General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: POTUS Did NOT Defend The Iraq War [View all]Gothmog
(180,217 posts)The purpose of this speech was to refute Putin's justifications for the annexation of Crimea and to build support among our allies to further sanctions if Putin attempts to annex the eastern portion of Ukraine. The purpose of this speech was not to make haters of the Iraq war happy (I am in this group in that I disagreed strongly with the invasion of Iraq and still have very strong feelings towards bush, cheney, rice and rumsfeld).
President Obama did a good job of distinguishing the Iraq war from the annexation of Crimea and in refuting Putin's justifications for the annexation. Our allies are supporting President Obama in promising further sanctions against Russia if Putin tried to annex the eastern section of Ukraine.
I note that one day after this speech, Putin called Obama to ask for negotiations and that Sec. of State Kerry changed the route of his plane to go to Paris to meet with his Russian counterpart. I think that President Obama's speech had its desired result