Bob Owens says that Republicans, and those who oppose simply giving up in Iraq in general, should welcome Barack Obama’s recent shifts away from a hard line “withdraw at any cost” position:

Republicans should welcome any change of heart from Obama, as recognizing American progress in Iraq could only benefit both countries.

I’ve got two reactions

First, Obama should be hammered for this policy shift because I don’t think it’s sincere at all.  The shift itself has been far too insubstantial to this point, and even if Obama adds more substance to it I don’t believe him.  I think any shift at all from Obama on Iraq will be little more than a campaign promise and soon forgotten after election day

Second, I think Obama is actually getting more flak from the left than the right over his shift on Iraq.  Which is telling.  Mainstream Americans don’t want to fail in Iraq, especially now that we’re so achingly close to success

Obama’s left-wing base isn’t the mainstream

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