Spot the Lies!
I’ve already visited this once today, but since he actually spoke on the subject, let me comment again:
As a candidate for President, I made clear my support for a timeline of 16 months to carry out this drawdown, while pledging to consult closely with our military commanders upon taking office to ensure that we preserve the gains we’ve made and protect our troops. Those consultations are now complete, and I have chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next 18 months.
Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.
You might say that acknowledging as wrong his absurd pledge to remove the troops in 16 months is almost statesmanlike.
But read the pledge itself and see if he isn’t quibbling on the meanings of “end”, “troops”, and “sixteen”:
The removal of our troops will be responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Military experts believe we can safely redeploy combat brigades from Iraq at a pace of 1 to 2 brigades a month that would remove them in 16 months. That would be the summer of 2010 – more than 7 years after the war began.
It does go on to mention a residual force, but who believes 50,000 troops—one-third more than are in Korea—is a residual force?
Through this period of transition, we will carry out further redeployments. And under the Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government, I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Well, of course you will! George Bush signed the agreement with the Iraqi government. You didn’t do anything.
One more:
In short, today there is a renewed cause for hope in Iraq, but that hope rests upon an emerging foundation.
For which thank you General Petraeus (and President Bush, ultimately). Not you. You opposed the surge.
I’m sure there are more, but why waste my time? He has as much to do with ending combat in Iraq as my great Aunt Gertrude.