George McGovern Told Obama To Bring Iraq Troops Home

A slew of comparisons have been made between the wars in Iraq and Vietnam. So it should come as no surprise that George McGovern, former Democratic presidential candidate and major Vietnam war opponent, urged Obama to bring the troops home this past summer.

"I said, 'You know Mr. President ... we can't control the situation over there, and even if it were desirable to try, we can't afford it," he told Politico. "I want to see you reelected, but I'd feel a lot better about it if you'd bring our troops home from the war."

McGovern ran for president in 1972 on an anti-Vietnam war platform. In 1963, he was the first senator to oppose the military action and in 1970 even proposed an amendment to end the Vietnam war.

President Obama announced last month that by the end of the year, all U.S. troops will be pulled out of Iraq.

The decision has received generally positive reactions, although many prominent Republicans have expressed skepticism.

Comments

[Sumocat]

10:11 AM on 11/17/2011

"Former Presidential Candidate Reveals Surprising Obama Conversation" -- Front page caption.

"So it should come as no surprise that George McGovern, former Democratic presidential candidate and major Vietnam war opponent, urged Obama to bring the troops home this past summer." -- Second line of post.

Is the lack of surprise supposed to be the surprise? If so, mission accomplished.

[Craig Koebelin]

09:54 AM on 11/17/2011

We're leaving because we're worried about liability after Iraq changed their legal protection for American troops. Nothing is ever done out of idealism in this administration.

[Jay Haney]

10:17 AM on 11/17/2011

Nor did the W administration do it out of idealism when it came to invading the place. Bottom line: regardless of the past, it's time to come home...something Obama gets.

[Craig Koebelin]

10:30 AM on 11/17/2011

Better late than never

[Jake Dogg]

09:15 AM on 11/17/2011

Oh yeah?! Well I told him to bring the McRib back and, BOOM! Here it is. You're welcome :)

[lmab]

08:13 AM on 11/17/2011

I wish America had a progressive president.....someone we could feel was in line with our ideals.

[jtabs]

10:18 AM on 11/17/2011

Well don't look for one in either the democrat or republican party, if we want one then we need to look elsewhere, unfortunately.

[Jay Haney]

10:19 AM on 11/17/2011

Ideals are overrated. You want to translate them into principles that can actually survive the real world, be prepared for disappointment before you get where you want to be. Any con will tell you that revenge is dessert. In the meantime, you eat the meal, no matter bad it tastes.

[exhale09]

07:44 AM on 11/17/2011

Since removing our military from Iraq by the end of the year 2011 no sooner or no later, was a Nation to Nation Contract agreed to by President G W Bush and the Iraqi Government, before George Bush left office, I don't see how anyone's OPINION matters one way or the other.

If Republicans do not like the idea they should COMPLAIN to ex-President George W Bush for officially AGREEING to this date as President of the United States.
If Democrat's do not like the fact that we are still there, they should complain to ex-President George Bush for officially agreeing to this date as President of the United States before President Obama took office and was BOUND by this timeline Agreement.

[CraigR]

06:14 PM on 11/18/2011

Right on, bro.

[Rodrockler]

07:26 AM on 11/17/2011

It doesn't matter what President Obama does, the opponents will criticize everything and promote it as negative.
We have seen time and time again how Obama has tried to work with them, prop THEIR ideas and still they deny it, and vote against him.

Grand Obstructionist Party is on a NO binge and I am sick of them getting paid to hold Americas economy hostage.

vote them out...

[p456]

05:53 AM on 11/17/2011

I doubt very seriously that president Obama is taking orders from the likes of George McGovern. But if he must grab his last bit of spotlight let him.

[gurukalehuru]

02:57 AM on 11/17/2011

My first big political experience was as a volunteer for George McGovern in 1972, when I was 18. It was a great time in my life, and something I am still proud of.

(But, HP, there was nothing at all surprising about this conversation)

[ntr721]

12:43 AM on 11/17/2011

It´s to bad the American people were not ready for Mr. McGovern during the Viet Nam war.

[LynnW49]

11:23 PM on 11/16/2011

"Former Presidential Candidate Reveals Surprising Obama Conversation"

It is not surprising, so stop with the fake teasers.

[Robert Cantor]

03:56 AM on 11/17/2011

Huff Po has become a tabloid ever since the $$ started flowing.

[ntr721]

12:44 AM on 11/17/2011

What the hell does that mean?????

[rparis8241]

12:51 AM on 11/17/2011

means he would do a better job dead then alive.

[kamact]

11:11 PM on 11/16/2011

Makes sense to me,...

[oldguru]

11:02 PM on 11/16/2011

Let us face it. Our troops are coming out of Iraq because the Iraqis have said that they do not want us there any longer. Whatever gets the job done is fine with me, but we are well out of that mess. Iraq may blow up, Iran may take it over, they may just rebuild their country, but that is THEIR problem, not ours. All the doomsayers should take note of the fact that Vietnam DID go Communist, the world did not end, and we are now friends with them.

[ALfarmgirl]

11:44 PM on 11/16/2011

Former enemies of the US tend to do well.

[pmoschetta]

06:41 AM on 11/17/2011

Funny, I remember when we invaded

They didn't want us there, at that time either

[donnablinger]

10:44 PM on 11/16/2011

The decision has received generally positive reactions, although many prominent Republicans have expressed skepticism.

Oh sure, I wonder how many Republicans will skip on over there and continue to fight the war.

[ALfarmgirl]

11:45 PM on 11/16/2011

...or send their children & grand children.

[fusillijerry]

09:07 PM on 11/16/2011

The link said this was "surprising." I'm surprised you didn't use "shocking" for this unsurprising story.

[SonOfUgh]

09:41 PM on 11/16/2011

It is surprising that they used surprising; is that surprising enough to warrant the surprising headline?

[Wandaz]

08:09 AM on 11/17/2011

I'm shocked by your surprising reaction ;-)

[ekstatik]

08:38 AM on 11/17/2011

"eyebrow-raising" is good