NYT: Obama Praises Military, But Restates Opposition on Iraq

August 21, 2007
Obama Praises Military, but Restates Opposition on Iraq


Chris Cummins for the New York Times

By JEFF ZELENY

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 21 — Senator Barack Obama said today that even if the military escalation in Iraq is showing limited signs of progress, diplomatic efforts for stabilizing the country have been a “complete failure” and American troops should not bear the brunt of prolonged sectarian strife.

“No matter how brilliantly and bravely our troops and their commanders perform — and they have performed brilliantly and bravely — they cannot and should not bear the responsibility of resolving grievances at the heart of Iraq’s civil war,” Mr. Obama said. “No military surge, no matter how brilliantly performed, can succeed without political reconciliation and a surge of diplomacy in Iraq and the region.”

In a speech to the national convention of the Veteran of Foreign Wars here, Mr. Obama bluntly restated his opposition to the Iraq war, but praised the dedication of the American military. As he spoke critically of the Iraq war, the room fell silent, but he drew applause as he pledged to improve services for veterans.

“I have heard those of you who disagree with me,” Mr. Obama said, adding: “Whatever disagreements we have on policy, there will be no daylight between us when it comes to honoring the men and women who serve and keeping faith with our veterans. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/us/politics/21cnd-vets.html?hp

you've got to touch all the bases.:blush:

Opposition to the Iraq War was strong in the Pentagon.

Wow, they just completely made this up in order to tow the Dem Leadership line.

Here's what he said:

"I want to be clear. Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq. They have done everything we have asked of them. They have won every battle they have fought. They have built schools and trained battalions. I know there are honest differences about the next steps that we should take. And the truth is – there are no good options.

All of our top military commanders recognize that there is no military solution in Iraq. And no matter how brilliantly and bravely our troops and their commanders perform, they cannot and should not bear the responsibility of resolving grievances at the heart of Iraq's civil war. No military surge can succeed without political reconciliation and a surge of diplomacy in Iraq and the region. Iraq's leaders are not reconciling. They are not achieving political benchmarks. The only thing they seem to have agreed on is to take a vacation. That is why I have pushed for a careful and responsible redeployment of troops engaged in combat operations out of Iraq, joined with direct and sustained diplomacy in the region. And that is why I will continue to push the President to change our policy."

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/21/remarks_of_senator_obama_a_sac.php

Gobama.

It was the speech by Mr. Thompson that seemed the most impressive, Mr. McCoy said. Then, he added, “I don’t understand why he hasn’t announced.”

Mr. Thompson received a standing ovation, but his 20-minute speech was seldom interrupted by applause. He devoted more time to praising the service of military veterans than offering specific ideas about the Iraq war or other foreign policy challenges.

“As we go forward and Iraq, one way or another, is in our rear view mirror,” Mr. Thompson asked, “what is our posture? What is our position?”

He gently criticized the field of Democratic presidential candidates for their calls to begin pulling American troops from Iraq, but he acknowledged that the United States needed to foster a fresh sense of unity to protect the country and lead it forward.

“Some people in this country apparently think if we can pull out of Iraq our problems are going to be over. You and I know better than that,” Mr. Thompson said. “We know that Iraq is an important front in this war. We also know if we appear to be divided and weak in this nation, it will enable the enemy and make our country more dangerous, and therefore the world more dangerous, than ever before.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/us/politics/21cnd-vets.html?hp

(Same old tired, chickenhawk Republican refrain with a straw man or two thrown in for good measure.)