Oct. 22 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by year’s end fulfills a promise he made to voters, while Republican presidential challengers called it a sign of U.S. weakness and a strategic mistake.
“Today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year,” Obama said at the White House yesterday.
Obama made the announcement after the Iraqi government didn’t agree to provide immunity from prosecution for U.S. troops staying into next year. About 39,000 troops were in Iraq as of yesterday, following a drawdown of about 2,000 this week, according to the Defense Department.
“Across America, our servicemen and women will be reunited with their families,” Obama said. “Today, I can say that our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays.”
More broadly, Obama said during his presidency the U.S. has killed Osama bin Laden, helped end Muammar Qaddafi’s regime in Libya and is beginning to bring troops home from Afghanistan. “The tide of war is receding,” the president said.
The troop withdrawal announcement came under fire from critics of Obama’s policies in the region, including presidential rivals.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a statement that the Iraq withdrawal represents an “astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq.”
Romney also said it could put U.S. gains in the war at risk.
Unavoidable Question
“The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government,” Romney said.
Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry said Obama is “putting political expediency ahead of sound military and security judgment.”
Jon Huntsman Jr. and Michele Bachmann, two other Republican presidential contenders, also released statements criticizing the withdrawal as premature and the result of a failure to work out a deal with Iraqis to protect U.S. troops.
Arizona Senator John McCain, Obama’s Republican opponent in the 2008 election, said the withdrawal “marks a harmful and sad setback for the United States in the world.”
McCain, a prominent voice in his party on defense matters, said military commanders have told him the Iraqi military still needs assistance from U.S. forces.
“Today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year,” Obama said at the White House yesterday.
Obama made the announcement after the Iraqi government didn’t agree to provide immunity from prosecution for U.S. troops staying into next year. About 39,000 troops were in Iraq as of yesterday, following a drawdown of about 2,000 this week, according to the Defense Department.
“Across America, our servicemen and women will be reunited with their families,” Obama said. “Today, I can say that our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays.”
More broadly, Obama said during his presidency the U.S. has killed Osama bin Laden, helped end Muammar Qaddafi’s regime in Libya and is beginning to bring troops home from Afghanistan. “The tide of war is receding,” the president said.
The troop withdrawal announcement came under fire from critics of Obama’s policies in the region, including presidential rivals.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a statement that the Iraq withdrawal represents an “astonishing failure to secure an orderly transition in Iraq.”
Romney also said it could put U.S. gains in the war at risk.
Unavoidable Question
“The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government,” Romney said.
Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry said Obama is “putting political expediency ahead of sound military and security judgment.”
Jon Huntsman Jr. and Michele Bachmann, two other Republican presidential contenders, also released statements criticizing the withdrawal as premature and the result of a failure to work out a deal with Iraqis to protect U.S. troops.
Arizona Senator John McCain, Obama’s Republican opponent in the 2008 election, said the withdrawal “marks a harmful and sad setback for the United States in the world.”
McCain, a prominent voice in his party on defense matters, said military commanders have told him the Iraqi military still needs assistance from U.S. forces.