General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: President Obama defending the mistakes of the previous administration [View all]The Magistrate
(95,244 posts)In this instance, 'excuse' is not necessary, but 'explanation' apparently is, at least for some.
Regarding Iraq, the man is being held responsible for a policy he opposed.
It is largely because he spoke out early against the Iraq war that he is President today.
I expect it rankles him a bit that, when he says Putin is wrong for seizing Crimea and threatening invasion of Ukraine, people say 'you guys went into Iraq, what's the difference?' Had he had his druthers, we would not have invaded Iraq. President Obama does, in fact, have all necessary moral authority therefore for denouncing Putin's imperialist actions.
But since he embodies the institution of government for the United States, he is subject to accusation based on that government's previous actions, and he must to some degree respond to such criticism, and do so without calling into overmuch discredit the government he currently embodies, in order to press the policy he thinks proper at present in the face of the current situation in central Europe.
Not really much else he could do....