WSJ Editor on Bush’s Iraq Strategy: ‘I Don’t Think He Has To Adjust’
WSJ Editor on Bush’s Iraq Strategy: ‘I Don’t Think He Has To Adjust’
This morning on Fox News Sunday, Wall Street Journal editor Paul Gigot brushed aside notions that the deteriorating situation in Iraq warranted a change in strategy from President Bush. Gigot said, “I don’t think he has to adjust” or “announce some new grand strategy.”
The key to success in Iraq, according to Gigot, is for the President to show “resolve” and wrap “his arms around [Iraqi Prime Minister] Maliki.” Watch it:
Gigot, one of the primary media cheerleaders for the war in Iraq, finds himself increasingly isolated. Even outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged in a recent memo that “it is time for a major adjustment” of U.S. policy in Iraq.
Transcript:
WALLACE: I mean, let me ask you about that, Paul, because I mean, the fact is even Rumsfeld, who we thought of as being one of the stronger advocates of stay the course, is now on record as saying we’ve got to do something, we need a major adjustment.
You’ve got the Iraq study group. You’ve got the election, which certainly sent a message. The public — and we saw this from Lindsey Graham, Republican, as well as Joe Biden, Democrat — is losing patience with the way forward in Iraq.
At least by the State of the Union next month, doesn’t the president have to announce some major change — I’m not sure what direction, but doesn’t he have to announce a major change in policy?
GIGOT: I don’t think he has to adjust — announce a major change. He has to announce that we need to work with Maliki, we need to keep working hard to get the American commitment, not pulling out.
I think the big problem with the Baker report is that it sent a message that we are going to consider precipitous withdrawal, and I think that’s undermined Maliki. It’s undermined the confidence that he has in our staying power.
I think the president’s — unlike Juan, I think the president’s commitment of resolve this week in saying — wrapping his arms around Maliki and saying we’re going to be there with you is very important, because that’s the only way that we can, I think, get him to make the very difficult decisions that he has to make, whether it be taking on the insurgency or disarming the Shiite militias.
So I don’t think he has to announce some new grand strategy. The details in the Baker report suggest that there is no new grand strategy to be had. If there were some Hail Mary pass, some great ideas to be had, somebody would have thought of them before. Those ideas just don’t exist, and that’s why this is incremental.
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Paul Gigot, Editor of the Wall Street Journal, as war strategist. Heh.
There’s a man making a hefty profit off this war.
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:48 pmNo adjustment necessary from the boy king. He knows adjustment is not possible anyway.
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:51 pmThere are people now in Iraq serving 2nd and third time…Gigot sees no reason for change..of course the decision leaves no effect on him…May be Gigot who sits in a very nice warm tv studio room…need to send his kids to see what is it like in Iraq.
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:51 pmLet’s all hold hands, and raise our voices, sing a song of praise to God and Bush, i know some of you think that’s being redundant, and if we close our eyes and think hard enough, everything will be okay. After all it worked for Dorothy.
“There’s no place like home”
“There’s no place like home”
Gigot / Rumsfeld / Bush / Liberman, etc.:
“There’s no place like Iraq”
“There’s no place like Iraq”
“There’s Democracy in Iraq”
“There’s Democracy in Iraq”
“Bush has brought peace and Democracy to Iraq”
“Bush has brought peace and Democracy to Iraq”
“Bush has defeated the terrorist and brought Democracy to Iraq”
Obviously it’s our fault for not believing.
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:55 pmEven outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged in a recent memo that “it is time for a major adjustment†of U.S. policy in Iraq.
and it may have got his arse fired… er, retired… er, at a later date to assure his record breaking length of time F-ING UP THE WHOLE WORLD!!!
oops… save the veins…
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:56 pmThe message to Wall Street: there’s still a profit to be made by continuing to do what we’re doing.
Corporate Media is not about reporting the news, but shaping public opinion.
Do they get to draw straws to see who wears the suicide vest?
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:57 pmRemember, for those of us who have raked in billions in profit and hundreds of millions personally, Bush has been the best president ever. He has done more for the personal fortunes of the ruling class than any other president in history.
And the ruling class will write the history books.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:00 pm
the SS BushCo is sinking
BushCo = LIARS
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:00 pmDuhbya should “wrap his arms around [Iraqi Prime Minister] Maliki” and get even with that Saudi Prince for eyeballing Cheney, Dick.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:06 pmone word: D-E-S-P-E-R-A-T-I-O-N.
your empire is on fire boys, a nice tide of accountability is coming in january to wash the scum away. its called “subpoena power”
im going to love watching these worms squirm under the spotlight like a slug being doused in salt..
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:10 pm“The key to success in Iraq, according to Gigot, is…”
ANOTHER PHOTO_OP !!
That will surely solve all of our problems.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:11 pmGigot – rhymes with Idiot for a reason.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:16 pmIncreasingly isolated, but not quite in his own padded cell yet.
The complicity of these cheerleaders (keep the war going, keep the news desk staffed) should lump them together with the war criminal’s tribunals.
GIGOT….THE ROBOT. He’s a cyborg just like GWB. His commentary is ridiculous, inane, and totally out of step with the american public. Then again…most robots are since they have no sense of humanity, morality, or common sense.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:26 pmThe people have spoken….the people are moving on, along with the newly elected congress…those inflexible will simply be “left behind” and kicked to the curb, no doubt about it. Staying the course will set the SS Bushco right down the tubes onto sure impeachment. I say: let’s stay the course….the impeachment route!
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:28 pmIsn’t this guy’s nickname – GIGOT, THE BUSH SPIGOT?
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:29 pmIsn’t he a regular on Nice Polite Republican’s News (sic) Hour? Amazing how these liars have control of national dialogue
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:31 pmYes, let’s listen to another pundit who could not be bothered to ever wear the uniform tell us what a great job George Bush is doing.
It seems that all those in favor of ’staying the course’ are chickenhawks. They would have more credibility if they themselves had endured the horrors of war. But these not-so-brave men had ‘other priorities’ when it was their turn to serve their country.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:45 pmPaul Gigot is an idiot.
December 3rd, 2006 at 1:46 pm“and that’s why this is incrimental” say’s Gigot.
Yea Paul,incremental to the tune of atleast 5 dead and 20 seriously wounded G.I.s everyday,or the billions spent.
December 3rd, 2006 at 2:11 pmAnd don’t think the Military Industrial Complex and the WSJ. aren’t dancing to that tune.
I’m sick and tired of people with clear conflicts of interest giving advice.
I’m sick and tired of people with clear conflicts of interest giving advice.
Comment by Bingo!
Absolutely, Bingo — or the clearly unqualified — not that it wuold be seen as a minus to this admin.
December 3rd, 2006 at 2:17 pmTry this with the photo ya’ll:
Cover up the right side of Monseiur Gigot’s face, and you’ll see a nice enough guy. One who might get taken home for Christmas dinner with the family.
Next, cover up the left side of of Gigot’s face. Do you see the evil Snidely Whiplash, preparing to throw your granny under the train?
He’s a war profiteering creep.
December 3rd, 2006 at 2:21 pmGood point Zooey, he ain’t right, that’s for sure.
BTW, did you see the BastardFairies video? I posted it the other day, but I suspect you might have missed it. For anyone else who cares to take a look, be sure to scroll up to see some of the drek posted by a veritable host of infuriated Reichwingers and Evangelicals. Hallelujah!!! Praise the Lord!!!
December 3rd, 2006 at 3:01 pmI think the first clue that he’s full of crap is that he’s on the entertainment network FOX.
December 3rd, 2006 at 3:27 pm#23
December 3rd, 2006 at 3:28 pmHoly crap, you’re right!
Gigot has a lot of stock in defense contractors. Wall Street is their friend. He has become delusional — fairy tale characters, Aesop’s fable characters and mythological figures of ancient Greece have nothing on the likes of Gigot.
December 3rd, 2006 at 5:00 pmPride, hubris, greed, selfishness.
He also repeated the (R) meme that “Maliki didn’t snub Bush, he snubbed King Abdullah.”
I mean, why on Earth would Miliki want to snub President Bush? Just because al Sadr told him “If you meet with Bush, we’re cutting you off” and Bush releases a memo the day before questioning Maliki’s ability to lead. But NOOO, it’s his next door neighbor Abdullah that so offends him that he refuses to meet with them.
“See this bridge right here? On sale, one day only!”
December 3rd, 2006 at 5:18 pm[...] Of course, if you’re the editor of the Wall Street Journal, the Bush administration is still doing a sterling job in Iraq. [...]
December 3rd, 2006 at 5:37 pmInsurgency should be doing better than this – average 2.47 per day
03-Dec-2006
December 3rd, 2006 at 6:29 pmUS NAME NOT RELEASED YET Baghdad Hostile
02-Dec-2006
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province Hostile
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Taji Baghdad Hostile
01-Dec-2006
US NAME NOT RELEASED YET Al Anbar Province
OF MORONS, BY MORONS, FOR MORONS.
December 3rd, 2006 at 7:23 pmThis morning on Fox News Sunday, Wall Street Journal editor Paul Bigot brushed aside notions that the deteriorating situation in Iraq warranted a change in strategy from President Bush.
Fixed it for ya…
December 3rd, 2006 at 8:53 pmfairy tale characters, Aesop’s fable characters and mythological figures of ancient Greece have nothing on the likes of Gigot.
Pride, hubris, greed, selfishness.
Comment by Marie — December 3, 2006 @ 5:00 pm
I live for the day when we can see these media drama whores brought to light and face the music.Or a firing squad,take your pick.
December 3rd, 2006 at 11:32 pmI live for the day when we can see these media drama whores brought to light and face the music.Or a firing squad,take your pick.
Comment by justice o the piece — December 3, 2006 @ 11:32 pm
Susan Schwab too.She is just as if not MORE crooked than the cabal she represents.
December 3rd, 2006 at 11:34 pmAnother “legal mafioso” in a cheap suit. Not to raise any ire here,but this guy looks like a young Walter Mondale kinda sorta.
December 4th, 2006 at 12:01 amLieberman and Gigot are insane, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone they are Republicans. Oh ! I’m sorry Joe was a Democrat back when he was a regular guest on The Pat Robertson 700 Club, Pat being that well – know liberal clergyman, lover of all of God’s creatures and clear thinker.
December 4th, 2006 at 12:05 amN-nn. No. Nope. No change. No way. Not. Njet. Non. None whatsoever. Absolutely not. Nononononono. No, sir. No, senor. Doo-be-doo-be-doo-be-no. Can’t hear you. Won’t hear you. I’m just fine. No, no, no change. Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes-no-no-no-no-way.
And by the way: no.
December 4th, 2006 at 5:56 amwould that be — paul gigot, decorated military veteran and acknowledged military strategist.
nah, didn’t think so.
December 4th, 2006 at 8:52 amWho is gigiot’s dady????
Another “expert” out of touch with reality… or he likes the reality for some reason…defense stocks?? oil stocks??
December 4th, 2006 at 3:23 pmHe is exactly right. The left has been playing the spoiler in this war hoping for the worst and using the media to give the impression of every worst case scenario has been effective to embolden the enemy. I’m just glad Bush took the fight to the enemy in the deserts of Iraq and we do not have all the foreign fighters weapons, and influence being funneled into the mountains of Afghanistan. A sheer stroke of genius. To bad there are so many dull minded individuals out there that are unable to see through the media propaganda. Who is to say that the administration is not playing by the same playbook they were using in 2003 and reacting to anticipated issues? They cannot show their strategy book to the world hence the left gets to be the ultimate critic to their political advantage and the disadvantage of the world.
December 6th, 2006 at 6:08 pm