NYT: Bush mulling 2008 troop withdrawal.
NYT: Bush mulling 2008 troop withdrawal.
“The Bush administration is developing what are described as concepts for reducing American combat forces in Iraq by as much as half next year, according to senior administration officials in the midst of the internal debate.”
The concepts call for a reduction in forces that could lower troop levels to roughly 100,000 by the midst of the 2008 presidential election, and they would also greatly scale back the mission that President Bush set for the American military when he ordered it in January to win back control of Baghdad and Anbar Province.
The mission would instead focus on the training of Iraqi troops and fighting Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, while removing Americans from many of the counterinsurgency efforts inside Baghdad.
Still, there is no indication that Mr. Bush is preparing to call an early end to the current troop increase, and one reason officials are talking about their long-range strategy may be to blunt pressure from members of Congress, including some Republicans, who are pushing for a more rapid troop reduction. […]
Officials say proponents of reducing the troops and scaling back their mission next year appear to include Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. They have been joined by generals at the Pentagon and elsewhere who have long been skeptical that the Iraqi government would use the opportunity created by the troop increase to reach genuine political accommodations.
FLASHBACK: New York Times, June 24, 2006:
The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say.
According to a classified briefing at the Pentagon this week by the commander, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the number of American combat brigades in Iraq is projected to decrease to 5 or 6 from the current level of 14 by December 2007.
UPDATE: Glenn Greenwald has several more examples.
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A Lie is a lie as wherever it lay. Failure in Chief is riding this out till he can get back to the Ranch and clear brush. Country be damned.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:10 pmGuess we’ll just call this “advancing in another direction”…
May 25th, 2007 at 11:11 pmGuess we’ll just call this “advancing in another direction to our glorious victory” or something like…
May 25th, 2007 at 11:12 pmThis slow motion train wreck is excruciating to watch but you have to wonder how long the GOP clown contenders can avoid ‘the elephant’ in the room (Bush debacle). Their fear diet is not on the menu after 08.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:12 pmyeah, I’ll believe it when I see it.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:14 pm#@%$%&^$&!!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:14 pmThank you Dems for giving Bush what he wants and the chance to own troop withdrawl! Bravo!
Stupid assholes!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:16 pmIf MSM had a shred of credibility they would daily ask for the Iraq ’soverign’ government if they want us there. Go on lets see that democracy in action.
To point out how life can be cruel and unfair. The consequence for the HISTORICAL COLLOSSAL FAILURE is Chimpy gets a bruised ego and mean words spoke of his failed presidency while our treasury is crushed for generations, terrorism has exploded, and countless lives are lost. There is no justice.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:18 pmAt least three years too late.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:18 pmmore “senior administration” gobbledygook. why did i even bother to read past that first quote? i really need to turn up the volume on my bullshit detector…i’m getting old.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:18 pmdon’t believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:25 pmBullshit.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:26 pmLooks like we are planning to invade Syria and Iran. Yay!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:30 pmWell Bush plans on increasing troop levels to 200,000 first, then cutting it to 100,000, so that is a touch of voodoo mathematics. At present there is about 140,000 troops in Iraq, so cutting it in half should be 70,000. Everything Bush does is smoke and mirrors bull-crap.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:30 pmIs the Times listening to Judy Miller again? You know what they say in Tennessee or Texas or some damned hillbilly state…”Fool my eight times and you go to a Who concert.”
May 25th, 2007 at 11:30 pmPlanning to invade Iran and Syria? Priceless!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:32 pmMore never ending bullshit to try and keep the restless natives (voter’s) calm..Blessings
May 25th, 2007 at 11:38 pmThe press is reporting that almost 20,000 Marines are sitting on ships off the coastline of Iran, so Bush has been keeping troops in reserve for Iran. He keeps sending National Guard soldiers to Iraq, because they are expendable to him.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:40 pmHow many inventions and patents for technology producing clean and inexpensive or entirely free sources of independent American energy have been supressed, bought out, or shelved? For how many years has this occured? Who supressed, bought out or shelved these technologies, inventions, and patents? Why? Who has legislated repeatedly in support of these supressors of long-existing and new inventions and technologies, and why? How many times and for how long has the same thing been done with patents and inventions which very substantially increase fuel efficiency for existing fossil-fuel automobile and other vehicles, and for existing fossil-fuel energy production processes, and thus reduce both fuel consumption and pollution? Who has most benefitted from this supression and for how long? Who has consistently thwarted effective rail, light rail, and numerous other public transportation solutions, for how long, and why? Who paid $51 million dollars to print and distribute textbooks glorifying terrorism? Under what US president was this authorized? What agency conducted this? Where were the madrassas those texbooks were distributed to? How many madrassas were there originally, and how many additional were built over how many years? Who funded the building of the additional madrassas? Who has supplied and still supplies the arms and other weapons to terrorists? Who profits from the production, sale, and exponential growth of conflicts involving arms, weapons, weapons systems, and military supplies to terrorists and to armies? Who has legislated in favor of the weapons and military systems manufacturers, for how long, and why? Who pays the greatest cost of wars, conflicts, disputes, police actions, and terrorism? What legislators have benefitted from legislation granting weapons, military systems and arms contracts? By how many dollars have these legislators benefitted, and for how long? What are the health risks and financial and environmental costs of building and maintaining nuclear electric generation as opposed to those same costs for the hundreds of supressed technologies, inventions and patents? Who most influences the opinions of the public when considering these issues affecting their well-being and future? What mediums are most influential when influencing public opinion on these topics? Who owns these mediums? Who regulates these mediums? Who has benefitted from legislation affecting the regulation of these mediums? By how much and for how long have they profited? How much have legislators benefitted, and from whom, and for how long, from passing legislation favorable to those controlling these mediums? Who pays the greatest price for the decisions which are made and effected by the opinions of those being influenced by these mediums? To whom did our U.S. Constitution originally give the exclusive right to coin all U.S. currency? Who coins it now? How does the U.S. obtain it’s currency, and from whom? At what rate of interest? Who sets this rate? Who has profited most from the Constitutional change in the authorized issuers of our U.S. currency? Who has always and still continues to pay the largest price in real terms for that change in our Constitution? How was that change accomplished? Why was that change made, and by whom? How are laws enforced? Who enforces laws? Who pays the salaries of the enforcers? What percentage of enforcement of the law is conducted against which segments of the populace? Is enforcement of the law mandated to be selective, or is the law mandated to be applied uniformly and without regard to the socio-economic or other status of the persons, companies, entities, or governmental position of those governed under the law? Are there any who are not governed under the law, and if not, who are they, and why? What is the relative effect of enforcement of the law upon an individual as opposed to a company, an entity, or a governmental agency, group, or functionary? Who invariably pays the greatest price in every respect for uneven, unequal, mis-applied, unfavorable, uneccessary, or misapplied enforcement of laws? Why do these instances occur? Who benefits from these instances? What is the effect of these instances on the progress or lack therof of individual, familys, groups, our nation and our society? To what extent is justice dispensed to enforce the perception that justice is dispensed, as opposed to the genuine application of actual justice for all under the law? What non-governmental persons, entities, and agencies, not elected or chosen or authorized by the public are allowed influence and input as to the legislation, application and enforcement of laws? How much influence are they allowed? What mechanisms exist to actually protect the public from the influence of these non-governmental persons, entities, and agencies uopn the legislation, application and enforcement of laws? What oversight of these processes exists? How is this oversight conducted, and who conducts it if and when it is conducted? How are elections themselves conducted? Who conducts them? What influences the conduct of elections? Who benefits most from the outcome of elections? Who pays the greatest price in real terms for the outcome of elections? Are elections conducted impartially? If they are, how do we know they are? What mechanisms exist to review the veracity of elections, or the access of all voters to elections? If irregularities in our elections are found, what mechanisms exist to provide redress of these errors? Who legislates these processes effecting the accuracy, access, outcome, and effect of our elections? Who influences that legislation and how? What forms of control exist over private individual Americans? Are there forms of control over private individual Americans which they are not aware of? If there are forms of control over private individual Americans which they are not aware of, what are these forms of control? How many of these forms of control are there? How do they operate? Who is involved in the operation of these forms of control? Who benefits from control over private individual Americans which they are not aware of? What is the legal status of such forms of control over private individual Americans? What laws and penalties exist regarding covert forms of control over private individual Americans? What laws with what penalties protect private individual Americans from acts of domestic terrorism by individuals, groups, or entities? If such penalties exist, how are these enforced, by whom are they enforced, and what effect has and does the enforcement of such laws and penalties acheive? Who pays the greatest price in real terms for covert forms of control over private individual Americans? What obligation do legislators, law enforcement, and courts have to excersise and apply their authority against covert applications of control of private individual Americans? What incentives do legislators, law enforcement, and courts have to excersise and apply their authority against covert applications of control of private individual Americans, and what disincentives do they have? To what degree are legislators, law enforcement and the courts themselves subject to covert applications of control? Who benefits from covert applications of control over private individual Americans, at whose expense, and what remedies, redress, protection, and access to punative renumeration for such damages do private individual Americans have, if any?
May 25th, 2007 at 11:43 pm911 Truth, just a suggestion here. I will not read something that long in a blog.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:54 pm911Truth,
I second JPark’s suggestion, and add that I won’t read anything that long in bold. My eyes can’t take it.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:00 amHey Bush, been there and done that! Got any more ideas?
May 26th, 2007 at 12:02 am911 Truth, just a suggestion here. I will not read something that long in a blog.
Comment by JPark
I’m with you JPark.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:02 amhttp://www.911mysteries.com
Digg it.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:06 amJay, don’t know if you remember last week I posted about a sailor that had just come home from one of those ship’s…He was going to be career, had 15 year’s in and quit the service, took an early out what ever they do…He told me the majority of the sailor’s were more worried that our own government would shoot them out of the water and blame Iran than they were worried about Iran…That’s why he didn’t reup…Said bush was crazy, well, we all know that…
911 truth..Interesting post, only know the answer to a few, sadly…Will hope you post the answer’s ….Blessings
May 26th, 2007 at 12:07 amThese phantom “plans” to reduce troop strength in Iraq seem to surface with the same regularity as announcements that the No. 2 Al Queda figure has been captured and/or killed. These claims have the same credibility as those found on the front cover of the supermarket tabloids (if the promises of being able to lose weight forever, find and keep the paramour of your dreams, ad naseum were actually true, nobody would need to buy another copy and they would disappear completely for lack of interest). Still, there are those faithful blind zealots who will insist that “this time is different.”
May 26th, 2007 at 12:07 amThis report is planted information designed to cover up plans for an attack on Iran.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:13 amSharon > Bush could launch an attack on Iran during the next 2 weeks while the Congress is on vacation. Bush never vacations at Camp David, but uses the facility to plan attacks on other nations. Something is up, because the Congress gave him the funding for Iraq like lemmings, then are all getting out of DC fast. Even Pelosi has taken off to Greenland and Europe for a week. They all want to have an alibi as Bush attacks Iran. The start of global WWIII is very soon.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:15 amUnfortunately this story, along with others in papers like the WaPo are nothing more than the administration trying sooth the outrage from the passage of the war spending bill.
I suspect that this is Bush’s thank you to the Dems for the capitulation. As others have commented on this thread, WE HAVE HEARD THIS ALL BEFORE.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:15 amJay, don’t know if you remember last week I posted about a sailor that had just come home from one of those ship’s…He was going to be career, had 15 year’s in and quit the service, took an early out what ever they do…He told me the majority of the sailor’s were more worried that our own government would shoot them out of the water and blame Iran than they were worried about Iran…That’s why he didn’t reup…Said bush was crazy, well, we all know that…
Comment by Sharon
Is this something you heard personally, or is there an article that you can post a link to?
I would love to send it to a couple of Republicans I know.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:15 amW’s ego trumps all. It trumps others lives, our national treasure, and our national honor.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:17 amThe stupid basterd, bush..Well I am not the least bit suprised I have premenition’s, nightmares of what is to come and it is terrible…Just wish the nut bag would wait untill I get back from Billing’s or better yet never..Can’t take my gun’s, ammo, water and food with me on the damn bus…Shit…” Don’t it alway’s go, you don’t know what ya got till it’s gone”…Blessings
May 26th, 2007 at 12:22 amA suggestion for “911 truth”:
Take a vacation or something.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:27 amDa feces of da toro.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:28 amJPV, no link, personal contact.’s..I meet many service person’s daily, active, retired and disabled..I put into place free dock fishing for all service people, disabled and senior citizens at our tiny resort…Average 5 or 6 daily year round and during the summer more…Try to relate my experiences as they come up and most tear my heart out…Lot’s of hug’s healing and quiet listening to help their progress back to well being…Blessings
May 26th, 2007 at 12:30 amYour sounding Joni Mitchellish, Sharon. Takes me right back.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:30 amDa feces of da toro.
Comment by RUCerious
I don’t speak anything but English. Bull shit?
May 26th, 2007 at 12:30 amDa feces of da toro.
Comment by RUCerious
**snort**
That was beyond ridiculously funny, RUC. I need to go to bed.
Goodnight all.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:32 amAlways believe the opposite of what Bush says and what he appears he is going to do.’ He is nothing but a lying freak con.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:32 amComment by Toliver — Don’t put down 9/11 Truth movement. Good people working towards what they believe. Unless you can tell me how a building (7) falls when there was very little fire damage and no debris damage that would structurally cause a building to implode. Don’t even go there.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:37 amShane, can’t remember the name of the song, late night AL’S is setting in…Something about paving Paradise to put in a parking lot, planting tree’s and paying to see them…Back in my hippie year’s..LOL…Blessings
May 26th, 2007 at 12:38 amGET EVERY SINGLE GD AMERIKAN THE F*** OUT OF IRAQ RIGHT GD NOW !!!
EVERY SINGLE MILITARY PERSONNEL
EVERY SINGLE INTELLIGENCE SPOOK
EVERY SINGLE FILTHY SCUM MERCENARY
EVERY SINGLE WAR PROFITEERING PRIVATE CONTRACTOR
EVERY SINGLE WAR PROFITEERING AMERIKAN CORPORATION
EVERY SINGLE WAR PROFITEERING AMERIKAN DEATH & DESTRUCTION ENABLER & PROVIDER
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE WAR CRIMINAL MURDERING OIL STEALING BASTARDS !!!
GET ALL OF THEM OUT RIGHT GD NOW !!!
May 26th, 2007 at 12:38 amSomething about paving Paradise to put in a parking lot, planting tree’s and paying to see them…Back in my hippie year’s..LOL…Blessings
Comment by Sharon
Yep, Joni Mitchell, somebody surely remembers the name of the song, unless we’re the two oldest people around … eek! Zooey, not a word out of you!
May 26th, 2007 at 12:42 amHmm, Joni Mitchell is before my time. Then again I would have preferred Hendrix and the Doors at that time!!
May 26th, 2007 at 12:43 amI think maybe there is some Bull shit in the spanish quote by RUCerious, not sure but maybe.? I would of said caca but I don’t know much spanish, not much english either…LOL.Blessings and nite all.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:44 amI thought we were supposed to be supporting the surge of troops that will propel forward the Freedom Agenda and rid the world of Terrorism (in, say, 40-50 years).
I’m confused.
What gives?
May 26th, 2007 at 12:46 amHehe, Sharon da feces? I am guessing shit is in the term but I took French in high school as I am a liberal elitist :)
May 26th, 2007 at 12:47 amhttp://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/joni+mitchell/big+yellow+taxi_20075370.html
a favorite!…
and, would this “mulling 2008 troop withdrawal”
have anything to do with an election that year?
… i wonder…
May 26th, 2007 at 12:48 amif bush/cheney attack iran, the usa will no longer be a place i can live. it’s been fun while it lasted and i will shed tears for what might have been. time to say goodbye?
May 26th, 2007 at 12:49 amWait, not gone yet, the quote from RU. the shit of the bull, right>?
Jay I am an eclectic music lover and my favorite of group’s is Credence…To many other favorite’s from the 50’s to present to mention….Blessings untill tomorrow maybe..
May 26th, 2007 at 12:52 amWow, the NYT is really
incredible, don’t yall know?Why, they are as
incredible as Weekly World News.……
/snicker
May 26th, 2007 at 12:53 amMy quote was authentic american gibberish, but yes, mix and match the words and all you get is a steaming pile of bull shit.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:53 amSharon, I am a Credence kinda guy, “keep on chooglin” !
May 26th, 2007 at 12:54 amSorry I ment J not Jay, please forgive..
May 26th, 2007 at 12:54 amYeah, da Toro would be the bull so I am thinking you are right :)
May 26th, 2007 at 12:55 amAs Al Sadr takes the lead in Iraq it makes since for the Bush Administration to announce a cut in troops. The Bush Administration has completed the mission of invading Iraq for it’s oil and stealing Trillions of dollars from the US Treasury. The DOJ is full of racist and criminals as dept heads and are now known as lies as they lie while under oath. Cheney has moved Halliburton to Dubi and the US can’t get back the stolen money. All the countries have been paid for joining Bush in the invasion. Thousands of soldiers have lied based the White House lies. The American people still believe the lies from Bush/Cheney. Al Sadr has the support of the Iraq people and the rest of the Middle East leaders. Now America has to start rebuilding the US ecomony as we’re broke and Iraq will not have to pay back any money given by Bush. Yes Americans believed and followed the lying President and Vice President now it’s time to pay for that mistake. Iraq will be just find and very rich as they laugh all the way to the bank.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:55 amComment by robbie — But where do you go? Neocons have infected everyplace and anything thats good in this world? The New World Order is coming. Hold on because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:57 amDa feces of da toro.
Comment by RUCerious
LMAO
Bullsh*t = tonterias btw =)
May 26th, 2007 at 12:58 amTo take the flashback idea a little further…
November 18, 2003 (CNN) — “Officials reported 60,000 Iraqis under arms on October 1 — then 100,000 by the end of October. A week later, officials said they had 18,000 more. And a week after that, another 13,000 — bringing Iraqi security forces to 131,000 on November 12, more than double that of just six weeks earlier. ”
March 28, 2005 (USA Today) — “In April of 2004, for instance, the Defense Department estimated that 206,000 Iraqi security forces were in place. But that number simply reflected personnel on the payroll — many of whom were either administrative officials, or otherwise unprepared to fight. So a year ago the Pentagon revised its Iraqi force figure downward, to 132,000.
By September of 2004, the number had crept back up to 160,000. But further investigation proved that this figure included substantial numbers of people who protect facilities — in essence, night watchmen. In addition, some trained forces did not have equipment rendering them able to fight.
So last fall the number was revised downward again, to 90,000, Rear Adm. William Sullivan, Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a House hearing.”
November 30, 2005 (www.whitehouse.gov website) — “In The Past Year, Iraqi Security Forces Have Made Real Progress. This time last year, there were only a handful of combat-ready Iraqi battalions. Now, there are over 120 Iraqi Army and Police combat battalions in the fight - typically comprised of between 350 to 800 Iraqi forces. Of these, about 80 battalions are fighting alongside Coalition forces. About 40 other battalions are taking the lead, and most are controlling their own battle space and conducting their own operations with some Coalition support.”
Anyone who believes the current story about W planning to reduce U.S. troop numbers in Iraq must surely also believe that the world is flat and that Elvis is alive and well, in addition to Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:58 amJackie, no, it is a little more complex than that. “Iraq” will not be very rich. Certain Iraqis will be very rich. And those very rich will be Shiite. And Al Sadr has the support of only the Shiite. Not the Sunnis, not the Kurds. If Al Sadr becomes the leader Saudi Arabia is going to have a big problem with that.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:00 amGood one RU…Blessings
BTW has any one sent Blessing or well wishes for Clyde today…Well here ya go Clyde, we all miss you and expect a speedy recovery..In more demanding terms, get you little butt back here, you are missed….Blessings
May 26th, 2007 at 1:04 amThanks Katy. Big Yellow Taxi, I knew there was a reason I wanted to remember the name of that song.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:07 amWell, now that the bill is signed, I know we will have extra gas. Time to take a long drive this weekend. So what if there’s a bit of blood in the gasoline, at least I can cruise and enjoy.
Have a great weekend everyone. Get outside, Drive and Enjoy the fruits of conquest. Use up the gas, Your military paid for it.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:09 am57. It gives to feces of gives bull?
May 26th, 2007 at 1:10 amTroll Babysitter,
How about a good portion of #7 being destroyed by falling debris for starters?
Or the Jews/Bush did it.
I pray all you 9/11 loons ask your dem POTUS candidates at every oportunity what their opinion is of the kook “thruther” theories.
There has to be a camera around though.
Please please please.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:11 amPeegles, gas will not be any cheaper.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:11 amToliver, what is your point? I am not conspiracy theorist but you still believe Bush tells the truth. How is that less freaking wacky?
May 26th, 2007 at 1:15 amBlessings Clyde, get well soon, we miss you….
May 26th, 2007 at 1:18 amJPark your right Al Sadr is Shiite but after his visits to the other Middle East countries you never know. As for the oil your right again the rich will be as usual a few but the Iraq people say now they were better off with Saddam then they are now. As all the the Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis are related to each other by marriage or birth they will settle their own problems. The Middle East seems to be suited for a dictatorship or as in Saudi Arabia with the King. Learning and understanding the Middle East ways will allow the others a better way of dealing with chance then invading. We went into Iraq based on lies and corruption so the results had to be bad. I remember when Saddam was hung all the cheers were for Al Sadr. I have not worries about the Saudi King finding a way to work with Al Sadr as will Iran and Syria. The White House has lies to so many countries now we will play no part of the reconstruction of the Middle East. Now Cheney has moved Halliburton so he can continue to get the profit shares and keep his riches overseas. Yes again the taxpayers carry the weight of the lost and stolen money by the Bush Administration.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:20 amFrom Wikipedia, under heading of “2003 Invasion of Iraq” — “The number of personnel in the Iraqi military prior to the war was uncertain, but it was believed to have been poorly-equipped.[57][58][59] The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated the Iraqi armed forces to number 389,000 (army 350,000, navy 2,000, air force 20,000 and air defense 17,000), the paramilitary Fedayeen Saddam 44,000, and reserves 650,000.[60] Another estimate numbers the army and Republican Guard at between 280,000 to 350,000 and 50,000 to 80,000, respectively,[61] and the paramilitary between 20,000 and 40,000.[62] ”
In any event, it appears that at that time the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, there were already a considerable number of Iraqis who were trained militarily, and from all accounts, had done a better job of keeping the peace in that country than the foreign invaders are doing now.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:21 amSurrender Monkies! Cowards! Cut and Run Petraeus! Chicken George Bush!
-GSD
May 26th, 2007 at 1:24 amNo I havent fell off the bus, the damn thread if fighting with my iMac and post would not show up so re posted..Sorry all..
May 26th, 2007 at 1:24 am“Oh what a tangled web we weave…” The Bush game is to increase troops to around 200,000 almost twice what the original “surge” called for so that when and if he begins to withdraw he will have more troops to withdraw while still keeping the original number he asked for in the field. Making thousands off each soldier’s tour it’s double profits for the war profiteers while still making it look like Bush is cooperating with a troop withdrawal.
He doesn’t give a damn about troops as people just pawns for profit. He can parade victory around all he likes but many like me will always see him for what he really is. Not the “decider” or the “commander guy” but the “manipulator” without a conscience. The dead wait patiently for him…almost a million, waiting for Bush and Cheney and the rest.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:29 amJackie, I think the cat is out of the bag on this one. Iraq is going to go through at least 30 years of unrest. The Shiites will come out in the short term at least. The Sunnis will fight them at every turn and when the Kurds are not trying to overthrow the Turkish government they will ally themselves with the Sunnis. There is absolutely no good outcome from what Iraq has become. The best they can hope for is an ironfisted Saddam to unite the country.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:29 am9/11 truth…Try answering some of the questions before you post them and lay off the amphetamines
May 26th, 2007 at 1:31 amIf the report is true, then the Bush administration was against cutting and running before they were for it.
Flip-flop!!
Not to mention that this makes them nothing but a bunch of defeatist who are willing to surrender to the terrorists and don’t want the US to win. Why does the Bush administration hate the US?
Why don’t they support the troops?
May 26th, 2007 at 1:35 amAfter all the talk of waiting for Patreaus’s assessment in September and Bush saying he will listen to Patreaus. Condi and Gates seem a bit out of place. So let’s just call this Rovian Bush sh*t.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:40 amThere has to be a camera around though.
Comment by Toliver
Oh, but, there were cameras! For example in the Pentagon crash, a lot of them in the nearby. It would be helpful if the FBI handed them to the public opinion. Hows that for a wacko theory, huh?
May 26th, 2007 at 1:45 amJPark
Yes, I think that Bush/jews didn’t attack us on 9/11.
That’s my point.
If you want to have a better chance in the next election, you will have to confront the “truthers” from inside, as I can’t do much from my vantage point.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:48 amI have premenition’s, nightmares of what is to come and it is terrible…Blessings
Comment by Sharon — May 26, 2007 @ 12:22 am
Something is up, because the Congress gave him the funding for Iraq like lemmings, then are all getting out of DC fast.
Comment by Jay Randal — May 26, 2007 @ 12:15 am
the usa will no longer be a place i can live. it’s been fun while it lasted and i will shed tears for what might have been. time to say goodbye?
Comment by robbie — May 26, 2007 @ 12:49 am
ROTFLMAO!!!!
May 26th, 2007 at 1:59 am*eyes rolling* Give me a break!
The best they can hope for is an ironfisted Saddam to unite the country.
Comment by JPark — May 26, 2007 @ 1:29 am
In other words, those people can’t be reasoned with, all they know how to do is fight and kill, they will be killing each other until the end of time? Whether it’s open civil war or another Sadaam with rape rooms and torture chambers, nothing will stop their murdurous nature?
May 26th, 2007 at 2:09 am“BUSH DECLARES WAR IS OVER (IF YOU WANT IT).
May 26th, 2007 at 2:47 amIn other news of Bushco shenanegins:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state have reached an agreement that would allow Wyoming to be included in the process of removing wolves in the northern Rockies from protection under the Threatened and Endangered Species Act.
Story link
Sad news.
May 26th, 2007 at 3:17 amThis is great news for Al Qaeda! Screw the Iraqis, they don’t deserve democracy…
absurd thought -
God of the Universe thinks
Al Qaeda are terrorists
all other wannabes
May 26th, 2007 at 5:36 amshould be seen almost harmless
.
Say what you will, this proves the Democrats and the anti=-war movement are changing the behavior of the Administration!
May 26th, 2007 at 6:38 amDems get fooled again.
Let themselves someehow fool into taking out the timelines, then Mr Bush is the one who makes sure the timing goes as the GOP likes it most.
Just like that:
a) Surge over the summer
b) September: The Iraqis are not working along, the decider decides it’s time to reduce troops
c) August to November 2008: Troop reduction at it’s height and the decider welcomes them home, with whoever runs for the GOP at his side.
Who brought the troops home?
That’s what you get, when you cave in Democrats.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:14 amBullsh!t!
A planted story…but we’re not stupid.
May 26th, 2007 at 7:36 amITS A TRICK
Just before election he will SURGE AGAIN
Sign a bill saying Iraqs Oil Proven and unproven belongs to them and watch bush leave fatser than a Mad March Hare
May 26th, 2007 at 7:41 amOh how quickly we forget. June 06- let’s start trying to influence the upcoming elections!
May 26th, 2007 at 7:49 amSince this is early, just keep one thing in mind, there is so much money involved that it is necessary to start earlier. Thats all. Just one more gooper lie.
Poll: Only 11 Percent of Britons Support Iraq War
Which, if any, of the following statements comes closest to your own view about the war in Iraq?
I supported the war and I support it now
11%
I supported the war but do not support it now
22%
I did not support the war but I support it now
3%
I did not support the war and I do not support it now
61%
http://www.angus-reid.com/ polls/ index.cfm/ fuseaction/ viewItem/ itemID/ 15868
Do you approve or disapprove of the way the president of America, George W. Bush is handling the current situation with Iraq?
May 2007
Approve
9%
Disapprove
85%
Don’t know
May 26th, 2007 at 7:58 am6%
This is a set up with Rove’s fingerprints all over it. During the 2008 election season, Bush and the Republicans will say they ARE bringing the troops home. This is the same Ploy Nixon used in his secret plan to end the war in Viet Nam….resulting in the deaths of thousands of Americans….and for what????
May 26th, 2007 at 8:13 amWe need to draw down about 150,000.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:24 amIf this is what it takes to get him to “mull,” I’d hate to see what it would take for him to get off his ass.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:49 amIf the Republicans running for office in 2008 are still in full support of Bush’s Open ended Iraq War policy…they are toast. They know it, and now Bush knows it.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:59 amBush could be the one responsible for discrediting the GOP for a generation.
BUSH…the Un-Reagan.
I don’t believe it. He’s trying to change public opinion.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:05 amWe are winning the fight on public opinion. Regardless of what the ruling class is doing in DC, we are in control of public opinion.
70% of the public is against the war in Iraq now. Why? Because we speak out, we email our friends and family with the realities of this war, and we influence the MSM when they do bother to cover this news.
We should remember this, as we continue to fight against our own republic which was ironically established because the Founding Fathers thought we couldn’t be trusted to make the right decisions.
The people of Prague ousted the Soviet Union from their country this way. So too can we.
So don’t be discouraged yet. I know things aren’t fully going our way, but it’s only because the oligarchy is slower to catch on to our influence. Must be from all the royal inbreeding :)
We should focus on what we have accomplished and decide how to win the next battle now. What’s done is done. It’s the future that is still yet to be determined. And that future is dependent on whether or not we act like victims or patriots…
May 26th, 2007 at 9:20 amThis move has the fingerprints of Rove all over it. Take the heat off Bush for several months into the campaign by removing the timeline issue. It’s a flip flop, but if they don’t really intend to do it, only the poor chumps actually fighting will pay a price. This is cynicism beyond the pale. Our troops deserve a clear plan for an exit out of this blunder. Every life is precious, and not to be used for political expediency , dragging out one day more than necessary.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:44 amthis is all being done for the
May 26th, 2007 at 9:47 am‘08 elections….it’s early but mccain is crashing already; giuliani has a lot of dirty baggage and romney may pull it out but they need help badly and bush is giving it to them…
Bush isn’t “mulling” anything. The GOP candidates in 2008 are demanding a troop drawdown and declaration of “Victory” before the elcections in 2008.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:50 amA front page, above-the-fold, upper right hand column story about what an unnamed top administration source has leaked to the NYT… seems like old times! Before I wised up, I would have read that story and figured yeah, they’ll actually draw down troops in the run up to the next election and then have a build-up, but now I know better: this is just a leak about a purported debate within the White House intended to give political cover to nervous Republicans who have to run next time around. It’s enough simply to plant a story about a troop draw-down debate without there being any actual troop draw-down being contemplated by anyone.
May 26th, 2007 at 9:55 amSo, I guess the gameplan for Iraq is that: 1) If the Democrats agree to fund the occupation effort without timelines, then Dubya insists a timeline of August 2008 for retreat is necessary or 2) If the Democrats agree to funding the occupation effort with timelines for withdrawal then Dubya insists on extending the war indefinitely? Makes sense to me.
May 26th, 2007 at 10:11 amAnd the only way out for this pig continues right on track, just the way they’ve wanted. It’s uncanny really.
GWB:
‘Yes yes, we have the power, we’ll CONSIDER troop reduction in ‘08, we’ll think about it, we’ll take as much time as we determine is feasable. Then after the election, it’ll be someone elses problem just as we’ve planned. We’ve become so dam* good at ‘externalizing’ that we can barely stand ourselves’
May 26th, 2007 at 10:33 ami agree with many here - this sounds like another rovian ploy…
and/or, it just may happen, as doro opines @ 7:14 am:
Who brought the troops home?
as for the dems “caving in”… i have been otherwise preoccupied for most of the past 2+ weeks, concentrating on being happy and optomistic for my children’s college graduations, and so avoiding most of the news… and while in california for 5 days, i heard nothing…
so it took me by surprise upon hearing the news of this timeline-less bill… i really did think the dems would stick to their guns… as i told my daughter, “see what happens when i leave them alone for 1 week?!?”
but i wasn’t able to read the blogs and listen to AirAmerica much and so mostly formed an opinion based on a few facts and my own gut instinct… i was mightily disheartened and disappointed, for sure…
but not enough to lose complete faith and think something totally ridiculous as NOT voting for dems in 08…
i just think, after all is said and done, that the reasons were justified and even logical… i’m not any less unhappy about it, but i really believe that it will all come around and work out to the benefit of the whole country…
one thing is for sure - this IS bush’s war, and now he’s got what he wanted and so no one else is to blame… the dems need to always keep that front and center - this is BUSH’S WAR…
May 26th, 2007 at 10:39 am…
You are correct, it’s a wacko theory that every dem POTUS candidate should take a position on publicly.
So please my “truther” friends from across the aisle, I beg you to impart your wisdom at every dem campaign event you can. :-)
May 26th, 2007 at 10:49 amTimelines! We must have timelines! Dems caved on timelines? They are worthless traitors! Recall em! Vote em out! We need timelines! What? Bush is offerling timelines? *%#@*&%#! Timelines were our idea! We want to set the timelines! We get the credit for timelines! It’s an election ploy! He can’t get away with stealing our thunder! Bush wants timelines? No! No! No, timelines!
May 26th, 2007 at 11:22 amMorning Katie and all,…Thank’s for the name of the song..Glad your back…
Another day in bush bizarro world..Someone stole one of our new livingston boat’s and left it out to float in the lake…Another old timer retrieved it for me…The same person I am thinking cut and took all the anchors, had to make up new one’s..OT sorry.
I am still enraged and angry that the dem’s caved with hardly a wimper and sent an email to one rep yesterday..He lost my vote, have to more to send to…I’m realy one way about life and death, the constitution and my country…
Wayne, noted your post on wolves, been fighting for their survival along with the bison and other wild life for year’s….Sad to see so many people don’t think about balance and leave nature to the selection concept..Thank’s for posting that..Most of the problem in Montana has been from large livestock owner’s or corprate farmer’s…Part of the kill everything in sight croud..Sad..Blessings all
May 26th, 2007 at 11:43 amSorry for the name mispelling Katy…Blessing
May 26th, 2007 at 11:53 amComment by Troll Babysitter
i have traveled the world and have found some very livable places not controlled by the empire.
regardless, if we attack iran, i would rather die roaming free than live well in a fascist dictatorship that is hated by the peoples of the world.
for all sorts of reasons,99.99% of americans will be trapped in the swamp, including many i love. still, i cannot stay,thus my tears.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:22 pm#7 — Your Concience
“If MSM had a shred of credibility they would daily ask for the Iraq ’soverign’ government if they want us there.”
Apparently, they have. The answer:
Increased Strife Is Foreseen in Iraq if U.S. Troops Leave
By MICHAEL R. GORDON and ALISSA J. RUBIN
New York Times
Saturday, May 26, 2007
A survey of Iraqi politicians and citizens shows that they believe a withdrawal of U.S. troops levels could lead to a violent chain reaction.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:13 pmExactly. Why is this even being reported as “news”. It is just regurgitation of a message repeated many times before. Anybody that would put trust in this is a gullible fool.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:36 pmA survey of Iraqi politicians and citizens shows that they believe a withdrawal of U.S. troops levels could lead to a violent chain reaction.
Comment by Exley — May 26, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
COULD LEAD TO???
Exley, this is only another repug talking point. The boy king has screwed the pooch on this Iraq thing. What’s going to happen in Iraq now is going to happen with or without us in there playing referee in a civil war. We could withdraw to the perimeter (like Murtha suggested) and be just as effective using airpower. There is more to Chimpy’s mule headedness than meets the eye. Its oil stupid.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:49 pmLemme guess, the administration leaked this so that they could site it as a credible story that they don’t know much about, on the Meet the Timmehschmuck type Sunday Morning Koffee Tawk shows. You know just like that effing Judith Miller story that Cheney leaked to her then sited as a reason (and credible source) as to why we had to go to war in Iraq.
Or second, beside the obvious issues with credibility coming from all spheres of this administration, aren’t they also touting a huge misinformation, disinformation effort out of the Pentagon machine when it comes to fighting the War on Terrah? I mean according to Junya the Commander Guy we don’t want to telegraph our plans to the enemy now do we.
Begs to question (again) oh why oh why can’t we have a better press corp?
May 26th, 2007 at 1:54 pm