Darn That Pesky Word "Is"--Seems That Obama's Tripped Over It

At least that is what appears from an AP memo that challenges Obama's claim in his Tuesday speech that "the American combat mission in Iraq has ended".

Instead, according to the AP 'Combat in Iraq is not over, and we should not uncritically repeat suggestions that it is':

To begin with, combat in Iraq is not over, and we should not uncritically repeat suggestions that it is, even if they come from senior officials. The situation on the ground in Iraq is no different today than it has been for some months. Iraqi security forces are still fighting Sunni and al-Qaida insurgents. Many Iraqis remain very concerned for their country's future despite a dramatic improvement in security, the economy and living conditions in many areas.

As for U.S. involvement, it also goes too far to say that the U.S. part in the conflict in Iraq is over. President Obama said Monday night that "the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country."

However, 50,000 American troops remain in country. Our own reporting on the ground confirms that some of these troops, especially some 4,500 special operations forces, continue to be directly engaged in military operations. These troops are accompanying Iraqi soldiers into battle with militant groups and may well fire and be fired on.

...Our stories about Iraq should make clear that U.S. troops remain involved in combat operations alongside Iraqi forces, although U.S. officials say the American combat mission has formally ended.

Read the whole thing.

Hat tip to Legal Insurrection who writes that AP Calls Obama A Liar, and points out:

I guess it depends on what the meaning of "combat" is. Or "mission."

Maybe. Or maybe we just have another president who isn't clear on what the meaning of "is" is.

Technorati Tag: Obama and Iraq