GOP: Thank Bush, Not Obama, for End of Iraq Combat Mission

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans ,; Foreign Policy ,; Obama Administration

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (shown here) as well as House Minority Leader John Boehner both today commended the end of combat operations in Iraq but credited the milestone to President Bush.

(Credit: AP)

President Obama may be on the right course as he winds down the war in Iraq, the Republican leaders of the House and the Senate said today, but only because former President Bush created the conditions for success there.

Mr. Obama is set to deliver a live broadcast address from the Oval Office tonight to mark the end of combat operations in Iraq and address the United States' continued presence there.

Ahead of the president's address, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner both delivered their own speeches in which they gave the president backhanded compliments for bringing U.S. combat troops home for Iraq. In the same breath, they castigated Mr. Obama for decrying President Bush's troop "surge" and warned against prematurely ending operations there.

"Some leaders who opposed, criticized, and fought tooth-and-nail to stop the surge strategy now proudly claim credit for the results," Boehner said today at the American Legion National Convention in Milwaukee, in a clear jab at the president. Boehner's office yesterday released a video that also criticizes Mr. Obama and other Democratic leaders for opposing the surge.

Boehner added, however, that he wanted to "President Obama for setting aside his past political rhetoric and recognizing the importance of the surge and the diplomatic agreement signed by President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki."

Meanwhile, at the Commerce Lexington Public Policy Luncheon in Lexington, Kentucky today, McConnell said that Mr. Obama will deliver "welcome news" tonight when he declares the end of combat operations in Iraq. However, he said, it was "another president [who] had the determination and the will to carry out the plan that made tonight's announcement possible."

He added, "You might recall that the surge wasn't very popular when it was announced. You might also recall that one of its biggest critics was the current president."

Mr. Obama has acknowledged that the surge succeeded, though his administration has noted the other factors at work. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs yesterday pointed to the Sunni Awakening and political progress in Iraq for helping to bring the country to its current point. He stressed that the war would never have happened had Mr. Obama been president when it began and said it took the U.S. focus off the war in Afghanistan, which most Americans believe is not going well.

Nevertheless, McConnell said today that the troops are succeeding where many in Washington thought they would fail. He added that the situation in Iraq requires continued careful management.

"This President could very well find himself negotiating a new security agreement next year," McConnell said.

Indeed, the political situation remains unstable in Iraq, and violence there continues.

Boehner similarly said today that the United States cannot turn its back now on its partners in Iraq. The nation's success remains strategically important to the United States, he said, because it serves as a bulwark against extremist forces in the region as well as an inspiration for other moderate governments and reformers.

"Over the past several months, we've often heard about ending the war in Iraq, but not much about winning the war in Iraq," he said. "Victory in Iraq was the only option in 2007 - and it is the only option now."

Boehner also said it's not possible to support U.S. troops without supporting their mission.

"Our troops in harm's way should never have to doubt Congress's commitment to supporting their mission," he said. "When asked to provide our troops in harm's way with the resources they need, we should do so without delay."

Funding for U.S. troops has been used for political leverage at times, such as last winter, when Republicans stalled troop funding in order to delay the health care debate.

More Coverage:

Obama to Walk Tightrope in Iraq Speech
Gibbs: Iraqis Will Now Be in Control of Their Future
Obama's Iraq Speech Will Sound Familiar: He's Said It All Before
Boehner Challenges Obama's Role in Iraq Troop Drawdown
As Obama Struggles, Bush's Legacy Recovers
Poll: Most Americans Say Iraq War Was a Mistake

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by HemiHead66 September 22, 2010 5:32 AM EDT: That's it, pat yourselves on your backs for an illegal war that should've never happened in the first place. Bush and Cheney planned to take Iraq their first day in office. Why don't you show us Cheney's secret energy report, that he took all the way to the supreme court to keep secret. Why would you need to keep an energy report secret? Now why don't you tell everybody how your surge was nothing more than the Bush regime paying Sunni insurgents $800,000 a day not to attack U.S. forces. You Republicans make me sick. Close to one million innocent people dead. Not to mention the people on 9,11 - which we now know was a complete lie. Seems the truthers aren't crack-pots after all. AE911Truth.org put out a 2 hour video report a few days ago - Sept 9th, that takes apart NIST - The 9,11 commission, and proves them all liars. They are giving it to Holder for a new investigation, lets see what he does with it. I suspect they'll have to take it to an international level, there's no way this will be allowed to play out here.; Reply to this comment


by actornaught September 1, 2010 7:42 AM EDT: Remember the reagan years when the strategy became fashionable for the uber-wealthy to buy big companies, run them into the ground, and pocket monster profits? THAT Big Quick Money Grab, where fundamental major industries like steel became nothing more than ATM's for billionaires?

The USA is next, & the 'pubs are in on it. Welcome to the Corporate States of America, the new feudalism.; Reply to this comment


by Wowie Zowie August 31, 2010 9:22 PM EDT: Really. I mean Really? McCain said it could last 100 years if he was president.

Thank you President Obama for not letting this war last any longer than it did. It should have never happened in the first place.; Reply to this comment


by 010sonny August 31, 2010 9:22 PM EDT: Boehner must realize that it has little to nothing to do with a surge strategy in a war that never should have been, to begin with. Obama is to be credited of removing our troops and not our responsibilities to Iraq for the damage that our republicans have inflicted on them. Closing a page in our history of another shameful republican display of our Nation.
Note difference of our responsibilities to this fiasco of the republicans today as to how republicans handle a similar scenario in days past. Viet-Nam and Cambodia?s withdrawals. Remember April16,1975 Phen-Pen disgrace and Saigon?s irresponsible departure and with no responsibilities to those left behind. Disgracing our Nation for decades to follow. Pol-Pot building his dictatorship on precisely that lack of responsibilities of the republicans administration. Genocide of 2 million people to follow.
Boehner now hinting for another surge, of political strategy to focus on Iran, Sudan and North Korea ! Our infrastructures in tatters, education in decline, energy reform lacking support, financials obstructed at every opportunity, employment disseminated, Health Care, far laggards in the civilized world, and so on and so on. Lack of responsibilities to their own constituents? as if they are to be left behind. This lack of continuously lack of responsibilities of the republicans must be called in.
NAAAY, NAAAY; Obama is to be credited for courage, loyalties to his Nations laws, His humanity in ALL those effected by this ill begotten war. That is but a small area of what is much more of his achievements in just 18 months.
Boehner?s achievements; in last 18 months, how to heard up the republicans and stripe them of their liberties to exercise their individual leadership. Herding, similar to Monarchy structures. Concern here !; Reply to this comment


by polisigh August 31, 2010 7:08 PM EDT: Thanks W. for lying about a war that has cost the US so far over $750 billion as well as casualties and injuries. Only Republicans would brag about such a mission accomplished.; Reply to this comment


by mikelpond August 31, 2010 5:48 PM EDT: he's right, you know. If it wasn't for all thoughs lies from Cheney and Bush, there wouldn't have been an Iraq war. I don't want to short-change Mitch on this; he'd say anything to stoke fear for a gop war.; Reply to this comment

by babooph August 31, 2010 5:41 PM EDT

There was no dem filibuster for tax cuts to the rich,idiotic failed wars,torture of war prisoners,bailouts for bankrupting crooked companies-I thank both parties for sucking up the lobby bribes to sell out the USA& their stooges in the media ,selling the lies...

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by liberalme August 31, 2010 5:56 PM EDT: My favorite is Hank Paulson (remember September of 2008?) wanting to handle the $700 BILLION bailout with no oversight--talk about raping the economy!!!!!!!!!


by Turbidite August 31, 2010 5:29 PM EDT: Bush, Cheney & Rumsfeld said they would take us into Iraq with no thought of how to get out. Obama said he would get us out of Iraq, and he is doing it. It is that simple. No amount of words or made up stuff will change that.; Reply to this comment


by afrazier1 August 31, 2010 4:37 PM EDT: Welcome to the NEW America. You know, it's the Military Industrial Complex and Ike warned us about. Yeah, it's here and by the looks of the partisanship in congress and all the lobbyists, it's here to stay.; Reply to this comment


by liberalme August 31, 2010 4:18 PM EDT: However, he said, it was "another president [who] had the determination and the will to carry out the plan that made tonight's announcement possible."

Yes McConnell it was---the "decider" manufactured this war and presented twisted information to everyone else. Also Mr Mconnell and Boehner, please note, Obama did not vote for that disaster either.

Nice to see these bozos putting credit on the appropriate war monger.; Reply to this comment