For old times' sake

By Creature

In many respects the Iraq war, from invasion to occupation, has been orchestrated for political purposes. Whether it be to make George a "war president" or to beat the Democrats senseless as weak on terror the Bush administration, and the GOP generally, has enjoyed putting lives on the line for their own political gain. So, this news today from ThinkProgress shouldn't surprise anyone:

Negotiating the post-UN mandate security agreement with Iraq, Bush argued for more time and both sides ultimately agreed that all U.S. troops would be out of Iraq by the end of 2011, not 2010, even though Bush has said previously that “if they were to say, leave, we would leave.”

Why did Bush go back on his word? A source tells ThinkProgress that White House communications staff were concerned that Maliki’s endorsement of the 2010 time line would damage Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) presidential campaign.

This helping hand for McCain is acknowledged by Maliki as well: "[T]hey asked for a change [in date] due to political circumstances related to the [U.S] domestic situation so it will not be said to the end of 2010 followed by one year for withdrawal but the end of 2011 as a final date."

Incredible. Agreeing to leave our troops in harms way, agreeing to bleed the treasury of a few more billions all to help John McCain. How's that for country first?

(Cross-posted at State of the Day.)