Bush Cabinet Plays Down Significance of Iraq Pullout

Over the weekend, Iraq's cabinet "overwhelmingly approved a proposed security agreement that calls for a full withdrawal of American forces from the country by the end of 2011." Yesterday, however, the Bush administration attempted to play down the significance of the agreement. Press Secretary Dana Perino claimed that the deadline for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq included in the security agreement is only "aspirational". Similarly, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen said in a press conference yesterday that he still supports "conditions-based" withdrawal only, and suggested that the agreement might change long before 2011. "Three years is a long time. Conditions could change in that period of time," Mullen said. In reality, there is nothing "aspirational" or "conditions-based" about the withdrawal deadline. Members of the Iraqi government are referring to the pact as a "withdrawal agreement." A spokesperson for the Iraqi government explained that "total withdrawal will be completed by December 31, 2011. This is not governed by circumstances on the ground." In negotiating the agreement, the Iraqi government required that the U.S. "scrap the language that would have allowed the American troops to stay beyond 2011 if Iraq requested."

Obama Will End Torture To Regain US's Moral Stature

Recently, the Wall Street Journal wrote, "President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies," including torture. Last night, Obama put those concerns to rest, in an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes. CBS's Steve Kroft asked if Obama planned "to take early action" on changing interrogation methods and shutting the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay. "Yes," Obama replied unambiguously, "I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that. I have said repeatedly that America doesn't torture, and I'm going to make sure that we don't torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America's moral stature in the world." Recently, CIA senior deputy general counsel John Rizzo, who had been a strong advocate for torture under the Bush administration, said that the CIA detention and interrogation program must be "dealt with immediately." "We do not have the luxury to wait and muddle through," Rizzo added.