'Who lost Iraq' debate fizzles -- By Jim Lobe

[bemildred]

WASHINGTON - Two weeks after President Barack Obama announced the withdrawal of all remaining United States troops from Iraq by the end of next month, a familiar clutch of neo-conservative hawks and prominent Republicans are blaming the president for "losing" the Middle Eastern country to its neighbor and long-time Washington nemesis, Iran.

But their effort is failing to gain traction, in part due to the public's war fatigue, as well as some push-back by critics who argue that the withdrawal could work to Washington's long-term strategic advantage.

Nonetheless, the hawks' fury over Obama's decision has been unrelenting since the day he announced it last month. Obama reportedly made the decision when it became clear after months of negotiations that the Iraqi parliament would not agree to provide immunity to the 3,000 to 5,000 US troops Washington wanted to retain as "trainers" for the Iraqi armed forces.

"Iran has just defeated the United States in Iraq," declared Fred and Kimberly Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Institute for the Study of War, respectively, immediately after Obama's announcement in what soon became a mantra of mainly Republican hawks.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MK10Ak04.html

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Old and In the Way]

2. Well, Fred and Kimberly...

no one is stopping you from heading to Iraq and leading the resistance against Iran. Suggest putting your body on the front line where your mouth is.