Obama's ideological blinkers

James Forsyth:

Only someone wearing ideological blinkers could claim that the surge has not transformed the security situation in Iraq and provided the space necessary for political progress. So, it is depressing to see Obama claiming that - even knowing what he knows now, and after seeing the progress in Iraq at first hand, and being briefed by General Petraeus - he still would have opposed the surge if he had to go back in time and make the decision again (see video below). Indeed, Obama’s answer to this question displays his Bush-like quality of refusing to allow the changing facts on the ground in Iraq to influence his thinking.

Rather than admit that the counter-insurgency strategy has worked. Obama is reduced to arguing that “political factors inside Iraq that came right at the same time as terrific work by our troops. Had those political factors not occurred, my assessment would be correct.”

If the US had withdrawn all combat troops from Iraq by the end of March 2008 as Obama proposed, Iraq would be in a far worse state than it is today, the most extreme elements in both the Sunni and Shiite worlds would have claimed victory and been emboldened by the US retreat. As it is, al Qaeda inspired violence is on the brink of a resounding defeat in the heart of the Middle East, the Maliki government has taken action against the Shiite militias in Basra and Sadr City, and Iraq is making progress towards having a functioning, democratic government.

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One of Obama's real faults is the inability to admit he is wrong. He comes by it honestly. He is a liberal. But, when he expresses this inability he is deeply dishonest. The response to ABC's Moran was a huge gaffe, that many others in the media missed. Indeed the Washington Post and the NY Times have been indicating that the trip has produced no mistakes. Perhaps that is because of their own ideological blinkers.

Here is the Obama interview that exposed his blinkers.



Rudy Giuliani is mystified by the Obama logic.