Why Republican Criticisms Of Ending The Iraq War Are Disingenuous

The timeline to get out of Iraq, announced today by President Obama, is the same timeline initiated by George W. Bush, yet Mitt Romney and other Republicans are bashing Obama because of it. Romney says:

President Obama’s astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq has unnecessarily put at risk the victories that were won through the blood and sacrifice of thousands of American men and women. The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government. The American people deserve to hear the recommendations that were made by our military commanders in Iraq.

Perry:

I’m deeply concerned that President Obama is putting political expediency ahead of sound military and security judgment by announcing an end to troop level negotiations and a withdrawal from Iraq by year’s end. The President was slow to engage the Iraqis and there’s little evidence today’s decision is based on advice from military commanders.

Furthermore, these candidates are ignoring the security issues involved, and that immunity for our troops stops at the end of the year, and Iraq refuses to extend it.

…talks over troop immunity failed because the agreement negotiated by — yes, George W. Bush in 2008 — cut off immunity at the end of 2011 and the Iraqi legislature flatly refused to consider extending it. And finally, the opinion of the military commanders in Iraq is…no immunity, no troops. Admiral Mike Mullen made this clear a couple of months ago when he — not Obama — insisted that troops would stay in Iraq only if they were (a) given immunity from local prosecution and (b) the immunity agreement was approved by Iraq’s parliament.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.