Obama in Iraq

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - 6:32 PM Share

I think he is trying to push the Iraqi government to move forward on reconciliation. Right now Maliki and those around him are the center of gravity in the war -- if they go sectarian and stiff the former Sunni insurgents, then things start unraveling. Take responsibility for your country, President Obama lectures. Likely Iraqi response: Thanks for your interest.

The next 18 months are "critical," Mr. Obama says. Alas, they always are in Iraq. It all feels depressingly like the Bush administration.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:BUSH ADMINISTRATION, IRAQ, MILITARY, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

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IOANCUZA

11:14 PM ET

April 7, 2009

America Cannot Fix Iraq

Sir,

There is a reason we should not have gone in Iraq in the first place. And there is a reason why we should get out with the utmost speed. We are the cause of much of the violence in Iraq. Furthermore, as you note very clearly, most Iraqis now don't really care what we have to say. Sadly, Iraq will remain a fractured state for the foreseeable future and nothing any American says will change that. We need to get out. It is not worth the cost.

MDREW

8:18 AM ET

April 8, 2009

"It all feels depressingly like the Bush administration."

Who started this war, anyway???

DRDAVE91

10:56 AM ET

April 8, 2009

Will not stay forever...I hope

I think where Obama differs from Bush is that Bush would have stayed forever, but Obama will get out if he does not see the Iraqis step up and start taking responsibility. So Maliki can say, "Thanks for your opinion" but in a year and a half he will either have stepped up or he will be presiding over a country at civil war with no American military to fall back upon.

CHARLIEFORD

1:22 PM ET

April 8, 2009

The funny thing is . . .

. . . the next 18 months are critical.