White House To GOP: If You Want Troops In Iraq, You 'Should Say So'

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



TOM KLUDT – JANUARY 6, 2014, 2:43 PM EST

Republicans have used recent strife in Iraq as an opening to criticize President Obama. But if it's boots on the ground that these GOP lawmakers want, the White House thinks they ought to be candid.

Following reports that the Iraqi city of Fallujah had fallen into the control of an al Qaida-affiliated group over the weekend, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) wasted little time in putting out a statement blaming the tumult on the Obama administration's decision to withdraw U.S. forces from the country in 2011.

The instability in Fallujah, where American troops fought one of the bloodiest battles in 2004, is both "tragic" and "predictable," the hawkish senators contended.

“The Administration must recognize the failure of its policies in the Middle East and change course," they said in the statement. "America has lost time, options, influence, and credibility over the past five years, and we cannot afford to remain disengaged any longer.” White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday that the likes of McCain and Graham ought to be transparent about what exactly they're proposing.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/iraq-fallujah-white-house-obama-republicans-mccain-graham

[TwilightGardener]

1. The Obama Administration knows exactly what a political loser troops in Iraq would be--

make the GOP go down that road, and start insisting on boots on the ground there--see where that gets 'em. I guess Johnnie Mac doesn't recall how his "100 years" comment kind of lost him a Presidential election.

[freshwest]

12. Thought it was 10,000 years? Oh, yeah, and 'Bomb bomb bomb, bomb Iran' Johnnie singing.

We really 'dodged a bullet' with that nightmarish pair:

Keep on singing, Johnnie, we'll keep on laughing at you.

[TwilightGardener]

13. There's just nothing that 18-year-old kids with guns from the United States can't solve, in his

dementia-ridden mind.

[freshwest]

14. Do you really think he believes what he's spewing? I don't, not for a minute. You nailed it here:

All this screeching over Iraq is actually all about Afghanistan and the Bilateral Security Agreement.
It's a concerted, carefully-timed effort by the usual suspects (Charles Krauthammer, McLame, Kristol, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal) to tell Obama: Don't you DARE consider leaving Afghanistan too, or we'll blame it all on you like we're doing with Iraq now.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017168122#post2

You didn't name McCain there, but he is definitely part of the PNAC team who want to regain power and get the profits rolling again. That post cut through the BS. I wonder how many Americans will look behind the facade and see it before election day this year?

[sheshe2]

17. Love the video!

[freshwest]

18. They didn't leave anything out, did they? n/t

[sheshe2]

19. Nope!

They even had Palin's screeching voice. The one that sent shivers down my spine every damn time she opened her mouth.



fresh~

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. GOP cake and eat it too. It's a pattern.

Oh noes, Obamacare site isn't working. It's a catastrophe!
Oh noes, Obamacare site is working. It's a catastrophe people get care!

GOP supports troops, but not veterans.
GOP supports fetuses, but not hungry children.

[saidsimplesimon]

6. Bernardo, you live in a fact based reality.

It is with "hope" that we attempt to enlighten our idealogical brethren.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. True. We "do nuance". (Though Iraq and these examples are blatant.)

[reflection]

3. Well said, Mr. Carney.

Make them offer a solution instead of carping about the problem, which is all they're good for anymore. Surprised McCain and Graham didn't throw in a Benghazi reference. Or maybe they did, I don't know, I don't listen to anything either one of those fuck-knuckles have to say.

[Botany]

5. "fuck-knuckles"

Can I steal that?

[freshwest]

8. 'About time I weighed in...'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1409365

What can I say? I love Aviation Pro.

[reflection]

9. All yours.

[Botany]

4. Two snaps up!

Shut up John McCain you lost the election.

******

BTW this post should not play down my feelings about w, Cheney, Rummy, and all the
others (AKA bush v Gore people) who helped to plunge Iraq into this unneeded blood bath.

[QuestForSense]

10. Place the blame where it belongs, on Bush & Co., who lied us into war.

I am truly sick of these two and their constant, idiotic war-mongering. How about a war on poverty? Or a war on unemployment? Or a war on ignorance (of which they would be the first casualties). I think I like the last option best.

[SummerSnow]

11. He even liked the idea of staying in Iraq for 100 years

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/04/mccains_100year_war.html

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Good comeback

"Do you guys really want to make an issue of Iraq?"

[sheshe2]

16. Gramps and Graham, what a pair.

“The Administration must recognize the failure of its policies in the Middle East and change course. America has lost time, options, influence, and credibility over the past five years, and we cannot afford to remain disengaged any longer.
”http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=1dd92dc6-8247-42e2-8fea-f2ab7ae9f030

No guys, it is you that has lost influence and credibility over the past five years!

[Politicalboi]

20. The blame should be held by the idiots who

Took Saddam out of control. We broke it, we own it.