Iraq, the Surge, and Obama

John McCain has pinned his entire campaign on the success in Iraq. Fortunately for Senator McCain (politically), there have been many improvements in Iraq in the last year, thanks mainly to the surge in troops authorized by the President. Since the surge began last year, Both Republicans and Democrats agree that there have been many improvements in Iraq.

So, what does Barack Obama think about the surge?

From the New York Times, after finally visiting Iraq:

Beforehand, Mr. Obama said he was “pleased with the progress taking place” in Iraq and said that it was his impression that among Iraqis there was “more optimism about what is
happening. You see the activity taking place, the people in the shops, the traffic on the streets, clearly there’s been an enormous improvement,” he said.

Wonderful! John McCain has been telling you for months, “Go to Iraq, see the progress, you’ll like what you see.” It’s outstanding that Barack Obama sees the steps forward that have been made in Iraq during the surge.

From ABC News

Question: If you had to do it over again, knowing what you know now, would you support the surge?
Obama: "No…because, keep in mind that…” (cut off by host)

WHAT?

Senator Obama will claim that the surge is unsuccessful because political progress has not been made. However, if he had it his way, those nice things that he saw firsthand in Iraq would probably not be happening.

I believe that Barack Obama cannot say the surge is a success because it would score political points for John McCain, while simultaneously underscoring his anti-war rhetoric credentials with the left side of the spectrum. It sure sounds like politics as usual to me.

Come on, Senator Obama. The surge has been a good thing for Iraq. It’s okay to admit it.