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Grading Obama on Iraq Drawdown Plans

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    All-star panel weighs in

  • Duration 5:40
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What's happened over the last.

Several years.

It has link to the United States and Iraq in a way that is potentially powerful and could end up benefiting.

Not only.

America and Iraq but also the entire region -- entire world this administration took a gamble.

It's -- American prestige and our national security.

On the promise that it could go win.

Overthrow Saddam Hussein and rebuild a functioning democracy so far each time.

That we've made an assessment of how that gamble has paid off it appears that it has failed.

Senator Obama back in 2007 talking about the Iraq War and President Obama today alongside.

Iraqi prime minister -- the Iraq War is now over and all US troops will be out of Iraq.

By the end of the year.

We're back with the panel you see the two leaders meeting in the Oval Office said today.

Charles what about this and statements and the moment.

Well I thought it was remarkable here's a president having.

Failed in the job he had we tourists in three years.

To negotiate an agreement with Iraq where there -- some viewers as it is going to be -- Which means there are influenced -- to be greatly diminished.

And in fact -- I'm gonna have 161000.

People in the US embassy in Baghdad.

Well that would make sense if we were a major influence in her arm which we won't pay.

And without our own military for protection.

-- we really want that many Americans out there.

Relying on protection of others I think they're going to be sitting ducks so -- -- -- in a very -- -- difficult position.

And it's clear that Iraq now is -- to some extent to Iran influence.

As we saw in Iraq's decision to abstain.

On the vote in the Arab League to essentially suspend.

Syria.

And to extend sanctions -- going to be very very difficult.

On the Asad regime and what the Arabs are seeing the Sunni Arabs is this sort of Shiite crescent Iran.

Iraq Syria and of course Hezbollah and eleven as a threat.

And that's why I think they are really intent on the -- of -- -- because.

That would be a blow against Iran Shiite influence and that's why Iraq.

Abstain and it tells you how much Iraq is now in an Arab and a Middle East context no longer responding.

Two American.

In -- in in any significant way.

This is a big moment for the administration.

In that politically it plays well to get all US troops home despite what Charles -- saying here about the concerns going forward.

But what about the Dick dichotomy between those two statements we saw -- -- And the fact that there really was no mention at all not once of the Bush Administration would decisions made during that.

-- when he was asked about whether or not he still believes -- -- -- warrant he.

-- he -- history will be the judge of whether -- not getting into this war was the right decision.

He's trying to say he's finishing off in the right way.

No matter what is that as a senator he is invested now this relationship with -- -- hockey will always be strained but he must have one.

This is an essential relationship.

Because.

Obviously -- he's.

Close to the Iranians and as they tried to flat out not only you know -- President Obama.

Work to secure you know gains that we made for a stable Iraq.

But he really needs as he tries to mitigate.

The -- the threat.

The Iranians flexing their muscle in the region he he can't lose this relationship so.

There there's a sticky issue now with the Lebanese detainee and whether or not we're gonna take.

Him back here or -- -- and Iraqis can keep them there's a lot.

On the table but it for President Obama politically and substantively heat -- keep this relationship.

Going him -- have -- line -- in with quality no matter what.

Bill what the president did mention the sacrifice of troops the blood and stretch of the US has spent in Iraq.

Your thoughts on the statement that.

That statement was moving actually in and that's the great -- -- he said we've had shared sacrifice and rocks the blood and treasure US and Iraqis.

Fighting terror he implied that we've had success -- by saying that history will judge whether it was the right.

Whether it's right to get in the first I think that was the appropriate thing from the same as president was it wasn't gonna repeat its position.

That he had a senator and he said what happened in Iraq that affect the success there could benefit Iraq.

And the region and the US so -- a certain way it was an eloquent I thought should be -- what we've achieved over a difficult eight year period there.

And then he as Charles says he's sort of instant substance indeed -- -- all away by not being serious about leaving you serious US presence there that could help it hold Iraq together.

Help preserve Iraq as a friend help Iraq -- counterbalance to Iran instead of succumbing to -- and influence up from be watching the statement.

Which -- I felt was appropriate and even -- moving made even more maybe even more unhappy and upset about the fact that he didn't negotiated an agreement to leave.

Reasonable number of US troops although what's the reason all the number at the end of the negotiations had that 101000 and it was -- -- 3000 but what was the generals wanted twenties to 25.

Something comparable to our presence.

In the countries after the second world war in Korea -- -- Germany and Japan.

That would have been less but it would have been affected.

That is it for the -- to stay -- to hear from one Republican presidential candidate.

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