, Leslie? I don’t understand what you mean.
My sentiments exactly. As if Bush gives a shit about the troops. Bush is as anti-troop as it gets, and it’s time somebody in power said so.
Thanks Benji.
TomCat,
You have articulated exactly to my objections to some of the points in President Obama’s speech.
It seemed to be scripted in parts; this was not like the gifted Cicero, wonderful speaker, that Mr. Obama is.
I sincerely hope that he does not now act as “scripted” Presidents of the past. Take that godawful foreign war, Afghanistan–and fall in love with it.
Ivan, I had the same impression.
I am sick of his words.
Dave, I wouldn’t go that far.
ivan – ” this was not like the gifted Cicero, wonderful speaker, that Mr. Obama is.” I was thinking about that this morning. I don’t disagree but can we expect him to always give a “gifted Cicero” speech. The man is talented but he’s also human and shouldwe expect him to always perform at peak level. Maybe if he were an entertainer, which he ain’t.
Leslie, if I understood Ivan correctly, I don’t think he was discussing oratory talent, per se. It struck me that this was not a Barack Obama speech. It seemed more a Rahm Emmanuel speech, delivered with less than Obama’s usual aplomb, because Obama felt no passion for what he was saying
“I disagree with him on Afghanistan. I cannot overly fault him, because I voted for him knowing that he planned to expand that war. ”
I also voted for him knowing that, if only GB had been honest about his intentions about Iraq! I suppose he would have won anyways. I was one of those called a traitor for being against the invasion of Iraq.
So was I Tom. In 2002, I was the ‘traitor’ being kicked out of MSN Communities for saying that there was little basis for Bush’s WMD claims and absolutely none for his claims that Saddam had ties to AQ. Saddam and OBL hated each other.