Schieffer Slams White House On Iraq: Bush ‘Even More Isolated,’ Coalition ‘Coming Apart’
Schieffer Slams White House On Iraq: Bush ‘Even More Isolated,’ Coalition ‘Coming Apart’
Last night on CBS, chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer was sharply critical of the Bush administration’s attempt to spin Britain’s Iraq drawdown as a sign that conditions are improving.
“If that’s the claim, it’s going to be a very hard sell to a country and a public that has already turned against this war,” Schieffer said. In fact, the UK’s decision to redeploy troops is “going to make the president even more isolated,” he said, adding, “Whether you’re for the war or against the war, Katie, what this underlines tonight is that the coalition that the president put together to fight this war is now coming apart.”
Drawing parallels to the Vietnam era, Schieffer said Tony Blair’s decision reminded him of “when things were going badly, and the crusty old senator from Vermont, George Aiken, said there’s only one way out here, that’s to declare victory and just leave. That’s what we’re seeing.”
Watch it:
Transcript:
COURIC: Now to Washington and our chief correspondent there, Bob Schieffer.
Bob, the Bush administration is characterizing the British drawdown as a sign of success. Is anyone buying that?
BOB SCHIEFFER, CBS CORRESPONDENT: Well, if that’s the claim, it’s going to be a very hard sell to a country and a public that has already turned against this war, and especially a hard sell with the Congress.
I think what we’re seeing here, Katie, is what happened back during the Vietnam era when things were going badly, and the crusty old senator from Vermont, George Akins, said there’s only one way out here, that’s to declare victory and just leave. That’s what we’re seeing. Tony Blair is telling his people we’ve done our job, now we’re going to start bringing our people home.
COURIC: And, Bob, do you think this will change minds or change even votes on Capitol Hill?
SCHIEFFER: Well, I think it’s going to make the president even more isolated than perhaps he is now. The Democrats have already pounced on this. They say it shows that the president’s idea of putting more troops in is not the solution, and that there is not a military solution; there has to be a diplomatic solution.
Whether you’re for the war or against the war, Katie, what this underlines tonight is that the coalition that the president put together to fight this war is now coming apart.
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Declare victory and leave. We went in to stop Saddam’s WMD program, there wasn’t one. We got Saddam and hung him. As Bush said on MAy 1, 2003 “Mission Accomplished”
Bring our troops home now.
Victory is ours. We won, now let’s leave.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:19 pmIraq: More nations plan pull-out
Denmark announced that it would withdraw its ground troops serving under British command in Basra, as other countries review their participation in the coalition force.
Lithuania, which has 53 soldiers in Iraq serving alongside the Danish battalion, also said it was considering a pull-out.
The Romanian Defence Minister said that Bucharest would take a decision on the presence of its 600 soldiers in Iraq, mostly serving under British command, in the next few days. But President Traian Basescu, who is also under pressure to announce a withdrawal timetable, warned that a hasty pull-out of the international coalition forces “would cause chaos and the division of Iraq”.
Poland has already announced that it will bring home its 900 troops by the end of the year, and Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Japan and New Zealand have already withdrawn their troops.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:22 pmSouth Korea, which has a contingent of 2,300 troops in the northern city of Arbil, intends to withdraw half by April, and its parliament is calling for a complete pull-out by the end of the year.
Did everybody see that Bush was playing dress-up again?
Now we have Mad Scientist Bush.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:23 pmHow can America leave 650,000 Dead Iraqi families want revenge
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:23 pmVisiting beautiful, exotic Baghdad
nearly four years later, it’s a scene from dante’s hell…
(Taken from an essay written by Jabria Jassim, an Elgin [Illinois] Community College chemistry professor, recently visited Baghdad to see relatives.)
it’s astounding to me that we’ve been in iraq for almost four years and that things are as horrible as professor jassim describes them… think of the money spent (unimaginable sums), think of the lives lost (in the hundreds of thousands), think of the on-going human tragedy that will take generations to heal (incalculable)… and why are we there in the first place…? lies… and now we’re sending more americans to die… unconscionable…
And, yes, I DO take it personally
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:24 pmComment by Spudge_Boy #1
“Okay Spudge…
…hold on a tick…
…just one more hundred billion…
…and then we’ll leave…
…with honor…I promise…”
-Bushiva/L’il Dick/Halliburton/Carlyle Group-
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:24 pmI agree. Victory is ours. It’s all the Vietn…oops, I mean Iraqi’s fault.
In 30 years we can go back and buy cheap goods, and keep saying we’re not to blame for all the disease and birth defects caused by Agent Oran…..
oops, I mean depleted uranium………
(sarcasm off)
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:25 pmThe “crusty old senator” from Vermont happened to be right on.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:25 pmVOICES OF IRAQIS
“We cannot let the blood of our sons which Americans spilled in this holy city go in vain,” a 35-year-old teacher from Fallujah told IPS.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:28 pmI suppose it might be asked that, if the British are withdrawing because of their success, why aren’t they being deployed elsewhere in Iraq? You know, like help out with The Surge?
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:32 pmSchieffer is just an old worn out windbag on that liberal station CBS. He probably has dimentia.
/sarcasm
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:34 pm“Well, I look at it and see it is actually an affirmation.”
Vice President Cheney, on the planned British withdrawal from Iraq, February 21, 2007.
Just one of the GOP Quotes of the Week…
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:35 pmNow we have Mad Scientist Bush.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
In looking at that picture, I think the caption should be:
“Now thats some dirty bong water”
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:35 pmShirley McSwirley (rachel)
I’m sure America’s actions in the last three years have nothing to do with more vulnerable youth being recruited, and providing more reasons for them to do so. Just sayin’.
(oops, I better shut up or I’ll be the subject of a horrific smear)
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:38 pmSpudge_Boy sez:
Collect the whole set!
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:39 pmNow we have Mad Scientist Bush.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
Holy shit, that’s hilarious. He looks like crap — as it should be.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:47 pm(oops, I better shut up or I’ll be the subject of a horrific smear)
Comment by ForTruth
You may find that you have all manner of horrific items in your ass.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:48 pmNaw, rachel will say something about my ass and Think Progress will let it stay on their blogs forever. Apparently free speech and open discourse includes pedophilia.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:49 pmComment by shirley mc whirley: What do you mean by “join in the fight� Do you mean we should invade a country that has no connections with Al Qaeda? Send the bulk of our troops and billions of dollars to that country? Not pay much attention to Osama bin Laden?
If that’s a Conservative’s idea of “the fight†against Al Qaeda, you can count me out.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:51 pmHow Katie Couric got the top job over this man I’ll never know…
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:53 pmSchieffer is a close Bush family friend. Looks like old Schieffer finally hit the wall on tolerance for the Bushies.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:58 pmShirley Mc Idiot:
First of all we are NOT al qaeda supporters. Never have been and never will be. For you to insinuate that is disgusting and insulting on the highest level. It merely demonstrates your lack of intelligence or ability to think beyond what others tell you.
Secondly, dropping bombs on Iraqi civillians and invading a country that was no direct threat to us has made this situation FAR worse. Why? Because it validates what Al Qaeda operatives tell their recruits – that America is an aggressor nation of Christians that wants to wipe out all muslims. When they see the U.S. invade Afghanistan and Iraq, killing hundreds of thousands of people (intentionally or not) it seems like proof to them.
Killing begets killing. Isn’t that a Christian value?
Stop with the hate mongering. If you’re so gung ho about this war then go down and visit your local recruiters office or SHUT UP!
Thanks.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:59 pmShirely, (I mean Rachel) is at it again. Where does she find this wingnut drivel anyway? Really horrible crap! Even for a wingnut.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:00 pmRachel, if you can’t actually discuss a topic, leave.
Nobody reads your multiple screens of cut-n-paste garbage.
No one’s paying attention to you.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:00 pmAnyone have a link to the Army recruiter’s office for Shirley Mc Dipsht?
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:00 pm“How Katie Couric got the top job over this man I’ll never know…”
Absolutely right on, Xenon. Seriously, folks. What the hell is going to happen when decent, plain spoken, old-fashioned reporters like Bob Schieffer retire? Who do we have coming up from below to fill the shoes of folks who actually learned how to do journalism first, then be a pretty talking head later? We’re losing that sense of “Main Street, USA” in our news because everyone doing the work now never actually lived there in their entire lives.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:01 pmWow, TP is allowing rachel to completely destroy every thread. All it would take is a moderator with a delete key. But, they choose to let it go on.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:04 pmi was never sure about schieffer (never could argue with him either) until i saw him say this last sunday on face the nation…
Murtha’s Iraq Plan Is Wrong And Right
Insisting On Proper Training Is No Way To Stop The War, But It Should Be Done
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/18/opinion/schieffer/main2491152.shtml
can’t wait to here what he has to say this sunay…
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:17 pmthese older guys know and remember what government is supposed to be… i wish brokaw et al had spoken up before leaving the show…
katy,
Other than the Democratic leaders, Patrick Leahy and Tom Daschel, with a little going to Russ Fiengold, Tom Brokaw was the only person sent Anthrax after 9/11. It was sent by a right winger to kill him or shut him up. Of course the righties want to be able to say “There hasn’t been another terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11″ which is complete horse crap.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:22 pmThis coalition is coming aprat indeed.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:26 pmMister Schieffer better watch out. His pace maker could suddenly short out, just sayin…
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:34 pmIn a startling turn around today, Vice President Cheney announced that all US troops would be withdrawn when conditions permitted.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:36 pmThose conditions, of course, included hell having frozen over.
Wow, TP is allowing rachel to completely destroy every thread. All it would take is a moderator with a delete key. But, they choose to let it go on.
Comment by Spudge_Boy — February 22, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Whiner. And it SURE AS FU*CK aint gonna be you you PEDOPHILE!
Maybe TP thinks you are a fuc*king whiner too.
And IS SICK AND TIRED OF BABYSITTING POOR SPUD IN THE ASS BOY.
FEND FOR YOURSELF COWARD.
I MEAN “TROLL ALERT”
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:40 pmSchieffer, a Bush family friend, is calling it like it is? Is this the “Walter Cronkite Moment” we’ve (sorry for assuming), I’ve been waiting for?
My co-workers (Fox viewing neo-cons at best, totally uncaring at worst) are already beginning to question the resident of the White House. I’m hoping that this will push them over the edge into a brave new world…..REALITY.
John
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:41 pmUSAF, REt
Amazing they haven’t found who sent the Antrhax, jeez wonder why?
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 pmRachel obviously missed her damn meds today.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:49 pmGrackle, take them, take them all, the whole damn bottle.
Rachel,
Who sent the Anthrax? Seems you have the means to find out. Just askin’
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:51 pmRachel,
Who sent the Anthrax? Seems you have the means to find out. Just askin’
Comment by ForTruth
C.I.A.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:56 pmReal.
one thing that should be looked at seriously by TP is limiting the text area to a 1000 characters to stop the long winded threads that are aimed at putting serious and genuine comments far to the top of the page ( Govermant trolls) as some visitors start at the bottom and only read a few, before making a comment
Most other sites do this . The guardian and Aljazeera
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:03 pmC.I.A.
Real.
Comment by rachel rj kinnardi
Not surprised. There are very, very few who could have done that. And when the genetics were traced – oops, only a couple places it could have come from.
And, you said it, not me.
Now why would our own government engage in terrorism acts against our own government?
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:07 pmRachel,
You must have found out I am a normal person, upstanding citizen, and nothing wrong on my harddrive. Just sayin’
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:08 pmHeh.
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:10 pmANd who posts as her usual psycho self, none other than the loony whacko rachel.
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pmWow, TP is allowing rachel to completely destroy every thread. All it would take is a moderator with a delete key. But, they choose to let it go on.
Comment by Spudge_Boy — February 22, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
This is getting ridiculous. Is TP doing this on purpose?
February 22nd, 2007 at 6:10 pmWhen I see a long post, I just skip over it. But we shouldn’t have to do that — TP where are you?? Why do you do this? If you don’t do this on purpose — why do you allow it??
Why does anyone still travel under the delusion Bush and his henchman give a damn about what the people in this nation think?
We live in an americanized dictatorship. We have America’s Stalin at the helm. The constitution is nothing but a urinal for Bush, Cheny and Gonzales. Why is it so hard for people like Shiefer to see that and quit acting as if what anyone other than the small man and his handlers want?
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:09 pmSchieffer, like almost all the faces you see on network and cable news, is a very wealthy man. He makes hundreds of thousands a year and is a personal friend of the Bush family. So, yes, I can see why it’s taken a little time for things to sink in for Bob. After all, nobody complains at the cocktail parties he goes to with his DC buddies. How’s Bob supposed to know what real Americans are thinking, anyway.
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:14 pmSpudge; when W. plays dress up these days, he’s raiding Laura’s lingerie drawer.
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:01 pmI noticed the UKs Queen put one of her grandson’s in the firing line – when is King George putting one of his kids up?
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:03 pmSchieffer was/is too close to power…
…had to step back to finally see the “natural light”…
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:41 pmIt looks to me like the UK knows that the US is committed to attacking Iran. The UK troops would be the first to face the counter attack from Iranian ground troupes. Southern Iraq is most closely aligned to Iran. I find the UK’s pull out quite ominous.
February 23rd, 2007 at 10:37 amIs Bob a commentator or reporter?
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:36 pmHas Bob Schieffer, a family friend of the Evil Bush Crime Family, pulled a Thomas Becket and doomed himself? Bob, keep a close eye on four guys named Reginald, Hugh, William and Richard, don’t go alone to church(or cathedrals), and carry a GLOCK 37(tm)! Also, be ESPECIALLY CAREFUL of weird guys who approach you saying “Kenneth, what is the frequency?” SHOOT FIRST, and ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!!!!
February 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm