Before laying out his administration's plans for the U.S. military in Iraq Friday, the President called former President George W. Bush. (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)
(CNN) – President Barack Obama called former President Bush on this morning to tell him about his plan to withdraw troops from Iraq, the White House said Friday.
Obama called the former president “as a courtesy” right before his speech at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
Obama also called Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki from Air Force One to brief him on his plan to withdraw most troops from that country by the end of August 2010. The preident also “sought and received” an agreement from the prime minister that he would receive Christopher Hill as the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
On Friday, Obama released his plan to end combat operation in Iraq by August 31, 2010.
Agree or disagree he's doing what he said in all areas. What a change. We now have somebody in there that do what is needed not what's politically correct. He's probably going to drop in the polls but he's doing what he think is right.
Senator McConnell "The Obama Administration needs to answer a question: Where exactly do they expect to send these guys next January? They have no answer. Well I do: these terrorists are right where they belong"
Update from CPAC: "The GITMO riff inspired an enthusiastic standing ovation."
Tools!
Thank you so much for the start of the end of this senseless war!!!
Pres. Obama gets an "A" for good manners. I can't say that I'd make a courtesy call to the person who wrecked everything he touched.
On a recent trip to Dallas I was amused at the "Welcome Home George and Laura" signs on the front lawns of some University Park and Highland Park mansions.
Any of those GOP war hawks that insist we stay in Iraq have just debunked reason #2 why we invaded Iraq, to liberate them. They would now be admitting that we're occupiers not liberators by staying in Iraq against the will of their free and sovereign government.
It is a cheap opportunity for Obama to make fun of Bush and allow all of the robo-bloggers to say "Bush is so stupid, he cannot read this is the media".
I got so tired of Obama doing this during the campaign. I wish he would just man up and call someone names to their face instead of letting bloggers and surrogates do it for him.
...and Bush said "listen, I got this nifty "Mission Accomplished" banner y'all can borrow. Only used once! Heh, heh, heh!"
let the Bush bashing begin
It is quite refreshing to witness the beginning of a new period of diplomacy. Enough Said.
How two face can one be. Just shows you Obama is playing all sides. He is calling as a courteousy one moment and then on National television bashing Bush for every problem that goes on. At least Bush was a decent man and didn't blame others for problems and he could have!! This just makes me sick that our country is going down the tubes and you LIberals are loving every minute of it!
It sounds as if this was a courtesy measure; nothing of real importance. But it’s a nice gesture.
All that is good, did he ask him to turn himself in to the nearest police station for war crimes?
If not then the phone call was not necessary.....they should have had a plan to start pulling troops out by the thousands on January 21st, 2009 at a rate of two thousand a day. That was the whole idea of choosing Obama over Clinton....that was the only signifant difference between him and her.
Why call Bush? Thought the almighty Obama could handle things on his own....Oh wait he is,
Was this kind of coutesy maintained by W to Bill Clinton
Then...Frm. President Bush Called Dick Cheney to ask for permission to which Obama reminded him that he no longer was President, to which Bush breathe a sigh of relief....muhahaha
Ok, as long as he did not call asking for input.
Called GWB as a "courtesy"? I can't fathom why such a courtesy would be warranted. More likely our brand-spankin' new President was looking for advice.
Now that is the action of a statesman. President Obama, as far as I am concerned is doing things the right way. I don't always agree with his decisions, but I admire his honesty, his ability to think and to speak, and to act with honor.
GEORGE BUSH MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE 4254 AMERICAN MILITARY HEROES WHO DIED IN IRAQ. IF GEORGE BUSH CALLED THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ A """""NOBLE CAUSE""""" THEN HE SHOULD EXPLAIN TO THE NATION ABOUT THIS NOBLE CAUSE THAT WASTED BILLION OF DOLLARS AND CAUSED THE DEATH OF 4254, OUR BEST AND YOUNGEST MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN. FATHER AND MOTHERS, HUSBANDS AND WIFES, SONS AND DAUGHTERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM GEORGE BUSH ""WHY WE HAD TO SACRIFICE OUR BRAVEST 4254 BELOVED ONES""". THEIR SOULS WILL NOT REST IN PEACE UNTIL THIS IDIOT NAMED GEORGE BUSH TELLS TO THE NATION """"""""""WHY"""""""""".
Maybe W should charge you a consulting fee...
Hope he called Bush a "war criminal"...
George told Obama to make sure he finds the WMDs before they withdrawal.
What combat operations??
What? The President is breaking another campaign promise? It’s going to take more than 16 months to get our troops out of Iraq? Man you can't believe anything this guy says...
Just kidding. Way to go Mr. President, you have done what you said you would do. You listened to the men and women on the front fighting this thoughtless, meaningless and wasteful war, and although you can’t get all of our men and women out safely in 16 months I think the 60+% of Americans who voted for you will be more than happy with 18.
Way to go Mr. President. For some reason, I truly believe our former President agrees with our current president on a lot of issues. George Bush is not a bad person, he just had bad, terrible, stupid, uniformed, uncaring, unscrupulous, party driven, and downright dumb people surrounding him. I really think republicans are all about republicans, not their constituents, simply themselves. Anyway, back to what I was saying, Former President Bush seems to have had no voice whatsoever in his administration, other than to stand out front and tell us what the dummies in his administration told him to say. As the republican party goes through the search for a leader, we, the Democratic party, need to come together to unseat as many of those airheads as possible... Please my fellow democrats, start campaigning now if a republican seat in your district, your state, your county, your town, or your are is up for re-election. WE NEED TO UNSEAT AS MANY REPUBLICANS AS POSSIBLE.