Thomas Ricks: Obama's Iraq War Will Be Long

By: Michelle Levi
Topics: Washington Unplugged

(CBS)

On CBSNews.com's "Washington Unplugged" today, author and Washington Post pentagon reporter Thomas Ricks suggested that the United States was nowhere near the finish line of its effort in Iraq.

"I think there are a lot of reasons Iraq '09 is going to be very tough and in fact harder than the last year of Bush's war," he told guest moderator John Dickerson. "And I think there is a good chance that Obama's war in Iraq will last longer than Bush's war [in Iraq]."

The author of "Fiasco" is out with a new book about the U.S. experience in Iraq during last two years of the Bush administration titled, "The Gamble: General Petraeus And The American Military Adventure In Iraq 2006-2008."

"There is no pacifistic branch of the U.S. military," Ricks said, calling President Obama's campaign promise to get American non-combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months "false phrase-ology."

"Newsflash for Obama," he said. "There is no such thing as non-combat troops…I think we are there for a long time."

Ricks then elaborated on the period covered in "The Gamble."

"It's quite a striking story," he said, noting that he did not know before he wrote the book that in 2007 the war "was turned over to the dissidents, to people who fundamentally disagreed with the invasion or who thought that the war was executed wrongly."

The author was speaking about military personnel and Pentagon advisors brought in to manage a war they did not necessarily support.

"Where are we now in Iraq?" Dickerson asked.

Ricks said there are two fundamental misunderstandings that Americans have about the war. The first involves the surge, which, he said, was much more difficult than most people thing. The second is the perception that the war is over.

"The war has changed several times," he said. "It was an invasion that morphed into an occupation into an insurgency then to a civil war, then into an American counter offensive. Just because it's changing doesn't mean it's ended."

Dickerson then turned to Afghanistan, asking what effect ground conditions in Iraq have on its neighboring battleground.

"The odd thing about Barack Obama's promise to get troops out of Iraq so that he can use them in Afghanistan is that it is not a departure from Bush, it is a continuation of Bush," Ricks said. "It's the same unwarranted optimism."

Ricks said there is also "some friction" over where to send U.S. troops in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, which he says is partially because there are "some pretty big egos" making these decisions.

Below, watch Ricks on this week's episode of "Washington Unplugged." The 15-minute episode also includes an interview with Bill Burton from the White House, a journalists roundtable, and an update on the plane crash in Buffalo.

5 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by willnotyield February 16, 2009 3:23 PM EST: The word bipartisan usually means some larger-than-usual deception is being carried out.; Reply to this comment


by willnotyield February 16, 2009 3:18 PM EST: I don''t believe there''s any problem in this country, no matter how tough it is, that Americans, when they roll up their sleeves, can''t completely ignore.; Reply to this comment


by andie52 February 15, 2009 1:27 PM EST: He said he''d get us out of Iraq. He didn''t say he''d leave Afghanistan alone. Obama said from the beginning that the focus should have always been on Afghanistan rather than Iraq. He''s not breaking any promises.; Reply to this comment


by jgunther7 February 15, 2009 8:38 AM EST: It is very straightforward decision. Iraq is a sovereign nation that does not belong to the US. The US has no business invading and occupying another country. Obama was elected on the promise that he would pull out of Iraq. If he changes his mind and does not keep his word, the American people should change once again and bring in a new government that will indeed change our course and get out of Iraq.; Reply to this comment


by spinproof February 14, 2009 10:55 PM EST: The bulk of President Barack Obama''s good political fortune is rooted in his stance against the Iraq War. If Pres. Obama suddenly sees some alien light that persuades him to keep the U.S. in Iraq and not withdraw as promised I think that will be the final nail in his Presidential coffin and guarantee he is a one term President. I don''t know how he does it, but Pres. Obama must find a way out of Iraq for the U.S., fulfilling his campaign promises, even if he returns the U.S. to Iraq, he must leave Iraq as promised.; Reply to this comment