Not according to Bush's Mission Accomplish banner. lol

Campaign schedule you mean. What is different in Iraq today than it was 3 years ago? The difference is poll numbers and re-election time in America.

Yep, bring 'em home.....it's about time. Way to go Obama !!!

It's about damn time! Thank you Obama

Desperate man doing anything he can to get re-elected.

Thank you, troops!

About friggin time for us to leave! We should have never invaded that place... what a total waste of lives and money...

Interesting coincidence in the timing of this announcement. BinLaden "dead", Ghadafi dead, Hussein dead, entire region in chaos, and US troops are pulling out. Sounds like "mission accomplished", but smells fishy. Wait and see.

Glad troops are coming home regardless.

Ten years of the majority of all Congressmen and Senators making personal fortunes in their war investments.

Ten years of good fortune while our economy and our once good name go to hell.

Am I the only one that see's something wrong here? Anyone?

Oh well, They still will profit from Afghanistan.

What a complete waste of Soldiers and Marines lives and trillions in tax dollars.

All for the profit of a few.

4400 dead over manufactured lies of WMD....

Larry, I'd argue that trying to spin this story negatively is desparate.

Don't let any of our soldiers see you so horribly unhappy to see them return safely...

Unbelievable.

Eight years, 4400 American dead, 100,000+ Iraqi dead, 2 trillion in US dollars spent or obligated. Mission Accomplished...what a debacle.

More good news. Glad to hear they are finally coming home!

Actually this is another example of a lie during the campaign. Although one might say better late than never but one might also say Americans have been put in harm's way because he saw a political advantage by delaying the withdrawal.

In the Obama/Biden Blueprint for Change, you will see this and other unfulfilled promises -- lies. The promise was to be out by Summer 2010, but don't no one call his hand ya' hear.

http://campaign-promises.com/wp-content/uploads/obamablueprintforchange.pdf

You are on to something Larry.

About time, obama. You only promised this THREE YEARS AGO.

I am sure everybody is aware this departure was a treaty signed by President Bush in 2008.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-12-14-bush-iraq_N.htm

pjam #1.2

"Campaign schedule"? lmao

Think the "schedule" has been followed that was "signed and implemented" by the "previous administration"!

Is there anything at all you on the right "accept responsibility for"?

Given we have a new multi-billion dollar embassy there, I believe there will be troops to protect those who work there.

Let's hope we aren't just bringing these troops home to send them into other places. We are involved in more military wars & interventions than ever before in our history. Now the administration is making noises about Pakistan, in addition to Iran. I say let other countries take the lead.

"all of this <was> for a flag?"

Shouldn't we at least keep a base there or something? We still have 40,000 troops in Japan, another 50,000 or so in Germany, 30,000 in Korea. Except for Korea, I am not sure what the point is of the other countries.

Having a forward base in a volatile part of the world is a strategically good idea. Keep the airport, keep some some barracks and supplies. Maybe 10,000 troops or so. Not to police and rebuild Iraq, but to serve as a deterrent to Iran and some of those other idiots.

I know politically Obama wants to bring everyone home, but let's not let election year politics cloud our good judgement. We spent 4400 lives and hundreds of billions, let's at least get something out of it.

Memo to leftist crazies: Neither Obama or Bush/Cheney have touched a drop of oil in Iraq. You are forgiven for your ignorance.

Right on the schedule Bush laid out for him in the Fall of 2008.

Campaign schedule you mean.

I'm sure the troops and their families could care less.

What is different in Iraq today than it was 3 years ago?

Then why waste any more time, money and lives there?

Never should have been there in the first place! 4400 dead and trillion lost down a rat hole. (Was good for the contractors though.)

Thanks Bush/Cheney

jerry,

It is still Obama's fault. He made Bush sign it under duress so that the withdrawal would come just in time for Obama's reelection. (Massive sarcasm)

Well done!!!!! Now can we take the money we are pouring into Iraq infrastructure and put it here?

I never thought anybody could pull US out of the mess created by Bush and Cheney. Bravo Obama!!

And while we are at it - pray for the future of Iraqi people. They deserve it.

too much bickering.

Well done troops and welcome home.

John,

So you cannot give credit to Bush for signing the treaty and where did I talk about the recession

ABOUT TIME....!!! Thank you President Obama!!

Are there going to be any left in 2012? With the final point about immunity for remaining Soldiers it seems that some may be staying? I really do hope not, but that little bit at the end confuses me.

I wouldn't bet on it. The money will now go to Libya and northern Africa and Afganistsan of oh yea and all the "advisors" we leave in Iraq.

Obviously some troops are staying. Otherwise they wouldnt have been worried about immunity for troops staying behind. This is probably COMBAT troops coming home. That IS what Bush negotiated.

Do people remember that Bush Sr who is on the board of the Carlyle group was awarded Billions in NO BID contracts by his own sons administration?

Do people remember that Halliburton who Cheney was on the board of and is now a paid adviser to was awarded Billions in NO BID contracts?

Face it... The American people have been defrauded.

All they had to invest was YOUR tax dollars and mostly 21 year olds sent to the front lines.

Its Amazing that Americans forget both Cheney and Halliburton's involvement for profit in Vietnam.

Have Americans been proven stupid to be taken not once but twice by the same people?

ah....... yeah.

Jerry, trying to put a postive spin on anything Bush did? Good luck! Bush, in the eight years of his Presidency, started two wars, tanked the ecomony, threw New Orleans into the storm surge after Katrina, managed to put millions of middle class Americans out of work, allowed the infrastructure to fall apart, quadrupled the national debt, and greatly increased the income of America's richest people. Isn't it amazing what the GOP was able to accomplish the last time they were in charge?

How sad that the very small minded Republicans on this post still revere the murdering Bush but can't give Obama the credit he is due. But, that's not possible for them. They can't stand the fact that we have an intelligent, articulate, caring man in the White House for a change.

Yes , about time. However veterans has the higer unemployment rate 16% , now it will go to 20 % . We have a weak an long border in the south that need to protectec, our soldiers can do the job. I'm sure Democrats and Republicans will pass the bill." Protect the border Act."

Do we have to politicize everything? Can we unite as a people under anything? This is good news, PERIOD.

All of you stuck in this futile and moronic, "everything is left vs. right" paradigm need to wake up.

The ignorance on this thread is astounding. This was a plan that was put into place before Obama was President. He has ensured the plan continued as scheduled. So those of you barking he is doing it for vote are way off base.

And to the clown who claimed this gem:

Memo to leftist crazies: Neither Obama or Bush/Cheney have touched a drop of oil in Iraq. You are forgiven for your ignorance.

Iraq is number 6 on the list of countries that export oil to the U.S in 2011.

The George War in Iraq is over. Obama you promised them out January 20 2009.... Very shameful to wait 3 years. We will remember. Obama should also remember that he is President. When Generals say "Keep the troops in or else," Obama should say "YOUR FIRED" Obama can do anything he wants in the realm of the Military (Not civilian Government however (except Obama can't declare war also)) as Commander in Chief he could order all troops to drop everything and walk out of there now (Of course this would mean leaving equipment behind) But Obama is a coward and lets others including the dismal Republican't Party and the Overlords of the Republican't Party the Corporate Tea Baggers to boss him around.

I guess better late than never eh?

And thats my opinion

Yes! Troops coming home are a good thing. Obama failed to mention that he wanted them to stay, but couldn't get Iraq to give our troops diplomatic immunity. So basically, the Iraqis are sending the Americans home. Great job Mr. President. Mission Occomplished!

someone neglected to read the entire article, or they would have known that the end of 2011 for withdrawal was a deal originally negotiated while bush was still in office. ----- i find it intriguing how people are so eager to give credit or discredit to the person in office at the moment, when what happened may have originated long ago. ----- and then they wonder why some of us are fed up with both parties.

I pray , that the troops have learn how to cook and police . For we will need cooks and police , to man to soup lines .Get ready for the Great Recession II .If not the Great Depression II .Which ever , it will be world wide .

I bet the conservatives wished there were more violence in Iraq just so we can keep our troops there longer. That was the one caveat to extending past 2011. Don't worry tea-baggers, when the true 99% rise up against you, you can send those troops to our own cities.

It never secess' to amaze me how some here can never just say Good job Mr.Obama. No matter what he does he will never get credit for crap! You guys didnt mind making a fortune off these false wars we never should have been in (just so you could skim your way into wealth) but no one says boo to you about your screwups... but you still want to complain about how Obama didnt do this or didnt do that...what about what he DID do?? HUH??? you make me sick with your whining. This man has gotten rid of some of the worlds worst tyrants and no one can say thanks to him for it. Well I will..GOOD JOB Mr. President for doing what others only talked about doing and not blowing hot air while doing it! Nicely done. You got my vote again!

Obama pulls the troops out of Iraq the haters criticize. Obama doesn't pull the troops out of Iraq the haters criticize. Damn it pick a side of the debate. Just admit it it is not about what he does. It is about hating a black man or about not being in power. Bush Sr. was smart enough to know "if you break it you own it". Junior was not! We are not leaving because Obama needs it for reelection. We are leaving because the Iraqi government will not permit us to stay. Maliki can't get a majority in Parliament to agree to any US troops on the ground. We have a treaty that allows us to be there and it is expiring. They don't want to renew. So now it is their mess. The Iranians will start the Iraqi civil war the minute we leave. That is what the Shiite majority wants. The violence will start near the holiday of Ashura (Dec. 5th). If we are lucky it doesn't spread if not it will and we'll either be all in or have $25 a gallon gas.

Great news; my son in law two full tours, says we should never have been there in the first place, thank you Bush and Cheney; now with unemployment so high, put our troops on the damn border; let's see how the Mexican drug cartels stand up to real ,trained fighting solder's; the cartels will still be running when they reach the Guatemalan border; GO ARMY .

Arizonalsapit,

I truly feel sorry for you if that is how you feel about conservatives. Just because someone has a different opinion doesn't mean they are evil or trying to hurt others.

This is good news and I congratulate Obama for sticking with the plan, and I congratulate Bush for (finally) coming up with a workable withdraw plan in Iraq before he left office. Nice job to both presidents!

"Republicrat, Democran: One Party System!" -- Sage Francis

Just say thank you to the vets when you see them.

@Rusty248!!!! Don't you just hate it when you click on the up arrow instead of the reply balloon. I did not mean to vote your comment up.

"The schedule Bush laid out for him"?????

You've got to be joking. God help us all if Dubya was still sitting in that chair.

Thank you to the troops, thank you President Obama. Also, well done on the move to send 100 Green Berets into Africa. Good news day!

Bush and Cheney started the war, HBR moved in on a bide contract, stoled millions of freshly printed US Bills, HBR raped and killed some of our troops, HBR stayed in IRAQ up to the last days of bush's term in office and was gone from IRAQ when Obama took office.

It is just a coincidence that so many HAVE been hurt by the "conservatives"

You can't rewrite the Disgraceful history brought on America by those criminals Bush and Cheney who just happen to have been indicted internationally for crimes against humanity.

Such pride they have bestowed on America.

And I didn't even mention the disgusting reputation that America tortured thousands of innocent people which resulted in over 440+ low level Soldiers and Marines being charged.

Abuse, Rape, Torture and Murder are now part of recent American history thanks to the Republicans.

All you, out there it is CINDY not Sandy Sheehan: ( Sandy is a folk singer) Sheehan (2010) changed her voter registration in California and became a member of the Peace and Freedom Party.

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/San_Francisco%27s_Green_Party_endorses_Cindy_Sheehan_in_bid_against_Speaker_Pelosi

cherrytom if AFTER so many real successes that Obama delivered, if somebody says he did it for political purposes, that is being a bigot to me.

As I said, unlike bush administration that focused on outsourcing national security, Obama focused on getting it done through petraeus. That's leadership whether right wing folks like it or not.

I just hope this pullout is based on advice from military advisors and not political advisors. I am glad they are coming home but I don't want Iraq to be vulnerable to Iran. I am proud of the job our troops did there in Iraq. I just want to say I love our troops and welcome them home.

From my comprehension of the article, ALL the troops are coming home. They were willing to leave a small security force if Iraq would guarantee immunity but Iraq wouldn't so Obama is pulling them all out.

So does this mean that all of that money spent in Iraq will get put to use here in the states???

Or is that wishful thinking?

mdsj ---- sounds to me like the money is only changing venues --- so i guess it won't be used here in the states.

Quick!!! Stuff Solyndra under the bed! Hide wasted $$ on failed economic policies in the closet!! SWEEP NEW WARS in Libya & Africa under the carpet....COLLAPSE ANYTHING THAT REVEALS THE TRUTH...

....MAKE THE ROOM LOOK CLEAN UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTIONS!!!

Thanks, Pres. Obama, well done, again. One by one you are taking out all of the terrorist leaders, leading without being a tyrant, changing the way we go to war in the future. Keeping promises you made and Bush made. Thanks to all of our precious troops, who have sacrificed so much. You make us so proud. Ignore the critics, Mr. Pres., there are many of us who know how hard you are trying and what you face, everyday, in DC. Stay strong, God Bless all.

I love reading the comments of those desperate to blame Obama for everything and anything to sidestep the unbelievable mess created by the Bush administration.

Their tears are so sweet while they scream waving misspelled signs and shove tea bags down their pants.

That's some image they have created for themselves.

well said michelle-1073610 ....two thumbs up : )~

Megalodon, it might help your cause if instead of insulting the President with names, you just pointed out your differences to his issues. Calling names, either side, is a quick way to get your comments collapsed.

wow! amazing how some of you people live each day with such pessimism, fear, hate and judgment. Bringing our troops home, just not good enough...It was not done when you wanted it, when he said it first DOJ, how you wanted it, announced the right way and too close to other victories on the terror war front... and oh yeah we wanted these leaders gone and the freedoms of the innocent citizens who have suffered under their brutality, but now we smart Americans are more scaredy about what might happen "over there" with them gone so maybe we nice smart Americans should have just let all you people continue to suffer until we figure it all out for you and are not afraid anymore and get the right potus in office, since we hate our president and we don't want him to do anything that might be good anyway.

Some of you need a good long conversation with God to get your heart back in right working order. Then ask for Jesus to restore some of that love that he had for you when you were his enemy. These comments above are not a reflection of the Christian country you want to beat others over the head with.

...and yes I am a follower of the teachings of Christ (the word Christian means nothing without actions to back it up), should anyone want to label me the communist, athiest, muslim, socialist, marxist as they do our potus, not that that would stop you... <smh>

May God continue to bless and protect our Country, Military and Leaders.

I'm a staunch opponent to most of what the President stands for socially and economically, but overall he's done well when it comes to military decisions.

Examples:

1. Pursuit of terrorists using drone attacks
2. Policy in Libya (no troops on the ground)
3. Raid killing Bin Laden
4. Bolstered troop presence in Afghanistan
5. Man enough to nix campaign promise to shut Guantanamo

From an opponent, well done Mr. President, well done. I can't vote for you because of your economic policies, but I'm a fan in this area.

And to all the pure Obama haters, yes this was an agreement of President Bush's, but President Obama carried it through. Give the man credit.

It is sad when it becomes major news and much praise when the President of the United States obeys the law and lives up to a law past in 2008.

Given we have a new multi-billion dollar embassy there...

According to internation law, an embassy is not Iraqi territory. Any forces placed on an embassy or consulate location are on United States territory.

justonegy

Compared to lying to the public about WMDs, two wars off budget, Norquist and selling out the country to the special interest groups while people loose jobs, destroying education, health care, anti women policies, general indifference to the needs of the working class and greed as belief system, Obama looks like the next coming of Christ.

Megalodon, blaming the unemployed and the homeless squarely on the shoulders of a one-term president is ludicrous. Maybe you should look at the foreign policy of the last sixty years coupled with large corporations taking their business overseas, then you may paint a bigger picture. And now, Pax Americana is costing us more than we want to pay. Plus, I always wonder when any American solely blames or congratulates a president for any failure or success. Maybe we should abolish our republic so we can blame ONE person. That way, we can officially stop thinking for ourselves. Good day.

Why are comments about the 'as promised' part getting collapsed? If you're going to tout his accomplishments, you could at least acknowledge the failures.

Bringing them home for the holidays, just to send them out again in January for Pakistan and Iran. Yup, good ole warmongering Presidents to drive our economy off a cliff.

I am glad the troops are coming home. They fought well and bravely and clearly won the shooting part of the war. A dictator is gone. Now, I just hope some permanent good comes of this. Could be a successful democracy. Could be the next anti-american militant shiite regime. In which case, I guess they will be back, and perhaps next time they wont stop at the Iranian border...

So many hypocrites on here. Guy sticks with the timetable pulls the troops out on time per a years long agreement with the host country, and yet some of you still have jump on here and bitch about it. "OMG he's only doing it for the re-election propaganda" yea and I suppose the Libyans only killed Daffy to help Obama get re-elected too.

Accept the fact that Obama handles foreign policy issues decently and move on. Go back to bitching about the economy where things are not going so great.

Megaladon - why would you call our president an oreo clown. What makes you so much better. You can't even make a comment without showing how idiotic you really are. I have read your comments and they appear to come from a person without any kind of class or education. Your pathetic rants only proves what a sad little man you must be. Grow a pair you pathetic little whiner. You worthless unamerican S.O.B.

Now answer me this: Why the hell is he being hailed like a king for sitting at the white house signing papers and answering multiple choice questions that any regular joe could do?

Because there are 2 sides to that coin. If you are going to bitch and whine about all the bad things during his presidency he's being blamed for, unless you are a hypocrite, you have to give him credit for the good things also.

By your logic, Obama can't be blamed for the economy problems, you'd be forced to blame the Treasury secretary or the Federal Reserve chairman. Use your brain next time. Your parents paid enough for it.

Just another campaign promised fulfilled!

@megalodon, somebody made a mistake by teaching you to write. Good bye. Not interested in a conversation with you.

AndyBlue-674311

Both Parties Profitted. Both Parties signed on for the Imperialistic Invasion. But as the full metal jacket anti Obama folks generally chant, it was W Bush's War, NOW it is Obama's.

To his credit, President Obama is Ending it. I know we will always have some forces there, but it is not numbering in the tens or hundreds of thousands anymore. Whether this is a brilliant, albeit not unexpected, campaign ploy or not, President Obama will go down in History as Having Ended what President George W Bush started!

Period.

Other than that, I have to agree with most of your points if pointed at BOTH PARTIES.

I love reading the comments of those desperate to blame Obama for everything and anything to sidestep the unbelievable mess created by the Bush administration.

Then you shall be granted continued joy, because they are going to keep on coming en masse! Myself? I'm tired of ALL the one-sided blame and Partisan Lies.

The actual Facts are bad enough..

Peace, AT LAST!!! ( at least in regards to major forward US combat forces on the ground in Iraq...)

Afghanistan and GITMO Next!!

Army,

I served 26 years on active duty, and I disapprove of disrepectful comments toward any president, past or present. Megalodon is a hatful troll. He never posts anything of substance. He's one of those "always right" flame and bash types who doesn't want conversation, he just amuses himself by baiting people into arguments and then insults them. The way to win his game is not to play, as his posts are not worth reading. I have won the argument with him; the ignore function works wonders.

Lots of people comment just on the headlines. BO was going AGAINST the treaty signed under Bush to leave by this year by wanting to leave thoussands still in IRAQ. Not getting prosecutoriol immunity by the Iraqi govt is the only reason they are coming home.

The cost there will go up not down. All the security details for our people their not leaving (contractors, liasons, embassy people, etc) will now have to be done through private security people at 6 or 7 the cost per person than what our soldiers made.

So what exactly did Obama do here? Besides some big press release that tries to take credit for doing something. All he did was go by the withdrawl parameters set forth years ago.

Oh my goodness yes... Obama did it all by himself. You people are so deluded and enamored with this divisive figure... I mean do you make out with his picture? Do you hold him accountable for anything? Will you ever stop repeating political talking point nonsense? The democratic party divided us over Iraq for political purposes. You are all so driven by your hatred you can't see past your blood shot eyes. Try some truth...Jenifer if budget is so important to you that you must bash an administration out of power for 3.5 years then you should be very down on Obama. In 2007 the deficit was a little over $155 Billion with the2 wars you cry about. Obama has has 1 active front in Afghanistan yet the deficit is $1.4 trillion and the debt is $14 trillion. So why aren't you criticizing Obama? What in the hell is he spending all that money on? He could fund 8 wars. Your an unreliable ideologuethat does not care about facts. It's all Bush lied blah blah blah...Haliburton blah blah blah...Big oil blah blah blah

well said Chris.

and Nick55, but posting comments drunk is so much fun, who wants to make sense these days...Congress stopped a long time ago. :) ...and about the God thing, I let Him deal with you directly on that! (bottoms up)

army,

Good point. It's getting tiring listening to megalodon try to insult others without hearing why he thinks others are wrong. Megalodon, why don't you try telling us what truth you see for a change rather than just take cheap shots at others? Do you actually have something you believe in other than putting others down?

Megalodon,

Your rants are starting to sound Loughneresque. I hope the feds are keeping tabs on you..lol

Halleluja! Yippee....Yahooo...Wonderful....Marveleous....It is about time!

I am so Happy the Iraqis decided to not give immunity to our troops so that our troops may finally come home! I am extremely tired of spending our hard borrowed tax dollars over in Iraq. I would hope we pull out quickly from Afghanistan. I am not saying lay off the soldiers. Put them on the border or rebuilding the USA infrastructure.

I want to Thank President Bush for whatever he signed to get us out of that Hell hole. I want to Thank President Obama for whatever he signed to get us out of that Hell hole. Please no more wars in my lifetime. If we are attacked by troops NUKE them. If we are attacked by terrorists...assasinate them. No more rebuilding foreign countries.

While we are at it...let's bring our troops home from about 80% of ALL foreign soil!

The American withdrawal by the end of 2011 was sealed in a deal between the two countries when George W. Bush was president.

Glad this was done.

Why is Gitmo still open? Obama promised to close Gitmo ASAP if elected. Funny how the media and everyone else forgot about Gitmo now that Obama is in office.

To refresh everyone's memory, Bush took a beating when he was in office about Gitmo.

Bodene3062

4400 dead over manufactured lies of WMD....

Ummm, the biggest fabrication since G. Wells "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. They had WMDs

...too bad you can't ask the thousands of dead Kurds.

ONE MORE REASON OBAMA HAS TO GO. ELECTED ON LIES.

Is Megalodon-358694 on again without taking his meds? Geeze.... He's gotten out of his room again and into the psychiatric ward office onto the PC.

That's right, keep collapsing comments that interfere with your perfect picture. We don't need negativity - after all, everything's so great in America that there should be no criticism whatsoever. Everyone has a job, nobody's getting foreclosed, no one's starving, taxes are extremely low (if there at all) why do we still have people criticizing? It makes no sense to me! Everyone's life is so perfect that we need to collapse comments to avoid reading anything that's imperfect and doesn't make obama look like jesus.

Many times I read how Obama only kept to a promise that was made by George Bush for withdrawal. Ok, I'll give them that but at the same time I would also like to remind them that their candidate for President in 2008 elections, John MaCain was preaching that he believed the troops would be in Iraq for up to the next 100 years so I highly doubt that the republicans actually meant to adhere to George Bush's time line for withdrawal.

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

Paris -

Just one question.. Before I have god take care of me directly, am I expecting the christian god? or the muslim god? or the hindu god? or Zues perhaps? Poseidon?

I mean the list could go on and on.. I just want to know for sure who will be addressing me directly. and yes, bottoms up

now, all these troops need to come home to is.... jobs. lets see.... where did the jobs get stashed at for safe keeping?

Washington probably needs all the national guard troops over there back home so they can use them on all the protesters here.

Now we get to see the unemployment numbers really rise.

Just in time to hand it all over to Iran.

In the end, everything we did there will be for naught. Iran will benefit and become ever more emboldened and that much closer to Israel.

We will be fighting there again within 5 years. Obama will be gone and his legacy of weakness will propel us into a broader regional conflict not only with Iran, but Egypt, Libya and Syria as well.

Israel will be forced to defend itself with it's nuclear arsenal because they can no longer rely on us for support. Obama pulled that carpet out from under them right from the start.

So thank you Mr. Obama for bringing all of the troops home. While they may appreciate it in the short term, their long term prospects for remaining at home are greatly diminished thanks to your myopic vision.

"All US Forces are mandated to withdraw from Iraqi territory by 31 December 2011 under the terms of a bilateral agreement signed in 2008."

Unless I'm mistaken, Bush was still President in 2008 and he negotiated that agreement, but Obama will take all of the bows.

Megalodon-358694 You are a great example of those who make up the Tea Party and a great rep for the republican party. Do you disagree?

Kudos!

Who's worried NOW about this Commander in Chief receiving a "3 a.m. phone call"?

Just one more example of following in the footsteps of Bush.

At least Obama's didn't 'CHANGE' Bush's agreement to withdraw all troops by the end of 2011.

Let's see now;

GITMO - No change from Bush's policies.

Patriot Act - No change from Bush's policies.

Bush Tax Cuts - No change from Bush's policies.

Drone strikes - No change from Bush's policies.

And the list goes on, and on, and on.

The funny about this is that Obama actually tried to 'change' the Bush treaty to remove all of our troops, but the Iraqis wouldn't agree with it. We should give credit where it's due - to Bush and the Iraqis.

So you dislike the Bush policies too.

don97524 "Who's worried NOW about this Commander in Chief receiving a "3 a.m. phone call"?"

About 60% of Americans.

If this would have been politically motivated, President Obama could have come up with any number of reasons to have made this happen much closer to the 2012 elections.

The bottom line is he would rather have them home with their families for the Holidays than play a political card.

Thank you, Mr. President,

Thank you, all the service members, may you have many happy holidays!

AndyBlue-674311

Megalodon-358694 You are a great example of those who make up the Tea Party and a great rep for the republican party. Do you disagree?

Kudos!

sure if you mean by living my life on as much of the facts, maybe i would. idont think someone holding a distinguished seat in the WH should be full of sh!t, like this one has been either. nor do i believe in taking credit for something i didnt do. so if that would make a good rep member then i guess i am it. better than believing in lies, kissing someone's a$$ that doesnt even come close to deserving it, that i would assume is something for the democrat worshipers?

btw, why is it when someone askes to see proof, people like yourself have none? you just blither on with little quips, and call names and collapse comments? truth must hurt a lot for you and your "ilk" huh?

Who's worried NOW about this Commander in Chief receiving a "3 a.m. phone call"?

I am. So far he has done nothing but piggyback on the policies set forth by Bush.

He campaigned against them, promised he would change them, but in the end, realized they were the correct policies and kept them.

Unfortunately, those policies were set in motion years ago and have become rigid over time.

Inflexibility due to a lack of leadership has lead us this far, but times and situations change. Thus far, Obama has done nothing original. So while his successes can be argued to have come from his predecessors policies, we have yet to see what he would have done or will do.

Nick55, lol, I am going to go out on a limb and say "the King of kings, Lord of lords and God of gods". Now I know that is a real humdinger, but may be interesting to do a little research see what you find or even who you find that might be.

Or we can all just wait and know for sure on the other side as the time comes. In the meantime...yes, you know...Bottoms up :)

The bottom line is he would rather have them home with their families for the Holidays than play a political card.

You actually think bringing them home for the holidays was not politically motivated?

As a retired disabled veteran, I can assure you that you will see him mention how he brought the troops home for the holidays on at least one campaign stop.

THAT makes it a political move.

Megalodon "Misinformed, Believe Anything, Idiot Brigade." I suppose your proud of being all of those? You seem to have forgotten, your being, "closed minded, fox viewer, limpball ditto head and megalomaniac. So sorry for you! Seek professional help.

Well done former President Bush, Obama stuck to your time line for troop withdrawal. The war accomplished what was intended, destabilizing regimes in the middle east and removing Saddam from power.

Everything the President, every President, does is political. Everything. There is nothing wrong with that and that does not mean it is a bad thing, in fact, this is a great thing.

Bunch of Political Hacks... 5000 are dead! Mostly kids.. Honestly some of you have no shame.. These guys died for Politics in the first damn place, who the hell cares who brings them home, just get them home.

I hope Dick Cheney and every other Politician who voted for this rots in hell, right next to Saddam, you guys are one in the same!!

Bunch of Political Hacks... 5000 are dead! Mostly kids.. Honestly some of you have no shame.. These guys died for Politics in the first damn place, who the hell cares who brings them home, just get them home.

In the same time frame, we have lost more due to car accidents. Therefore, it is statistically safer to have been in Iraq/Afghanistan than driving on the roads in the US.

Megalodon-358694, I don't believe you read my first post.... 1.12 the second one was a joke because you tend to let the libs wind you up. I don't need proof of anything and I don't need to prove anything... My comment is the truth(the first one). Calm down.. For the most part we're on the same side... I just believe in staying on the lane when I bowl and not going to the gutter to the right or the left. Peace brother and forgive me if I offended you... Somehow I thought you had read other posts of mine and somehow I thought you had a sense of humor.

@PJ1795048

Well guess I am a bigot. This phony is only doing this because his numbers are in the toilet. Lets get a few things straight:

1. As a Vietnam Vet I am thrilled our troops are coming home. However, do not replace speed forsafety. Make sure that our folks can get out of there in a safe manner.

2. Obama had NOTHING to do with the killing of Osama. That was done by the brave members of Seal Team 6. Obama was tucked safely in his bed surrounded by security. He was not out there in any danger. It easy to take credit for the acts of others.

3. The US supplied Air power in Libya as part of NATO. Obama is even trying to take credit for the killing of Momar.

This so called leader, is great at taking credit for others bravery.

If this country is dumb enough to re-elect this fool, then God help us.

This was a non-announcement. We already knew this. What Obama meant to say is: "I want to come out and tell you what you already knew because I needed another distraction thanks to my fellow democrats that voted down more of my "Jobs" (misnomer if there ever was one) Bill.

Hey Gaff a minute Joe, I guess the demnocrats are for more murder, rape, and theft too.

Really - I have no words to describe the ridiculousness of your comment. If I was you I would stay off the road, Irony and karma are not kind things..

Tired of hearing how Obama is taking credit for killing Bin Laden...ugh, remember Bush flew to aircraft carrier and claimed "Mission Accomplished" right after Saddam was captured. If Obama had nothing to do with killing Bin Laden then Bush had nothing to do with Saddam. Both situations were accomplished by military personnel. Tired of hearing how this withdrawl was Bush's plan. Do you guys know that Bush signed that treaty 40 days before he left office? Sounds like another President of my lifetime...oh that's right...Jimmy Carter negotiated the release of the Iran hostages, but Reagan got credit since they were released on the day of his inauguration! Tired of hearing how the troops are coming home to no jobs. Ugh, they are in the military. THAT IS THEIR JOB AS IT WAS ONCE MINE! I have seen more bs from the Republican side of the aisle than the other. As a person who has never voted, I am being swayed more and more to the Democratic side regardless what Herman Cain says about me being "brainwashed"!

Political expediency aside, it's high time this administration has the courage to stop the hemorrhaging of the unconscionable cost of this war.

The collapse of comments out here is a clear indication that the freedom of speach is being stifled. Although there are some that arent necessary, there are many that are collapsed due to the opinions of the poster. I have seen many posts on this vine that offer no value but since they are pro obama they are being left alone. Do not think for one second that this nazi tactic is going to prevent people from speaking thier minds. The liberals used scare tactics during the first obama election by accusing people of being "haters" or "racists". Now that those tactics are over used and no longer a threat, they are trying to give credit to obama for things he doesn't deserve the credit for. All for his re-direction campain. I will be happy to see our soldiers home from iraq when they are indeed home. I will give them all a "job well done" and offer my eternal gratitude for all that they sacrificed for us, as I have done to all the veterans I have ever met. The only thing obama will get from me is the same thing he will get from the majority of the voting Americans next fall. His pink slip and his notice to vacate our white house. God bless our troops, and I hope god will bless this country.

Bite: I hope god will bless this country.

There is no reason that "god" should bless this country over any other country. She does not play favorites among her children.

and remember, it never crossed mr. cantor's mind to tell mr. bush that if he wanted to play a real life game of risk, that he would need to offset the costs with cuts somewhere else.

but if the black guy wants funds for earthquake and hurricane victims? nope. cant have it without shutting down schools and hospitals and police or fire stations somewhere else.

corsair

RE: Your #1.148

Could you possibly act any more petty and small? President Obama gave complete credit to the Navy Seals for their actions. He actually did make the decision on the mission, and it was not an easy call. He made the announcement and then went back to work. No parades ..... no "Mission Accomplished" banners.

President Obama is NOT taking credit for any assassinations in Libya. He said that we supported the Libyan people ..... which is exactly what we did. He also gave credit to the NATO allies.

Your extreme partisanship masquerades as ignorance. If your comment does not reflect ignorance you are certainly guilty of manufacturing facts for your own purposes. What is the term for that behavior?

You have completely misunderstood the situation and have the audacity to call the President a fool. Perhaps you didn't get the memo. Glenn Beck is NOT a journalist. That stuff you hear from him ....... not true.

My read on this:

1. The US made an ultimatum with Iraq that no US soldiers would be tried if accused by them for any crimes. Iraq balked, so the US is walking.

2. The Kurds are having increasing conflicts with Turkey, potentially exposing the US to another conflict in the same country. We aren't really talking to Turkey now so it would be difficult to deal with and could keep us there much longer.

3. The new Iraqi government may actually feel that they are ready to take over. We may have cut a few defense contractor deals as part of our departure so that they will be stocked up.

4. Ending the war in Iraq will free up troops for use elsewhere. You'll note that the US gave Pakistan notice that they can't keep hiding terrorists, so it's reasonable to suggest that we might escalate our actions in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Similarly, we are using our military in Africa (quietly) so we'll need some resources for that. Finally, we are turning up the heat here in the US with more economic problems, growing protests and a growing potential for riots. It would better serve us to have our National Guard troops home to react to our own situations as necessary. I think our own country could get far worse pretty quickly (1960's violence or far worse).

5. It's good press- something that the President despirately needs right about now.

6. It cuts our costs militarily. If the President has any wish of actually cutting $1 trillion from the budget, this is a requirement.

Do I want our troops home, yes. Am I worried about the growing conflicts around Iraq, Syria, Israel and the Palestinians, Egypt, and our buddies in Iran, big yes. I wouldn't be surprised if we were to be called back into action in that region within 5 years.

don97524 they are repeating the exact same thing the Fox news pundits said just earlier.

The Fox pundits say that it is up to the viewer to determine what is fact and what is not.

This is considered a legitimate news organization?

mozzie: I'm not asking for favorites. If I were, I would only be asking for myself. I am asking for our country, not as a favorite, but because we are in desperate need of it as is the rest of the world.

Biteme, you obviously do not understand how freedom of speech works. Freedom of speech means that you are free to say whatever you want and you can't be arrested for it.

That's it.

It doesn't mean people have to like it. It doesn't mean people can't react to it. And it doesn't mean that a privately owned message board cannot censor some comments. You don't like it? Go to another site. Fox News won't censor your words, yet you chose to come here. Hmm...

marklepew: I couldn't "ignore this author" fast enough after a partial reading of your nauseating and completely disrespectful remarks.

Bite: Duly noted.

Awesome. President Obama is doing a fantastic job once again. Now if we can get rid of the teanuts and repubes this election then this country will start to flourish again too. Yes, this is awesome news. Thank God that Obama was elected as president and not McCain, had it been McCain we'd be in three more wars by now and pennyless stand in soup lines enbracing a real bad depression again wait on a bowl of Ramen noodles with a little broth. Thank you, thank you, thank you President Obama.

You know, reading through this thread, this is my conclusion:

If Obama walked on water, some would say "Hah! He can't swim!"

If he cured cancer, some would say he was responsible for all the cancer deaths that happened before he cured it.

Some people are just plain against Obama no matter what.

What really bothers me is that this group is willing to attack the President of the United States, who is the duly elected leader of our country, relentlessly, and they will twist anything to find a way to go after him. Fine if you disagree with him, but really, to undermine him (and by extension the USA) on the world stage as some in Washington do is simply unforgivable.

madd-dawg: I am fully aware of how freedom of speech works. I guess I should have used the word "censorship" instead? I guess that since peoples opinions are being banished from a public forum then "censorship" would be more appropriate than "freedom of speach". Either way, people views and opinions are being stifled and thier "freedom of speach" is being "censored". As for going to another site, if you dont like what I say then dont read it. But dont think for a second that I should go to another site. I will speak my mind wherever I choose. Are you trying to deny my "freedom of speach" or are you trying to just "censor" me?

corrections on above post- pennyless standing in soup lines embracing a real bad depression. (Sorry about that.)

WMG-21

From the article:

"The American withdrawal by the end of 2011 was sealed in a deal between the two countries when George W. Bush was president."

Thank-you president Obama for at least keeping THIS promise.

irrationalexuberance said:

"I was worried as you didn't keep your campaign promise of October 2008 that you would get all troops out of Iraq within 16 months of becoming president."

As a military Vet. of Viet Nam and the first Gulf War, there is nothing more comforting than coming 'home'. Trust me!

But, only if the job is done, if not, then everything was in vain.

I've seen too much horror. I'd fight to the end, if need be.

I hope You can appreciate my point of view.

Great election year move. Iraq has no chance. Let's hope the troops aren't diverted to Cantwinistan!

Obama take credit for bring the troops back to home

Obama take credit for killing Osama

Obama take credit for killing Mohamar Qadafi

Obama don't take credit for 1.4 trillion dollars in debt

Obama don't take credit for maintain 9 % of unemployment

Obama don't take credit for downgrade our score of S&P

Obama don't take credit for Solyndra.

Obama don't take credit for create jobs in Finland , financing an electric car company when we need the jobs here

mmmmmmmmmmm

Why did Obama continue the war in Iraq for years while he was president when he could have ended at any time? When he ran he said he would end the war immediately if elected, why didn't he?

Why has he continued the war in Afghanistan for years while he is president when he could end it at any time?

Why did he enter America into another war in Libya, spending over a billion of our dollars in killing and destroying property, money that could have been spent in America on our needs?

Why is he now sending more American troops into war in Africa?

gary

If you choose to discuss current affairs it's a good idea to know current affairs.

President Obama stuck with both his own promises (to remove combat troops within 16 months and remove all troops by the end of 2011) and with the agreement that Bush made with Iraq. What would your comments have been if President Obama had not honored this country's promise?

The continued combat troops in Afghanistan reflect the current situation in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. You may also recall that Bush refused to go after Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and John McCain said that he would not pursue Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. Aren't you glad President Obama did not listen to them?

We supported the Libyan people in Libya, who were being slaughtered by their leadership, and the Republican would not have allowed President Obama to spend that billion dollars on anything useful anyway. They oppose jobs but are happy to spend money looking into your bedroom.

He is not sending "troops" into Africa. He is sending 100 non-combat advisors.

Your obvious partisanship does not justify your bending of the truth.

Don -- nice defense of war. I expected Obama was opposed to war and when he had the power to end them would do so. Seems like a weak argument to say the man who lambasted Bush over and over for the war then had to honor some agreement Bush made to continue the war. If Bush had agreed to continue the war for 8 years I guess you would pat Obama on the back for honoring that agreement?

You offer no defense of his continuance of the war in Afghanistan. Your comment could be used to defend any war.

We had no business in waging war in Libya. Obama chose to enter a civil war and kill and destroy. Both sides were Libyans , we just chose to kill one side. I guess you will support him in entering any civil war across the world because one side is going to kill the other side.

Your comment about troops in Africa is reminiscent of what our government told us in the Viet Nam war. They weren't troops, they were simply advisers. I well remember how that lie worked out.

It's your obvious partisanship that glaringly demonstrates you will support Obama no matter how many lies he tells us and no matter how many wars he enters. You probably even believe he should keep that Nobel Peace Prize, right?

Actually, Gary, I think you will find that he said he would bring the combat troops home within 18 months, which is when he started to bring them home I think.

Regarding Afghanistan, he never promised to end that war during the campaign. He stated that we needed to ramp up that effort and get the job done, which he has also followed through on. You can look it up.

The so-called war in Libya was a military effort, for sure, but do you really believe it to be a "war"? Critics attacked him for not doing enough quick enough there. He elected to follow a careful course, with allies taking the lead and us providing support to those engaged in taking out a tyrant who was a legitimate killer of Americans (unlike Saddaam Hussein who specialized in killing his own people and Iranis).

A hundred soldiers as advisors in Central Africa hardly qualifies as "war in Africa." We've got that many soldiers or more in our embassy in London I'd guess.

Gary, you got to be one of the biggest partisan person trying to argue like a my teenager... lol. You're equating our hundreds of troops being sent to Africa to help capture a denounced ex-dictator who is committing genocide to a major military movement...

You need to actual read independently and stop being ignorant.

Obama did it for the election. He is a couple of years late for keeping his word, and never really indicated any concerns with breaking his word once elected. This is no more than political hay from him.

I'm glad they are coming home.

Biteme - Oh woe is me. The nasty people are collapsing posts. Is it to difficult to click on + to read the post? Feeling better now Bite?

No, what I find pathetic are the posters that are so butt hurt over Obama doing something positive, they'll even collapse a comment as innocent as

Right on schedule. Well done.

That's what's truly sad. He shouldn't have to click it to read it. People should be adult enough to leave it alone. I just wish Newsvine gave you the option to view who reports it. So we could all point and laugh.

Chris - I agree its childish to collapse but both sides do it. If your unhappy with "HOW IT IS" move on to some other site. The choice is all yours.

If your unhappy with "HOW IT IS" move on to some other site. The choice is all yours.

Ah so instead of speaking up about something that has become increasingly annoying, you would rather we just lower our heads and go someplace else like little sheep? Sorry pal, but I'm not one of those lambs who is satisfied with the status quo of 'HOW IT IS'.

If you happen to be one of them, my advice is to step aside, cause I aim to misbehave.

Chris - Good for you! Stay or go is your choice but like I said both sides do it. Get over it. Getting P O'd or whining won't change anything.

No personal attacks.

i can see the Nobama the Clown drools are out in force today... too bad they cant comprehend what they read, lol.

Megalodon-358694, stop grenade trolling please.

You are suspended for a week.

so... when people insist on calling others tea baggers, and so on, where is the difference?

so... when people insist on calling others tea baggers, and so on, where is the difference?

Tea Baggers, and I refrain from implementing the term, named themselves.

Perhaps that?

Sally

Nice try Larry, you are the one sounding desperate.

Eric-913730, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.

Above all else, respect others. Address issues and arguments and refrain from making personal attacks.

telling someone they sound deparate is a personal attack? wow, what planet did i just get off on?

so it isnt just Mega getting banned for nothing is it? well, if we can speak our mind to eachother, might as well make a personal comment to the article, and forget about interacting with the rest of the group.

but being banned for a week for making a general comment? that is not against the CoH/CoC, not from where i am sitting is kind of BS. being banned for a day telling someone they are the ones sounding desparate? nothing personal moderator... but maybe updating the CoC/CoH so we all have the same copy?

Marklepew: I did note your clarification. The quotation marks (above) are useful in identifying others' remarks.

Agree !

Very good news!

Excellent!

I wish I could be happy over something ending, finally, that should have never happened in the first place. A war that's done its damage in this country by draining it of resources that supported a healthy economy.

If we could only liberate ourselves from the damage done to this country as a result of this war. It's hard to be happy from that standpoint and seeing leaders making noises about Iran and Pakistan and Syria.

very very good,this plan was negotiated by Bush but hard to give him credit due to the fact it was a huge mistake to go to war supported by Democrats and republicans. Obama deserves credit for following through on withdrawal,now lets get the hell out of Afghanistan! Bush and Hillary and the rest of the hawks and 70% of the american people supported the Iraq war it is clear now it was a HUGE MISTAKE that should not be repeated. NO MORE WARS!!

Can you tell me why until yesterday the Obama admin was still negotiating for troops to stay in Iraq? And was unable to get what he wanted so now he's a ero?

LOL the world is uside down. Hw failed to get the contracts and so he is hero. Ok lol

Now all we need is Iran filling in the void and taking over American bases built in Iraq.

Going back soon is my bet.

Peace lover - agreed. you seem rational enough. its just unfortunate that while this is being touted, the forces being sent to Uganda are slipped under the carpet.

Troops pulling out! Great news. Congress pulling their heads out. Priceless.

It will be even greater news when obama announces that all the $$$ funneled into the Iraq, Libyan, Egyptian conflicts will now go toward paying down our massive debt.

Amen.

3rdParty. We were talking to Iraq about maybe leaving some troops in Iraq, which they requested. But they would not sway from their no immunity thing. So We said no to the offer. It was not our idea to leave more troops there. It was at the Iraqi request that we even considered it.

When Clinton handed the reigns over to George W. Bush, the US had a budget SURPLUS and an unparalleled time of prosperity. Then Bush did tax cuts across the board, failed to stop the worst terrorist attack in US history, started two wars that accomplished very little except wasting 2 Trillion dollars, 6000 troops, and 100,000 civilians, and then led the country into the Great Recession, and then spent another trillions dollars on the bailout to fix it. Result - a country so far in debt and weakened it could take decades to fix.

However, the Republican campaign machine is in full gear, blaming Obama for how screwed up this country is. People who were predisposed to disliking Obama to begin with (mostly because he is black) are now asking for his head on a platter, and everyone who believed his superman rhetoric about hope and change are disappointed in him now. (Not sure what they were expecting - he is a politician who overpromises to get elected and then underdelivers, like everyone else.)

So, who are you going to vote for next? The same man who promised hope and change but couldnt deliever, or another person who will also promise hope and change (the Republican kind) but cannot deliver?

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

There none so blind as those who can see but can not see. I will wait and see what happens here before I cheer. This is an election year and it does not look good for BO and he will what ever he has to, to get re-elected as will any one else. He is trying to re-invent himself and I don't think it will work. Yes I am very glad the troops are coming home but that is only one group. Sorry BO people I can not get behind someone who is bringing our country down. At this point it does not matter the who, the why, or the what it is the timing and it took 3 years and an up coming election to do it. Shame, shame it should not have been this way at all. As always just my opinion.

Stock, you're kidding, right? Do you really believe the current Republican lineup is a threat to Obama? Out of 300 million this is the best they can find?

Agree! it's perfect timing. Incredible and just in time for Christmas an election. Now what are we gonna do about America's deeply unpopular and costly president?

Troops out of IRAQ is good news. A good Political ploy also. The article states the soldiers will be home for the Holidays. I hope none get diverted to Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, etc. When these soldiers come home I imagine the Military downsizing will begin. Many of these soldiers will become unemployed and in need of Medical/Mental attention. We sure don't want to forget our youngins just because they come home. You cannot just turn off a switch and life is rosy. Thank you to all our Veterans. Come home safe.

They'll certainly be homeless in time for Easter. If they make it back from the sharp end, they will be experiencing life at the other end.

This is good news.

I'm grateful that President G. W. Bush stepped up and stomped Saddam into the ground. And I'm grateful for the outstanding job our men and women in uniform did in that country.

It's amazing how our current President pats himself on the back for something done by his predecessor. Here's a story from 2008:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-12-14-bush-iraq_N.htm

It was in a reply in collapsed #1 posted by jerry l-1335133.

There are other stories floating around the Net that indicate that we were trying to negotiate keeping some troops there; but the Iraqi government insisted that we withdraw by the timeline of the treaty that Bush signed. What is the truth? Isn't that what news reporters are supposed to be delivering to us?

Why are we using "Contractors" to protect our diplomats after the troop withdrawal? We normally have US Marines staffing our embassies, why are we doing something different here?

This is great news,, finally. And we should pull out of the disaster called Afghanistan.

We are not leaving Iraq as Obama promised, we are being asked/demanded to leave by the Iraqis, who have lost hundreds of thousands in this immoral mess based upon lies by Bush/Cheney.

____________________________________________________

Barack Obama Promise to End War

"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank. " - Barack Obama Campaign Promise - October 27, 2007

the reason we are billions in debt is because of this war. it started a slide that we have'nt recovered from. greed is always the creed when it comes to who is patriotic or not havent you noticed? listen to fox news if you think i am making this up. i support our troops who willing went to war but i dont support the men who sent them. bring them all home i dont care who get's credit for it.

Those billions, or trillions, are not gone, just removed from general circulation. They are amassed into the business capital and offshore banks and Mansions/estates/Holdings of the War Profiteers' Corporations . And they are horded away from the US Economy.

But don't worry. When you see the proliferation of megamillion dollar megayachts packed into the waterways around Fort Lauderdale, you know that Corporate Welfare in the United States and World is still Alive And Well. Even if they are all flagged in the Cayman Islands...

Go MNCs and the MIC!

It's Good to Be the King(s)! You can get away with Murder!!

And that is only what you see...

Well, considering he doesn't have to deal with Congress to bring the troops home, that one is much easier.

Now bring all troops home. And oh, by the way, fix the economy!

#4 - Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:45 PM EDT

And by the way cut my taxes and give wall street everything it wants too.

Lets see...he wanted to reform student loans - check. He wanted health care reform -check. Prevented a global great depression - check. He said he would get bin Laden - check. He wanted Gaddafi - check. Al Qaeda marginalized - check. DADT - check. And now the end of this mistake - check! And virtually every single one of these accomplishments has been done in the face of a unified opposition committed to one goal - preventing our President from doing what huge majorities in this country want him to do. Rush and McConnell are both on record multiple times declaring that their one goal is to make sure this president fails. 60-75% of Americans support the Dem jobs bills, yet 100% of GOP Senators voted no. Who are they representing besides Wall Street hedge fund billionaires? The GOP has become the party of economic treason. Deliberately trying to make the economy bad for political gains. Shame on them. And congratulations to our President for rising above it all and remaining steadfast to his core values and convictions. And once GOP numbers in bot the House and Senate are reduced, he can go about completing the task of fixing this economy once and for all!

Do you mean the way it was fixed after passage of the 2009 stimulus bill and of course...the 2010 summer of recovery?

Actually, if you look at the facts, the unemployment rate stopped growing by half a percent a month, indicating the stimulus package DID help. There is nothing that can undo 8 years of damage overnight, only the truly ignorant believe that. It will still take 10 to 15 more years to fully recover.

health care reform? illegal. prevented a global depression? really? i assume you are going off the wh's famous 'jobs created or saved' metric which makes no sense, right? oh, and btw - world economic collapse still not averted. and you are going to give him credit on libya - bc he did nothing? wow. and i assume you think that this announcement has nothing to do with his re-election bid of the campaigner in chief? this guy is the worst president since carter. his ideas are out of touch with any sort of reality - it would have helped to have someone in the wh that has actually run/owned a private business vs theoretical study from academia. he has no 'huge majorities' supporting him. you are a liar, or you don't know how to do basic subtraction from 100.

and eric, 'obstructing' him from spending us deeper in debt is a good thing.

There's no easy or clear cut fix for the economy. I believe many of voices who theorize that this is the new paradigm. America is a declining military and economic power and if you want to blame one political party for the current situation without holding the other side accountable as well, you aren't interested in an objective or accurate representation of our dilemma.

The stimulus package was working. You are just in denial.

bscol -

500+ Billion to pay for the war (Oh wait that's probably a low estimate)
4,400 American Military Personnel - Lost their lives
THOUSANDS of Innocent Iraqi Civlizians - Lost thier lives
$$$$ To Rebuild Iraq - NOT BEING Spent in the United States to "rebuild this country"

Net Gain for the United States: ???????????

This is good for the Iraqi people in the end, but what did the United States Gain here? That's right, weapons of mass destruction that never existed...

So, ceo-722851, what would have happened to the country without the stimulus bill? What about the TARP bill that George W. Bush signed? These things kept the country's backbone from collapsing--whether they were fair or not.

Try thinking before commenting.

Right on the mark Dave!

bscol

You seem to forget it was Bush and Paulson who presented the bailout just about 3 years ago before the bailout. And if you listen to the majority of economists and not the brainless Tea Parties and Repubs you would know that the bailout actually prevented a much worse recession. If we did not have a F*****G idiot starting two wars with no idea where the funding was for them, we could have avoided a lot of this. And remember as well how well those tax cuts prevented any economic problems (sarcasm).

Spend $850 billion and have nothing to show for it

Bush blew well over a trillion on this war - check

Bail out the big banks - check

BUSH also handled a few bailouts himself, or are you simply having a convenient lapse in memory?

Drive unemployment to an all-time high - check

By the time Clinton left office unemployment was sitting at around 4%. When BUSH left it was at nearly 8%. Maybe you'll want to think again about who drove unemployment to an all time high?

Try to pass a jobs bill that his own party won't even vote for - check

Funny how you conservatives like to play this card when only TWO Democratic senators voted against it. I'd hardly call that unified opposition from the Presidents own party. Again, stop lying and get your facts straight.

fail to pass a budget while democrats have control of the government - check

You really are not very smart are you? If the President did not pass any budgets, explain to me how the government did not shut down ONCE during his term. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Blame the republicans for every failure - check.

You have no right to talk about the blame game. If Republicans were writing history books then the recession would be recorded as starting on Jan. 20, 2009 at 12PM EDT. At least Republicans are being blamed for the stuff they were responsible for.

bscol - Those first two letters in your name are very fitting considering your posts. Stop believing what Palin, Bachmann, and Romney tell you to believe and do some independent research. You might be surprised what you find out. Think for yourself for a change instead of letting the Tea Party do your thinking for you.

Applause from Texas Evil Monkey! Well said!

I'm thinking America will get rid of the obstruction during the next election and give this president a chance to really make progress, just as he has done. I'm wondering where all those jobs are that the cons promised voters before the last election... so, when I hear all these negatives, I just have to feel those who make them are enormously pathetic.

Anyone want to come to Michigan and see how the "stimulus" bill and the jobs bill are working. Yea right.

DigitalNoise -

Ironic innit? If going to war meant dealing w/ Congress, as it's supposed to, maybe their inability to get anything passed would seem like a positive outcome. :D

Obama is no more than a messenger boy when it comes to ending the war(that war). "Stimulus", "Tarp", "bailouts", however one wants to spin the bullsh!t, accomplished nothing. Why were bonuses paid by the theives that received this money? Executive pay raises? Noone, at least not of us common working folk, would have ever known it if most banks and big businesses "failed".

Stay on them, Dave, you're doing great....

Hey Itp: One of these days you will know enough to understand the difference between managing business and leading government...there are few comparisons that stick. Companies' managers are trained to make decisions for the "bottom line", i.e., profits and/or returns for their investors. Government is not in the profit making business...I guess you, at some level, know that, or folks like you wouldn't be screaming about taking over GM for a bit....

Government is there to represent the people...you know, "of the people, by the people, for the people"....and see that our taxpayer dollars are used to protect us, provide for our security, yada, yada.....

What government should do better (that would be our leaders and Congress of both parties) is comb each agency, program and contractor to rid them of fraud, waste, and abuse....then we could well afford to take care of the peoples needs, and have money left over. Here's a recent (this week) example of that: DOD investigation (required by an amendment added to Dodd-Frank bill by Bernie Sanders) admitted to 1.1 TRILLION paid in fraudulent contracts to militarycontractors over the past decade...and guess what? The military turned right around and offered contracts worth Billions to the biggest offenders the very next year, knowing this. That's where we need to insist our Congress put their nose to the grindstone and do what they are being paid to do! And thanks to Republican Obstructionism, (14% approval rating) they're too busy trying to get rid of that black man in the White House to spend time investigating Fraud, waste, and abuse....GET A LIFE!

Justified Defiance. Here is a chart for you to show you how the stimulus worked. Note the decrease in job loss.

Aug 2008: -84,000
Sep 2008: -159,000
Oct 2008: -240,000 <---- Market collapse
Nov 2008: -533,000
Dec 2008: -524,000
Jan 2009: -598,000 <---- Obama inaugurated
Feb 2009: -651,000
Mar 2009: -663,000 <---- ARRA (Stimulus) starts
Apr 2009: -539,000
May 2009: -345,000
Jun 2009: -467,000
Jul 2009: -247,000
Aug 2009: -216,000

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The question to ask Gasman is what would Michigan look like if GM & Chrysler had gone bankrupt.

Verno,

Good post but you should have kept going to show how jobs were being added rather than lost. The Bikini graph

Dave the delusional - Obama was in not in Pakistan with the troops or helping the CIA track leads and he sure wasn't waterboarding terrorists - those are the people that found and killed Osama; Obama and Hillary were busy playing games and paying billions to the Pakistan government who hindered if not directly aided Osama. Obama and the Democrats rammed health-care though even though it never has had even close to majority populous approval and no bipartisan here heck the Democrats didn't and many still don't know what they passed (also can you say Unconstitutional, but hey you'll believe that's a silly old document anyway), you forget in Obama's first year in office Gaddif came to the US stayed in Washington and even met with Obama and they did a nice little photo op for the media, Al Qaeda is still going strong worldwide they just are attacking other countries also now (honestly I think they figure Obama is going more damage then they could) yes several leaders have been killed but Obama is passing on pushing for punishment of homeland terrorists like the muslim that shot up the military base and others that either attacked or were found planning attacks on US citizens, nothing being pushed be his administration. As far as the economy and the jobs bill, Democrats did not vote for the jobs bill also, why because just like Obama they know as it was presented that it would do more harm then good but they can still blame the GOP. The only reason it has much public support is the way the pollsters asked the question, they were first asked if the supported they bill, under 40% yes; then asked if it cost them nothing but cost the rich only , surprise now closer to 60%. There where reason Obama did move to end tax cuts in the past and they are still the same the US already has the second highest tax rate in the world (Japan 1st and they are not in good shape). Thus Democrats and the corporate laws and taxes are encouraging oversea labor and business moves. Also shows how bad and how socialized we already are that we tax the rich more that actual socialist and communist countries.

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

verno - those numbers are jobs lost not current unemployed, it only makes since that at some point the jobs loose would need to start decreasing or at least level out wouldn't it, if the stimulus had worked jobs would have been added not just less jobs lost that the definition of stimulus. The biggest thing to note is the the difference between Oct and Nov 2008 jobs lost, gee what would have caused that, oh wait I know a vote of no confidence in the newly elected government starting with Obama. Big business may be greedy but on average they are smarter then the general public especially when it comes to say business matters. They know that Democrats are not pro business (exceptions being GE, unions, banks you the know their pocket lining business partners) they do not pass laws that encourage companies to grow, at least not with the boarder of the US anyway, they push to tax businesses more to regulate what they can and can't do and now the latest they say which executives stay and which get fired plus which debt holders get paid back and who holds controlling interest (unions - GM). Great job and you all wonder why business are looking to grow and expand? for one if they are not instantly profitable and solvent Obama may fire their CEO appoint his own and take over the company.

Maybe if we're lucky and there aren't to many koolaid swilling idiots next election the GOP will come out with control of all 3 houses and maybe the corporate big wigs will free comfortable enough to slowly start expanding again. If not look for 4 more years (if not more) of little to no improvement.

Realist-3668519 - Here's a reality check for you:

Dave the delusional - Obama was in not in Pakistan with the troops or helping the CIA track leads and he sure wasn't waterboarding terrorists - those are the people that found and killed Osama;

Who is the commander and chief of the United States: Obama. Who gave the order to kill Osama - Obama. Do you honestly think that the CIA or anyone else may have done this without consulting with Obama. Treason comes to my mind if they would have done it. I also seem to recall that Obama gave credit to BUSH on the capture and killing of Osama.

Obama and Hillary were busy playing games and paying billions to the Pakistan government who hindered if not directly aided Osama.

How much federal aid did Pakistan receive during the Bush I years, Clinton Years, Bush 2 Years, and in the Obama years? Seems reasonable without doing the research that Pakistan received more during the Bush years than the Obama years? At least Obama and Hillary are stepping up now and saying to Pakistan, back off. Did you also realize, the area Osama was hiding it, was primarily dominated by Terrorist" sympathizers?

Obama and the Democrats rammed health-care though even though it never has had even close to majority populous approval and no bipartisan here heck the Democrats didn't and many still don't know what they passed (also can you say Unconstitutional, but hey you'll believe that's a silly old document anyway),

Where was the Bush Plan on healthcare? Why did 40+ million americans go without health care during the Bush Administration? What did Bush do to stop drug companies, insurance companies, and lobbyists from jacking up the price of health care in this country. Obama and Congress worked together to come up with an actual plan. Why can't the republicans propose the same thing. They have the house, where is it?

you forget in Obama's first year in office Gaddif came to the US stayed in Washington and even met with Obama and they did a nice little photo op for the media,

You forget that in 2006 - George Bush took Gaddif OFF the world terrorist watch list. Why? Because he paid the $$ to the families of the victims of Pan AM flight 103. Research it and do not pass go, do not collect $200.00

Al Qaeda is still going strong worldwide they just are attacking other countries also now (honestly I think they figure Obama is going more damage then they could) yes several leaders have been killed but Obama is passing on pushing for punishment of homeland terrorists like the muslim that shot up the military base and others that either attacked or were found planning attacks on US citizens, nothing being pushed be his administration.

What exactly should Obama do here? Does he stay with the same kind of Torture that was approved under Bush and Darth Cheney. What do you think goes on in the oval office that we don't hear about everyday? Did Bush also create the department of Homeland Security? Maybe Obama consults with them? Also, seems #1 and #2 in AL Qaeda are gone.

As far as the economy and the jobs bill, Democrats did not vote for the jobs bill also, why because just like Obama they know as it was presented that it would do more harm then good but they can still blame the GOP. The only reason it has much public support is the way the pollsters asked the question, they were first asked if the supported they bill, under 40% yes; then asked if it cost them nothing but cost the rich only , surprise now closer to 60%. There where reason Obama did move to end tax cuts in the past and they are still the same the US already has the second highest tax rate in the world (Japan 1st and they are not in good shape).

The United States DOES NOT have the highest tax rates in the world. Where did you get those facts? I strongly suggest that you evaluate Europe, especially the Nordic countires to see who has the highest tax rates in the world first. Next, Japan's economcy was in decline long before Obama came into play, and don't forget the impacts of the earth quake. Lastly, Job's Jobs Jobs. Obama presented a plan, a long shot probably that he may have known would never pass, without being broke into smaller parts. Where is the Republican Plan?

Thus Democrats and the corporate laws and taxes are encouraging oversea labor and business moves. Also shows how bad and how socialized we already are that we tax the rich more that actual socialist and communist countries.

Nice Try......see previous post.

Celebration for the world terrorist organizations as well.

gasman1-2946438

Anyone want to come to Michigan and see how the "stimulus" bill and the jobs bill are working. Yea right.

My husband and I left Michigan after he was out of work for 9 months. Within a month of being in our new location he was working full time and I was working full time in 6 weeks. Michigan is hurting and I wish I could convince my brothers to leave it behind.

ITALLABOUTTIME - So you don't know if or how much aid Pakistan got going the Bush years, since you don't have numbers may more may less sorry no points - but Bush was not buddy buddy with them like Obama and at the time Osama was still believed to moving around in Iraq yet also. So the Pakistan Elite military is terrorist sympathizers homeland? there training academy is a half mile away and if it was so terrorist friendly why didn't he have more support the seals where on the ground for want about 45 minutes and Osama's buddies did come to help?

Health-care is a priviledge not a right, we are not a socialist country yet. I should have to pay for your choice to smoke or have 10 kids. Your choice you pay your own bills.

Maybe if the global economy was not so bad Gaddif would have been the next Nelson Mandela (see article ">) he too was considered a terrorist in his country now he is a view as a civil rights activist and humanitarian plus Michelle Obama's close personal friend. Gaddif has made some admens for past deeds to get off the terrorist list and was allow to some into the US. Then he is being attacked politically and his life threatened and he attacked back (did not initiate) and he's declared a terrorist again. Note no one really knows who is behind the "freedom fighters" yet and by the video on the internet they are not civilized people by any means.

Geneva convention covers conduct during war not terrorist, so I could care less if we water board these nuts, they do not value human life anyway and it is said no one has ever died by US waterboard, our military waterboards our own elite forces as put of training so they will know what may happen to them if they a captured. Always it was the little people that did the work to find and kill Osama, Obama was just lucky enough to be in office when this occurred

The Republicain jobs bill was submitted before Obama and the Democrats actually got their in writing, ofcourse the media didn't cover that or the fact that the Democrats voted it down without reading it.

Sorry mis-typed I should have clarified that the US has the 2nd highest corporate tax rates but since I was talking business and jobs I thought that was a given.

Sorry there are 100's of posts , clarify which previous post?

Sorry no credit for crappy retort.

Evilmonkey post 4.16 - 2 Democrats spoke out ahead of time that they would not support the bill plus then Harry Reid so he could bring it back up in pieces, that what the liberal media reported, check the rest of the story it never gotten a full vote even from all Democrats the reports that were kept hash said 25-40% of Democrats were not voting for it but would not go on record to the media. That says a lot when they can pass a trillion dollar heath bill without even reading it. Their jobs bill stunk.

There's a lot floating around here, but I would like to mention that the"bank bailout" funds were ALL paid back with interest and the US Government actually made a profit on that deal. So, what's the beef?

Realist - you're so full of crap it's unbelievable. You're using information that is at least a month old. When voting time came only TWO Democratic senators said no (not counting Reid's procedural no). Again a conservative tries to distort the truth to fit in with his backwards and self-serving agenda, and again he FAILS.

After reading some of the comments I have to say no wonder this country is in so much trouble. I live in California, the Mexicans have invaded this entire area, unemployment where I live is 20%. But our liberal government has an answer to that, give them more welfare. Nearly 48% are on welfare here. This used to be a very nice place to live in, it is not like Watts area. As a self employed entrepreneur am thinking about moving, preferably out of this country before it is too late. Go ahead say something nasty, that is all liberals can say anyway. Idiots, morons, no brain, just because we happen to disagree. But if some liberal gets shot, then its like oh let us all live in peace, it is the conservatives who caused the hate. There is unfortunately no more spiteful and hateful party. Really, if you guys would just act normal, you do have some good points to make, it is not like I disagree with everything the liberals are saying.

That says a lot when they can pass a trillion dollar heath bill without even reading it

I am no fan of the Bill as or how passed, but I must say, that is a great attempt at distraction/misinformation.

You could well find a job with these guys writing unfounded nonsense upon which no actual proactive solutions are ever offered! Just continued rhetoric in place of progress or improvement. www.gop.gov/pledge/healthcare

Jobs Jobs Jobs!!!

Bull@!$%#. Like Medicare Part D, it is another Rammed down the Throat Issue...and BOTH PARTIES pull this @!$%# all of the time. So we cannot just pick and choose while blindly ignoring "Our Side" doing in kind and like questionable actions.

Larry, I'm not saying you should agree with it, but to say it's a waste of lives demeans the value of those that died and the good they did over there.

Chris im sorry buddy, but even a lot of the troops over there don't feel they did anything and it wasn't worth it. If you really support our troops, you wouldn't want to send em to die for nothing. What did we accomplish? We overthrew their dictator? Don't you think that's something Iraq should of done? I.E. Libya, Egypt. So what good did we really do?

Chris Rial

Nobody wants to demean the american lives lost and the many who are permamently injured (physically and psychologically). But the truth is, they didn't have to be put in harms way to begin with. I'm glad this BS war is over with.

*Timing couldn't have been more perfect though

Larry isn't demeaning anything. He is saying that something of value was misused and went to waste. The use of the verb "waste" implies that there was value.

I agree 100 percent when you say we should never have sent the troops to Iraq in the first place. Gadhafi was overthrown by the Libyan people without the loss of American lives or billions of taxpayer dollars. It should have been up to the Iraqi people, not George W. Bush, to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Don't get me wrong, if the Iraqi people had started a revolution against Hussein and then asked for U.S and U.N. help as the Libyan people did in their efforts to overthrow Gadhafi I would have been all for it, however that was not the case.

The men and women of our military did their duty and I would not ever demean them or downplay their sacrifices, however that does not mean that I support a president who sent them to invade a sovereign nation, under false pretenses, to carry out a personal vendetta against that nation’s leader. Saddam Hussein was certainly not a nice guy just as Gadhafi was not, but Iraq posed no direct threat to the United States despite the fabricated evidence to the contrary.

"Larry, I'm not saying you should agree with it, but to say it's a waste of lives demeans the value of those that died and the good they did over there."

I disagree. I'm not going to give value to something that HAS no value (kind of like the US dollar).

Are you implying because we lost lives in Iraq that the war all of a sudden has some kind of value?

The troops did their job - they should be respected and remembered. But that doesn't give war in Iraq any value.

This isn't the first time America is wasting resources and lives. People waste their lives dying for things without value (like religion) all the time. I'm not going to lie to myself and say they died for something worth dying for.

The american culture is all to familiar with using lies and deception to paint a pretty picture - after all, ignorance of the ugly truth is a beautiful bliss.

I tend to agree with you, generally...but i'm confused about the loss of treasure??

Do you mean resources? treasure makes me lol :)

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

Tamara: 700 Billion dollars would be treasure to any of us.

Nicole, So you are active duty military or a vet to speak for our troops? I am AF Vet, my husband is a Marine in Afghanistan. Although, we do always agree with our governments actions. It was/is an honor and provilegde to serve our country. Good job American troops and welcome home!

The troops did a good job, but for what mission?

A lie? A farce? A crime against the American and Iraqi people?

They ought not to be used that way. German soldiers also fought hard and well in WW2. It doesn't make the mission right.

Madame it's nothing to do with the troops and how they feel about serving their country. It's how they feel about the mission they were sent to do. Which was nothing they should of been involved with. Nope I'm not a vet out of choice. I didn't want to be deployed to a war I didn't support or believe in. That's my personal belief. I don't hold anything against the troops. Their lives were not worth the mission in Iraq. As a service vet or active duty member you should feel the mission was worthless and be upset they risked your life for nothing that you should of been involved in. When you join the military it should be rewarding and a service to your country not to be used as a political pawn. I feel we have done a great disservice to our troops. Wasted precious lives lost on foreign soil for no just reason and not for the reason they enlisted

Also Madame you are a AF Vet not Iraq. They are of 2 different entities all together. There was cause for Afghanistan not Iraq. I have seen polls about how Iraq vets and activity duty members felt about their mission.

Larry,

While I agree with your basic statement that we should never have been there in the first place, the fact is we are/were. Also I will support Obama decision to remove our troops "IF" it is being done for the sole purpose of what is good for this country and NOT simply to garner votes in keeping a campaign promise that was not even Obama's original idea in the first place. Unlike Viet Nam, in Iraq at least we partially accomplished the mission of removing a dictator and helping them establish a democratic government. What they do with it from this point on is up to them. Like Viet Nam we should have never been there! Unlike Viet Nam in Iraq while the death toll of U.S. soldiers was high, it was nothing when compared to Viet Nam.

Bottom line is this: If this is being done as political stunt by Obama then I hope people catch on to him before the November 2012 election and give him the reward he deserves. If it being done soley for the good of the country the I hope the same for Obama. Additionally I think we should remain warry of Greeks bearing gifts this close to an election!

When you join the military it should be rewarding and a service to your country not to be used as a political pawn.

Noone signs up for Armed Services/Conflict because they like picking daisies...

I feel we have done a great disservice to our troops.

Since Korea we have been fighting near exclusively for Profit of The Few, at the Cost to the Many. President Eisonhower figured it out and warned us all. Just ask the Nam Vets how much was gained from their Honorable Service. (Thanks For Your Service, to One and All US Active and Non Active Duty Veterans and Soldiers, POWs and MIAs!)

Too bad we didn't/don't listen...

Peace

I agree with you. This could have been done a while ago, but he needed to be sure to time it right so that he can gain from it! It is pure BS. But I am happy that our men and women will be coming home. Way to many lives have been lost. God Bless them all.

Wow, I guess you both didn't hear OBAMA's speech after he was elected on the timetable. I guess you both didn't hear where Military Advisors worked with Obama to say that an immediate withdrawl (AFTER HE was elected) would lead to chaos in Iraq. Get over yourselves, he followed the advice of others, made a committment, and here it is.

If you want to sit there and point the finger, go back to Bush, who got us in there in the first place. Didn't he committ the United States to be there until the end of 2011???????

To the ALL the Military Men/Women and their families:

a. Thank you for your sacrifices.

b. Thank you for helping the Iraqi people gain their freedome.

c. Thank you for reminding us and the world, that freedom is not free.

If you buddy Bush hadn't invaded them in the first place, it wouldnt be an issue and Obama wouldn't have anything to gain from it; now would he?

What took you so long and how much cash did you give to Karzai and Pakistan who then went behind your back and murdered more Americans?

#6 - Fri Oct 21, 2011 12:46 PM EDT

Probably much less than GW Bush and Darth Cheney did

Ignorant.

"Darth Cheney." Good one.

You do realize that Karzai and Pakistan are not in Iraq, right?

Yeah, President Obama meant he would end those wars the day he was installed in office. Don't be so naive .... You likely have some understanding of the complexities of just walking away with all our "man"power, equipment, etc w/o regard for the people left in our wake. Just assume the President has a bit more information than you do, in his position, and appreciate that he has worked consistently toward the promises he made on the campaign trail. That is a bit more than one can say about the Republicans' promises of jobs, jobs, jobs, if they were just "given" the seats in 2010.....we the people intend to remember these things come 2012...you may be surprised. I do not for a second defend this president on all he has done, but he is head and shoulders above all contenders in the area of ethics, focus on "we the people", and willingness to compromise (too much so, really). And frankly, I think he has shown a fairly short learning curve on the dirty politics of Washington... aggressive pitbulls cannot be negotiated with..they require a baseball bat and a chain.

..Yeah, President Obama meant he would end those wars the day he was installed in office. Don't be so naive

It would be a very, very silly thing for someone to think he meant that.

Yes I realize that but I am trying to make the point that Obama is NOT managing the issue! We need to get out of this region and not spend another dime there at all!

I don't want to hear another g'dman thing out of these Obama suck-ups. Thanks to his so called Affordale health care Act, I just got a bill for 1500 dollars for a urine test! A federally "mandated" urine test that Obama's administration pushed through via executive order!

What the f^@$ is wrong with this guy? Giving guns to Mexican drug lords isn't bad enough ... now let's bankrupt folks right out of there ability to pay for their own health insurance!

We have had enough... you can point the finger at Bush... GO AHEAD.. he's a friggin' imbecile and so is his brother Jebro... But that doesn't mean Obama is better! In fact he is actually worse and as corrupt a person as ever walked the planet!

Hey Lady

What is silly about getting the troops home? You say it can't be done? What do you know about this subject? NOTHING!!! I have personally peformed the most complex logistics on massive projects and let me TELL YOU... it could be done and the community organizer in chief should have made it happen then!

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

George W. Bush Committed the US to Iraq until december 31st 2011, it was one of his last acts as President. FYI

Greg, So Obama's campaign message of ending the wars and bringing troops home was a lie from day one?

He didn't promise to do it in 2 years. He promised to do it in his 4 years of office. And he did just that....

Well done, Mr. President. Another promise kept.

pjam; it's funny that you find such great fault in the timeline that Obama has taken to finally bring home the troops; but no fault in the fact that Bush put us there in the first place.

The election is too far away for that sort of a maneuver. Nice try though.

How convenient for him to make this announcement as re-election time is fast approaching.

Yes a lot like Nixon did for Viet Nam. But then that Republican stretched that out into his second term.

By the way, does anyone know the last war a Republican won?

(Civil War)

The name of the commitment is "Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities during Their Temporary Presence in Iraq." The negotiations finished mid-2008. Bush hailed the passing of the agreement and said, "the Security Agreement addresses our presence, activities, and withdrawal from Iraq. ... Two years ago, this day seemed unlikely - but the success of the surge and the courage of the Iraqi people set the conditions for these two agreements to be negotiated and approved by the Iraqi parliament."

KG, Obama is just adhering to the agreement put in place by his predecessor.

Cue the right justifying doing the opposite of what Obama suggests in 5... 4... 3...

@pjam09

Obama campaigned on ending the war in Iraq and expanding the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan... so your statement about he "campaign[ed] message of ending the wars" plural is incorrect.. he campaigned on ending the war in Iraq...singular. However after Obama was elected in November of 2008, George W. Bush signed an agreement with Iraq committing troops there until the end of this year.

BTW video on Obama compaigning on expanding the war in Afghistan and pakistan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vpCBpTbEds

The point is.....there was already a withdrawal plan in place before Obama took office, the Status of Forces Agreement, negotiated by the Bush administration. The deadline for all trops to be withdrawn was Dec. 31, 2011. So Obama is honoring no campaign promise......that promise had already been made and is now coming to fruition.

You just can't leave a good thing alone can you. I tell you what, we will also get the republican obstrucion out of Congress too. How would you like that. Obama had this planned in this first 4 years and that was announced long ago if you would get your snoot out of Fox news you may learn something if you are capable of that which I doubt. Dumb Bush, Smart Obama, learn it and we may get something done in this country instead of idiots like you boosting obstructionism ... we kinow you all just can't stand a Black man in the White house and that is what all of this crap has been about in the past 3 years. I am not one to be messed with today and every sharp word about this is getting a donation to the Obama Political movement and will be matched as well. We are on the move to get the enemy out of Congress and it WILL happen/.

Teapublican Clowns - the point is simple. Your brains will register it.

On Bush's watch we went a war of lies and lost 4400+atleast a million others.

On Obama's watch we bring to an end.

Case closed. As simple as that.

the last "war" won by a republican was Operation Desert Storm (Gulf War 1) by Bush.

Good thing Mr. Obama campaigned saying that a gradual withdraw is wrong and then (again) followed a Bush treaty.

Word to the wise: back in 2003, when 90% of you posters were all about getting Al Queda everywhere (including Iraq where attacks had been occuring for little over a year), nobody was complaining about going there. In fact, neither were the people you all voted for. Remember that.

Jeremy, I'm sure that McCain would done the same thing. (sarcasm)

And you know this was the strategy how?

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

You people need a little education. The military has wanted to stay in Iraq beyond 2011. They continually pushed to extend and revise the Status of Forces agreement. They have their reasons and some make sense.

Obama wanted all troops out. He knows that the majority of Americans want this nightmare to end.

The Pentagon's position on this changed recently. The reason: The SOFA. Any Coalition troops, except embassy personnel, will be subject to Iraqi law and command starting next year. You all know how many incidents have happened in 8 years, where the Iraqis wanted to arrest Americans for war crimes, real or not.

Teabaggers and right-wingers: You're going to try to spin this as an election move, a mistake, etc...

Put down your stones. You have nothing to throw at. As the cheerleaders for this stinking, lying crime against the American and Iraq people, you sit in one fragile glass house. You should thank Obama for fixing the mess you started.

Wars won by Republican administrations? 3.

Civil War, Spanish American War and the Persian Gulf War.

Spanish American War unneccessary. Persian Gulf War unneccessary. Civil War, first Republican president, not the yahoos we have in the party today.

Yep, kick out the republicans so America can move in the right direction!

Yes, imagine what it would be like had the Democrats had (kept) control of both houses and the WH.

Very good Anthony and the final word will be getting the obstruction racists out of congress. There can be no other reason for all the fillibusters. Many people don't uderstand how a bill is passed in Congress and they have been the enemy of this adm all along. I read about working on things here at home. OBAMA HAS BEEN DOING THAT, THEY ALL NEED TO LEARN WHAT A FILLIBUSTER IS.

Exactly. Maybe we can get the duds out of congress and get something done at home.

maybe we can also reduce our debt funded defense budget as well. imagine what it would be like if we had that $3 TRILLION back...

Hahahahaha throwing the race card around again I see. Before you guys rush out and break your hands patting Obama on the back, you might wanna check whose signature is on the paperwork for the withdrawal.

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

If you mean by obstrutionist, that we will pass laws that spend more money we do not have on socialist programs that have failed, then I will take that label. However, if you would pay attention, the US Senate, controlled by democrats, will not even put Obama's proposals up for a vote. Just ask your hero Harry Reid why he won't bring the bills to the floor. It is because he knows "they will not pass"! Instead, they would rather blame republicans for being "obstructionist" when the facts are far from the truth. Obviously, you drank the koolaid they sold you. How about repealing Obama care? If you want to jump start the economy, kill that program so business' will have more confidence in investing for the future and yes "profitibility".........you know....the rewards a business gets that allows them to pay you a salary?

Hey Anthony, I couldn't put it better myself! You hit the nail on the head! It is a damn shame what's going on in the Congress. It is UN-AMERICAN!

It's time for the people to vote GOP out of congress (I know it's tricky), but we can send them a strong message.

It's time for the people to vote GOP out of congress (I know it's tricky), but we can send them a strong message.

Same stupid sh!t spouted by the liberals in 2010, too. That worked out well for you then, didn't it.

Yep, kick out the republicans so America can move in the right direction!

LOL like the direction it took from 2006-2010? Hahahahahaha.

People will have to vote in order to get the duds out of congress. People are so easily discouraged that with the voting obstruction prevalent in some states, it will keep many from overcoming the hurdles put before them. They should be encouraged to vote in spite of the obstruction.

If you all think replacing Republicans with Democrats is suddenly gonna fix the planet, or vice versa, you're all stoned. They're both screwing you, you just enjoy it when you're being boned from someone that says they think like you do.

They're both screwing you

That alone is the first thing you've said I agree with. But of course you don't stop there. Are you enjoying the Boning Your are Taking from your Faves?

Give us that Donut Smile!!!

;-O

I didn't know there was an independant party. Perhaps you shouldn't assume people are one party or the other based solely on the fact that they think Obama is a failure. There are a LOT of Democrats who feel that way now. But I know how hard that is for you die hard liberals. Everything has to fit into nice, neat categories.

Hate Obama = Republican

Thinks like I do = Genius

No. For the tens of thousands of servicemen and women who are over there, that no longer have to die for a foolish war we never should have started to begin with, and their families, it isn't too little OR too late.

John Galt? Really? I hope you're kidding rather than reveling in some seriously creepy Ayn Randist crapola.

Too bad for the ones he just sent to Africa though, huh?

Sour grapes!!!!! After the idiot from Texas got us into this mess by lying and grabbing for oil it took an intelligent, cool headed, competent leader to get the job done. Well done Mr. President!!!! He's racked up more victories in 3 years than Bush even came close to in 8. Just listen to the baggers howl. Now they'll start saying that it's too early to pull out. Hypocrites.

Nice!!! With everyone complaining about us being in Iraq, can't you be happy about us leaving without making cracks like that??

Do you really live here. Do you really want to hook this on Obama too for a War that Bush and his bandits should have never entered in and it was BB that got us in this war for no reason. Quit blaming Obama for everything. My God this is hidious

Yeah, Obama is our hero. He dun savioured us all from dem horrible wars and freed the slaves, too.

You guys defending this socialist scumbag whenever he takes credit for half-assedly accomplishing one of his THREE-YEAR-OLD campaign promises and never once noticing that fuel prices DOUBLED since his inauguration, home values have declined over 25% nationally, the "official" jobless rate is still above 9% and we are engaged in no fewer than five international conflicts... you're plain bats**t crazy.

I hated Bush. I hate Obama.

I ain't leaving. Just shut the damn government down. They are a solution in search of a problem.

class of 69

The Right Wing mentality is hideous. That is an apt description of them. Greedy, indifferent and hideous.

Relax and step away from the political back and forth this one time and just be happy of the good news about our troops coming home. Who cares why, if it was too late or too early, whether we should have been there or not or who gets blamed or credited. Our troops are coming home! Let this be celebration for America!

It's great news that that we will be withdrawing troops from an unpopular war, regardless of whose fault it was that we are there. I'm not a fan of any of our last several presidents, but as I see it, it was the fault of the Bush administration that we went into this war...but the same administration negotiated the pullout date. Plus, the article implies that an extension to that date was being negotiated, but failed, because the Iraqis would not grant immunity from prosecution (from what?) to US servicemen. Now, it's being "spun" so that both Obama and the Iraqi leader (in their respective countries) look like they're responsible for getting our troops out. Bottom line, feel free to blame Bush for the war, but he should also get the credit for the withdrawal date.

And an early "Welcome Home!" to our heroic troops! Thanks for your service!

@Gharms maybe you should tell MCain to look at whose signature is on the withdrawel papers. Yes, Bush set the date originally but douche bag McCain who doesn't want to give Obama props for anything, even if it is something he himself called for, will still try to slam Obama for a success.

McCain is an a$$hole. Plain and simple.

I wish that was true. They'll say it's a bad idea. They'll find a reason to criticize. Because it's easy to criticize when you are a douche bag talking on Faux news.

Just so no one gets confused, Fmr. Pres. George W. Bush got us into this mess for no good reason whatsoever.

He also started the war....?

Greg, I'm going to steal your car, drive it around for 8 and a half years, and return it to you. You'll have some sort of reward waiting for me, I presume.

So Obama's "victory" has been to do absolutely nothing?

His "victory" is finally bringing everyone home. And if that happens, it will be more of a victory than Bush swooping in on an aircraft carrier! LOL

pjam09, your rabid anti-Obama rhetoric is hilarious. I believe it was LBJ who once said of his detractors: "If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read "President Can't Swim".

You are physically incapable of admitting that this President can do ANYTHING right. So predictable. So easy to discount your value as just another anti-Obama, right wing nut job.

Pjam - This is not a victory for anybody. Who really won here? We were thrust into a war on lies, we are ending the war with trillions of dollars in debt, 5K american lives lost, countless that have been mentally or physically hurt, THOUSANDS of Iraqis dead, our own economy threatned by ourselves, a government that is non responsive and full of greed and corruption on all sides?

The only true victory here may be for the Iraqi people in 20 years from now. Maybe they will establish a government and society that the United States always claims to be.

"This comment is brought to you by the I am sick and tired of you whining obama haters and I approve this message"

Obama did continue on the "revised and Dick Cheneyless" Bush timeline, but Obama did continue to move forward and DID succeed in accomplishing his Campaign Promise.