Obama Slams Bush, McCain Over Redeployment Plan

AFP reports on Barack Obama's harsh words for President Bush and Senator McCain today regarding foreign policy:

Speaking to reporters here, Obama accused Bush of "tinkering around the edges" and "kicking the can down the road to the next president" with his plans to remove 8,000 US troops from Iraq in the coming months and send 4,500 to Afghanistan by January.

"At this point what it appears is that the next president will inherit a status quo that is still unstable," Obama said, adding that his Republican White House rival John McCain was bent on the same course as Bush...

..."What President Bush and Senator McCain don't understand is that the central front in the war on terror is not in Iraq, and it never was -- the central front is in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the terrorists who hit us on 9/11 are still plotting attacks seven years later," Obama said.

"Now, the choice for the American people could not be clearer. John McCain has been talking a lot about change, but he's running for four more years of the same foreign policy that we've had under George Bush.

AP has McCain's approving response to Bush's announcement:

Later, McCain issued a statement, saying Bush's announcement of troop withdrawals next year "demonstrates what success in our efforts there can look like," and argued that it "stands in clear contrast to the reckless approach long advocated by Senator Obama."

McCain also backed additional forces in Afghanistan, and said, "Senator Obama believes we must lose in Iraq to win in Afghanistan." Obama has said Bush and McCain don't understand that the central front in the war on terror is Afghanistan and Pakistan, not Iraq.

Comments

[mjtaylor22]

What Obama actually said was, we never should have gone to Iraq, remember he voted against it.
That a surge in troops alone would not solve the issues if we did not have the cooperation of the Iraq's,
We needed a comprehensive Plan...you know they have to stop fighting the US and work together to solve their civil issues. The decrease in violence was due to the Sunni Awakening. They stopped fighting the US and the surge see what a multifaceted attack on a problem will accomplish.
Unfortunately, the Iraq Govt started arresting those in the Sunni Awakening so here we go again...they have an 80 billion surplus, and still cannot come together, we need to get out now and leave them to their own 100 yrs war, need my tax dollars in America!

The fact that the temporary lapse in violence is over it appears, I wonder will they (the republicans) ever admit that their band aid on this mis guided war still did not solve the true issues in that country.
The Iraq's inability to work together for the good of their country (that sounds too much like American )..I doubt it, thye never admit a mistake, so they never learn from them....
the fact remains the same: In the War on Terror
The central front is in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the terrorists who hit us on 9/11 are still plotting attacks seven years later,"

We need Obama/Biden
Judgment/I­ntegrity/T­ruth/Leade­rship

[PhantomAviator]

..

Repeat the LIE until it STICKS.

TRUTH is the opposite of Common Sense.

.

[Thad]

Huffington Post headline contains the word "slams". Everybody drink.

[Anonani]

Why oh why isn't the talk of the MSM that Obama's ideas about the withdrawal of our troops has taken root and that Obama has demonstrated the vision to the see the course that the US needs to take. No, no, instead we are listening to the airhead comments about how Pain-McCain are whipping up on Obama and Biden. I am becoming an avid conspiracy theorist.

[schoolmaster]

Obama may have to change the style of speaking in small gatherings which get national attention. It should not sound like a lecture, and the sentences lack natural flow. They are not crisp and meaningful, and appear to be framed with a degree of struggle and artificiality. Of course they do bring forward what he wishes to convey.

[WeMustChange]

Bush and McCain should be in jail.... along with Dick Cheney!

Join the cause to elect Obama President.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM58nqX1ehE

[SantaFeStars]

Obama needs to get tough and Now! He needs to be much more aggressive and really hit his speeches way out of the ball park! Where did being nice get Kerry?? Have some dynamite sound bites that are simple and concise! We can't win if we're not going after the jugular!

[StupidPeasant]

Obama just pretends to be nice. He's actually a jerk. It's starting to show.

[nomobull]

very fitting name.

[meowinajar]

You've mistaken being assertive for being a jerk, just like you've mistaken yourself for being smart.

[nomobull]

stop giving your approval to dirty tricks and lies

[LeeCalif]

Obama is LOSING. Qbama is burying us in minuteia(sp) . He's blathering.
He needs to make quick, SHORT points.

[SCG2]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/9/18192/04144/290/592615

[reliant1]

he's winning.

these old arguments were brought up in the primary. they were wrong then and they are wrong now.

[Marcospinelli]

If Obama continues to play it gentlemanly, according to the Marquis of Queensbury rules, and loses, are you going to stick with Democrats the next time? Or are you going to look for alternatives to replace them who promised in 2006 to end the war, but didn't?

[Marcospinelli]

If I hear Obama trot out this same old tired argument, I'm gonna scream.

This campaign needs energizing. Democrats need to wake up and move into action all across the country. The House and the Senate need to launch those subpoenas and issue contempt citations against Rove, Miers, Bolton.

This needs to be a team effort, with Democrats forming around Obama and Biden like a championship team.

[edwarvir]

Marcospinelli Sarah Palin has been repeating the speech she gave at the
convention. EVERYDAY SINCE SHE GAVE IT. The thing is not to complain
about Senator O but help him if you can. Give him some suggestions.
go to his website and tell him what is bothering you, I think we should talk about
Methuselah and what does he. offer us . In any campaign you must repeat yourself because
new people come to here you .. Sometimes when you hear something again it gives you new insight
as to what they are saying. Today I heard a new Senator O. I heard him
say You! John McCain have been LOCKSTEP WITH BUSH AGREED WITH HIM
90% of the time, you and the repubs helped to get us into this mess and now YOU
pretend You are the agent of Change. This is who we should be kicking the H out of with our blogs. JohnandSarah Bush They ain't no change in him, They ain't
no Change in him Senator O is going to give us Change but there ain't NO
CHANGE IN .John.

[CalliDem]

Well looky here:

Poll: Uncommitted Voters Move To McCain
CBS News Poll Finds That Voters Who Were Unsure Last Month Are More Likely To Have Settled On Republican Ticket

Toooo freakin funny

Hillary 2012

[edwarvir]

Well listen here I just saw Larry King and he said he
is confused with the polls because they are all over the place
and if McCains gets to be the next president with his Warmongering
ways we all might be playing harps in 2012 So I suggest we who
love our lives and this country better take this election
serious and vote for someone who cares about us and America.
not just wanting to get elected and become wealther. ( OIL) 26 years
in the Senate voting the same way as Bush and now he wants to
Change.. He wants POWER

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[riverhippie]

Falgged for fear mongering.

[Makesense]

obama did not call palin a pig. He was refering to McCain's new message of "change" http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/obama_did_not_call_sarah_palin.php. see video here http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/9/195119/3393/199/592714

[SailFree]

So it's only coincidence that several Obama operatives are using the lipstick bit? Don't be silly. This is more evidence that Obama is running scared and making desperation mistakes. The people, the real, honorable American people, are not going to like that. It is the virulent left who cheers such comments.

[edwarvir]

SailFree Sarah Palin came on the Scene. last Wednesday and gave
a speech. She called herself a dog with lipstick on. A pittbull.
She then proceeded to insult and belittle Senator O and every speaker
that stepped up to the podium did the same thing. Even Mike H(minister)
these people who are suppose to be Chirstians (you know followers
of Jesus) although I read my Bible often and I can't find anywhere
in his word where Jesus went on a rampage like Sarah and Rudy did
against a man who is simply running for President. No One not one
person in the Republican party said they were desperate or they
should apologize to Senator O. I find it very amusing when he saids
something they want an apology. I say to John and Sarah and Rudy
go to Do not back down Barack!

[IndigoChill]

“Obama has said Bush and McCain don't understand that the central front in the war on terror is Afghanistan and Pakistan, not Iraq.”

Wrong. The central front in the “war on terror” isn’t geographical. It’s ideological. It’s not a war against Iraqis or Afghanis but extremists.

[PlainBread]

Wrong. The centrol front in the "war on terror" has become geographical because most plots have been made by leaders of Taliban and Al-qaida who reside in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Their main plot is not middle east, but more toward South / East Asia. Look at the sporadic attacks they made in the past 7 years, they actually made a certain pattern.

Obama has been right about this. Talking about ideology, don't you think all radical Muslims and radical Christians love the ideas of "crusade / jihad war"? Once our nation perceives this war as a 'mission of God', the WW III would begin. That's why I believe US leaders should avoid talking about ideology or religion regarding this war on terror.

[riverhippie]

It has become geographical again because we kicked their butts out of Iraq.

[edwarvir]

Wrong he's talking about where they are hiding. Have you seen Osama
lately. Why haven't Mr. War I know how to win a War and Mr. Bush bring them
on found Osama YET. MR. WAR IS GOING TO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER
Osama is not there. If the Dems were in power when Osama hit us like
he did and was still running foot loose and fancy free, FORGET ABOUT IT
that would have been all we heard at the convention and the campaign
trail. Hypocrites

[AZM]

John "Keating5" McCain won't let Sarah go out and campaign on her own.
Yet, he is 72 years old, a cancer survivor, and a heartbeat away from the
eternal hereafter. Isn't that scary? The 2nd in line to the presidency isn't
trusted by Republicans to go out and campaign without John at her side.

[SeanHannity4Obama]

3000+ troops dead after Bush declared victory. We already lost in Iraq

[Cil]

4000+

I CANNOT IMAGINE THE PAIN AND HEARTACHE THAT THEIR FAMILIES ARE STILL GOING THROUGH!

Yet most of these Americans are STILL BACKING BUSH/McCAIN!

I AM COMPLETELY AT A LOSS, TRYING TO GIVE SOME CREDENCE TO THEIR SUPPORT OF McCAIN/BUSH!

[SailFree]

It's easy, if you are a normal American. Americans want to win wars, not surrender, not cut and run, and not after having spent lives of their young (and sometimes older) men and women. Cutting and running would be an insult to those who have given their lives to fight for America. That wasn't so hard, was it?