BlackFive

Because we're going to get an amazing speech from President Obama tomorrow at Fort Hood, let's take a look back, not too long ago, at what some politicians said about Iraq and the Surge:

"I think it is very difficult for the President to sustain a war of this magnitude without the support of the American people, and without the support of the Congress of the United States. That's why Congress will vote to oppose the President's escalation." - Nancy Pelosi

---

"In Iraq, his new plan is a plan for more door-to-door fighting, more civil war, more civilian casualties, more troop deaths, more wasted money, more destabilization in the region and more separation from the world community. The President wants to send more troops to Baghdad, where they will work to quell a civil war. Only a small portion - less than 20 percent - of the new effort will be spent in al Anbar, to fight al-Qaeda. Does anyone in this Administration have any sense left at all? They are sending more US troops into the middle of a civil war!

"Congress needs to take a stand against the President and take the necessary steps to bring our troops home. We need to begin talks with Iran and Syria -- and not blame them for our misguided war in Iraq. Diplomacy is the only way to avoid a widening war. If we follow the President's path of war, we will get . . . more war." - Dennis Kucinich

---

"This country needs a dramatic change of course in Iraq and it is the responsibility of this Congress to consummate that change" - Congressman John Murtha

---

"This escalation is the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Viet Nam." - Senator Chuck Hagel

---

"I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything..." - Harry Reid

---

"it is too early to provide a definitive assessment of the US 'surge' but it does not look likely to succeed." - The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, urging Prime Minister Brown to withdraw British troops

---

"I think the best way of honoring their service is bringing them home." - Senator Hillary Clinton to the VFW

---

"The Bush Surge will backfire" - General (RET) Wesley Clark

---

"This whole notion that the surge is working is fantasy." - Senator Joe Biden

And the kicker:

“I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse.” - Senator Barrak Obama in response to the PSOTUS.

I wonder who will get the credit for fixing Iraq, per President Obama. I don't really expect him to mention President Bush, but he damn well better mention the troops.  And he shouldn't take the credit for a plan he opposed, Vice President Biden opposed, Speaker Pelosi opposed, Speaker Reid opposed, Secretary of State Clinton opposed...

Thank you, to General Odierno and our troops, for doing the impossible.

Thank you to ones that don't get to hear pretty speeches...

Update:  I wrote a Part II post here.

Update 2:  Just heard that the President is at Walter Reed this afternoon with press pool.

Update 3:  The New York Post has an interesting update:

...White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced Tuesday that Obama will call Bush Tuesday before he delivers the speech.

In the address, Obama will talk about the way forward in a country once ruled by a dictator and highlight milestones that many doubted would ever be reached in Tuesday’s address, according to White House officials...