Bush-Bashing War-Hating Joker Reveals He Was Wrong About Afghani War
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“Bush did it”
PHOENIX — President Barack Obama told military service members Monday that the war in Afghanistan was a “war of necessity” and that the U.S. would adhere to its timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
“By moving forward in Iraq, we’re able to refocus on the war against al Qaeda and its extremist allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Mr. Obama told 5,500 members, families and guests of the Veterans of Foreign Wars at their annual convention here. “That is why I announced a new, comprehensive strategy in March,” the president told the welcoming but subdued crowd.
Despite continued attacks in Iraq, Mr. Obama made it clear that American military and diplomatic efforts in the region would be concentrated in Afghanistan, a shift that began in June when the U.S. pulled combat forces from Iraqi cities. “We will remove all our combat brigades by the end of next August,” Mr. Obama reiterated. “And we will remove all our troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. And for America, the Iraq war will end.”
He added that the war in Afghanistan won’t be won solely with military power. “We also need diplomacy and development and good governance,” Mr. Obama said, restating the U.S. goals of disrupting, dismantling and defeating al Qaeda and its allies.
“But we must never forget. This is not a war of choice,” he told the VFW crowd. “This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again.”
Mr. Obama declared the U.S. combat mission would end next August in a speech at the Marines’ Camp Lejeune, in North Carolina, in March. But Monday’s speech comes amid a spate of high-profile bombings of Shiite targets in Iraq, which U.S. officials believe is part of an attempt by Sunni extremists to reignite sectarian violence. The attacks have killed more than 150 civilians this month, including at least 50 who died last week when two car bombs leveled an entire village.
The U.S. is still working to help resolve a potentially explosive border dispute between Iraqi Arabs and Kurds, and conclude an agreement on sharing of oil revenues.
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