"If this is going to be a new GOP talking point, we might as well set the record straight."

[babylonsister]

Posted with permission.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_05/029221.php


IF CANTOR REALLY WANTS TO GO THERE.... House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), shortly after President Obama's remarks on Osama bin Laden, issued a related statement. It included this gem:

"I commend President Obama who has followed the vigilance of President Bush in bringing Bin Laden to justice."

There's a fair amount of this rhetoric bouncing around this morning, and it's not especially surprising -- Republicans aren't going to credit President Obama, regardless of merit, so it stands to reason they'll try to bring George W. Bush into the picture.

If this is going to be a new GOP talking point, we might as well set the record straight.

In March 2002, just a year and a half after 9/11, Bush said of bin Laden, "I truly am not that concerned about him.... You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, to be honest with you."

In July 2006, we learned that the Bush administration closed its unit that had been hunting bin Laden.

In September 2006, Bush told Fred Barnes, one of his most sycophantic media allies, that an "emphasis on bin Laden doesn't fit with the administration's strategy for combating terrorism."

And don't even get me started on Bush's failed strategy that allowed bin Laden to escape from Tora Bora.

I'm happy to extend plenty of credit to all kinds of officials throughout the government, but crediting Bush's "vigilance" on bin Laden is deeply silly.

—Steve Benen

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Bookmarked.

[KansDem]

2. It took Obama a year and a half to do what Bush couldn't do in eight years.

I think that speaks volumes.

And then there's Tora Bora--

On December 3, a group of 20 U.S. commandos was inserted by helicopter to support the operation. On December 5, Afghan militia wrested control of the low ground below the mountain caves from al-Qaeda fighters and set up tank positions to blast enemy forces. The al-Qaeda fighters withdrew with mortars, rocket launchers, and assault rifles to higher fortified positions and dug in for the battle. The CIA paramilitary officers inserted with a highly trained Afghan force and were engaged by friendly fire, but stayed in the fight despite taking significant casualties.<2>

By December 17, the last cave complex had been taken and their defenders overrun. No massive bunkers were found, only small outposts and a few minor training camps.<3>

A search of the area by U.S. forces continued into January, but no sign of bin Laden or the al-Qaeda leadership emerged. Former CIA officer Gary Berntsen, who led the CIA team (consisting primarily of CIA Paramilitary Officers from Special Activities Division) in Afghanistan that was tasked with locating Osama bin Laden, claims in his 2005 book Jawbreaker that he and his team had pinpointed the location of Osama bin Laden. Also according to Berntsen, a number of al-Qaeda detainees later confirmed that bin Laden had escaped Tora Bora into Pakistan via an easterly route through snow covered mountains to the area of Parachinar, Pakistan. He also claims that bin Laden could have been captured if United States Central Command had committed the troops that Berntsen had requested. Former CIA officer Gary Schroen concurs with this view<4> and Pentagon documents are suggestive.<5>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tora_Bora

So then let's ask Bush why he didn't commit the requested troops...

[emulatorloo]

3. Steve Benen is one of the best columnists out there. Again he nails it.

THNKS

[LatteLibertine]

4. GOP is full of shit as usual

Some reports speculate OBL was living in that fortified compound 60miles from Pakistan's capital since around 2005.

He wasn't in a cave. He was in a wealthy suburb of Pakistan.

When President Obama came into office he quietly gave the order for the killing of OBL to be made a priority. He told intelligence and the military, "Get it done."

The CIA gathered the information for this strike in a matter of months. The U.S. Navy SEALs performed the strike. Dubyah had jack and shit to do with this. It is worth noting 9/11 occurred on his watch. The death of OBL occurred on President Obama's. President Obama was smart to keep things quiet and not to tell Pakistan about the strike before it happened.

IMO Dubyah viewed OBL as a useful boogeyman. He could have given that same order back in 2006 and it likely would have had the same results as what recently unfolded.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. To add to that litany

"Bin Laden determined to strike in US"- PDB, August 2001

Iraq (2003-present): No Bin Laden, no Al-Queda presence (before the invasion/occupation), no Iraqi WMDs, no evidence of Iraqi WMDs given to Bin Laden/Al-Queda.

[craigmatic]

6. That's total horseshit. Obama has been in office for 3 years. He planned this for the last 6 weeks

bush had nothing to do with it at all.

[66 dmhlt]

13. Rejoinder to Teapublicans who won't give credit where credit is due

[jillan]

7. World leaders are congratulating OBAMA not W and no talking points are going to change that.

[global1]

8. No Matter How Much The Repugs & RW Talking Heads Try To Give Some Credit To Bush......

the American people know who the real leader is here. Bush had nothing to do with the killing of OBL - he backed off trying to get OBL in full view of the American people. He told us in his own words he didn't want to bother with OBL.

[Zenlitened]

9. K&R.

Bush let bin Laden walk away from Tora Bora.

That's a plain FACT.

[treestar]

10. this was a specific operation

What did bush contribute to it?

Man these people are insane.

[Froward69]

11. Bush and republicans need a boogyman

to govern effectively (or to think they do) that boogyman was Bin laden. that's why Bush was never in a hurry to go get him.
ruling by fear is the only way they think they ae effective. as if we are chasing/distracted by a boogy man they can abscond massive amounts of money without much notice.

[MaeScott]

12. K and R

[AnotherMother4Peace]

14. Most of Obama's Presidency is dealing with the mess Bush left.