Obama's announcement of Iraq withdrawal date puts U.S. troops "in peril," says Rick Perry

Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry, center left, walks to a truck Oct. 22, 2011, before a hunting trip near Merrill, Iowa.

/ AP Photo/Dave Weaver

Updated 5:37 PM EST

WILTON, Iowa -- Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry on Saturday accused President Obama of endangering U.S. troops by announcing plans to end the nation's military role in Iraq this year.

"The last thing you want to do is put those men and women's lives in peril and I think that's what the president's done by making a political statement to his base that he's going to be out of Iraq by a date certain," Perry said.

The Texas governor, who had joined a number of his Republican rivals in criticizing the president's planned troop withdrawal on Friday, got more pointed as he spoke to reporters in Iowa, where Perry was joining one of the state's Republican members of Congress, Steve King, on a pheasant hunt.

Perry, an Air Force veteran who noted that he was "commander in chief of a fairly substantial group of individuals in the National Guard of Texas," called Obama's decision "bad public policy" and "bad tactics."

"He needs to be working with the commanders on a timetable to remove those troops but obviously not telling the bad guys when it's going to happen," he added.

Continuing the fight he started at the presidential debate Tuesday with GOP rival Mitt Romney over immigration, Perry accused the former Massachusetts governor of being "part of the problem" by adding to "the magnet of jobs" that attracts foreigners to move to the United States illegally. The reference was to Romney's hire of a lawn care company that later was found to be employing illegal immigrants.

That prompted a sharp retort from a spokeswoman for Romney, who has said he severed his relationship with the company after he requested it not employ illegal immigrants and found it was still doing so. "Rick Perry is a desperate candidate resorting to negative personal attacks because his campaign is collapsing," said Andrea Saul of the Romney campaign.

Perry also minced no words on another politically sensitive issue: The outcome of Saturday's football game between the Iowa State University Cyclones and his alma mater, Texas A&M University.

"When my beloved Texas Aggies are playing, I'm on the sidelines rooting for the Aggies," said Perry, who as a student served as a "yell" leader at A&M games but who is actually scheduled to be meeting voters when the two teams kick off. "Even standing in Iowa. I'm not going to be one of those people that roll into Iowa and say, 'Yeah, I'm for the Cyclones because I'm running for office.' People see through that real quick."

Perry is the first of two Republican presidential hopefuls that King, an outspoken conservative, is escorting to the weekend pheasant hunt. On Sunday, ex-Sen. Rick Santorum will join the congressman. King said he's not ready to endorse any of the candidates. "I respect them all and I just want to encourage them all to engage in this race," he said.

As he was leaving for the pheasant hunt, Perry handed an aide his cellphone to take a photo of himself and King. "It's tweet time," said the governor, who posted the picture himself from his phone.

Later the governor was coy about how much game he bagged. "We fed some people some pheasant today," was all he would say at a Wilton, Iowa barbecue, adding: "I wanted to see if I lost my touch and I haven't."

[RangerDan107]

What, these jerks must all think Americans are stupid. Both Cain and Perry want to try to sneak another deadly giant tax break in there for the already wealthy, Cain and Perry both think the only ones at the OWS protests are dope smokin hippies, if you're out of work it's your fault, tell that to my brother who just got back from his fourth deployment to Afghanistan and can't find a job, Paul want's the uninsured to just be allowed to die, they'd all like to get rid of Social Security and Medicare and let the millions of us that have contributed to them for a lifetime just wander off and die. Because they think the wealthy worked hard for their riches so they should have them all, including mine! The greed on Wall Street has infested the republican party, those nimrods have forgotten who they work for. I guess bribes, payoffs, and the Good Ole Boy network will do that to you.

[mountainstates1]

Perry you're a creep. Your irresponsible words show that not only are you NOT fit to become president, you should never be sitting in the governor's seat, either. You are true un-American.

[fedup12]

STRIKE FIRST

STRIKE ALONE

DONT ASK QUESTIONS

DONT ASK FORGIVENESS

IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE DONT ADMIT IT

OCCUPY THEM FOREVER...

[fedup12]

Its kind of funny. Even after what Obama has accomplished they think they can criticize him on foreign policy.

It is like these people are campaigning on a follow up of Bush Doctrine. Which Palin still doesnt understand.

[fedup12]

No I actually think putting them there based on BS is more dangerous for the troops.

Obama got more accomplished in Libya without setting a boot in the country.

Now that is how its DONE.

[noloyalisti]

Perry must be taking lesson in fear mongering from the Bush Crime Family. Are all these Republicons completely clueless about the horrors that were done during their 8 year long Reign of Terror?

[PourpaixPourpaix]

Perry has done nothing but attack Obama on each and every Presidential act. People who villify in this manner show their inclination to waive moral and ethical standards without hesitation to achieve their agendas that are often hidden. Simply stated, "King" Richard cannot be trusted to run a latrine and has completely invalidated his candidacy. He is a fool, and we don't need another such fool in the President's office. I sure hope the GOP digs deeper and finds a candidate who doesn't have a red nose and orange hair.

[secretsquare12]

Ms. Kaplan, I believe this story would have been much improved by adding the fact that the December 31st deadline was created by Obama's predecessor. I assume you omitted that indisputable and extremely relevant fact for fear of cries of "liberal bias"? Good to know CBS has such "objective" journalism.

[jezzabella60]

So, if it is a Bush plan why are all the righties and the rightie candidates screaming and criticizing it? Are YOU objective or just a sour complainer?

[mountainstates1]

Obama endangers troops, Perry? Really? Really? You should be brought up on treason charges you anti-American puke! It was YOUR party and George Bush who needlessly put our troops in harms way to begin with! Idiot, idiot Republicans!!

[web6242a]

As I recall it was the Bush administration that refused to give the troops adequate armor --- So much so that soldiers had to beef up their own body armor and weld plates on their own humvees!!! More GOP nonsense!!!