On the recordJune 26, 2014
Quite the opposite. If we go back and look at the tape around this debate, the President basically said: We left Iraq and we are not going to be bogged down by Iraq. There was no regret that I am so sorry we couldn't convince the Iraqis to leave a residual force behind because that would have been the best outcome for Iraq and the United States, and I regret that we could not get there and they will regret their decision. None of that happened. It was all about the last combat soldier is out. We are done with Iraq. We have given them all the help we can give them. We are going to move on, and we are not going to be bogged down. Now the place is going to hell. It is a direct threat to the United States, and they are trying to rewrite history--and I think it was October. Mr. McCAIN. The President of the United States, in the last couple of days--please correct me--it was the first time he said it was Iraqis who did not want to leave a force behind.
