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?v=X5thPwpddUg
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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