Obama is right about Bush, and he can further make the point that Bush has strengthened Al Qaida in Iraq.
This morning on NPR, there was a story about how the US military is releasing Iraqi detainees for many reasons. One of which is that the detention camps were becoming training grounds for Insurgents.
Iraqi detention camps served as Al Qaida training
"Without exception, the reports that came out during those days that said that this was a, quote — their words not mine — 'Jihadist University' were accurate," Stone says.
That means al-Qaida leaders were organizing in this prison, teaching bomb-making skills, holding court and handing out harsh punishments, like eye gouging, Stone says.
Many of the Iraqis were detained because they took payment as paid lookouts for Al Quaida or they even planted roadside bombs. It's the 50% unemployment caused by the war that led them to accept such positions.
Bush's war.
I hope Obama sings this to the hills: Bush is creating enemies with his policies.
Aside: This article is really about about Major General Doug Stone, and his liberal rehabilitation efforts for Iraqi detainees. For the past year he has instituted training efforts to help detained Iraqis avoid the same economic predicament that got them detained. Recidivism rates are a few dozen of thousands. (Compare that to 60% in US prisons). Too bad we can't give our own population the same benefit of the doubt).
Unfortunately, even with training the released Iraqis will find themselves in the same economic situation that compelled them to seek jobs with the insurgencies.