Draper: Bush Doesn’t Follow An ‘Honest Line Of Questioning’ With Generals About Iraq
Draper: Bush Doesn’t Follow An ‘Honest Line Of Questioning’ With Generals About Iraq
In his new biography of President Bush, GQ correspondent Robert Draper writes that Bush was never told bad news about Iraq. “The commanders and the troops never told him what was going wrong,” wrote Draper. “Just as the generals on the ground never once told the President during their regular video conferences, ‘Sir, we need more troops.’
On NBC’s The Chris Matthews Show this morning, Draper further elaborated on his report Bush never heard “what was going wrong” about Iraq. “He didn’t create the conditions where the truth could come out,” Draper explained, because he didn’t use “an honest line of questioning” with the generals:
DRAPER: Well, he didn’t create conditions where the truth could come out. He would have these secure video teleconferences with the generals, and he would ask a series of questions, but it wasn’t really an honest line of questioning. He would say “can we win, are we winning, what happens if we lose, do you have everything you need?” Military commanders aren’t loathe to say, very easily at least, “we really need a lot of help here Mr. President,” and when he creates a conversation like that, it’s not likely to come out.
Watch it:
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This isn’t news! It has been obvious from before the illegal invasion and continuing occupation.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:32 pmHow long has our military been infested with sycophant officers who are unable to speak truth to power? THAT takes real courage.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:38 pmBUSH’S “DON’T ASK/DON’T TELL” POLICY??
September 9th, 2007 at 2:39 pmWhy are the american people still permitting this heinous miscarriage of justice? Everyone KNOWS that Bubble Boy is a loose cannon so they’re walking on eggs. Give me a break here - is this some kind of “kiddie reality show” or what? It’s time to give Bush the entire truth and then a swift kick out of the White House.
We don’t need a psychologically compromised juvenile delinquent as President.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:40 pmWhen the median intelligence quotient is higher than that of our commander in chief, it’s time to give him the boot.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:41 pmAt one time I was an attorney in a fairly large corporation. I found myself in charge of government relations to include occupational safety and health. I did not ask whether we were doing well. I saw others do that with little success. They were given one or two stats showing progress in an area or two and told that things were going well. I asked my professional subordinates to tell me how to know whether we were accomplishing goals. They surprised me by coming up with a fairly comprehensive set of metrics. We were able to set goals in terms of improving our metrics. We could analyze the factors that influenced our results. Most importantly, we moved away from blaming people for failing to accomplish results. We could focus on improving the process and removing the blame in most cases. (There were still people who had to be disciplined or fired for failing to work on issues) Safety improved, costs went down and everyone working on the program received accolades. Those who opposed our way of doing things actually provided input as to potential pitfalls and warning signs of failure. They actually helped develop some of the metrics that avoided costly mistakes. We became very flexible with our approach to problems. Some things worked, others did not. However, we could adapt quickly. Failure was not a crime as long as people were willing to recognize it, analyze the cause and respond appropriately. Gosh, sounds like it could work for the war.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:51 pmThe coddled boy-king - in so far over his head, he isn’t told the truth. If he were to be told, he wouldn’t change his behavior anyway, so the royal minions just go along to get along and keep their jobs secure.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:51 pmrazzmatazz = ronjazz coming off of meth.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:56 pmTalking to Bush reminds me of speaking to my senile-demented relative — Speak in simple generalities.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:56 pmOne is 97 and in dementia, the other is 61 and ignorant.
If the President asks the generals “Do you have everything you need?” and they don’t tell him “We need more troops,” because they believe Bush does not want to hear that, a lot of the blame for the Iraq disaster falls on the spineless generals unwilling to speak truth to power because they are afraid it will damage their carreer and they will not get the next star. A spineless bunch of generals seems to be one of the main reasons for this disaster.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:58 pmBush is a better Commander in chief than John Kerry would ever be.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:59 pmCheck out this post by Dean. It is right on the money…
http://djkonservo.wordpress.com/ 2007/ 09/ 09/ thinkprogressorg-syn-contradictory/ #comments
September 9th, 2007 at 3:00 pm“spineless generals”
Ironic, coming from a coward who never served.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:01 pmAL QAEDA’S NUMBERS ARE ONLY 3% TO 5% OF THE TOTAL SUNNI INSURGENCY!
If we’re truly in Iraq to fight “Al Qaeda”, the terrorists responsible for 9/11, why do we need 160,000 American soldiers to thwart a fighting force estimated to be 3,000 at best?
Is “Al Qaeda’s” fighting force of 3000 so much better organized, armed and equipped that they’ve been able to successfully fend off 160,000 American soldiers after 4.5 years?
Is “Al Qaeda’s” fighting force of 3000 solely responsible for the nearly 4000 “American†deaths thus far?
How many “Americans†were killed by “Sunnis†or “Shiites†or “Kurds� How many “Al Qaeda†fighters have been killed by “American†troops or by “Sunnis†or “Shiites†or “Kurds�
Do dead “Al Qaeda†fighters immediately return to life to form an inexhaustible number of living dead fighters for “Americansâ€, “Sunnisâ€, “Shiites†and “Kurds†to kill again and again?
Are “Al Qaeda†fighters solely responsible for the killing of the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians?
“Al Qaeda†isn’t the reason for all the killing, destruction and chaos that’s taken place in Iraq. “George W. Bush†is!
Is George W. Bush using the same math in Iraq that Karl Rove used when he said that Republicans would hold their majorities in both the House and Senate before the 2006 elections?
“[I]t is estimated that foreigners make up at least 70 percent of al Qaeda’s 1,000 to several thousand fighters. Other estimates suggest al Qaeda’s numbers around 850, about 3 to 5 percent of the Sunni insurgency.”
September 9th, 2007 at 3:08 pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda_in_Iraq
Don’t forget that in the Clinton administration the same generals balked at everything Clinton wanted to do by giving over-the-top estimates of troop requirements, and even directly disobeyed Clinton’s executive order for allowing gays in the military.
It is only during Republican administrations when the generals turn to mush. Part of this is understandable. Disagree with Clinton and he would hear you out. Disagree with Bush and you are out of a job.
Also, the “carrots” Republicans can offer for strick obedience are really huge. Obsequious generals can go out the revolving door after retirement and get an executive position for millions a year at any number of huge corporations. But what can they get from Democrats? Teaching positions at inner city schools?
September 9th, 2007 at 3:08 pmOf course, its like with Bin Laden, he doesnt think about it, doesn’t worry about Bin Laden, but pundits sure love him!!
GP: Number one priority sir, Binnie,
GB:Bin Who? That guy like (R)Tim McVeigh, that wacko?
GP. Sir, Yes Sir! Like that mass murderer.
GB: Hey, didn’t he live around crawford…waco, I think?
GP: No sir! That was Koresh.
GB: Sounds like Koran, say we should send that guy to Gitmo!
GP: He was killed Sir, David Koresh of the Branch Davidians.
GB:Oh, you mean the Oklahoma guy who blew up a building, that Elohim wacko, yeh he was like Bin,,,Bin..man I said his name 95 times the other day.
GP: Laden sir.
GB: Louden?
GP: No, Sir, Bin Laden sir.
GB: Isn’t he one of them oppressed muslims that hate America, our freedoms, that I freed In Iraq?
GP: No sir, The guy who attacked the WTC on 9/11, sir.
GB: Oh I dont honestly think about him much, any other questions, now watch this dtive!!
GP: Armor sir.
GB: You go to war for what you got not what you wish you had.
GP: Yes sir. May I have some paper sir?
GB: What for? Not another report, I hate those GD pieces of paper!!
GP: Never mind sir, GP out.
GB: Buh By. Now where was I, oh yeah, my video golf game.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:11 pm“The commanders and the troops never told him what was going wrong,†wrote Draper. “Just as the generals on the ground never once told the President during their regular video conferences, ‘Sir, we need more troops.”
Since Draper’s book was written with the cooperation of Bush, who used the opportunity to put out his own spin, I assume that Bush himself told Draper that the Generals weren’t reporting the truth to him. I see this as just more of an effort by Bush to try to shift the blame to the Generals over the Iraq fiasco for not reporting bad news. Fortunately, Draper sees through this spin.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:13 pmWTF.
everyone with half a brain …a mere half…knew what was going wrong.
what kind of namby, pamby baby crap is this? bush couldn’t ask tough questions of the military commanders; he couldn’t get information from multiple sources? He has the entire apparatus of the richest nation on Earth and this guy has the nerve so say bush didn’t know what was going wrong…GIVE ME A BREAK.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:20 pm.
If you want to see the consequences of a Democratic Party retreat firsthand, then just visit any urban ghetto. Dems marched into those areas 40 years ago, then fled when “the projects” failed.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:26 pmHe has the entire apparatus of the richest nation on Earth and this guy has the nerve so say bush didn’t know what was going wrong…GIVE ME A BREAK.
.
Comment by pluege — September 9, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
He knew and went ahead anyway…willful ignorance and willful disregard for everyone involved. How short sighted can the GOP be?
September 9th, 2007 at 3:28 pmIf you want to see the consequences of a Democratic Party retreat firsthand, then just visit any urban ghetto. Dems marched into those areas 40 years ago, then fled when “the projects†failed.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 9, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
WTF does this post mean?
September 9th, 2007 at 3:29 pmWTF does this post mean?
Comment by upside00 — September 9, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
Just more fanatical imaginative drool. I proved a while back that poverty was higher in Red States than blue ones. Of Course Jason, Jake, doesn’t validate his babbling bobblehead buffoonery.
Not worthy of discussion.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:40 pmNow why would Osama dye his beard black?
Thats more like something, a (R) conpervative, like (R) Romney, would do.
You know, splash on some aqua velva, spend 1000 bucks on makeup and haircut and hairdye…
September 9th, 2007 at 3:43 pmI find it interesting that on the tape, Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder that Iraq is a part of this war against extremists,” Bush said
Now, wouldn’t Bush know that from, say, ya know, I’m thinking, his Generals? That people who focus on one man, dont understand the scope of the mission?
if Bin Laden, [(R)Trolls hearthrob] then, why, doesn’t that mean that Binnie boy probably isnt in Iraq, ya know misdirection?
September 9th, 2007 at 3:49 pmIf you want to see the consequences of a Democratic Party retreat firsthand, then just visit any urban ghetto. Dems marched into those areas 40 years ago, then fled when “the projects†failed.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 9, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Oh, Aspergers boy, that retreat was COMPLETELY engineered by the GOP starting with Ronnie Rayguns FEDERAL abandonment OF THE POOR! As for those projects FAILING, is that why we have less than half of the poor we did when those projects started? Is that why we had 30% fewer poor under Clinton than we do under BUSH?
You sad, retarded little fool!
September 9th, 2007 at 3:50 pm“Oh, Aspergers boy, that retreat was COMPLETELY engineered by the GOP starting with Ronnie Rayguns FEDERAL abandonment OF THE POOR!”
While simultaneously “de-institutionalizing” the nations’ mentally ill…
September 9th, 2007 at 3:53 pmWhile simultaneously “de-institutionalizing†the nations’ mentally ill…
Comment by barfly — September 9, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Hence demonstrating why Aspergers boy is HERE and NOT IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION WHERE HE BELONGS!!!! ;)
September 9th, 2007 at 3:56 pmAs I recall, Rumsfeld didn’t possess the common courtesy to attend the farewell ceremony of General Shinseki, whom he forced from duty for testifying honestly before congress.
George Marshall is spinning in his grave.
September 9th, 2007 at 3:56 pmIf you want to see the consequences of a Democratic Party retreat firsthand, then just visit any urban ghetto. Dems marched into those areas 40 years ago, then fled when “the projects†failed.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 9, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
————
You got that right!
September 9th, 2007 at 3:57 pmAs I recall, Rumsfeld didn’t possess the common courtesy to attend the farewell ceremony of General Shinseki, whom he forced from duty for testifying honestly before congress.
George Marshall is spinning in his grave.
Comment by Long Tooth — September 9, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
If I was Shiniski, I would not want that scumbag Dummy at ANY gathering in my honor.
Rummy is a total loser.
September 9th, 2007 at 4:00 pmAgain, here is K Olbermann addressing Draper’s book- Dead Certain:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/ 2007/ 09/ 04/ countdown-special-comment-you-have-no-remaining-credibility-about-iraq-sir/
September 9th, 2007 at 4:04 pmYou got that right!
Comment by Habalaarz — September 9, 2007 @ 3:57 pm
Ah, PEE STAIN, you’re just another ASPERGERS LUNATIC - BORING!!!
September 9th, 2007 at 4:04 pmHow long has our military been infested with sycophant officers who are unable to speak truth to power? THAT takes real courage.
Comment by Badmoodman
Forever!
September 9th, 2007 at 4:05 pmOff topic, sorry…Broncos beat Bill’s with no time left…Great game…
September 9th, 2007 at 4:12 pmIf you want to see the consequences of a Democratic Party retreat firsthand, then just visit any urban ghetto. Dems marched into those areas 40 years ago, then fled when “the projects†failed.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 9, 2007
Wrong again. fake lawyer/fake soldier.
September 9th, 2007 at 4:13 pmOff topic, sorry…Broncos beat Bill’s with no time left…Great game…
Comment by Sharon — September 9, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Woo Hoo!
September 9th, 2007 at 4:14 pmThe scary thing is going to be the stories that emerge when Bush is finally out of office. People will come forward and describe how pathetically unprepared he was for most official meetings. The public is going to experience the horror of realizing that we sent out an utter moron to negotiate on behalf of the United States. And those anecdotes will come to light when he’s out of office.
September 9th, 2007 at 4:28 pmI agree with upside in #1. Just keeping up with what’s going on in Iraq for the past four and a half years and applying a little common sense tells you that this administration does not listen to the generals. Or they keep replacing generals until they get some they do “listen to”. The generals ain’t dumb and prefer advancement to early retirement. They learn what is necessary to continue to have a postion in this administration.
September 9th, 2007 at 4:29 pmBroncos beat Bill’s with no time left…Great game…
Comment by Sharon — September 9, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Tim Russert in reverse.
September 9th, 2007 at 4:31 pmIf Bush gave these face to face sessions with Draper and was comfortable with what he was saying……then we are even more f@#$ed then I thought.
If Bush is so certain of his convictions, why isn’t there ANYONE around him to tell him he might be wrong?
How can he be kept in a bubble like that?
To quote Sharon, “We are sooo screwed!”
September 9th, 2007 at 4:49 pmTo quote Sharon, “We are sooo screwed!â€
Comment by vermontdave — September 9, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
—
Ditto ;)
September 9th, 2007 at 4:50 pmhttp://www.jewfaq.org/ cgi-bin/ search.cgi?Keywords=ARABS
The term “antisemitism” comes from the roots “anti” (against) and “Semite” (a term that applies to both Hebrews and Arabs).
Just beat the (R)trolls over the head with this repeatedly.
They deleted this post over at DJKonservo,seems he doesnt like dissenting opinions on his boring anti-semite hate blog.
September 9th, 2007 at 4:58 pm753 BC — Traditional date of the founding of the city of Rome by Romulus, a fictional character who killed his twin brother Remus, populated his city with escaped convicts, and found wives for his subjects by kidnapping Sabine women who had come for a visit. At this stage, Latin is the language spoken by several thousand people in and near Rome.
This didn’t go over very well with the self described greco-roman-latin ‘ex-spurt’ at DJKonservo either.
Wonder why? I think its because they hate dissenting opinions!
Mweh.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:03 pmHow can he be kept in a bubble like that?
To quote Sharon, “We are sooo screwed!â€Comment by vermontdave — September 9, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
That’s the way Darth and the NeoCons want him; no input, no brains, no clue.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:36 pmpeople who write books are even faggier than people who read them.
September 9th, 2007 at 6:19 pmpeople who write books are even faggier than people who read them.
Comment by Jake D. — September 9, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
So Jake D. gets his knowledge of all of human history through , What?, Experience?
September 9th, 2007 at 6:23 pmVery strange: Jake D.’s link is “tunamelt.com” and says his name is michael.
September 9th, 2007 at 6:26 pm“So Jake D. gets his knowledge of all of human history through, What?, ”
Reading the backs of snack food packages.
September 9th, 2007 at 6:27 pmHe thinks Monosodium Glutamate is the
Emperor of Mongolia
Hey, who put the emperor of Mongolia in my Doritos?
September 9th, 2007 at 7:18 pmThe generals should have kept the level of conversation with Bush at the level Bush could understand.
For instance, when referring to troop levels in Iraq, the generals should have said, “Mr. President, we need many more game pieces to assure our victory in our attack against Kamchatka…er, Iraq.”
By using Risk game terminology, you see, the generals on the ground in Iraq could have broken through the Bush bubble.
Or maybe they could have used football game references to get and hold Bush’s attention, since he was a cheerleader.
“Mr. President, those lined up against us on offense are eleven strong, while our defensive line and backfield have only three players. Mr. President, we immediately need eight more players on defense in Iraq, if not an additional eleven-man team or two.”
See. One has to relate with Bush at the Peter Principle level of language and allusions with which he is most comfortable and cognizant.
September 9th, 2007 at 7:50 pmOracle, an awful lot of conservatives are acting like this is just a game of Risk. It’s like that whenever we invade anyone: Vietnam, Lebanon, Panama, Grenada, Iraq, Cuba, Philippines, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, etc.
September 9th, 2007 at 9:25 pmhe didn’t use “an honest line of questioningâ€
the only ‘lines’ that dumbya’s familiar with are made out of cocaine
September 10th, 2007 at 3:57 am“How long has our military been infested with sycophant officers who are unable to speak truth to power? THAT takes real courage.
Comment by Badmoodman — September 9, 2007 @ 2:38 pm”
Since they started being payed.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:15 pmWhere are our profiles in courage for the 21st century. They could be republican or democrat. I’m still waiting to read about him or her to come out and tell the TRUTH.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:55 pm