Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Lawrence Korb told reporters Tuesday that President Obama needs to push the Iraqi people to take responsibility for the future of their government and country.
In a prelude to the president’s Tuesday night Oval Office address, Korb said he believes the American mission in Iraq is complete and the president must push for a more self-sufficient Iraqi government.
“It’s up to the Iraqis now, we’ve done what we can,” Korb said. “They’ve got to get their act together, they’ve got to have a government… and that’s really the key.”
The panel agreed that the president’s remarks regarding the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn will not focus on whether the current or previous administrations should take credit for Iraq success, but recognizing and giving credit to the people of Iraq.
“This is not going to be a mission accomplished moment,” said Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “I think in our debate, we tend to credit too much what we’ve done and not enough of what the Iraqis did.”
The president is scheduled to address the nation tonight at 8:00 p.m. from the Oval Office.
Ex-Defense Official Says Obama Must Push For Self-Sufficient Iraq
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Lawrence Korb told reporters Tuesday that President Obama needs to push the Iraqi people to take responsibility for the future of their government and country.
In a prelude to the president’s Tuesday night Oval Office address, Korb said he believes the American mission in Iraq is complete and the president must push for a more self-sufficient Iraqi government.
“It’s up to the Iraqis now, we’ve done what we can,” Korb said. “They’ve got to get their act together, they’ve got to have a government… and that’s really the key.”
The panel agreed that the president’s remarks regarding the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn will not focus on whether the current or previous administrations should take credit for Iraq success, but recognizing and giving credit to the people of Iraq.
“This is not going to be a mission accomplished moment,” said Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “I think in our debate, we tend to credit too much what we’ve done and not enough of what the Iraqis did.”
The president is scheduled to address the nation tonight at 8:00 p.m. from the Oval Office.