Obama: "No Military Solution In Iraq"

[sandnsea]

Remarks at today's VFW convention.

"All of our top military commanders recognize that there is no military solution in Iraq. And no matter how brilliantly and bravely our troops and their commanders perform, they cannot and should not bear the responsibility of resolving grievances at the heart of Iraq's civil war. No military surge can succeed without political reconciliation and a surge of diplomacy in Iraq and the region. Iraq's leaders are not reconciling. They are not achieving political benchmarks. The only thing they seem to have agreed on is to take a vacation. That is why I have pushed for a careful and responsible redeployment of troops engaged in combat operations out of Iraq, joined with direct and sustained diplomacy in the region. And that is why I will continue to push the President to change our policy."

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/21/remarks_of_senator_obama_a_sac.php

[frogcycle]

1. how is repeating a talking point, albeit accurate, worth starting a topic?

I mean, come on - those three words have been strung together by just about everyone on the planet by now.

[sandnsea]

2. This is his VFW speech today n/t

[karynnj]

4. Which means he is saying the same thing to an audience

that might be hostile to it.

[sandnsea]

5. He spoke to that disagreement too

"I know all of us don't agree on everything. I have heard those of you who disagree with me. I want you to know that I respect the views of all who come to this hall today. I will listen to them as a candidate, and I will listen to them as President. And I will be clear that whatever disagreements we have on policy, there will be no daylight between us when it comes to honoring these men and women who serve, and keeping faith with our veterans. This is not a partisan issue. This is a moral obligation. This must be a beachhead for bringing our country together.

Some like to say this country is divided. But that is not how I choose to see it. I see a country that all of us love – a country that my grandfather served, and that my father crossed an ocean to reach. I see values that all of us share – values of liberty, equality, and service to a common good and a greater good. I see a flag that we fly with pride. I see an America that is the strongest nation in the history of the world – not just because of our arms, but because of the strength of our values, and of the men and women who serve."

[BeyondGeography]

7. Excellent...if that doesn't strike a chord with them, nothing from our side will

[Dawgs]

8. You know, you are allowed to ignore the threads you don't care to read?

[flpoljunkie]

3. K&R!

:kick:

[jody]

6. Now he tells us, what an astute politician! n/t

[Ethelk2044]

9. He is correct. It has to be a political solution. We can not force them to get along.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

10. So why does he want to keep an unspecificed number of troops in Iraq for an unspecified time?

Clearly he thinks the military has a role to play in Iraq, although that is buried in the details. He never says "I will keep troops in Iraq for an unspecified length of time" on the campaign trail. At least Clinton, who has the same position, has been honest enough to admit it a few times.

[Jillian]

11. Hmmmm - where have I heard this before?

Oh yeah!
From every Dem candidate in 2004/2006/ and the present ones as well.
And Generals, our troops. Scarborough, Tucker, Matthews and Olbermann.
All the people on AAR.