As VP Biden continually tries to set-up and hoist credit for the success in Iraq on this administration GOP leader John Boehner takes great exception to the political flip-flop in his Human Events commentary:

In January 2007, the situation in Iraq was grim. The evening news was dominated by horrific accounts of indiscriminate violence—torture, kidnapping and killing—that had left millions of innocent civilians desperate and defenseless against a ruthless terrorist enemy.

Our men and women in uniform had fought bravely and forcefully for years, but the future remained bleak. Calls for withdrawing our troops were increasing, and the patience of the American people was waning.

When President Bush announced the troop surge, it was widely viewed as our last chance to prevent Iraq from spiraling into an irreversible descent towards chaos—an outcome which would have given terrorists a safe haven to plan attacks against the United States and our allies and to directly threaten our national interests in the region.

[...]

Not everyone was convinced, however ...

Then-Sen. Barack Obama, who campaigned on his opposition to the Iraq war, flatly declared that the troop surge would not work: “I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq is going to solve the sectarian violence there. In fact, I think it will do the reverse.”

I’m sure glad our troops proved them wrong. And I’m sure glad President Obama didn’t listen to Sen. Obama.

On August 31, the U.S. mission in Iraq will shift from a combat role to an advisory mission to support the Iraqi government and its security forces. Our troops have already begun performing these roles in many parts of the country. While the administration continues seeking credit for “ending the combat mission” in Iraq, it is important to remember that this transition was made possible by the very surge that President Obama and Vice President Biden opposed.

With all due respect to them, our troops who have served so courageously in Iraq deserve the credit for the success of the surge and, along with the Iraqi people, the turnaround in Iraq. [...]

I personally know young US Marines that have been serving since the beginning of the Iraq War. Some straight out of high school post-9/11 attack. All but one continue to serve (now in Afghanistan), which means they have re-enlisted over the last 8 years. The one who hasn't, lost his leg in Iraq (and is one of the war vets who has jogged with Pres. Bush). I personally know two Army Rangers ... who died in Iraq. The Iraq success is shaky at best. The last couple months show the terrorists are trying to regain a foothold in the country. Success takes care and attention. So does an ongoing war in Afghanistan. War is supposed to be a 'bother' for the Commander in Chief, privately and publicly. And after they leave office it should continue to 'bother' them, but they should always have the wisdom and dignity to give proper credit to the heavy lifters.