Remember that term?  “Necessary war”? 

That is what Presidential candidate Barack Obama called the war in Afghanistan – and President Barack Obama blew eight ways from Sunday.

Mr. Obama never called Iraq a “necessary war”.  But I wonder if he might have to change his tune now.

Excerpted from an article at Fox News:

IslamicState has reportedly seized al-Baghdadi, in Iraq\’s Anbar Province,5 miles from an air base staffed by U.S. Marines, as the terror groupcontinues its push beyond its bases in Syria and Iraq in an attemptto establish militant affiliates in other countries.

Hundredsof Islamic State fighters reportedly captured most of al-Baghdadi,which is 55 miles from the capital Ramadi, on Thursday.

OnFriday, Iraqi soldiers had retaken several government buildings, butthe soldiers withdrew early Saturday, handing the town back to themilitants, The New York Times reported, citing local securityofficials.

Onelocal Iraqi official told Reuters that, “Ninety percent ofal-Baghdadi district has fallen under the control of the insurgents.”

Militantsattacked the town of al-Baghdadi from two directions before advancinginward, Reuters reported.

Would this have happened if President Obama had insisted on a significant residual force being left in Iraq when we pulled out, instead of the next to nothing we have there now? 

Would it have happened if he were interested in doing anything more than taking credit for the pullout (which, in fact, was negotiated and agreed to by President Bush in November, 2008)?  We can never know for sure.  But it seems pretty obvious that Iraq, and the USA, would be a dramatically better situation today if he had.

But President Obama did not insist on that residual force. He did little other than get in front of the cameras to strut and preen over pulling out the troops that President Bush was responsible for….without ever mentioning Mr. Bush\’s name, of course. 

And anything that happened after that?  Like what is happening today?  Well, you can bet your bottom dollar that is Mr. Bush\’s responsibility.

So what will it be, Mr. President?  Are we going to do anything about the safety of our own marines, in a place that they have been for over 6 years of your – not Mr. Bush\’s, but your – presidency?

Or do you want to see members of our military beheaded?  In cages waiting to be burned alive?

It\’s your call.  Time to make it.  Time to do something other than strut and preen. 

How about it, Mr. President?  Will you do the right thing?  Or do nothing, and blame the consequences of doing nothing on your predecessor?  Again.