2008 State of the Union address: on War & Peace
Barack Obama:
The surge is not working toward enduring peace
Tonight Pres. Bush said that the surge in Iraq is working, when we know that’s just not true. Yes, our valiant soldiers have helped reduce the violence. But let there be no doubt--the Iraqi government has failed to seize the moment to reach compromises
necessary for an enduring peace. That was what we were told the surge was all about. So the only way we’re finally going to pressure the Iraqis to reconcile and take responsibility for their future is to immediately begin a responsible withdrawal.
Source: Response to 2008 State of the Union address
Jan 28, 2008
Barack Obama:
Iraq takes our eye off al Qaeda & Afghanistan
We need to begin this withdrawal [from Iraq] immediately is because this war has not made us safer. I opposed this war from the start in part because I was concerned that it would take our eye off al
Qaeda and distract us from finishing the job in Afghanistan. Sadly, that’s what happened. It’s time to heed our military commanders by increasing our commitment to Afghanistan, and it’s time to protect the American people by taking the fight to al Qaeda.
Source: Response to 2008 State of the Union address
Jan 28, 2008
George W. Bush:
Transition from leading operations to partnering with Iraqis
I ask Congress to meet its responsibilities to these brave men and women [in Iraq] by fully funding our troops. Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead. Our objective in the coming
year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy. American troops are shifting from leading operations, to partnering with Iraqi forces, and, eventually, to a protective overwatch mission.
Source: 2008 State of the Union address to Congress
Jan 28, 2008
George W. Bush:
Iran: suspend nuclear enrichment before any negotiations
We’re standing against the forces of extremism embodied by the regime in Tehran. Wherever freedom advances in the Middle East, it seems the Iranian regime is there to oppose it. Iran is funding and training militia groups in Iraq, supporting Hezbollah
terrorists in Lebanon, & backing Hamas’ efforts to undermine peace in the Holy Land. Tehran is also developing ballistic missiles of increasing range, & continues to develop its capability to enrich uranium, which could be used to create a nuclear weapon
Our message to the people of Iran is clear: We have no quarrel with you. Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin. And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about
your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home, cease your support for terror abroad. But above all, know this: America will confront those who threaten our troops, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf.
Source: 2008 State of the Union address to Congress
Jan 28, 2008
George W. Bush:
FactCheck: Troop drawdown of 20,000 still above pre-surge
Bush was correct when he said that some US troops are returning from Iraq, but so far the drawdown only amounts to a few thousand. Bush said that all drawdowns “taken together [mean] more than 20,000 of our troops are coming home.This is accurate.
But to put that in context, at the peak of the surge about 162,000 US troops were in Iraq. Prior to the surge, the total was about 130,000, [so the 20,000 troop reduction now does not reduce to the pre-surge level].
And
Bush left out a bit of the back story of the sheer numbers of Iraqi Security Forces. Bush said, “Today, this grassroots surge includes more than 80,000 Iraqi citizens who are fighting the terrorists.” But at least 60,000 of the
Iraqi citizens to which Bush refers--they’re called “Concerned Local Citizens” by the US military--are under contract with the U.S. military and being paid about $300 a month.
Source: FactCheck.org on 2008 State of the Union address
Jan 28, 2008
Hillary Clinton:
Bush must ask Congress to approve agreements with Iraq
2007 was the deadliest year for US troops in Iraq. And the humanitarian situation remains devastating. Pres. Bush isn’t satisfied with failure after failure in Iraq; he wants to bind the next President to his failed strategy by unilaterally negotiating
with the Iraqi government about the future of the US-Iraq security relationship, including the possibility of permanent US bases in Iraq.The Bush Administration says it does not even plan to submit this agreement to the
Congress for approval, even though Iraqi officials plan to submit it to their parliament. It is an outrage that the Iraqi parliament will have an opportunity to debate this but the American Congress won’t.
We need to rein in this President. That is why I introduced the first legislation to require the President to submit any such agreement for congressional approval and to withhold any funding to carry out the agreement.
Source: Response to 2008 State of the Union address
Jan 28, 2008
Kathleen Sebelius:
Chart a new course: Soldiers can’t solve political disputes
Here in the heartland, we honor and respect military service. We appreciate the enormous sacrifices made by soldiers and their families. We stand ready in the heartland and across this country, to join forces with peace-loving nations across the globe
and to fight the war against terrorists, wherever they may strike. But our capable and dedicated soldiers can’t solve the political disputes where they are, and can’t focus on the real enemies elsewhere.
Congress and the vast majority of
Americans are ready to chart a new course. If more Republicans in Congress stand with us this year, we won’t have to wait for a new President to restore America’s role in the world, and fight a more effective war on terror.
The last five years have
cost us dearly--in lives lost; in thousands of wounded warriors whose futures may never be the same; in challenges not met here at home because our resources were committed elsewhere. America’s foreign policy has left us with fewer allies & more enemies.
Source: Democratic Response to the 2008 State of the Union address
Jan 28, 2008
Mike Huckabee:
We are making progress in Iraq, Afghanistan, & war on terror
Difficult as it has been, we are making progress in Iraq and Afghanistan. All Americans should take pride in the accomplishments of our warriors, under the superb leadership of General Petraeus. We need--and must provide for--the strongest and most
effective military in the world, to protect ourselves and our key allies. In addition, here on the homefront, we must continue our vigilance in the war on terror--and insist on the best possible care for veterans, their spouses and their dependents.
Source: Response to 2008 State of the Union address
Jan 28, 2008
Page last updated: Feb 24, 2019