that s what happened. the body politics was clear on that. the really group that really wanted us to stay was the kurds. they didn t believe it, every step of the way we designed a glide path that would gradually pull us out of iraq. at every step along the way the iraqis didn t believe we would follow through. they didn t believe we would get out of the cities, we did. they didn t believe we would end our combat mission. we had to prove to them that we meant it. in my judgment, at least, we actually had to leave in order to reengage later and get back in. to what extent do you think you do have a coherent, functioning partner in iraq today? we have an increasingly functioning partner in iraq. it s a work in progress. it was important to have a partner on the ground because it
that s what happened. and the body politic was clear on that. the only group that really wanted us to stay were the kurds. sunnis, shia, they didn t believe that every step along the way starting with president bush and then president obama. every step along the way, the iraqis didn t believe we would get out of the cities, we did. they believe we would end our combat mission, we did. they didn t believe we would leave at the end of 2011. in my judgment at least, we actually had to leave in order to reengage later and to get back in. to what extent do you think you do have a coherent, functioning partner in iraq today? we have an increasingly functioning partner in iraq, but it s a it s a work in progress. it was important to have a partner on the ground because it
lasting defeat. so is the united states back in the combat business in iraq? ash carter said this week before the senate arms services committee that the u.s. was considering direct action on the ground. i wanted to take you inside the administration s thinking on this important issue. for that, you re about to see an interview i did for our documentary, long road to hell: america in iraq. i sat down with the deputy secretary of state in august of the state department. in his current role and last ones as deputy national security advisor to obama and national security advisor to biden. so understand iraq in 2015, we have to fully appreciate why the obama administration pulled out in 2011. and that is where blinken begins. at the end of the day, the iraqis wanted us out.
is the united states back in business in iraq? ash carter said this week before the senate arms services committee that the u.s. was considering direct action on the ground. you re about to see an interview i did for my documentary which i did this past monday. he s deputy national security advisory to obama and national security advisor to biden. at the end of the day the iraqis wants us out.
let s say if joe biden came into the campaign i think you would hear bush take pot shots at him as well. the growth of isis, it s the whole story about success having lots of fathers and the failure being an orphan. the success of isis has a lot of fathers. a lot of blame to go around. it starts with bush s brother, the war in iraq, that basically sets off the chaos into which isis and predecessors of isis arrive and thrive. did the ultimate withdrawal of american forces strengthen that? to some degree it did. to say the u.s. left iraq as if the iraqis didn t have a choice is bizarre. the iraqis said you have to go. obama administration wanted to keep a quite substantial force of americans in iraq. like 30,000 american soldiers permanently. if memory serves correctly.