Hold Those Horses: Obama Is Unchanged on Iraq

Barack Obama is the same man on Iraq he was 6 months ago and 2 years ago, the New Republic editors say—so how come the press keeps saying he’s gutted his own policy? Sure, Obama recently “shifted the accent in his Iraq talk,” but talking with the commanders before definitive action has always been part of his careful “fine print”—and the press, once again, is just vilifying nuance.

It’s “ludicrous” for journalists to have missed his caveats, “crazy” that they’re deeming a change in emphasis significant, and “depressing” that flip-flopping “has becoming the most damning accusation against a politician.” In fact, it’s promising that Obama wants to refine his policy: It would be far worse if he stuck with his hastiest rhetoric in the face of “real” success on the ground.