Mr. President: You won the war in Iraq.

[win_in_06]

During the Foreign Policy debate, wouldn't the President be better served by claiming victory in the war in Iraq rather than simply saying he ended it? Ending it is simply complying with the withdrawal plan which was already in place.

After all, if we didn't win it, we lost it. He can claim victory, which isn't always pretty, and Iraq was certainly an ugly win.

His decision regarding the way we disengaged with no troops left on the ground = victory.

[BainsBane]

1. No, there was no victory in Iraq

Obama mopped up Bush's mess. I don't think that holds water, nor do I think it would help him.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. +1 nt

[warrior1]

2. does anyone ever win in war?

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Yup, not the soldiers, not the civilians

but I can tell you Raytheon made a bundle!

[ThomThom]

13. that is right ... What did we win?

We removed Saddam but the price was not worth it for them and us.
Birth defects are exploding over there. Infrastructure destroyed. Thousands of our young people killed and injured. Billions of dollars lost and wasted. And a civil war goes on. It was a very foolish move on George's part to invade.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. You do know of course that we have many

many mercs still on the ground?

[H2O Man]

5. silly

[jody]

7. The US has not won in Iraq of Afghanistan. Things probably worst now than in 2001. nt

[win_in_06]

8. I think our Soldiers would appreciate hearing that they were victorious, and I believe they were.

I think hearing that from the CinC during the FP debate would be fantastic.

[quinnox]

9. yea, and maybe he can stand in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner too

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Won? We lost the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It's well past time to get out of both countries completely and learn to keep out noses out of civil wars.

America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy.
John Quincy Adams

[win_in_06]

11. I agree that if we consider AF lost we shouldn't lose even one more Soldier.

Bring 'em home tomorrow.

[loyalsister]

12. A "win" in Iraq implies legitimacy

What the Bush administration did was level a country, and destroy the lives of people who despite living under a despotic regime did have stability. We didn't win anything because the people there are not necessarily better off now.
As for Afghanistan, we are leaving and there is still a war still going on.

The fact that soldiers are coming back with hope and intention of building their lives is a positive development, but they are committing suicide in record numbers and the job market is not welcoming them.

Obama's foreign policy has served to rescue us from a state of diplomatic and military disaster created by bush. Obama has set us on the right track, but there is no such thing as a win here.