Iraq

Under Fire From Critics, Obama Hails End Of Official Combat Operations In Iraq

Brian Beutler | August 31, 2010, 7:00PM

President Barack Obama

Updated: 8:25 p.m. ET

In an Oval Office speech tonight, President Obama heralded the official end of combat operations in Iraq. But it was not an entirely triumphant moment for the White House, as it continues to be assailed in all directions over the war and the U.S. economy.

"Tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended," Obama said in prepared remarks. "Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country. This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office."

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Goodbye, Iraq: Many American Soldiers Come Home After U.S. Drawdown]

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Afghanistan

Anti-War Activists Plan 'Emergency' Rally In D.C. To Protest Afghanistan Escalation

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 2, 2009, 11:15AM

Former Rep. and 2008 Green Party Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, and former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK)

A new coalition led by more than 100 anti-war activists has announced an "Emergency Anti-Escalation Rally" to protest President Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan. The rally, scheduled for Dec. 12 in front of the White House, will include speeches by former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel and 2008 Green Party presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney.

The new coalition, called EndUSWars.org, has posted an "open letter" to Obama on its website, where it calls for an end to all U.S. military action in the Afghanistan region, including Predator drone airstrikes and covert intelligence operations.

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Afghanistan

Increasing Troop Levels In Afghanistan: Yet Another Sign Obama Is Not A Socialist

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 1, 2009, 9:48PM

President Barack Obama

If you needed any more evidence, tonight's decision on Afghanistan may prove once and for all that President Obama is no Socialist. Following Obama's war speech this evening, a quick perusal of American Socialist sites proved that the political movement Obama is so often falsely associated with wants nothing to do with his plans for Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan

Progressive War Vets 'Not Ready' To Back New Afghanistan Plan

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 1, 2009, 9:12PM

VoteVets.org, which represents progressive American veterans reports its members are still ambivalent about President Obama's plan to add troops to the Afghanistan war -- and end the conflict by 2012.

From a statement by Jon Soltz, the chairman of VoteVets, released after Obama's West Point speech this evening:

"We have been supportive of every move the President has made since he was elected, and have supported an increased focus on Afghanistan since our inception, but given the serious questions that are unresolved, we aren't ready to support what he's laid out."

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Afghanistan

Obama Takes On 'Dithering' In Afghanistan Speech

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 1, 2009, 8:46PM

For the past 90 days, President Obama has been hammered by opponents on the right who claim he's taken too long to announce his plan for the war in Afghanistan. In his speech at West Point this evening, Obama said the entire debate was unfounded. Obama's plan dispatches 30,000 additional troops to the conflict starting in January -- the earliest deployment date called for by his generals, he said.

From the speech:

Let me be clear: there has never been an option before me that called for troop deployments before 2010, so there has been no delay or denial of resources necessary for the conduct of the war. Instead, the review has allowed me ask the hard questions, and to explore all of the different options along with my national security team, our military and civilian leadership in Afghanistan, and with our key partners. Given the stakes involved, I owed the American people - and our troops - no less.

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Afghanistan

No Surge Here: Obama Doesn't Use The Term

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 8:35PM

TPMDC wrote earlier that Obama administration officials seemed quite comfortable with the term "surge" that was used to characterize President George W. Bush's increase in troops to Iraq.

Tonight, President Obama did not use the term surge as he detailed the 30,000 more troops he will send to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Obama: Afghanistan Is Not Vietnam

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 1, 2009, 8:22PM

As President Obama met with his war council to consider the next move on Afghanistan over the past three months, a growing chorus of dissenters worried that the eight year conflict is in danger of becoming a quagmire like the one that cost the lives of 50,000 U.S. soldiers more than 30 years ago. In his speech outlining his new plans for the Afghan conflict this evening, Obama confronted those critics head on.

The "argument" that Afghanistan is becoming another Vietnam "depends upon a false reading of history," Obama said.

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Afghanistan

Obama Presents Afghanistan Exit Strategy

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 1, 2009, 7:25PM

In his speech before the cadets at West Point this evening, President Obama outlined plans to begin withdrawing U.S. troops starting in July, 2011. Obama gave Afghan forces 18 months of an increased U.S. military presence in their country -- after that, he said American troops will begin to leave the theater they first entered in 2001.

From the speech:

And as Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan

Surge Details: Drawdown Starting 2011 Is 'The Beginning Of a Process'

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 4:50PM

President Barack Obama and his war council

President Obama tonight will not set a date for the war in Afghanistan to end, but instead will say that a drawdown could start in the summer of 2011, based on conditions on the ground.

Senior administration officials briefed reporters this afternoon to offer a bit of detail before Obama gives a speech at 8 p.m. from West Point Military Academy.

The officials, speaking on a condition of anonymity since Obama has not yet made the formal announcement, said the "top development priority from here forward will be agriculture."

One official said Obama settled on this option after nine meetings of his war council because it "gets more troops into Afghanistan faster than any option that was previously presented to him."

"It does put everyone under pressure to do more sooner," the official said. "That pressure of the timeline begins with the U.S. government itself."

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Afghanistan

That Settles That: Obama Administration Calls It A 'Surge'

Christina Bellantoni | December 1, 2009, 3:14PM

President Barack Obama

Senior administration officials are briefing the press about President Obama's speech tonight detailing the 30,000 more troops he'll be sending to Afghanistan.

They say he will outline a "new window of opportunity" and a "new approach" to the region.

But another talking point emerged, with language we've heard before.

An official told reporters that tonight at West Point Military Academy Obama will announce he will "surge American forces" to reverse the momentum of the Taliban and with the main goal of training Afghan forces.

The official repeated a bit later that "this surge, if you will, will be for a defined period of time" and said it again later in the call.

More coverage here.