FACT CHECK: Bush’s Claims Of ‘Satisfactory Performance’ In Iraq Debunked
FACT CHECK: Bush’s Claims Of ‘Satisfactory Performance’ In Iraq Debunked
Today the White House released its “Initial Benchmark Assessment Report” claiming that the Iraqi government has “shown satisfactory performance so far on 8 of the 18 benchmarks.”
The White House achieved its objective of spinning the media’s analysis. The New York Times reports the document as “finding some progress on political and security goals in Iraq.” The Washington Post says progress “has been mixed.” Similarly, the AP finds “mixed progress.”
According to National Security Network (NSN), however, there’s nothing mixed about the situation in Iraq; that is purely White House report spin. The NSN explained, the “benchmarks claimed as ’satisfactory’ … demonstrate minimal progress, not achievement” and “others have been achieved on the surface, but fail to accomplish the overall purpose of the specific measurement.”
The NSN debunks the White House report’s delusional accounts of “progress” in Iraq. Some highlights:
CLAIM: “The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward forming a Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) and then completing the constitutional review.”
FACT: “The Committee was originally scheduled to complete its work by May 15. Instead, it delivered a draft that did not address many of the key issues.” One CRC leader recently said, “We have not committed to doing it by September.” [LINK]
CLAIM: “The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward establishing supporting political, media, economic, and services committees in support of the Baghdad Security Plan.”
FACT: Such public services committees have “had little impact on Baghdad’s population which still lacks access to many basic services like water and electricity.” [LINK]
CLAIM: “The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward providing three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations.”
FACT: According to the Defense Department, “the three brigades that came to Baghdad were understaffed and poorly trained causing a major delay in Baghdad security operations.” Only “one-half to two-thirds” of the promised 330,000 Iraqi security forces have arrived. [LINK]
CLAIM: “The Government of Iraq with substantial Coalition assistance has made satisfactory progress toward reducing sectarian violence…”
FACT: According to the Brookings Institute, “sectarian violence has remained constant despite the ’surge.’” [LINK]
CLAIM: “The Government of Iraq — with substantial Coalition assistance — has made satisfactory progress toward establishing the planned Joint Security Stations in Baghdad.”
FACT: Iraqis living nearby such “Joint Security Stations” say they “feel less safe now, because many of the bases have quickly become magnets for rocket and mortar attacks.” [LINK]
CLAIM: “The Government of Iraq has made satisfactory progress toward ensuring that the rights of minority political parties in the Iraqi legislature are protected.”
FACT: “The Sunnis — one of the largest and most important minority groups — are currently boycotting the government. [LINK]
Indeed, the President’s assessment is all politics and his conduct — not that of Congress — has been the true “prescription for failure” in Iraq.
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99 Responses to “FACT CHECK: Bush’s Claims Of ‘Satisfactory Performance’ In Iraq Debunked”
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Bush’s Iraq assessment shows minimal brain power.
July 12th, 2007 at 4:57 pmBush accepts less. The amercian people expect and deserve more.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:01 pmI hope all the Quisling vermon here at ThinkDefeat are having a rotten day.
No time to chit chat.
Gotta run….
July 12th, 2007 at 5:01 pmOn the other hand, the Iraqi government has gotten quite good at establishing commitees that do nothing. So it shows that our project to bring American-style democracy to Iraq has been a resounding success!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:02 pmWow. they lie - who knew?
July 12th, 2007 at 5:02 pmYou really should put in a link to digg this article.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:03 pmWith all the spinning going on, you’d think Bush would be so dizzy he would have flopped over on his face by now.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:04 pmBush ONLY knows how to fail. EVERY PRESIDENTIAL POLICY OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAS FAILED. He failed as Governor of Texas. He failed when he ran the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. He failed when he founded Arbusto Energy.
… unless he measures success solely by how much money HE PERSONALLY walks away with… in which case, each venture was a resoundind success at the expense of the investors/fans/citizens.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:05 pmTITUSVILLE, Fla. — State Rep. Bob Allen, a co-chair of Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s Florida campaign, is expected to address Thursday charges that he offered to perform oral sex on an undercover male police officer for $20.
LOL
LMAO
July 12th, 2007 at 5:05 pmHow can we allow an assessment from the twilight zone rule whether American soldiers remain in this quagmire? Bush is not capable of thinking beyond his own needs. We must invoke those phrases from the Constitution that quantify acceptable behavior for the president.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:06 pmI would like to see a wider camera angle shot so we could see Speak no Evil and See no Evil too.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:06 pmFor the Bush administration, the marketing of the “surge” in Iraq more and more looks like an ad for a Hollywood flop. In this case, the box office numbers are in and the film is a dismal failure. And yet a small but reliable group of friendly critics continues to offer rave reviews for “Iraq: The Surge.”
For the details, see:
July 12th, 2007 at 5:07 pm“Iraq Surge Wins Rave Reviews.”
Even if Bush claims that progress has been made, it is clear that no progress has been made. The draft is pointless if it doesn’t address key issues. If they haven’t agreed to complete this review by September, how much more time do they need? Bush should explain why Iraqi forces have still not been trained. This war is in its 5th year, how much more time will Bush need to get it right?
The civil war violence, is a clear indication that the surge has failed. There is no need to wait for September to find out what Petraeus will say. He will ask for more time, and try to paint a rosy picture that is contrary to the reality on the ground in Iraq. If the Sunnis are boycotting the government then it is safe to say their issues are not being addressed. To say otherwise is false. Bush has the wrong policy. The policy needs to change. Until the policy changes no progress will be made.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:08 pm#9. Funny! I wonder if he’ll brush his teeth first?
July 12th, 2007 at 5:09 pmGod, 18 more months of this S**T. Gonna be a long 18 months.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:09 pmMr. Bush will be judged as the greatest president in history!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:10 pmI tortured myself and watched Bush’s Presser this morning. To say he’s detached from reality really understates the problem. He simply will not see the situation for what it is in Iraq. I don’t think its a question of whether or not he’s being honest about. I think he really believes what he says. And thats what really scares me.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:13 pmCLAIM: “The President makes numerous false statements with regard to his failed misadventures in Iraq. The assembled press pay close attention and then grill the President to hold him a ccountable for his lies.”
July 12th, 2007 at 5:14 pmAh, the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you lower the bar enough, even Bush can get over it.
But, if you stand too close to him while he does it, you’ll be considered married in some communities.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:14 pm.
First President in US History to go 0-2 in Wars. Heckuva Job, W.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:14 pmMr. Bush doesn’t need your reality!!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:15 pma co-chair of Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s Florida campaign, is expected to address Thursday charges that he offered to perform oral sex on an undercover male police officer for $20.
That’s why they keep talking about ‘family values’: they don’t have any.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:15 pm.
I would like to see a wider camera angle shot so we could see Speak no Evil and See no Evil too.
Comment by nanlichi — July 12, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
Even a monkey would get it right some of the time. LOL
July 12th, 2007 at 5:16 pmI think its time for Bush/Cheney to step aside and lets the adults handle things. Lord knows there’s a helluva mess to clean up.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:17 pmMr. Bush doesn’t need your reality!!
Of course not. He’s got people for that, like any other trust fund baby who never worked a day in his life.
Keep sucking up to your betters, slave.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:17 pm.
Nice to see things going so well and of course the robbery of $248 Million American dollars from the Green Zone the safest place in Iraq. Good to hear the Iraq soldiers that the US trained and paid were the ones who robbed the Bank. Now Congress can give Iraq another $248 Million dollars to replace the stolen money. A soldier who was in Iraq told me it was impossible because US troops guard the banks so the only thing he could explain is the US was part of the robbery. I love to hear about how good things are going in Iraq and how safe the Green Zone is. McCain might want to ask for some of that stolen money for his campaign as the GOP is doing good. At lease when these guys leave office they will be rich and wont have to pay taxes on their stolen money. Americans don’t mind having their taxes raised due to thief by government officials.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:18 pmIRAQ ISN’T “SATISFACTORY”
IT’S GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pmI wish my job worked that way… Well, boss, I haven’t actually MET any of my goals… but I think I’ve made ’satisfactory progress’ toward a few of them! Now give me a bonus!!!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pm#9. Funny! I wonder if he’ll brush his teeth first?
Comment by Republicans Can’t Govern
Yeah I never understood the thrill of wanting to pay to suck a d!ck.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pmYeah. That dude in the drug store pulled off some kind of a scam. Two bottles of codeine cough syrup and no effect. He’s onto my game I guess. Great. Now I’ll have to find another drug store.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:20 pmForTruth,
And that $20 was the last of McCain’s Florida campaign contributions! :-)
July 12th, 2007 at 5:21 pmPer 1000 people, folks in the United States (8.26/1000) are dying 50%ish faster than folks in Iraq (5.26/1000) — thus says the CIA. If that’s not success, I don’t know what is!
https://www.cia.gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ geos/ iz.html
https://www.cia.gov/ library/ publications/ the-world-factbook/ geos/ us.html
I’d ask if we can bring the troops home now that we’re being so successful at keeping people alive in Iraq, but since people are 50%ish more likely to die here… maybe that’s not a good idea. But can we at least declare victory and maybe recover from this war fatigue?
July 12th, 2007 at 5:22 pmSorry, but if you believe this “Guest” over our government, you’re an idiot!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:25 pmHere is an interesting article that was published in The Nation magazine, written by Chris Hedges and Laila Al-Arian called “The Other War: Iraq Vets Bear Witness”:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070730/hedges
This is quite a different perspective than the Administration by those who have fought on the frontines and had a front seat view.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:26 pmit can’t read, so it is told what to say. it can’t understand, so it gives blank looks when people question what it says, because it doesn’t know what they are talking about. it can’t think, it is mentally ill to an observer that might try to find cognitive skills. it doesn’t claim responsibility for anything, because it doesn’t know what that means, it has never dealt with it in it’s life. it hires people that nod and wink. if they nod properly, it thinks they are smart.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:26 pmperhaps the appropriate governing body will commit it or euthanize it as it is clearly a hazard to others and itself. being in a position of responsibility, and having all ready ordered the deaths of half a million people, it would seem to be a criminally negligent act on the part of the congress not to have it put away
Yeah I never understood the thrill of wanting to pay to suck a d!ck.
Comment by ForTruth — July 12, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Funny that someone would pay to perform. Seems like, as randy as the male gender is, that there are perpetually offers to do it for free…
July 12th, 2007 at 5:27 pmSorry re: spelling.. Frontlines. Front row seat.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:27 pmDone for today..
Ich schwöre: Ich werde dem Führer des Amerikanishcer Reiches und Volkes George Bush treu und gehorsam sein, die Gesetze beachten, und meine Amtspflichten gewissenhaft erfüllen, so wahr mir Gott helfe.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:27 pmHeard about this on Thom Hartman and then Ed Shultz…. INHERENT CONTEMPT
It is possible to jail Meris, Rove….
July 12th, 2007 at 5:27 pmEIGHT OF EIGHTEEN???
When even your best SPIN shows less than 50% success, just how bad it it REALLY?
July 12th, 2007 at 5:28 pmThe United States has spent more than $340 billion dollars on Iraq to date. While they continue to discuss a withdrawal timeline thousands of people around the world go to be hungry each night. The US government agreed to support the Millennium Development Goals that will help to end global poverty by 2015.. Nonprofit groups such as the Borgen Project are doing everything they can to bring awareness, both politically and personally, to the situation. This foreign policy is not effective when thousands die each day.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:30 pmPer 1000 people, folks in the United States (8.26/1000) are dying 50%ish faster than folks in Iraq (5.26/1000) — thus says the CIA. If that’s not success, I don’t know what is!
Comment by JMiller — July 12, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
It’s official - the trolls have run out of worthwhile arguments about Iraq.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:31 pmIncredible.
There’s nothing, NOTHING about the no-show Miers on Drudge.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:33 pmBin Laden search frustrates officials
By Bill Gertz
July 12, 2007
Senior U.S. intelligence officials yesterday defended unsuccessful efforts to capture al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden who they say has eluded a global manhunt for years by hiding in tribal areas of Pakistan under the protection of local leaders.
“We share your frustration,” Thomas Fingar, deputy director of national intelligence, told Congress yesterday. “Being No. 3 in al Qaeda is a bad job. We regularly get to the No. 3 person.”
—————————————————————————–
Wait till the 2008 elections President Bush is going to deliver Osama at the appropriate time.
Great news the Republicans can keep the WH.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:33 pmNews at 11 stay tuned.
In the meantime we will see something BIG in Iran bye bye President Ahmadinejad
Caption Contest:
“Dr. Frankenstein says that the lobotomy improved my IQ by 10 whole points.”
July 12th, 2007 at 5:34 pmCaption Contest:
“It’s a hard, hard job. Thinking hurts you know.”
July 12th, 2007 at 5:35 pmWhat’s this picture of El Decideristo Grande tell ya?
“Man, my head hurts… I don’t wanna be the Deciderer Guy anymore. Uncle Dickie, can I go ride my bicycle and blow up some frogs?”
July 12th, 2007 at 5:36 pmHow’s that surge going?
July 12th, 2007 at 5:37 pmTP I have to give you credit
Catchy headlines and goofy stock photos of the Pres.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:37 pmKeep the lemmings happy.
“Dr. Frankenstein says that the lobotomy improved my IQ by 10 whole points.â€
Comment by unbelievable
That’s FrankenstEEn, and the word you’re looking for is “deproved”… the lobotomy DEPROVED my IQ by 10 whole points…”
July 12th, 2007 at 5:37 pmWait till the 2008 elections President Bush is going to deliver Osama at the appropriate time.
Great news the Republicans can keep the WH.
News at 11 stay tuned.
In the meantime we will see something BIG in Iran bye bye President Ahmadinejad
Comment by Flaco — July 12, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
———————————————————————–
Bush has had bin laden for a while and will present his bloodied body just like Flaco says.
We will go to war with Iran in the next few months and will emerge victorious!
God bless this great country!!!!!!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:38 pmTITUSVILLE, Fla. — State Rep. Bob Allen, a co-chair of Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s Florida campaign, is expected to address Thursday charges that he offered to perform oral sex on an undercover male police officer for $20.
Comment by ForTruth
That is hilarious, another one out of the closet, the hard way……..
July 12th, 2007 at 5:38 pmsomeone using my name? fake flaco
July 12th, 2007 at 5:40 pmyou libs always like cherry picking your intel, well every agency says if we withdraw its genocide. so i guess liberals are for genocide, nothing new there, just ask cambodia, laos, south vietnam, etc. even their own leadership couldn’t say what happens when we leave, because they know it will be worse:
TAPPER: Senator Reid, what do you say to critics who say, “Look, the Senate voted, including two of you up on the stage, to authorize the president to use force in Iraq. Is there not a moral obligation of the United States to make sure that the Iraqi people are safe before the U.S. withdraws”? It’s very clear that withdrawing U.S. troops might make U.S. troops safer, but it won’t necessarily make the Iraqi people safer.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID, D-NEV: As reported in the news this morning, 69 percent of Iraqis feel they are less safe because of the presence of Americans; 21 percent of the Iraqi people feel they’re safer. That’s pretty clear that American troops who are over there protecting the Shias, the Sunnis and the Kurds — they’re not welcome. That’s the reason that they’re doing a good job of protecting the Shias, Kurds and Sunnis, but they are all trying to kill our soldiers. That is a recipe to bring our troops home. And that’s why the Levin-Reed amendment is so critically important. …It transitions the mission within 120 days, and by the first day of May of next year, our troops will be out of there, our combat troops will be out of there. They will be left to do counterterrorism, training the Iraqis — continuing to train the Iraqis and protecting our resources. That’s what the Iraqi people want and that’s what American people want.
TAPPER: I’m sorry, if I could just follow up very quickly…Do you think the Iraqi people will be safer with U.S. troops out?
REID: It is clear that the Iraqi people don’t want us there. It is clear that there is now a state of chaos in Iraq. And it is up to the Iraqi people to make themselves safe….We can’t do it. It’s time the training wheels come off and they take care of their own country. We have spent billions dollars. We’re now spending $12 billion a month on Iraq. That’s enough. In the last six months of the surge, six months, 600 more dead Americans, $60 billion more of American taxpayers’ money. We, Democrats, unitedly believe that’s enough.
TAPPER: With all due respect, Senator, you didn’t answer my question.
REID: OK. This is not a debate.
TAPPER: Will the Iraqis be safer?
REID: We’re answering questions. (calling on someone else) Yes, young man? Anyone else have a question?
July 12th, 2007 at 5:40 pmFunny that someone would pay to perform. Seems like, as randy as the male gender is, that there are perpetually offers to do it for free…
Comment by unbelievable — July 12, 2007 @ 5:27 pm
Yeah, getting the cash would just be gravy. Icing on the cake, whathaveyou.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:41 pm71% of attacks on US troops in Iraq come from al Queada in Iraq, yet liberals continue to ignore the terrorist threat and insist its just a civil war. wrong again leftists….
July 12th, 2007 at 5:42 pmTony Snow = Baghdad Bob
Tony Snow = Baghdad Bob
Tony Snow = Baghdad Bob
The King = Donald (Happy Gilmore)
July 12th, 2007 at 5:42 pmCatchy headlines and goofy stock photos of the Pres.
You mean there are photos of him in which he doesn’t look like the corrupt, coke-addled dry-drunk of a failure he really is?!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:42 pmI love that picture of Dubya, it screams to be captioned “When I can’t handle the truth, I JMSU (Just Make Shit Up).
And the 28% -Oops - 26%ers will believe it anyway, cause I am the Commander Guy and Faux NoNooz and the rusher repeats whatever PudgeBoy Rove and Darth tell them
July 12th, 2007 at 5:43 pmThe NYT and WaPo seem to have bought into the Bush family canard that when it comes to George, partially fulfilling eight of eighteen requirements IS a passing grade. Not so for kids or schools caught in the bureaucratic grind of No Child Left Behind, but then that law was never about how much the kids learned either.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:44 pm“71% of attacks on US troops in Iraq come from al Queada in Iraq, yet liberals continue to ignore the terrorist threat and insist its just a civil war. wrong again leftists….
Comment by liberals destroyed america — July 12, 2007 @ 5:42 pm”
WRONG!!!!
It is about 14% of the attacks that are from AQ, and the Iraq AQ is NOT the same AQ that was “supposedly” responsible for 9/11.
Man you trolls are like a vacuum, in that you just suck up anything the Bush admin tells you.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:45 pmPick up the phone… right now and call your congressperson and demand INHERENT CONTEMPT……
1-202-255-3121
Thom Hartman talked about this, callers on Ed Shultz have mentioned this and apparently some in CONGRESS ARE ALREADY AWARE of and INTERESTED in INHERENT CONTEMPT.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:45 pmComment by Flaco — July 12, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
Now scury off and catch the latest from the National Equirer’s sister publication, The New York Post, and FAUX Hack Gossip Channel.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:45 pmYou silly, trite little clone.
coke-addled dry-drunk? HEY leave Obama out of this!!!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:46 pmERROR… very sorry
ph# for congress is
202 225 3121
July 12th, 2007 at 5:47 pmTony Snow = Baghdad Bob
Tony Snow = Baghdad Bob
Tony Snow = Baghdad Bob
July 12th, 2007 at 5:48 pmHow nice of Der Shrub to avoid answering the question about having any regrets about outing his own covert CIA analyst and head of the program to find WMD’s in Iraq. His body language said it all, though: she ain’t one of us and she deserved what she got. “Petulant, angry and disturbed” describe Mr. Bush only on his good days.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:49 pmRemoveBush, AQ has stated time and time again that the centerpiece of their war on the west in Iraq. again this week they claimed as much, pouring resources and manpower into Iraq in the hopes of ensuring are retreat. i’m sure they are happy to know you support their efforts.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:50 pmIn Pres Bush’s defence, those results might actually be satisfactory in his opinion.
I mean, he has lowered the bar so low in terms of expectations, that I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually believed what he says.
At least his supporters (and the Bush cultists here at ThinkProgress) have already shown beyond any reasonable doubt there is no low too low that will make them stop carrying water for his administration. This “progress” in Iraq is probably satisfactory in their opinion too.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:50 pmit took 50 years for us to rebuild and leave germany, we have yet to leave korea, yet liberals expect a middle-eastern naiton recently liberated from tyranical rule to just magically become peaceful, with little fight or sacrafice.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:52 pmif the dems want withdraw so badly, then cut the funds. its really not hard to end this war if the left wanted to. their true goal is a political victory. they care nothing for the troops, the security, or the iraqis. this is all about a short term political victory. we’ve seen it before, they used the body count of vietnam and the corruption of nixon to get elected, and what did we get? jimmy carter, the worst world leader of all time. so prepare for the second coming of carter, either clinton, or hussein obama. at least us on the right know where a repeat of carter’s admin will lead us!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:55 pm“it took 50 years for us to rebuild and leave germany, we have yet to leave korea, yet liberals expect a middle-eastern naiton recently liberated from tyranical rule to just magically become peaceful, with little fight or sacrafice.
Comment by liberals destroyed america — July 12, 2007 @ 5:52 pm”
NIMROD!!!!!
Germany wanted our help and assisted us in the work we were doing!!!!
Korea also wanted us there and has assisted us!!!!!
Iraq, has REPEATEDLY stated that they do NOT want us there and view us as OCCUPIERS!!!!!
By your logic, it is just fine for homeless people to enter your home and start living there despite your objection!
July 12th, 2007 at 5:55 pm“if the dems want withdraw so badly, then cut the funds. its really not hard to end this war if the left wanted to. their true goal is a political victory. they care nothing for the troops, the security, or the iraqis. this is all about a short term political victory. we’ve seen it before, they used the body count of vietnam and the corruption of nixon to get elected, and what did we get? jimmy carter, the worst world leader of all time. so prepare for the second coming of carter, either clinton, or hussein obama. at least us on the right know where a repeat of carter’s admin will lead us!
Comment by liberals destroyed america — July 12, 2007 @ 5:55 pm”
Sorry, but the Republicans have shown just what they think of the TROOPS!!!!!
They don’t want to give them time to rest, or spend time with their families……
They just want them to die for the OIL!!!!!
If you Republicans support the TROOPS so much, why did the Republicans kill the amendment that would have supported our troops??????
July 12th, 2007 at 5:57 pmMan you trolls are like a vacuum, in that you just suck up anything the Bush admin tells you.
Comment by RemoveBush — July 12, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
At this point, the distortions of the facts that they have to make in order to justify their Dear (mis)Leader are so egregious, I am beginning to believe they are flat out lying to themselves and to us. They don’t care for facts; they don’t want facts. All they want is blind loyalty.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:58 pmThe mainstream media (who receive millions of dollars from oil companies) will not say it, but one of the benchmarks the Iraqi government is supposed to agree to is:
Iraq gives up to 80% of their oil revenues to the big multi-national oil corporations. The Bush administration (full of people from the big oil corporations) insisted on it.
Below is link to Cheney’s Energy Task Force March 2001 map of Iraqi oil fields divided into “exploration blocks”.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/ 211/ 466503255_f7bb4d5e85_o.jpg
It’s so easy a caveman could figure it out.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:02 pmEven if they did get 8 of 18, that is less than 50% grade. That is an ‘F’ by most grading standards.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:04 pmMichael Moore is on Keith Olbermann tonight.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:04 pmI love the Bush Nazi troll using terms like “liberated” about what we have done to the Iraqi people. Then they have the nerve to say WE are thinking in “magical” terms.
Keep waiting for them to throw flowers Bush apologist. Keep thinking that they see us a “liberators” instead of invaders who have utterly destroyed their country and any hope for peace and stability there.
Keep clinging to “stay the course” while both the Iraqi civil war and the Al Qaeda network worldwide grow in strength. Keep pretending this Iraqi nation building was somehow part of our fight with international terrorists instead of a grab for oil and no-bid government contracts.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:06 pmWhen the Iraqi’s decide what to do about KIRKUK, I’ll believe they are heading for peace and reconcilliation. Right now the Kurds and the Sunni’s both think this oil rich area is theirs. This is where the rubber will meet the road.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:13 pmI don’t see how sane Republicans (there are a few…) or the American people can stand much more of GWB’s stonewalling and outright fabrications concerning Iraq.
http://political-buzz.com/?p=261
The new report states that none of the beloved “benchmarks” have been met by al Maliki and Co., yet Bush sees nothing but splending news.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:14 pmFrom my speech to the American Enterprise Institute (9-22-2003):
“And a year from now, I’ll be very surprised if there is not some grand square in Baghdad that is named after President Bush. There is no doubt that, with the exception of a very small number of people close to a vicious regime, the people of Iraq have been liberated and they understand that they’ve been liberated. And it is getting easier every day for Iraqis to express that sense of liberation.”
July 12th, 2007 at 6:15 pmCaption: “Is this how Johnny Carson did it?”
July 12th, 2007 at 6:36 pmPresident Bush, Your Country Thanks You!
July 12th, 2007 at 6:50 pmHo Hum: What, this administration? Rose-colored glasses. Like Rumsfeld answering how long the war would last Oh gosh, six days, I doubt six months.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:59 pmYou know, the insurgency is in it;s last throes, if yo will.
We got Al-Qaeda on the run.
We are turning a corner in Iraq.
Oh, remember this one?
Peace is on the march in the Mid East.
Yes peace is on the march.
Delusional, a good word for Chimpy and his followers.
I know they post here but I never see their posts. Strange.
18 U.S.C. Sec. 1505 : … Whoever corruptly … influences, obstructs, or impedes … the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress … [s]hall be fined under this title, [or] imprisoned not more than 5 years … or both.
18 U.S.C. Sec. 1515(b): As used in section 1505, the term “corruptly” means acting with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another, including … withholding, [or] concealing … information.
By advising Harriet Miers not to show up, fearless leader violated these two statutes. Felonies. Remember Watergate! Impeach now!
July 12th, 2007 at 7:01 pmKeith G
July 12th, 2007 at 7:06 pmBullseye!
An excerpt from a speech by Dennis Kucinich, the ONLY politician who lays it out in plain language:
The legislation demands that contracts, and this is a quote, “must guarantee the best level of coordination” with the Oil Ministry, Iraqi National Oil Company, the regions and oil companies. The legislation mandates that undeveloped oil fields be developed quickly, and oil companies are given explicit authority to collaborate.
The legislation does not require contracts to be published for public review for up to 2 months after approval. The legislation provides for up to 35 years of exclusive control over oil fields for foreign oil companies. The legislation provides for a preference to Iraqis for jobs and services, but only if these benefits do not place extra costs or inconveniences on the foreign oil companies. The legislation states that disputes between the State of Iraq and any foreign investors shall be submitted for arbitration to an international court and will not be decided upon by an Iraqi court.
Bush is an idiot.
July 12th, 2007 at 7:10 pmGreat picture of Bush.
Bush’s mental illness is quite obvious now. With each passing month, he has this distant far away look. I don’t know if other people see but I see it. I’m not a mental health professional but I just sense something is wrong. Sometimes mental illness is not obvious and sometimes it is.
I guess we’re lucky. So far, he’s not wearing a winter coat or pushing a shopping cart when it’s 95 degrees outside. What will we do when that day arrives? That’s when we all start drinking and become alcoholics.
July 12th, 2007 at 7:28 pmThis is a pretty good assessment of Bush, what he does and the psychology that drives him. If we accept Greenwald’s view as accurate, then all of Bush’s lies, distortions and actions not only fall nicely into place, but are good predictors of his future actions, lies and distortions. This thread article falls right into “the future vindication of history,” refuge. The fantasy that 8 of 18 shows success. That Good is winning and we are making progress against the forces of Evil.
It is both very sad and profoundly frightening that we are represented by a megalomaniacal dry drunk, who is living out his unresolved emotional problems, with his hands on the nuclear button.
I curse the day that Bush “found God” through Billy Graham, on the beach in the mid 80s. His distorted vision of Good vs Evil has cost hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded, with more yet to come. What a black era in our history.
18 months… Its going to be a long 18 months…
July 12th, 2007 at 8:21 pm#89 Comment by John Gilpins — July 12, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
I guess we’re lucky. So far, he’s not wearing a winter coat or pushing a shopping cart when it’s 95 degrees outside. What will we do when that day arrives?
Hardly anyone acknowledged that Raygun had Altzheimers during his second term. Even though he did. The cardboard cutout continued to function as if all was just hunky dorry.
Were I a praying man I would be on my knees 24/7 beseeching god to intervene before Bush’s megalomania sets the whole world on fire.
July 12th, 2007 at 8:31 pmIn the 1980 campaign Reagan said the biggest cause of pollution was TREES. He liked to tell the story of being at the liberation of the death camps at the end of WWII—total fabrication. He never left Hollywood.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:25 pmMerlin,
Maybe that’s Bush’s problem. He should wear a Reagan cardboard cutout.
July 12th, 2007 at 10:35 pmIn the meantime we will see something BIG in Iran bye bye President Ahmadinejad
Comment by Flaco — July 12, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
hey flacco i told you the other day - al qaeda are going after iran - so bush and ahmadinyjinnydmameladd or whatever his name is will be side by side in combat against this evil menace!! - and israel will do nothing as usual except maybe blow up some lebanese people and then the iraqis will get really pissed that bush and amenjin….the iranian guy are buddied up and they’ll call him a bad name and then chimpy will go at the i-rackies with some shock and awe and basically the 51st state will be born in the middle east…..right??
July 12th, 2007 at 11:33 pmWho’s he channeling? Reagan? Carnac?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:58 pmI wonder if Laura and George share the same definitions of “satisfactory progress?”
However, judging from what Bush claims as “satisfactory” one is led to believe Laura must be one of the most “unsatisfied” women on the planet!
July 13th, 2007 at 1:18 amGeorge Jrs WORDS are not important.
What matters for his supporters is that he says SOMETHING … kinda like the adults in a “Peanuts” special … so they can nod their heads and feel comforted.
Pointing out the fact that he is lying about the benchmarks is of course helpful, but it won’t persuade his core … such as the trolls I see here (above). We can hope the rational middle will notice.
July 13th, 2007 at 2:40 amHas anyone said anything about the Iraqis parliment going on VACATION for all of August .
So there will be no progress by September all the progress that been made to date is it.
The report due in Sept. will be the same as it is NOW!!!!!!!!
Bring the troops home Now!!!!!!!!!!
Pass some gun laws to save the youth in Philadelphia.
July 13th, 2007 at 9:44 amThey killed 5 more young men last night.
Iknow they’re killing themselves but if this wre white kids someone would do something
Ahhhh…the soft bigotry of low expectations!!!!!
July 13th, 2007 at 11:23 amCaption contest:
“I get this feeling, a gut feeling, right here.”
July 13th, 2007 at 1:45 pm