[Alberta's Child]

The Status of Forces agreement between the U.S. and Iraq was signed by President Bush in 2008. Under the terms of this agreement, all U.S. combat forces would be withdrawn from Iraq by December 31st of 2011.

I'm certainly no fan of Barack Hussein Obama, but it's pathetic for any so-called "conservative" to blame him for something that was signed, sealed and delivered by his Republican predecessor before he ever took office.

I guess I can understand why so many folks on this site can't bring themselves to admit that the U.S. campaign in Iraq was a complete disaster under George W. Bush, but the facts clearly indicate that this was the case.

[ansel12]

It seems that we did what you wanted to do, just put time limits on everything.

[Olog-hai]

Conflating “Republican” and “conservative”? I hope not.

Certainly Obama was not bound by the SOFA. And the Iraqis wanted US troops to stay.

[Republican Wildcat]

Well you are certainly effective at peddling the debunked, but still peddled by the MSM and liberal commentators, Obama talking points, but withdrawing the combat forces and completely abandoning the place are two different things and was not on the radar and would not have occurred but for Obama’s policies. For you to sit here and argue otherwise is completely false. It was not a disaster when Bush left office, and had the policy been seen through, would likely still be as stable and improving as when he left it.

[A Navy Vet]

"The Status of Forces agreement between the U.S. and Iraq was signed by President Bush in 2008. Under the terms of this agreement, all U.S. combat forces would be withdrawn from Iraq by December 31st of 2011."

Are you sure? I remember talks about a certain amount being withdrawn over time, but my failing memory tells me it was Obambi who pulled everyone out beforehand and notified the world before hand. If I'm wrong, then it's Bush's fault. It's Obambi's fault for not insisting on his watch a Status of Forces agreement.

As I mentioned in this or another thread, Rand Paul is correct that we shouldn't have deposed Saddam nor Kaddafi and left vacumns for ISIS. Kaddafi was under control. We could have also controlled Saddam without total warfare. Of course, both caused the so-called Arab Spring. Now the ME is exploding and our Resident and SOS claim we have a good "deal" with Iran, as they deny it every day.

[okie01]

The Status of Forces agreement between the U.S. and Iraq was signed by President Bush in 2008. Under the terms of this agreement, all U.S. combat forces would be withdrawn from Iraq by December 31st of 2011.
I'm certainly no fan of Barack Hussein Obama, but it's pathetic for any so-called "conservative" to blame him for something that was signed, sealed and delivered by his Republican predecessor before he ever took office.

With all due respect, there is more to the story.

During the 2008 election, an extension of the above status of forces agreement was being negotiated.

And, while campaigning for the presidency, Barack Obama took it upon himself to make a trip to Iraq and meet with the Prime Minister. Nobody knows for sure what the content of their discussion was but, from that point forward, Iraq's negotiators for the status of forces agreement became totally uncooperative.

The assumption is that Obama promised he'd give Malaki what he wanted -- and couldn't get from Bush.

Consequently, I wouldn't be so quick to blame the lapse of the status of forces agreement and the early exit on Bush.