RNC Statement on Obama and Surge 'Spin'

WASHINGTON, June 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- RNC Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan released the following statement today:

"Barack Obama opposed the surge when it was proposed, neglected to witness it first-hand, and refuses to acknowledge the progress now. Obama once demanded a 'surge in honesty' in the debate about the Iraq war. A 'surge in honesty' would require Obama to acknowledge the courage and success of our troops in Iraq. Despite Obama's attempts to cut off funding and prematurely withdraw our forces, the surge has successfully put the terrorists in Iraq on the run, making the country a more stable and safe place. Of course, much work remains, which is precisely why we must continue to build on the gains made by our troops and the Iraqi government, and reject calls for premature withdrawal from the ill-informed. Senators Obama and McCain each made an important decision about how to proceed in Iraq, and Obama chose to strongly oppose the surge. Shouldn't Barack Obama admit it was weak judgment?"

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/RNCLOGO )

Last April, John McCain Praised The Surge:

"'We Have A Long Way To Go, But For The First Time In Four Years, We Have A Strategy That Deals With How Things Really Are In Iraq And Not How We Wish Them To Be,' The Arizona Republican Said ... "(Richard Sisk, "McCain Defends Iraq War As 'Necessary And Just,'" [New York] Daily News, 4/11/07)

On That Same Day, Barack Obama Attacked McCain On The Surge:

"'What We Need Today Is A Surge In Honesty,' Sen. Barack Obama, A Top Democratic Presidential Candidate, Said In A Statement." (Liz Sidoti, "Newsview: McCain Steadfast On Iraq War," The Associated Press, 4/11/07)

Yesterday, Barack Obama Said We Didn't Need More "Spin" About The Surge.

Obama: "We don't need more spin about how the surge is succeeding in doing what it was supposed to do which is to get the Iraqi's to stand up and take responsibility for their own future, so we can start sending our troops homes." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At Town Hall, Rapid City, SD5/31/08)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?vX5thPwpddUg

If Barack Obama Would Actually Meet With Our Commanders On The Ground, He Might Hear That The Iraqis Are Standing Up

Obama Has Not Been To Iraq In 875 Days. (RNC Website, www.gop.com, Accessed 5/31/08)

General David Petraeus: "Prime Minister Maliki, His Government, The Iraqi Security Forces And The Iraqi People, In Addition To Our Troopers, Deserve Considerable Credit For The Positive Developments" In The Country. GEN. PETRAEUS: "In Iraq, Iraqi and coalition forces continue to build on the security gains of the past 15 months as we also continue to reduce U.S. forces and transition responsibility to Iraqi security forces, strive to maintain the conditions necessary for political progress, help build governmental capacity and seek to foster economic development. I should note here that the number of security incidents in Iraq last week was the lowest in over four years, and it appears that the week that ends tomorrow will see an even lower number of incidents. This has been achieved despite having now withdrawn three of the five brigade combat teams scheduled to redeploy without replacement by the end of July and also with the reduction of the two Marine battalions and Marine expeditionary unit. Recent operations in Basra, Mosul and now Sadr City have contributed significantly to the reduction in violence, and Prime Minister Maliki, his government, the Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi people, in addition to our troopers, deserve considerable credit for the positive developments since Ambassador Crocker and I testified a month and a half ago." (U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Hearing, 5/22/08)

Admiral Patrick Driscoll: "Recent Improvements By The Government Of Iraq And The Growing Capability Of The Iraq Security Forces Are Improving Security." ADM. DRISCOLL: "Recent improvements by the government of Iraq and the growing capability of the Iraqi security forces are improving security. Iraqi security forces are in the lead in Basra, Mosul and Sadr City. And the result is a significant decrease in security incidents. Iraqi wide, we have seen a significant reduction in violence." (Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Press Conference, Baghdad, Iraq, 5/25/08)

Admiral Driscoll: Since The Surge Began, Attacks Have Decreased 70 Percent. ADM. DRISCOLL: "In the past week, security incidents decreased to a level not seen since March of 2004. These figures reflect the decrease in attacks of some 70 percent since the surge operations began in June of 2007." (Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Press Conference, Baghdad, Iraq, 5/25/08)

FACT: Levels Of Violence In Iraq Are The Lowest They've Been In Four Years

Levels Of Violence In Iraq Are The Lowest They've Been In Four Years. "U.S. and Iraqi military officials said violence in Iraq has decreased significantly in recent weeks to levels not seen in four years. ... A significant difference the drop in violence announced Sunday: It came following concerted efforts by Iraqi security forces backed up by American and allied firepower -- not the other way around, as has been mostly the case in the five-year Iraq war." (Gina Chon, "Violence In Iraq Reaches 4-Year Low, Military Says," The Wall Street Journal, 5/26/08)

-- "Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, The Top U.S. Military Commander In Iraq,
On Thursday Gave Congress A Markedly More Upbeat Assessment Of The War
Than He Did Six Weeks Ago, Saying Violence Has Hit A Four-Year Low And
Further Troop Reductions Are Likely In The Fall."(Peter Spiegel and
Julian E. Barnes, "Fall Troop Cuts Likely, Petraeus Says," Los Angeles
Times, 5/23/08)

The Area Known As The "Triangle Of Death" Has Become "A Showcase For What The U.S. Military Hoped To Achieve In Iraq." When the Fort Stewart-based 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Iraq's once infamous 'Triangle of Death,' violence there and in neighboring Baghdad was so intense that hundreds were dying every day and the country was virtually in a state of civil war. Now as the division heads home at the end of May, the region stretching south from Baghdad and across central Iraq has become a showcase for what the U.S. military hoped to achieve in Iraq." (Patrick Quinn, "US Military Makes Progress In Iraq's 'Triangle Of Death,'" The Associated Press, 5/28/08)

-- Sunni Fighters In The Triangle Of Death Have Been "Effectively
Shut...Down." "Sunni fighters who swarmed the area are also nearly
gone. They have either been killed, or co-opted into Awakening
Councils, said Lt. Col. William Zemp, commander of the 3rd Battalion,
320th Field Artillery Regiment based in nearby Mahmoudiya. 'It was a
place where they could consolidate, make plans and be put into action,'
Zemp said. 'We have effectively shut that down.'" (Patrick Quinn, "US
Military Makes Progress In Iraq's 'Triangle Of Death,'" The Associated
Press, 5/28/08)

The Only One Who Has Spun The Surge From The Beginning Is Barack Obama Who Declared Even Before It Began That It Would Be a Failure

Senator Obama Said "I Don't Think The President's Strategy Is Going To Work." Obama: "But right now what we have is, I think by all accounts, a disaster unfolding in Iraq. We all have a responsibility, Democrats and Republicans, Congress and the White House, to make sure that we can come up with the best strategy. I don't think the president's strategy is going to work. We went through two weeks of hearings on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; experts from across the spectrum -- military and civilian, conservative and liberal -- expressed great skepticism about it." (MSNBC's "Reaction To The State Of The Union Address," 1/23/07)

Senator Obama Declared That The Surge Would Actually Worsen Sectarian Violence In Iraq. Obama: "I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraqis going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse." (MSNBC's "Response To The President's Speech On Iraq," 1/10/07)

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2008-06-01 12:04:18 0374161 PRNEWSWIRE