Local Media Reports Show Bush Quietly Implementing Escalation Policy
Local Media Reports Show Bush Quietly Implementing Escalation Policy
With little press attention, President Bush is actively implementing his escalation policy, even as a bipartisan majority of Congress is expected to back a resolution opposing the plan.
On January 10, hours before Bush officially announced his new policy, ABC News reported that escalation had already begun. “Ninety advance troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Baghdad Wednesday,” and an “additional battalion of roughly 800 troops from the same division are expected to arrive in Baghdad Thursday.”
Washington Post defense analyst William Arkin has noted “the curious silence of most of the mainstream media” about those first deployments. But the problem has subsequently worsened, as local news reports of U.S. troop deployments to Iraq have gone virtually unnoticed by the national media. A sample of overlooked reports:
AP Wire, 1/11/07:
A Marine battalion now in Iraq had expected to return soon to North Carolina, but the 900 infantry troops will stay longer as a result of President Bush’s plan to increase troops in Iraq. The 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment is one of three Lejeune-based battalion already in Iraq. Its duty will be extended 60 to 90 days, the Marine Corps said Thursday.
WIBW Channel 13, 1/25/07:
It was a bittersweet scene at Fort Riley Thursday as families said good by to loved ones heading to Iraq. The 3,400 troops are proud to be serving and are ready for their mission in Iraq. … This is all part of President Bush’s plan to increase troops in the Middle East.
William Arkin, 1/25/07:
The Defense Department has divulged that troops of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment are being extended in Anbar province for 60 to 90 days as part of the surge. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, an additional augmented battalion with air support, is also being extended in Anbar for 45 days.
WWAY NewsChannel3, 1/22/07:
Thousands of Camp Lejeune Marines face impending deployment. They are set to begin heading off Saturday to the war in Iraq. Officials say about 4,000 Marines are slated to go overseas over the next few weeks, many to relieve thousands of troops fighting in the war on terror.
Charlotte Observer, 1/19/07
The first round of thousands of troops scheduled to go to the Middle East will begin deploying Saturday from North Carolina military bases, the military said Thursday. About 5,000 paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team will begin leaving from Fort Bragg.
These reports should not discourage Congress. The task of checking President Bush’s dangerous escalation policy is more urgent than ever.
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Bush needs to do it quietly.
Unlike you democrats who would give the terrorists a timeline and let them know when to expect us so they could lay out some fresh towels and linens for us.
You unthinking dumbshits!
January 26th, 2007 at 4:42 pmQUIETLY? OMG, he only stated it in the SOTU, and a prior press conference dedicated to that topic just a couple weeks before ….
You will now see that you elected a Dem congress for nothing, but thanks for participating – it is the only way you learn.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:43 pmHe needs to do it quietly, because the country will have his head of was any more up front about it.
Sorry guys you don’t hold up on the brains meter.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:47 pmYes, Bush is pushing ahead with his troop surge with funds appropriated by the 109th Repub Congress. He runs out of money soon. What is he going to do when he goes before the 110th Dem Congress, the beginning of next month? I hope that the Dems get a set, before that date rolls around.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:48 pmHe’s going to pull/has pullled another, “Yeah I did it…what are you gonna do about it?” It’s hard to want to stop him from ensuring that his leagcy is pure sh&t, but there are lives at stake. Sad thing is he could care less about it. They are there to save his ass. Truly sad.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:48 pmMore troops being thrown into the meatgrinder and being sacrificed for Bush’s nebulous noble cause. Bring the troops home- safely- now.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:49 pmJoanie and Jason, sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G……
January 26th, 2007 at 4:50 pmI’m The Decider, and I’ve decided that I’m going to say F- you, America! Over seventy-percent disapproval, my a-! (Cheney told me to say that.)
January 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pm#
Joanie and Jason, sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G……
Comment by Yikes — January 26, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
Lots of spit flying around, but not from kissing.
lol
January 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pmThe world is against this war
Japan now against this war
Turkey now against this war
America breaks NNPT with India as a promise India will not let Iranian Gas line reach China
well guess what
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a landmark visit to India on Thursday. Putin offered to build four new nuclear reactors to help meet the rapidly expanding energy needs of the South Asian nation. Russia is currently helping India build two 1000-megawatt nuclear reactors.
Officials from Iran, India , China and Pakistan have agreed on a pricing formula for the export of Iranian gas to meet Asias burgeoning energy demands,
YOU ARE BEING MADE FOOLS OF BY BUSH ALONE
January 26th, 2007 at 4:53 pmJoanie Doe
Come on, surely you have to admit that Iraq is now a quasi civil war, fought between factions within the country and not directed by some SPECTRE like terrorist facilitators?
January 26th, 2007 at 4:53 pmYou Know I hate Americans more everyday
January 26th, 2007 at 4:56 pmHe’s one sneaky SOB – who believes himself to be above the law – above proper protocol – and above reproach. Just wait until Congress chews him up and spits him out for breakfast! I can’t wait!
January 26th, 2007 at 4:56 pmThe Enron signal is in the sky and The Decider Flies Again.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:58 pm#11 We all know that Iraq has been a civil war for months now. It’s just the Bush Regime who won’t use the word because of his infamous speech last year in which he said “when it’s clear that there is civil war, I will pull our troops out of “harm’s way”….anyone remember that? So, he thinks that if he doesn’t call it a civil war, then it is not one (Remember: The World According to Bush)….when it has been one for some time. The fact is that he doesn’t put his money where his mouth is – never has. If he conceeds that it is, in fact, a “civil war” then his words will come back to haunt him and he will be faced with admitting that he lied to the american people or he will live up to his promise of bringing our troops home….He thinks he’s sly but we all know his tricks….semantics is no excuse for lying!
January 26th, 2007 at 4:59 pmLet them die quietly, Mr. President. It’s just a number after all.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:59 pmBesides, he needs to sneak it in so he & dickhead can skim more money off the top in the form of “war profiteering”….Don’t you know that they haven’t made enough yet????
January 26th, 2007 at 5:00 pmThe reason Bush hasn’t called it quits on the war in Iraq yet is because the Saudi Royals haven’t decided that it’s over yet. There’s all that oil and so many Sunnis left.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:12 pm#15
You know that, I know that but do the posters on the right know that? How can they not? Actually, after watching FOX News (my satellite provider in the UK gives me access to this channel) I can understand why.
I suppose that ignorance is bliss.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:15 pm(Xbot @ 16: I thought they were just a comma.)
No wonder the WH got so upset when Nancy Pelosi said that Bush was excellerating the escalation so that Congress would have to support the troops in the field…she was right! That’s exactly what Bush is doing. The WH only gets mad when someone outs their game.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:16 pmHere we go again. Once again the old lament “you’re either with us or you’re with the terrorists” is being carted out. This time by Sec. Gates.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16829400/
Frankly, this is going to the well just too often. But, then, I guess the only arrow left in the quiver is the fear arrow.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:31 pmJoanie and Jason, sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G……
Comment by Yikes —
That is awesome! Thanks for the laugh.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:31 pmI was way ahead of bull shit bush’s trick even before he flapped his lieing murderious mouth…Knew from the start he would get all these troop’s over there before the foot dragger’s could do anything….That’s the way the death decider’s cheney/rummy/rice and all this administration do, have alway’s done…..It’s part of their total take over…..Trouble is right now we had better get the attention of the house and senate we have had enough of another Viet Nam….Cut all the fund’s, bring the troop’s home and start the impeachment’s…Then let’s throw all their asses in jail and seize their asset’s, including the war monger big business that has been behind them.
Don’t trouble your selves with responding to the like’s of #1 and jason the “I want to distroy all democrat’s” fool…..Mindless parasites have no value here or any where else when they spout support for the bush dictatorship…Their just chicken shit war mongers with no spine to go and fight….Blessings
January 26th, 2007 at 5:31 pmYou will now see that you elected a Dem congress for nothing, but thanks for participating – it is the only way you learn.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
Someone please just hit him.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:40 pmIt’s friken Rachel on #1
January 26th, 2007 at 5:40 pmWhy does George W Bush hate Americans and hate our troops? Can’t he send the twins over to relieve these troops that have spent way too much time in Iraq? I’m sure the twins could show the insurgents a good time.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:43 pmI see Judd is leaving. No big loss as I can see. And good riddance while I am at it.
I am going to miss all of the ” underlings ” around here yelling ” Judd Help! I am spineless and defenseless and they are talking mean to me. Please make them stop! I am so psychologically damaged and unbalanced that this poster is really getting under my skin! ”
Please make them stop! I have no other recourse against true debaters and patriots other than to fold my tent and run to you for some kind of strange assistance that I never recieve by the way.
You democrats are all mental midgets.
Bwahahahaha!!
January 26th, 2007 at 5:53 pmGood One Coffins, but I don’t think the insurgent’s or any one else realy want’s these two spawn of chimp….After all they have been playing loose all over the world and inherit the spiky brain waves of druggie, drunk parent’s….That alone would stop most sane men…Pass around’s are a no no..Blessings
January 26th, 2007 at 5:53 pmThe Party of Death demands more death, just so Bush doesn’t have to admit that the horror he has created is his own fault.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:54 pmJoanie
Please read your post again. This sort of thing makes my blood boil. You claim that liberals aren’t able to debate against (and I quote) “true debaters”. In the paragraph proceeding this, you accused posters of being “psychologically damaged” and “unbalanced”.
Debate can be defined as such
serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part:
I fail to see how you are debating.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:20 pmWho’s surprised? The lying sack of sh** is what he has always been: a rotten spoiled little rich boy who does what he wants without consequences. So, can we impeach him (and Darth Cheney) NOW.? Please.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:26 pmJoanie Dee
Go on, indulge an idiot from the west country. Respond to one of my posts. Otherwise I will just assume you recognise your intellectual dishonesty.
Thanks
January 26th, 2007 at 6:52 pmDave, Joanie is a “masterdebator” which isn’t exactly like a good debator. You see, she’s too busy with herself to really debate anyone.
Find Muck, if reading this site makes you hate Americans more and more, I suggest you go over to FreeRepublic. You’ll either be very happy or your head will explode.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:21 pmKaty, if you really are the moderator around here, could you flush this stinker as soon as possible.
Here’s a thought: if someone starts their comment with “liberals are…” or “liberals hate…” just flush the mofo as quickly as possible. We’ll all be better off for it. Even the troll.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:25 pmLadies, ladies …
I’m just the messenger, trying to point out the brick wall that you’ve already run headlong into ….
Hoyer is running things, not Pelosi, so there will be NO real legislation effecting the troop escalation. Hill’reh still won’t apologize for her vote to support the Iraq War – you’ve all been had – thanks for playing.
When will you children learn?
January 26th, 2007 at 8:21 pmKaty, if you really are the moderator around here, could you flush this stinker as soon as possible.
Here’s a thought: if someone starts their comment with “liberals are…†or “liberals hate…†just flush the mofo as quickly as possible. We’ll all be better off for it. Even the troll.
Comment by Bluedog49 — January 26, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
i gotta laugh… do you think if that was true, you’d be reading it?
January 26th, 2007 at 8:59 pmwould if i could… would if i could…
only slightly off topic:
Iran condemns Bush’s capture or kill order
By Kasra Naji in Tehran
Iran says United States President George W Bush’s order to his military to capture or kill Iranian agents in Iraq is a terrorist act that shows he has lost control of his senses.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned the nation’s enemies they will take their wishes to overthrow the Government to their graves.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:05 pm[...]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1834677.htm
.
PLEASE don’t silence the wingnuts; they do their various causes great disservice every time they spout some sanctimonious crap about “you children” or “you liberals”. anyway, they’re so dumb. y’all should be able to handle it, annoying or not.
anyway, dear wingnuts:
January 26th, 2007 at 9:14 pmdeath pervades every aspect of iraqi life at the moment, and that will likely remain the case for many years (perhaps decades). this is true because we dismantled a sovereign government and replaced it with nothing. i know you think this is a fight “against the terrorists” and that we musn’t “show weakness” to “the terrorists”. but what we on the left are so appaled by is that all the unnecessary death caused by this war doesn’t seem to bother you. so many dead: american troops, sunni insurgents, shiite militiamen, private contractors, journalists, diplomats, and hundreds of thousands of innocent iraqi civilians. and through all that, you republicans really don’t seem to care. in fact, you push for MORE death as the solution. it makes most of this country sick.
Please don’t feed the trolls.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:21 pmDo NOT reply to Joanie or Rachel or whatever is that personality du jour.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:23 pmFrom the article above:
Thousands of Camp Lejeune Marines face impending deployment. They are set to begin heading off Saturday to the war in Iraq. Officials say about 4,000 Marines are slated to go overseas over the next few weeks, many to relieve thousands of troops fighting in the war on terror.
Guys, I hate to break it to you all, but this one is not part of the escalation. This is a normal annual rotation. I am with the Command tht deploys this unit. This has been in the works since I came back from Iraq in Oct, 2005.
January 26th, 2007 at 10:04 pmthousands of troops fighting in the war on terror
Creating even more terror. But not preventing terror.
A world of terror without end. Thank you Bush
January 26th, 2007 at 11:02 pm“..no other recourse against true debaters..”
J Dee a true debater. NOT!!
January 26th, 2007 at 11:04 pmBush is the “Decision-Maker,” so he does whatever he wants unless the Congress forces him to resign or impeaches him!
January 26th, 2007 at 11:14 pm“…so he does whatever he wants unless..”
Jay – you must be joking. If not then maybe you’ve never heard of the separation of powers. No one of the 3 sections of government gets to “do what they want”
The President is supposed to honor and respect the separation of powers.
And if he doesn’t and he is impeached and removed from office, he can then be tried for crimes, such as treason, war crimes.
It isn’t really as simple as you make it out to be
There are real consequences for criminal thwarting of the will of the people.
January 26th, 2007 at 11:43 pmChildrenofLir > I am just stating how Bush thinks in post 46. Dubya should be impeached for not following the Constitutional separation of powers!
January 27th, 2007 at 12:07 amJay
January 27th, 2007 at 12:16 amGot it.
new year 3000 NOW 3075…….
January 27th, 2007 at 4:22 pmPM: all Slovak soldiers withdrawn from Iraq
January 27th, 2007 at 4:24 pmThis is a map plotting out Islamic attacks since 2003. You people think if we leave iraq the boogey man will go away? hah
http://home.comcast.net/~vincep312/globalattacks.jpg
January 28th, 2007 at 1:26 amBush supporters are terrorists as they care nothing for the fact that the BAD man they follow like sheep has made us less safe and created more terrorists, and THEY SUPPORT IT!
January 30th, 2007 at 12:57 pmVince P said, “This is a map plotting out Islamic attacks since 2003. You people think if we leave iraq the boogey man will go away?”
Why did we ever go INTO Iraq? There were NO terrorists there before Bush’s invasion. Even now, it is a minute number who have infiltrated in. Iraq is in a CIVIL WAR between factions of Sunnis and Shia, both Iraqis, not terrorists! So Vince, tell us, who is the boogey man in Iraq and why would he be there??? It is Iraqis fighting for control of their government so why are we in the middle of that?
On the mindless far right line of “Look how long we fought for democracy here! Iraq can’t have it in 3 years!” crap, next time someone says it, ask them this, “Oh, what other country was it that put themselves here in the middle of our civil war? None. It was up to us, North & South, to fight each other for an outcome without interference from anyone else in the world. When we fought to break from British rule, which country stepped in to help? None. We fought for what WE wanted.
Bush wanted Iraqis to vote, giving them democracy, but what and who they voted for he didn’t like. So we stay in the hope of changing the government Iraqis chose when it was never our place and democracy is not about choosing for the people what government they will have. Isn’t that what they had under Saddam?
January 30th, 2007 at 1:18 pmI’m finding this thread late, but as a proud ex-military man who also happens to be a free thinker i’ve got to comment on a recurring theme i find in threads like these: everything was peaches and cream in Iraq until the illegal president fraudulently started an illegal war, etc… I’ve come to think of the war in Iraq as: Bush perceived Saddam’s Iraq as low hanging fruit that turned out to be a venus fly trap.
I say low hanging fruit because we had a lightning fast victory in the gulf war as well as in overthrowing the Taliban to bolster our confidence.
You don’t have to like this next bit but Its been proven in a court, presided over by a Clinton appointed judge, that Iraq had Al Qaida ties (safe passage, harbor, medical, training, funding, facilitated meetings, and more). Don’t forget Iraq had become comfortable in secretly developing and hiding progress in WMDs, blocking inspectors, skimming Oil for Food profits for this and other programs. Its no coincidence that every notable WMD scientist on Iraq’s payroll has been murdered.
I can tell you Republicans don’t disrespect the lives of soldiers by carelessly throwing them into harms way. And you hear alot of “Iraq didn’t attack us”. Well, neither did N. Korea, Germany, Bosnian Christians, and so on. But our stopping evil in its tracks isn’t pretty or convenient. I’m not anti-democrat, but i am disturbed by the liberal mindset that is spreading suggesting America is the great evil in the world for being proactive.
Alot of you call conservatives / hawks / gop “Alarmists” and Xenophobes for rallying against Radical Islam. Well, we successfully rallied against Nazism and Communism. Why not Radical Islam? CAIR’s director is on record stating he’ll be satisfied when a Crescent flag flies over the white house. What then my liberal empowered lady friends? Maybe Bushy won’t seem so bad when your wearing a burka or your genitals are mutilated in some tribal/islamic ritual. And you can’t vote or post free speech diatribes online.
My ultimate point is that things are a mess, but we’ve forgotten that comes with doing important things. Today’s anti-war types would have had us stop the march to Japan at Iwo Jima. And Germany wouldn’t have fallen as fast if we bailed after Battle of the Bulge.
Ask a south korean if he’d rather live in the north eating bark soup and lighting the house on candles that are rationed by the goverment! It took time but look at the stark difference in quality of life. I believe that given time this will become apparent in Iraq as well.
Cheers.
February 15th, 2007 at 11:35 amben foster alpha dog
Man i just love your blog, keep the cool posts comin..
March 21st, 2008 at 7:45 am