July 13, 2007
Obama Identifies Iraqi 'Blowback'
While doing his day job last night, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois slipped a statement into the Congressional Record arguing that President Bush (and members of Congress who voted to go to war) may have ignited a cycle of terrorism that will threaten Americans for years.
"The decision to authorize and fight a misguided war in Iraq also created a new cadre of experienced terrorists bent on the destruction of the United States and our allies. The recent attacks in Britain are likely only the beginning of an Iraqi 'blowback,' which may haunt us for years to come. Since we invaded Iraq, the number of Islamic extremist terrorist attacks (excluding those in Iraq and Afghanistan) has risen by 35 percent worldwide." Americans, he argued, "are less secure than we were on 9/11."
Obama jabbed at the administration for failing to root out al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan but also said it is time to reach out to the Muslim world.
"[I]t will take more than force to defeat this threat. It will take wisdom and patience to restore America's credibility in the Muslim world and reduce both passive and active support for extremists. We need to partner with the vast majority of Muslims in their struggle against those who would distort their religion, create oppressive theocracies, and kill innocents. We must demonstrate through action, not mere words, that America is not at war with Islam, and that we will stand with those Muslims who seek a better future."
In addition to his statement in the record, Obama sent a letter to Bush urging the administration to brief Congress on its strategy to tackle al-Qaida. No word yet on whether it has been filed under "O" in the White House mail room.
Read the full text of Obama's letter and the official statement.
Posted at 7:44 AM
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Barack Obama, Campaigns, Democrats, Iraq, Middle East, WH 2008
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