Reply to: Obama throws Cameron under the bus

[AtW]

I think it would have helped to urge the Iraqi government to extend an olive branch to the former Baathists. Let's face it having a government seen as strongly anti-Sunni and unwilling to compromise for national unity didn't help anything.

It's a tad hard from Washington DC to urge Iranian backed Govt in Iraq to compromise with Sunnies (the ones that were fighting big war with Iran), without having troops on the ground.

Obama pulled the troops and completely ignored what was going on there for many years until ISIS started cutting heads of American citizens.

[seanraaron]

I think it would have helped to urge the Iraqi government to extend an olive branch to the former Baathists. Let's face it having a government seen as strongly anti-Sunni and unwilling to compromise for national unity didn't help anything.

[d000hg]

That wasn't ISIS at the time, it was fight back (helped by Iran) which got crushed with surge.

That was under Bush Jnr.

After that Obama pulled troops way too quickly - that was the reason ISIS could be created and flourish unchecked for many years.

So Obama did the wrong thing but not continuing to oppress a foreign country after crushing them in an illegal war?

[seanraaron]

UK did not have big enough force to do it on it's own, plus Iraq was of US doing, so primary responsibility for it was that of the US - Obama's specifically, he can't blame Congress or Senate for that

I wouldn't expect the UK to have done everything, but the UK was responsible for a province or two and bailed. Not the best message to send re: the special relationship, aside from "we're unreliable."

[AtW]

If Cameron hadn't bailed and been an actual partner in trying to ensure Iraq was stable, I'm sure things would have turned out differently.

UK did not have big enough force to do it on it's own, plus Iraq was of US doing, so primary responsibility for it was that of the US - Obama's specifically, he can't blame Congress or Senate for that

[seanraaron]

After that Obama pulled troops way too quickly - that was the reason ISIS could be created and flourish unchecked for many years.

Not like the UK who stuck in until the end, right? Again, this is what the comment about Euros being unwilling to "put any skin in" was about. This is the first President in forever who didn't want to play world cop - something most people like to criticise the US for, but the fact is that the rest of NATO is pretty useless without America to run the show.

If Cameron hadn't bailed and been an actual partner in trying to ensure Iraq was stable, I'm sure things would have turned out differently.

[AtW]

That's crap, the sacking of the Baathist security people is what led to the creation of ISIS and that's a Blair-Bush show.

That wasn't ISIS at the time, it was fight back (helped by Iran) which got crushed with surge.

That was under Bush Jnr.

After that Obama pulled troops way too quickly - that was the reason ISIS could be created and flourish unchecked for many years.

[seanraaron]

ISIS is solely Obama's fault - he pulled the troops after very successful surge in Iraq way too early - that gave space for ISIS (former Saddam Husseins army/party chaps).

When ISIS cut first head of a US citizen Obama made press conference during which he admitted he got no strategy on how to deal with ISIS. What did he do right after that press conference:

1) called emergency meeting of all relevant people to brainstorm strategy

OR

2) went to play golf

That's crap, the sacking of the Baathist security people is what led to the creation of ISIS and that's a Blair-Bush show. Of course Cameron running away from Iraq probably didn't help his image in the American's eyes either, but you know this chat was mainly about Libya and the UK and France being incapable of taking ownership of stuff happening on their doorstep.

[AtW]

What would any Champagne Socialist leader worth his rhetoric do?

Write a strongly worded letter in The Guardian?

[DimPrawn]

When ISIS cut first head of a US citizen Obama made press conference during which he admitted he got no strategy on how to deal with ISIS. What did he do right after that press conference:

1) called emergency meeting of all relevant people to brainstorm strategy

OR

2) went to play golf

What would any Champagne Socialist leader worth his rhetoric do?

[AtW]

He can blame Iraq/Afghanistan/Syria/ISIS on Bush...

ISIS is solely Obama's fault - he pulled the troops after very successful surge in Iraq way too early - that gave space for ISIS (former Saddam Husseins army/party chaps).

When ISIS cut first head of a US citizen Obama made press conference during which he admitted he got no strategy on how to deal with ISIS. What did he do right after that press conference:

1) called emergency meeting of all relevant people to brainstorm strategy

OR

2) went to play golf

[DimPrawn]

He seems good at handing out blame to everyone but himself.

Sounds like a permie IT manager. Maybe that's what he'll do next?

[woohoo]

He seems good at handing out blame to everyone but himself.

[d000hg]

The only good thing about him is being black

[seanraaron]

Looks to me like he is blame shifting and distancing himself from Libya to try and secure his personal legacy. He's also saying "don't blame me for Trump"...

He can blame Iraq/Afghanistan/Syria/ISIS on Bush...

The US helped, but people seem to have forgotten it was Britain and France who were most loudly calling for military action. Shouldn't do that if you can't do the heavy lifting yourself.

If you want to see who the real special relationship is with check out Obama and Trudeau.