Think Progress

Rice’s Rhetoric “Losing Steam”

By Faiz on Aug 8th, 2005 at 9:26 am

Rice’s Rhetoric “Losing Steam”»

The Bush administration’s rosy rhetoric on Iraq continues to do a disservice to Americans who want to be told the truth.

Headline: “Report: Iraq Insurgency Getting Stronger

The report noted the growing sophistication of the insurgency:

U.S. commanders say the number of attacks against American and Iraqi forces has held steady over the last year, averaging about 65 a day. But they concede the growing sophistication of guerrilla attacks and the insurgents’ ability to replenish their ranks as fast as they are killed.

“We are capturing or killing a lot of insurgents,” a senior Army intelligence officer said. “But they’re being replaced quicker than we can interdict their operations. There is always another insurgent ready to step up and take charge.”

Condi’s Reponse?:

Rice told TIME she believes the insurgents are “losing steam” as a political force, even though their ability to kill and maim at will appears undiminished. When Rice points to “rather quiet political progress” while the country remains embroiled in chaos, even some of her backers cringe. Says a Republican elder statesman: “I don’t have any sense of where she thinks she’s going on Iraq.”

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38 Responses to “Rice’s Rhetoric “Losing Steam””


  1. Ted Says:

    Bring Em On


  2. Narc Says:

    It never was steam. Just hot air. Steam can drive things. Hot air just dries hair.


  3. Brian Says:

    The old maid is a propogandist.


  4. Marie Says:

    Read the headline story in the LA Times today, Condi.


  5. Chris Says:

    Condi is the ultimate “yes man”. she is such a joke.


  6. Darth Filibustrous Says:

    Memo to RNC trolls : Just repeat the party line that the next political milestone will bring stability to the country. That usually works.


  7. Hank Says:

    Unfortunately for Rice, she is being used and duped just as they used the last Secretary of State, Colin Powell. In the end she will have to make the same decision: where her faltering credibility and loyalty is more important than her self respect.


  8. Krazny Says:

    I think given rice’s track record that she will stay loyal to Bush. Unlike Powell, she has little going for her outside of this administration.


  9. Chris Says:

    Hank, Condi is not being used like Colin, she is going right along with everything gladly.Colin gets no respect from me for going along with the neo-con agenda, but at least he quit in shame, you will not see Condi doing that.


  10. John Says:

    What do you expect. Her real expertise is in the Oil Industry.


  11. Mark Says:

    Chris,
    I couldn’t agree more on both points. I used to have some respect for Colin Powell but since this Iraq debacle and all the evidence that appears to be falling out of such a miserable administration, almost in comic-book fashion, I have lost all respect for the man. Condi? Never had it. I wish she could have been a true artist and had a soul, but alas, it isn’t so.


  12. Chris Austin Says:

    Basically it works like this. You stand behind her, and lift up the back of that Florence Henderson…there’s a ring back there. You see it? OK, good, now put one finger inside the ring, and your opposite hand on the top of her head, and pull on the ring. A string comes out…pull it until it stops, aim her head at a microphone and let go.

    An essay all of you will be interested in I hope:

    The United Chickenhawks of America

    The chatty schizophrenic fraud known to all of us as the American media has crunched some numbers and determined that the public is bored with Iraq War coverage. Aside from the obvious reason that nothing good ever happens, the country’s chickenhawk self has become sick of having to see its own cowardly reflection in the mirror. Flexing muscles and practicing our war face, at one point we saw Tony Soprano staring back. That delusional self image slowly became real, slowly became Arty Bucco wearing a wiretap.

    Continue Reading:
    http://deadissue.com/ archives/ 2005/ 08/ 08/ the-united-chickenhawks-of-america/


  13. Chris Says:

    the only way i could ever respect Colin Powell is if he came out before the war with Iran and exposed Rummy and the rest for all of their crimes.


  14. kindness Says:

    I agree with the above. They think if they can “position” themselves well in the media (papers, TV) the public will buy thier garbage.

    Note to condi - I throw what I can’t recycle out. I ain’t paying for your trash. Lucky for us, most of the world (including americans) have caught on too.

    But bushco’s worst “asset” is that they seem to believe thier press and no-one within the administration has the huevos to tell them they are wrong. That and they pointedly DON’T believe anyone outside bushco.

    So we’re stuck till the 2006 elections. But we can fight back. Tell you r elected officials of all parties what you think of the current regime. & don’t be easy on ‘em.


  15. The Earth is Flat Says:

    WE ARE WINNING! WE ARE WINNING!

    Can someone help push these copters over-board to make some room on the flight deck?


  16. Narc Says:

    the only way i could ever respect Colin Powell is if he came out before the war with Iran and exposed Rummy and the rest for all of their crimes.

    And hurt his presidential aspirations?


  17. Skid Says:

    I’d say Powell’s presidential aspirations have completely dissapated, but in this BizarroWorld…


  18. Jennty Says:

    I don’t think Powell ever had presidential aspirations. He could have run in 2000 and he would have won hands, feet, toes down.

    I think he’s still a good man. He’s got a lot of personal honor. I think in the end he was sick to death of being the stooge for the Chickenhawks. Powell wasn’t a chickenhawk. He was a true warrior. He’s seen the ugly end of the stick, and he wouldn’t be so fast as the current crop of weekend warriors, and awol flyboys to send our kids to their deaths.

    I wouldn’t vote for him now. Not since he sold his soul to the devils. He’ll have to square with that one day. It will bother him for the rest of his life, given his personality I’m sure that it actually will.


  19. Skid Says:

    Powell could have chosen to “Do the Right Thing”, but instead followed rank and file, thus showing complicity in deceit of American citizens and the world.


  20. Now That's Progress Says:

    Insurgency Now “Losing Steam”

    If this at all reminds you of Dick Cheney mentioning the insurgency in its “last throes,” we think alike.

    Telling me to stop looking at the numbers dead because they cloud the picture of real progress being made is like telling me not to believe m…


  21. MisterB Says:

    “Pay no attention to that man, er, woman behind the curtain!”

    Way to go Toto! Tin man, let me have that axe.


  22. kindness Says:

    yea, Powell HAD honor, but he sold that out when he did his little speech in fron tof the UN saying stuff he knew wasn’t true (we’ve since recieved the dates of papers exposing the lies) just so bushco could invade Iraq.

    & what a bundle of joy that has been, eh?

    Stick to giving motivational speeches Colin. It’ll pay the bills for a while.


  23. it aint hard to tell Says:

    no, i disagree, Colin was involved in the Iran-Contra affair and cover-up. he never had honor.


  24. cman Says:

    i love bush and his whole admin… i think they are just wonderful and we are lucky to have a man thats able to make the hard decisions.. viva la bush!!!


  25. Skid Says:

    shorter cman: “Me Bizarro, me hate Superman!”


  26. AboveTheClouds Says:

    Of course, the most telling line is: “I don’t have any sense of where she thinks she’s going on Iraq.” That’s because she has absolutely no idea herself. Never did.


  27. narc Says:

    Powell gets credit for rebuilding the military after Viet Nam. It must be killing him to see it being destroyed again.


  28. Terrytheturtle Says:

    Funny how, Dubya makes all the other right-wingers look good. Pappy looks good, Reagan is a saint, even Tricky Dick was made to look like Deep Throat’s victim. And then we have Colin “My Lai, move along nothing to see there” Powell http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Colin_Powell Powell wasa ‘failed opportunist’. His is a carefully crafted image of the ‘best president you never had’. And remember McCain’s toadying when he sticks his flag in the ground for 2008.


  29. cynical ex-hippie Says:

    According to Bush, they never had steam, Just a few dead-enders with no support from the community.


  30. Susan Says:

    Nobody in this administration can make a claim as to what is happening in Iraq because they don’t even know who the enemy is. Our soldiers shoot first and ask questions later. That is a fact and for any pug who tries to report progress in Iraq is nothing but a bullshitter. They can’t say we are winning when we don’t even know who we kill when we kill.

    To comment on Powell, he can have my respect when he testifies honestly about the Plame outing.


  31. Marie Says:

    She sounds like Cheney.
    They apparently believe (and they have reason to believe so) that if you repeat a fabrication frequently, it will resonate as truth to the masses.
    There is no integrity anywhere near the White House. Liars, one and all.


  32. margaret Says:

    Why do they think we are so stupid? Why can’t they just tell us the truth? If the insurgency is losing steam why put more troops in.
    Before the Defense Department begins reducing troop levels in Iraq next year it probably will increase them this fall to provide extra security for a planned October referendum and a December election, a Pentagon official said Monday.
    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8871401/


  33. Christopher Says:

    Condosleaza says insurgency losing steam.

    I say Condosleaza is losing her mind.

    Why does this woman think she can spout propaganda and no one will notice and call her on it???

    . . .


  34. Alex Says:

    It’s not the insurgents that are losing steam. It’s Bush lying machine that’s losing steam, as well as the American public’s tolerance for their bullshit. I mean, what a stupid laughable statement she made. If you’re gonna lie, you got to be a tad more convincing than that.


  35. Brian Says:

    Paul Hackett yersterday on Diane Rehm: (paraphrase)
    -�critical� is the polite way of describing how officers describe Bush use of military.

    -(Officers) don’t know what they are being “asked to accomplish� in Iraq, and don’t have a picture of the “end state�.

    -It’s important to realize that Bush has made dissent unpatriotic.


  36. Tommy Jones Says:

    You can only lie for so long, eventually, even the holy-rolling, idol-watching, country music listening, nascar fans will figure it out.


  37. The WB42 5:30 Report With Doug Krile Says:

    Turning Up The Heat

    Want a space flight to the moon? That’s part of the 5:30 Report for today. Along with lots on Iraq and Daylight Saving Time issues.



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