Iraq: Obama’s 100-year war

It is ironic to witness President Obama squirm when Democrats see the president's plan to leave troops in Iraq indefinitely as a betrayal of a core campaign promise.

You will remember that it was candidate Obama who twisted the words of John McCain who said he'd have no problem leaving soldiers in Iraq for 100 years so long as they were not in harm's way, like in Germany, Japan and Korea. Obama made McCain's statement a part of his stock campaign speech. Obama made it sound like McCain was a warmonger in favor of an indefinite war in Iraq and that he was the candidate who would get us out of Iraq lock, stock and barrel.

Now fast forward to today. Obama announces that the bulk of the troops will leave Iraq in 18 months, but a sizable military presence will remain for the foreseeable future. (This, BTW, is the McCain plan and it is a prudent path. We need Iraq to succeed.)

PBS anchor Jim Lehrer last week asked Obama about the discrepancy and a miffed Obama said anyone who thought he was going to get completely out of Iraq "just wasn't listening."

A bit sensitive, I'd say. And certainly not an intellectually honest response.