Is He Ever Responsible For Anything?

On October 21st of 2011, President Obama announced to the world his intention of ending the war in Iraq and bringing all the troops home. Military leaders (and veterans nation wide) cringed at him telling our enemies when we were going to be leaving and telling them we wouldn't be leaving a contingency force behind to maintain security. We all knew what would eventually happen in Iraq without those troops remaining. But Obama refused to sign a status of forces agreement with the Iraqi government because he had no intention of leaving ground forces there to assist the Iraqis.

"As a candidate for President, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end — for the sake of our national security and to strengthen American leadership around the world. After taking office, I announced a new strategy that would end our combat mission in Iraq and remove all of our troops by the end of 2011."

"As Commander-in-Chief, ensuring the success of this strategy has been one of my highest national security priorities. Last year, I announced the end to our combat mission in Iraq. And to date, we’ve removed more than 100,000 troops. Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their country’s security."

"A few hours ago I spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki. I reaffirmed that the United States keeps its commitments. He spoke of the determination of the Iraqi people to forge their own future. We are in full agreement about how to move forward."

"So today, I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over."

About a year later, in a debate, Mitt Romney challenged the President on the status of forces agreement that didn't happen. The President reiterated that he chose not to do that.

ROMNEY: "Number two, with regards to Iraq, you and I agreed, I believe, there should have been a status of forces agreement."

OBAMA: "No. What I would not have done is left 10,000 troops in Iraq that would tie us down, but that certainly would not help us."

With Iraq falling to terrorists at a rapid pace and the Iraqi government calling on President Obama to provide some air strikes against the invaders, the President has decided shift the responsibility of who made the decision not to leave troops behind away from himself. He now says it was the Iraqis who made the decision and that he had no real choice in the matter.

"Keep in mind, that wasn’t a decision made by me. That was a decision made by the Iraqi government. We offered a modest residual force to help continue to train and advise Iraqi security forces. We had a core requirement which we require in any situation where we have U.S. troops overseas, and that is that they are provided immunity, since they are being invited by the sovereign government there so that if, for example, they end up acting in self-defense, if they are attacked and find themselves in a tough situation, that they’re not somehow called before a foreign court."

"That’s a core requirement that we have for U.S. troop presence anywhere. The Iraqi government and Prime Minister Maliki declined to provide us that immunity. And so I think it is important, though, to recognize that despite that decision, that we have continued to provide them with very intensive advice and support and have continued throughout this process over the last five years to not only offer them our assistance militarily, but we’ve also continued to urge the kinds of political compromises that we think are ultimately necessary in order for them to have a functioning multi-sectarian democracy inside the country."

As Ronald Reagan said to Jimmy Carter: "There you go again." President Obama just can't accept the responsibility for things that make him look bad.

"Keep in mind, that wasn’t a decision made by me." Really, Mr. President? It was back in 2011, before Iraq went to Hell in a handbasket.

The only thing I've ever seen Obama take credit for is the Navy SEALs killing Osama Bin Laden. You know - something he didn't actually do himself. Oh - and he took credit for Obamacare - at least he has so far. But as bad as it is it probably won't be long before he's blaming the Representatives who put it together and sent it to him for signature.

Just once in his Presidency I'd like to see the man stand up and say "I screwed up and it's my own fault." But those words in that particular order are not in a narcissist's vocabulary.