Paris a 'Sickening Setback' for Obama

Townhall.com ^ | November 17, 2015 | Debra J. Saunders

[Kaslin]

"Why can't we take out these bastards?" CNN's Jim Acosta bluntly asked President Obama at a Monday press conference at the Group of 20 summit in Turkey. "These bastards," of course, are the Islamic State -- at least for Acosta. As Obama called Friday's attacks in Paris that left at least 129 dead a "sickening setback," he saw no need to reset his Syrian policy.

Obama has been in a state of denial about the Islamic State. In 2014, the president famously told The New Yorker that the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and in Arabic, Daesh, was a "JV team" that might dress like the Lakers but would never match Kobe Bryant. The day before the Paris attacks, Obama told ABC the Islamic State was "contained" in Iraq and Syria.

His cardinal sin, however, is not a poor choice of words, but his failure to cut a deal with Iraq to leave U.S. troops behind after 2011. By not leaving behind a force that could douse hot spots as needed, the administration created a safe zone for al-Qaida and its offshoots. That void enabled the Islamic State to seize Iraqi cities.

It's no wonder Obama wants the United States to take in some Syrian refugees -- he helped create them.

At Saturday night's CBS Democratic debate, moderator John Dickerson asked Hillary Rodham Clinton if as secretary of state, she shared Obama's legacy of underestimating ISIS. Clinton deftly tossed the blame for the decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq onto President George W. Bush. "We abided by the agreement" Bush signed with Iraq in 2008, she said, to withdraw all U.S. troops by Dec. 31, 2011. As the Washington Post Fact Checker noted, there was some expectation, however, that Baghdad ultimately would agree to terms that would have allowed some U.S. troops to stay -- but the Obama administration did not offer terms conducive to a deal.

Obama told reporters that it is easy for GOP presidential candidates to use "bellicose" language -- they don't have to go to Walter Reed Army hospital, as he has done, and look in the eye U.S. troops severely wounded in battles he ordered. Therefore, Obama concluded, "I can't afford to play some of the political games that others make."

I respect that sentiment. I also understand that whatever course a president takes, there will be victims who have to pay the price. There is no risk-free path.

The problem with Obama is that he will send troops into harm's way -- just enough troops to quiet his critics, but not necessarily enough make sure their sacrifices pay off. He ordered a surge of troops in Afghanistan, which was needed, but undercut their ability to prevail and emboldened the enemy when he simultaneously announced he would begin to withdraw them in 2011.

Many Democrats never will fully trust Clinton because she voted to go to war in Iraq. Saturday night she again called the U.S. invasion of Iraq a "mistake" -- and that's supposed to square her with primary voters. As one who supported that war, I cannot trust Clinton because she voted to go to war, then abandoned the mission when it hurt her chances of winning the White House. Clinton obviously has determined that resolve is optional.

[FiddlePig]

One who speculates... has Obama/Democrats now replaced Iran as the world’s biggest enabler (supporter?) of Islamic terrorism?

[mothball]

“Obama is a sickening setback for our country. Paris has exposed his true loyalties.”

That’s why the jug eared, man child was so pissy yesterday when asked by that reporter about taking them out.

[Batman11]

Bozo has some very serious mental problems. I would not be surprised by anything that POS says, or does. I also believe that he, and the bat-faced Jarret, have no intentions of leaving office when his term is up. Mark my words.

[Las Vegas Ron]

And yet our guys in Congress do nothing.

What’s worse, Obama, or those who have the power to remove him yet do nothing?

[elpadre]

Bush always said the US would stay as long as necessary. The other thing he said was when the Iraq military is ready to stand up, the US will stand down. That was always his thinking and I have always agreed with him on that. And, it was necessary to leave a formidable force in Iraq keeping pressure on any terror group wishing to move in behind the US - which ISIS has done.

[Kaslin]

I also believe that he, and the bat-faced Jarret, have no intentions of leaving office when his term is up. Mark my words.

I am afraid you are correct

[Revelation 911]

....and the biggest enemy HRC see's are republicans

she should be hounded with this statement

[V_TWIN]

“Paris has exposed his true loyalties.”

Didn’t take what happened in France for me to know who he is, just reaffirmed it.

[rollo tomasi]

Also Pres. Bush pushed for the convoluted "Constitution" in Iraq,

"The president noted that the draft contains "protections for fundamental human freedoms" and "declares that all Iraqis are equal before the law without regard to gender, ethnicity and religion."

http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2005/08/20050828194926521elootom0.3957941.html#axzz3rlJdTVE6

Article 2: First: Islam is the official religion of the State and is a foundation source of legislation:

A. No law may be enacted that contradicts the established provisions of Islam

B. No law may be enacted that contradicts the principles of democracy.

C. No law may be enacted that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms stipulated in this Constitution.

Second: This Constitution guarantees the Islamic identity of the majority of theIraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights to freedom of religious belief and practice of all individuals such as Christians, Yazidis, and Mandean Sabeans.

http://corpus.learningpartnership.org/constitution-of-iraq-2005-1-fundamental-principles



The enumeration of Article 2, then A. followed by B., I mean come on, lol.

[GreenHornet]

Let me see if I understand Obama’s terminology: When four Americans were murdered in Benghazi, it was “a bump in the road.” When hundreds were massacred or wounded in Paris, it was “a setback.” How many people have to be killed before it becomes an ACT OF WAR in his mind?

[Hugin]

Saying is one thing, doing is another. What he did was sign an agreement to leave. Whatever his thinking, he didn’t follow through. Maybe he was just naive about Obama and the Democrats in general, but it was his call. Personally I think it was fatigue. He just gave up in his last two years in office.

[BatGuano]

TADA!!! We have a winner. “DJ” has hit the nail on the head!

Indeed, “Obama IS" one of ISIS, and they are all bastards.

[Buckeye McFrog]

ALL of the drive-bys were giving Obammy a hard time yesterday. Yeah, I know, could hardly believe that myself.

I guess the thought of having ISIS come and shoot up Starbucks is just a bridge too far for them.