Obama Went to Iraq and Visited... the Airport. Was it the Sandstorms or the Rising Shitstorm?

Maybe it's because of the sandstorms in Baghdad like they say, or maybe it is the rising shitstorm there, but here is the fact: President Obama went to Iraq and stayed at the airport, which is located on the same grounds as Camp Victory. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said it was because of the weather, which would have made helicopter travel into central Baghdad dangerous. Having been in Baghdad at this time of year in the past, I can say that the sandstorms are pretty surreal so that may well be the actual reason. However, it is hard not to wonder about the "coincidence" of Obama's visit being confined to the airport and coming in the midst of a rising tide in violence in Iraq over the past several days.

Yesterday, more than 30 Iraqis were killed in a series of car bombs. "The wave of attacks [were] the largest number of bombs in one day in almost two years," according to The Guardian. In all, 37 people died and some 120 were wounded in seven bombings. There were more attacks today that took another 9 lives, according to NBC News. The recent violence in Iraq has been portrayed by some seasoned observers as the "unraveling," with the Sunni "Awakening" forces, which are paid by the US not to kill US soldiers, increasing their attacks on government forces backing Nouri al Maliki. This has been largely a response to the US-backed Baghdad regime using the cover of US protection to arrest Sunni political opponents and the refusal of the regime to integrate Sunnis into the government. It isn't just the Shiite government being targeted. A recent Washington Post piece documented a battle wherein "former Sunni insurgents fought from rooftops and street corners against American and Iraqi forces." Was this violence a factor in the decision to keep Obama in the fortified safety of the airport/Camp Victory area?

Addressing troops upon his arrival in the country, Obama once again portrayed the Iraq war as a victory. "You have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country," Obama said. "That is an extraordinary achievement."

Obama reportedly had planned to visit the Green Zone and to meet face to face with "President" Jalal Talibani and "Prime Minister" Nouri al Maliki. That was canceled and Maliki made the trek to the airport. Perhaps the image of Obama traveling to Baghdad and just talking by phone with the country's "leaders" would have been too devastating.

Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice seems not at all concerned about Obama's vision for Iraq. "It is not a question of when American combat forces withdraw," Rice said recently. "The distance between what the Obama Administration is talking about and what we negotiated is very small, but Iraq is on its way to becoming a strategic asset."

Think about that--a "strategic asset."

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Comments

[mendelcrosses]

Thats all the neocons ever wanted to make Iraq "A strategic Assert"

[ultrabop]

What they really want are the pipelines that run through Iran to the gulf, where tankers could run the oil to the U.S., and Iraq seemed like an easy target, and it's right next door.

[dessertsfirst]

"The distance between what the Obama Administration is talking about and what we negotiated is very small" quote by Condi Rice.... rewriting history again, I see.
A war which should not have been started.... oh wait, i forgot, it was all about the oil, stupid.
A war which according to Bush and Cheney, and oh, yes, McCain, could go on for 100 years....
and Obama now has to prudently clean up the awful problems left behind by an irresponsible administration. So how is it that President Obama gets blamed for Bush's bad decisions?

[dessertsfirst]

"a strategic asset" ??? WTF
a strategic asset to whom?
It makes me so @ngry that is what the Bull$#it administration considered it. It was their strategic asset for which they sacrificed our brightest and best. Not to speak of a war which has nearly bankrupted our country. Aaarrrggghhhh!
Thank heavens we now have a President who will clean up this unholy mess left behind by Bu$# and Co.
but it can't be done overnight.

[bacaja]

Nothing a few more hundred billion dollar surges won't fix.

[knowBuddhaU]

If the cosmos is a Newtonian machine, and if that machine is god's own justice-dispensing holy war cash machine, then using pharisees like "strategic asset" makes perfect sense.
Check out this hair-raising quote from Ray McGovern:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obama is no shrinking violet. Just the same, it may be useful to warn him not to succumb to the particular brand of “shock and awe” that can be induced by ostensibly sexy intelligence to color reactions of briefees, including presidents. I have seen it happen. [Retrieved 5:55 AM Pacific 23 Dec 08 from http://www.consortiumnews.com/2008/110708c.html]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our president is not ours alone. I think he's being, or about to be, run like any other asset of the same NSA-type fiends who've been myth-jacking us to hell and back, and sticking us with the bill both ways, for god knows how long now.

[johnsonc20]

I hear you, brother. It sure seems that way. The "surge" worked because we "surged" money and support to the Sunnis, instead of trying to kill them. If Maliki buggers that up, Iraq is right back into a civil war with our troops in the middle - just as we are about to overextend ourselves in another quagmire in Afghanistan. Bring the troops home, Obama.

[CubanVoice]

let's also not forget the real truth - that Sadam Hussein was more of an asset from the perspective that Ms. Rice mentions here. He was a horrible man that did horrible things to his people - BUT, he kept Iraq in an isolated position and separated the extremists like Bin Laden because they hated him. He was an isolated evil - not that evil is good at any time or for any reason - but the idea that Iraq can be an "asset" to us or the world now or in the future is just part of the continued propaganda of selling this war.

[mmmk]

Jeremy Scahill, i really don't like your writing and I will make sure to skip all your future contributions to this or any other website.

[Gib]

What would this "asset" have to be worth to justify the price that's been paid for it? (I mean the price paid by the US - the price paid by the Iraqis would make the question meaningless.)

[CubanVoice]

I am disappointed that Obama is continuing the "we're winning in Iraq" message. This is at best, an untruth and suggests a check-mate is at hand. The truth is that the best scenario is a stale-mate. No matter when we leave the trouble will resume and get worse. I'm sick of it - bring our troops home!

[lynettema]

What's he going to say when he is visiting the troops? We are proud of these young people who walked into this buzz saw. Some fell for the Bush line - whatever gets them through the day. I watched the clip and I think the troops are sick of it, too. President Obama got his loudest cheer when he talked about bringing them home. If it were possible, he would bring them all home today.

[johnsonc20]

It is possible and he should bring them all home today.

[LizM]

Sadly, the situation at present in Iraq was all too predictable in view of the fact that the last administration did virtually NOTHING to promote political accommodation amongst the Shi'a, Sunni, and Kurds.

Fortunately, President Obama has an ace up his sleeve on this issue and his name is Vice President Biden. The Vice President understands what will be required for a successful and responsible withdrawal of US troops from Iraq without leaving a failed and completely fragmented state in their wake.

As for former SOS Rice...I have learned to not attach a single ounce of credibility to anything she has to say about Iraq.

[somewhereiniraq]

I am a Sergeant in the Army currently stationed in Baghdad. I am based about 30 minutes from where President Obama met with the troops today. New spread quickly about the President being in town, and even though I am off today, I quickly changed into uniform and went to work in anticipation that maybe, just maybe he would show up at my base.
I called over to friends who work at Camp Victory; believe me when I tell you, everyone was genuinely excited to meet their new Commander in Chief. It was no “dog and pony show” as we call it in the military. No one was forced to smile, applaud or hug the President. Some of us are just happy to finally have an intelligent President.
People claim to be patriotic and love America yet we are not up in arms when Rush Limbaugh makes statements about wanting the President to fail. I bet he would he would be happy if the U.S. casualties rise in Afghanistan too. In essence he is saying he wants me to fail; and wants America to fail. When the oath is taken and we swear to defend the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic; you hope the President and Congress will make the right decisions on national security before sending us into harm’s way. But the bottom line is, you want him to succeed and you want the best for your country; irregardless of who the Commander in Chief is.

[somewhereiniraq]

How do I delete or edit this post. I am typing in the dark, had a few errors, don't want anyone to miss my point.

[eden4barack08]

I don't see any errors, and your point is well made Sergeant. Thank you for your service!

[dessertsfirst]

What errors?
Bless you all. We are sooooo proud of you, and we follow your efforts. With the floundering economy, please be assured that our troops are never far from our minds. You are always in our hearts and prayers. We are so very grateful for your sacred service to our country, for all you do... thank you so much. Your post is much appreciated. Rush Limbaugh has done all of us a disservice by his tr*easonous comments. While it is true he has a large following, his views are not shared by the majority of the American people.
somewhereiniraq, do come home soon, and stay safe.

[sonoffestus]

Sargent, thank you ! You might be typing in the dark , but you are spreading the light.
Be safe , hope you come home soon.

[meinmd]

No worries, I understood your post and am glad that you responded. Thanks for pointing out the point about Rush and his wanting the President to fail. Thank you and all troops for your service to America.

[pattyrenee]

It wouldn't have been a surprise if the bullet proof auto and helicopter, would have shown up a few days ago. Why not meet at the airport? Easier.

[rebeccaj]

Sandstorms are a real problem in Iraq. I currently have a loved one there and have had friends there in the past. These storms ground helicopters and they affect travel.

This kind of speculation is not helpful at all. We are not dealing with the Bush Administration; do not act like we are.

[GeorgeP922]

The secret service are very protective of the President.

Why would they say the weather, when our military and Secret Service are weatherproof? And they prefer to travel in the dark, and bad weather that they can take advantage of.

[eden4barack08]

A sandstorm is beyond weatherproof. I'm pretty sure we still don't have the technology to fly with visibility through thick sand.

[somewhereiniraq]

Hi GeorgeP922, I just returned to Iraq from R&R. I spent 4 day in Kuwait, not by choice; guess why.....

[sonoffestus]

I'm not an expert ,but I think sand does nasty things when it get sucked into engines.

[MPeter]

Scahill, I have read a series of your posts on this website about Obama and you have never been complimentary on anything. You are always looking for some unseen motives. Your analyses are highly questionable. What is your problem? Why do you want Obama to fail?

[marxmarv]

Is he too progressive for the center-right?