McConnell: Obama, Bush hardly different on Iraq

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday praised the Obama administration’s early decisions in Iraq and Afghanistan as “hardly distinguishable” from that of President Bush.   

“We’re on the right track in both places,” said McConnell, who was returning from his first visit to Iraq in three years. The Republican leader said Obama’s February announcement of an August 2010 pullout date for most U.S. troops in Iraq was a wise reversal of his campaign pledge of a quicker withdrawal, and likewise endorsed Obama’s decision to send more troops to Afghanistan.   

{mosads}“The present strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan, which from my point of view is hardly distinguishable from the strategy of the previous administration, is the right thing to do and gives us the best chance to avoid another attack here at home,” he said.   

McConnell appeared with GOP Sens. Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) and John Barrasso (Wyo.) at a mid-afternoon press conference about the senators’ 10-day trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) was also on the trip but not in Washington Monday.

McConnell and Chambliss had harsh words for last week’s release of CIA and Justice Department memos detailing harsh interrogation methods used against detainees.
Chambliss — a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee — said the administration released the interrogation memos to embarrass members of the Bush administration.   

“This is one time they’ve really overstepped their bounds,” Chambliss said of Obama’s decision. “Whatever the previous administration did under the guise of legal opinions that the Justice Department issued, it’s worked. And the American people have a great appreciation for that. There are some things, when you operate in the cloak-and-dagger world of the intelligence community that need to stay within the intelligence community, and I think it’s unfortunate those memos were put out.”  

McConnell also noted to reporters that Obama was visiting the CIA at the same time as their press conference.   

“My guess is that’s a morale-boosting visit, because the agency has to be upset and chagrined,” he said.   

McConnell said Republicans would oppose any effort to close Guantanamo Bay until the administration has determined where to send the prisoners.