Eugene Robinson: "Change Accomplished"

[Project Grudge]

"This is a radical break from journalistic convention, I realize, but today I'd like to give credit where it's due -- specifically, to President Obama. Quiet as it's kept, he's on a genuine winning streak...

About 50,000 American military personnel remain in the country to train Iraqi government forces, protect U.S. installations and conduct special forces operations. We leave behind a messy, uncertain political situation, which the Iraqis will have to sort out....

The administration's claim that three-quarters of the oil was disposed of -- by nature or by human intervention -- before it could despoil the environment looks overly optimistic to some researchers. Moreover, serious questions remain about the long-term effects of the chemical dispersants that were used in unprecedented quantity. But a few months ago, who imagined that the president and his family would so soon be able to enjoy a day on the beach and a meal of Gulf seafood?"

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Three excerpts from the latest article by Eugene Robinson. I can't tell if he's a sycophant or dressing-up his criticisms.

[knowbody0]

1. he's totally Kool IMO

read more of his stuff.

[cosmicone]

2. Great article K&R n/t

[EFerrari]

3. Eugene Robinson is no one's syncophant. nt

[ThomCat]

4. How many contractors/mercenaries are left behind?

Does anyone know? Are the number of contractors and mercenaries also be decreased, or increased, or remaining stable? And for how long?

With 50,000 troops plus all those contractors and mercenaries, I wonder if the Iraqis see this as an American withdrawal. Or do they just see it as an overall reduction or reshuffling of forces?

I'm very happy our troops are coming home. I wish the other 50,000 were coming home too. I wish fresh troops weren't on their way to Iraq to replace some of the troops that are coming home. I wish we were bringing home troops from Afghanistan too, all of them.

We never should have been in either war. We never should have wasted the lives of our soldiers, destroyed their families, and borrowed all those trillions of dollars for these wars. We should have used Diplomacy in Afghanistan, and there never was any damned reason for war in Iraq. :(

I just can't help feel that we aren't getting the full truth about this. Our Government and our Corporate Mainstream Media have too much history of lying to us for us to blindly, immediately trust them about this. They are leaving out too much really obvious information for me to trust them. Why aren't they telling us anything about the numbers of contractors/mercenaries and what they are doing? Why are we getting nothing but generalities about what the remaining troops are going to be doing, and where? Why aren't we getting any reporting about what important local officials feel about the withdrawal and those who are to remain?


Edit to add: Well, it looks like our State Department is DOUBLING the number of Contractors/Mercenaries staying in Iraq as the troops are leaving. I'm sure the Iraqis think that's a great way to LEAVE the country. :eyes:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/us-to-rely-on-contractors-in-iraq-20100819-12s0k.html

[Skittles]

6. it's a re-classification

total bs

[SeattleGirl]

5. I would say he's neither a syncophant or dressing up his criticisms.

I think it's a pretty fair assessment of Obama's actions of late.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. K&R! Eugene Robinson is the best!

He also recently won a Pulitzer Prize... :patriot:

[joeybee12]

8. He's a syncophant...that day on the beach wasn't in the Gulf...and the shrimp?

did anyone ask if it was frozen or fresh? Eugene sometimes criticizes Obama, but maninly he's a bootlicker of the highest order.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. Oh lord... are you one of those birthers?

The ones that say Obama didn't really swim in the Gulf?

[bigtree]

9. big rec!

totally agree

[bigtree]

10. big kick!

[GeorgeGist]

11. sycophant

[bigtree]

13. kick

[JJ Walker]

14. Propaganda accomplished

Re-branded occupation, that's what it is.

[bigtree]

15. It's a de-escalating occupation

. . . it shouldn't come as any surprise that the definition will change. At any rate, the goal set by the President is ALL troops out by the end of 2011. That may be unrealistic but I don't expect the number remaining will be at a force level capable of occupying anything but the immediate ground they stand on.