Sixteen Months

Analysts debate feasibility of Obama's Iraq withdrawal plan
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., National Journal
In 2002, a little-known Illinois state senator named Barack Obama launched himself onto the national stage by opposing the invasion of Iraq. As a presidential candidate, Obama laid out a 16-month timeline, starting on Inauguration Day and ending in summer 2010, to withdraw major combat forces from Iraq. The Iraqi government, meanwhile, has insisted on a Status of Forces Agreement calling for a U.S. withdrawal by the end of 2011. With appologies to Tennesee Ernie Ford or whoever wrote the original song - 16 tons.

16 Months

Some people say a man is made out of mud
Well a soldier’s made outta muscle and blood...
Muscle and blood and skin and bone...
It’s been six years and they want to come home.

You wait 16 months and what do you get??
Out of Iraq or still in there yet.
Now people don’t you quote me cause you all know...
It’s just my goal but it’s the Congress’s show

It was born one morning in the back of his mind
He picked up a pencil and he wrote down the lines
He wrote 16 months in the country that’s all
Out of Iraq if I get the call

You wait 16 months and what do you get??
Out of Iraq or still in there yet.
Now people don’t you quote me cause you all know...
It’s just my goal but it’s the Congress’s show

So if you hear the man talking…better step in line
A lot of men didn’t but someday they’ll find
He’s got one way of talking and another of doing
If you ain’t applauding then you’re probably booing

You wait 16 months and what do you get??
Out of Iraq or still in there yet.
Now people don’t you quote me cause you all know...
it’s just my goal but it’s the Congress’s show


Mdailey
12/16/08
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This poem was written following a Congressional hearing on the war in Iraq.

Sixteen Months is “doable”

Congress Daily.com / 24 February 2009: Marine Commander Says Iraq Pullout in 16 Months is “doable”

After spending a year in western Iraq
Major General John Kelly said let’s give it back
Like Obama said back in the campaign
16 months and we’re out; there’s no more we can gain
Kelly, commander of multi-national forces
Said he thinks the people have finally changed courses
Out in Anbar province, the big Sunni leaders
Said we’ll listen to voters, not to the bleeders
And these were the guys that thought violence the best
If they’ve change their mind, why not the rest
If violence is out and good governing in
We can leave Iraq and just say that we win
So let’s start withdrawing – 16 months if we can
Move out of Iraq to Afghanistan
There, maybe our tactics will be more divergent
Kindness to most not just death to insurgents
And eventually we can leave these folks alone
And bring all our soldiers finally back home


Mdailey
02/25/09