871 DaysWhy Does Obama Readily Agree To One-On-One Negotiations With Ahmadinejad, But Decline One-On-One Briefings With Our Military Leaders?
WASHINGTON – RNC Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan released the following statement today:
To track how many days since Obama’s last visit to Iraq, visit the RNC’s Web site: http://gop.com
Obama Has Not Been To Iraq Since January 2006:
In January 2006, Obama Took His Second Trip As A Senator To Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Israel And The Palestinian Territories. “Obama’s second trip abroad as a U.S. senator starts in Qatar and, in addition to Iraq, will include stops in Kuwait, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, according to a statement from his Washington office.” (“Obama To Visit Middle East, Including Iraq,” The Associated Press, 1/4/06)
Obama’s First Day In Iraq Was January 7, 2006. “Anti-war U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's first day in Iraq did nothing to change his view that if the country's various factions can't achieve political peace, no amount of U.S. involvement will bring stability. ‘If we don't see significant political progress ... over the next six months or so, we can pour money and troops in here until the cows come home, but we're not going to be successful,’ Obama told reporters in a Saturday [January 7, 2006] conference call.” (Eric Krol, “Obama: 'Everything's Up For Grabs' In Iraq,” Chicago Daily Herald, 1/8/06)
Obama Was In Iraq For Two Days. “Obama, the nation's only black senator, met with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Saturday. He said before his two-day trip to Iraq that he wanted to ask U.S. commanders what a realistic time frame was for bringing troops home.” (Jason Straziuso, “Obama Says Minorities Must Be More Involved In Iraq's Government,” The Associated Press, 1/7/06)
It Has Been 871 Days Since Obama Has Been In Iraq.
The Surge Was Announced On January 10, 2007:
On January 10, 2007, President Bush Called For A Surge In Troops Into Iraq. “President Bush appealed directly to the American people last night to support a renewed campaign to pacify Iraq, calling for an additional 21,500 U.S. troops to help the beleaguered Iraqi government regain control of Baghdad while warning that he would not support an ‘open-ended’ U.S. commitment.” (Michael Abramowitz and Robin Wright, “Bush To Add 21,500 Troops In An Effort to Stabilize Iraq,” The Washington Post, 1/11/07)
“Bush Signaled Last Night That He Is Essentially Choosing To Deepen U.S. Involvement In Iraq, Calculating That Improved Tactics And What He Hopes Will Be Greater Commitment From The Iraqi Government Will Result In The Success That Has Eluded The United States.” (Michael Abramowitz and Robin Wright, “Bush To Add 21,500 Troops In An Effort to Stabilize Iraq,” The Washington Post, 1/11/07)
The Military Has Recently Achieved Notable Progress In Iraq:
Levels Of Violence In Iraq Are The Lowest They’ve Been In Four Years. “U.S. and Iraqi military officials said violence in Iraq has decreased significantly in recent weeks to levels not seen in four years. … A significant difference the drop in violence announced Sunday: It came following concerted efforts by Iraqi security forces backed up by American and allied firepower -- not the other way around, as has been mostly the case in the five-year Iraq war.” (Gina Chon, “Violence In Iraq Reaches 4-Year Low, Military Says,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/26/08)
The Area Known As The “Triangle Of Death” Has Become “A Showcase For What The U.S. Military Hoped To Achieve In Iraq.” “When the Fort Stewart-based 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Iraq's once infamous ‘Triangle of Death,’ violence there and in neighboring Baghdad was so intense that hundreds were dying every day and the country was virtually in a state of civil war. Now as the division heads home at the end of May, the region stretching south from Baghdad and across central Iraq has become a showcase for what the U.S. military hoped to achieve in Iraq.” (Patrick Quinn, “US Military Makes Progress In Iraq's ‘Triangle Of Death,’” The Associated Press, 5/28/08)
Sunni Fighters In The Triangle Of Death Have Been “Effectively Shut…Down.” “Sunni fighters who swarmed the area are also nearly gone. They have either been killed, or co-opted into Awakening Councils, said Lt. Col. William Zemp, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment based in nearby Mahmoudiya. ‘It was a place where they could consolidate, make plans and be put into action,’ Zemp said. ‘We have effectively shut that down.’” (Patrick Quinn, “US Military Makes Progress In Iraq's ‘Triangle Of Death,’” The Associated Press, 5/28/08)
3,500 Troops Are Returning Home From Iraq Shortly, With More Troop Reductions Expected In The Fall As Conditions Improve. “About 3,500 American soldiers are scheduled to leave Iraq in the coming weeks, the U.S. military announced, part of a plan to reduce the number of troops who were part of last year's ‘surge’ by 20,000. … ‘The continued drawdown of surge brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq,’ Brig. Gen. Dan Allyn said in the statement released late Monday.” (Bradley Brooks, “US Military: 3,500 US Troops Set To Leave Iraq,” The Associated Press, 5/6/08)
“Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, The Top U.S. Military Commander In Iraq, On Thursday Gave Congress A Markedly More Upbeat Assessment Of The War Than He Did Six Weeks Ago, Saying Violence Has Hit A Four-Year Low And Further Troop Reductions Are Likely In The Fall.” (Peter Spiegel and Julian E. Barnes, “Fall Troop Cuts Likely, Petraeus Says,” Los Angeles Times, 5/23/08)
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WASHINGTON – RNC Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan released the following statement today:
“Barack Obama has only visited Iraq once – and that was 871 days
ago. Despite lacking the experience and leadership to be
Commander-in-Chief, Obama has done shockingly little to educate himself firsthand about the war in Iraq. Instead, he displays an arrogant certainty gained on the campaign trail. How would Obama make informed judgments in the future when he has not seen the situation in Iraq since the surge began? Why does Obama readily agree to one-on-one negotiations with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but decline one-on-one briefings in Baghdad with our
military leaders? Obama’s failure to visit Iraq, listen and learn
firsthand, and witness the surge’s progress demonstrates weak leadership that disqualifies him from being Commander in Chief.”
To track how many days since Obama’s last visit to Iraq, visit the RNC’s Web site: http://gop.com
Obama Has Not Been To Iraq Since January 2006:
In January 2006, Obama Took His Second Trip As A Senator To Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Israel And The Palestinian Territories. “Obama’s second trip abroad as a U.S. senator starts in Qatar and, in addition to Iraq, will include stops in Kuwait, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, according to a statement from his Washington office.” (“Obama To Visit Middle East, Including Iraq,” The Associated Press, 1/4/06)
Obama’s First Day In Iraq Was January 7, 2006. “Anti-war U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's first day in Iraq did nothing to change his view that if the country's various factions can't achieve political peace, no amount of U.S. involvement will bring stability. ‘If we don't see significant political progress ... over the next six months or so, we can pour money and troops in here until the cows come home, but we're not going to be successful,’ Obama told reporters in a Saturday [January 7, 2006] conference call.” (Eric Krol, “Obama: 'Everything's Up For Grabs' In Iraq,” Chicago Daily Herald, 1/8/06)
Obama Was In Iraq For Two Days. “Obama, the nation's only black senator, met with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Saturday. He said before his two-day trip to Iraq that he wanted to ask U.S. commanders what a realistic time frame was for bringing troops home.” (Jason Straziuso, “Obama Says Minorities Must Be More Involved In Iraq's Government,” The Associated Press, 1/7/06)
It Has Been 871 Days Since Obama Has Been In Iraq.
The Surge Was Announced On January 10, 2007:
On January 10, 2007, President Bush Called For A Surge In Troops Into Iraq. “President Bush appealed directly to the American people last night to support a renewed campaign to pacify Iraq, calling for an additional 21,500 U.S. troops to help the beleaguered Iraqi government regain control of Baghdad while warning that he would not support an ‘open-ended’ U.S. commitment.” (Michael Abramowitz and Robin Wright, “Bush To Add 21,500 Troops In An Effort to Stabilize Iraq,” The Washington Post, 1/11/07)
“Bush Signaled Last Night That He Is Essentially Choosing To Deepen U.S. Involvement In Iraq, Calculating That Improved Tactics And What He Hopes Will Be Greater Commitment From The Iraqi Government Will Result In The Success That Has Eluded The United States.” (Michael Abramowitz and Robin Wright, “Bush To Add 21,500 Troops In An Effort to Stabilize Iraq,” The Washington Post, 1/11/07)
The Military Has Recently Achieved Notable Progress In Iraq:
Levels Of Violence In Iraq Are The Lowest They’ve Been In Four Years. “U.S. and Iraqi military officials said violence in Iraq has decreased significantly in recent weeks to levels not seen in four years. … A significant difference the drop in violence announced Sunday: It came following concerted efforts by Iraqi security forces backed up by American and allied firepower -- not the other way around, as has been mostly the case in the five-year Iraq war.” (Gina Chon, “Violence In Iraq Reaches 4-Year Low, Military Says,” The Wall Street Journal, 5/26/08)
The Area Known As The “Triangle Of Death” Has Become “A Showcase For What The U.S. Military Hoped To Achieve In Iraq.” “When the Fort Stewart-based 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Iraq's once infamous ‘Triangle of Death,’ violence there and in neighboring Baghdad was so intense that hundreds were dying every day and the country was virtually in a state of civil war. Now as the division heads home at the end of May, the region stretching south from Baghdad and across central Iraq has become a showcase for what the U.S. military hoped to achieve in Iraq.” (Patrick Quinn, “US Military Makes Progress In Iraq's ‘Triangle Of Death,’” The Associated Press, 5/28/08)
Sunni Fighters In The Triangle Of Death Have Been “Effectively Shut…Down.” “Sunni fighters who swarmed the area are also nearly gone. They have either been killed, or co-opted into Awakening Councils, said Lt. Col. William Zemp, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment based in nearby Mahmoudiya. ‘It was a place where they could consolidate, make plans and be put into action,’ Zemp said. ‘We have effectively shut that down.’” (Patrick Quinn, “US Military Makes Progress In Iraq's ‘Triangle Of Death,’” The Associated Press, 5/28/08)
3,500 Troops Are Returning Home From Iraq Shortly, With More Troop Reductions Expected In The Fall As Conditions Improve. “About 3,500 American soldiers are scheduled to leave Iraq in the coming weeks, the U.S. military announced, part of a plan to reduce the number of troops who were part of last year's ‘surge’ by 20,000. … ‘The continued drawdown of surge brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq,’ Brig. Gen. Dan Allyn said in the statement released late Monday.” (Bradley Brooks, “US Military: 3,500 US Troops Set To Leave Iraq,” The Associated Press, 5/6/08)
“Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, The Top U.S. Military Commander In Iraq, On Thursday Gave Congress A Markedly More Upbeat Assessment Of The War Than He Did Six Weeks Ago, Saying Violence Has Hit A Four-Year Low And Further Troop Reductions Are Likely In The Fall.” (Peter Spiegel and Julian E. Barnes, “Fall Troop Cuts Likely, Petraeus Says,” Los Angeles Times, 5/23/08)
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