Obama Purges His Website of Iraq Surge Criticism

Another blogger (and I can't remember who) noted on Monday that the official Obama site was "down for maintenance" and suspected that what was really going on was the removal of posts and other items that might pose a problem later in the campaign. The site has been a haven for loonies that had posting privileges from such groups as Marxists for Obama and various anti-Semitic groups. That blogger was right:

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's campaign scrubbed his presidential Web site over the weekend to remove criticism of the U.S. troop "surge" in Iraq, the Daily News has learned.

The presumed Democratic nominee replaced his Iraq issue Web page, which had described the surge as a "problem" that had barely reduced violence.

"The surge is not working," Obama's old plan stated, citing a lack of Iraqi political cooperation but crediting Sunni sheiks - not U.S. military muscle - for quelling violence in Anbar Province.

The News reported Sunday that insurgent attacks have fallen to the fewest since March 2004.

Obama's campaign posted a new Iraq plan Sunday night, which cites an "improved security situation" paid for with the blood of U.S. troops since the surge began in February 2007.

It praises G.I.s' "hard work, improved counterinsurgency tactics and enormous sacrifice."

Campaign aide Wendy Morigi said Obama is "not softening his criticism of the surge. We regularly update the Web site to reflect changes in current events."

Actually, they have to update the site to reflect changes in the candidates positions and remove anything that would make him look like he was wrong about something.

What many can't figure out is why Obama would write a lengthy New York Times piece on his plan for Iraq BEFORE he gets there and meets with our military commanders. He's committed himself to a plan without knowing first hand the facts on the ground. It's pretty clear that he's not really interested in what our commanders say, just in the photo op it will provide.

UPDATE: Obama has also given a big policy speech on Iraq...before he gets there. He really doesn't get it, does he.