Bush does damage control on troop withdrawal comment.
Bush does damage control on troop withdrawal comment.
Earlier this week, President Bush endorsed Gen. Petraeus’s plan for a “pause” in troop withdrawals, eagerly stating Petraeus could have “all the time he needs” before reducing American forces further. Yesterday, in his interview with ABC, Bush tried to backtrack on that comment, reports the New York Times:
Mr. Bush’s remark that the general could have as much time as he needed has been widely interpreted as a signal that the White House expects no further cuts after July. But in the interview, the president suggested that he thought his words were being misinterpreted.
“You know, sometimes people read what they want to in the president’s words,” he said. “My statement was, in essence, this: if General Petraeus needs 45 days, he’ll have 45 days.”
Mr. Bush went on to say that he hoped “conditions will enable us to return on success,” the phrase his administration has coined for its policy of bringing American troops home based on conditions there.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said this week that he abandoned “hope” of there being fewer than 100,000 troops in Iraq by the end of this year.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
55 Responses to “Bush does damage control on troop withdrawal comment.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
If Mr. Bush severs his hand while cutting brush, I hope the next President will help him.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:52 am“conditions will enable us to return on success,”
They have bastardized the language to the point where it means absolutely nothing.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:53 amThe idiot-boy-chimperor Shrub definitely has a plan for Iraq:
To leave it just as it is for someone else to clean up, like a helpless baby in shit-filled diapers.
JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN HIS IGNORANT, PATHETIC, LOSER LIFE.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:53 amBush always lies and people die…..That’s all he has ever done..~Blessings.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am“conditions will enable us to return on success,” the phrase his administration has coined for its policy of bringing American troops home based on conditions there.
Shouldn’t that be “a return on success?” He’s been pitching the war as an investment in America’s future, and I think the gentleman’s “c”-eo, is just trying to impress everyone with his knowledge of economics - hence his “return on success,” language, just as if it were any other normal investment.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:59 amBut what it does say, is that Bush still holds to his bloody dreams of eventual vindication. To still believe that Iraq has been a success, after four thousand casualties, and no end to the violence in sight, betrays a dangerously isolated mentality, interested only in self-preservation (including his “good name”), and a willingness to ignore the obvious. Not good, for the leader of the most powerful nation in the world.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:09 amDieNowForPeace Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 10:53 am
The idiot-boy-chimperor Shrub definitely has a plan for Iraq:
To leave it just as it is for someone else to clean up, like a helpless baby in shit-filled diapers.
JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN HIS IGNORANT, PATHETIC, LOSER LIFE.
And if things take a turn for the worse (imagine that…) after the next prez takes over, Bush will have one more reason to speak of how well things were going in Iraq when he was in office.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:12 am“You know, sometimes people read what they want to in the president’s words,” he said. “My statement was, in essence, this: if General Petraeus needs 45 days, he’ll have 45 days.”
Substitute “45 days” with ANY number, and Bush’s original statement still holds true. 2 days, 90 days, 450 days…
What a f-king moron.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:14 amMr. Bush went on to say that he hoped “conditions will enable us to return on success,” the phrase his administration has coined for its policy of bringing American troops home based on conditions there.
This imbecile is now resorting to “hoping” ?
After 5 years and hundreds upons hundreds of thousands of deaths , displacements , dismemberments and the draining of our economy ?
And he’s still under the insane impression that future generations will view him in a positive light ?
There will be banana republic dictators who will be embarrassed and poke fun at this garbage administration……..
April 12th, 2008 at 11:15 amWhen I heard Chimpy claim he was misinterpreted when he said Peaches would have “all the time he needs” it briefly crossed my mind that perhaps Bush is our first ESL president. Then I realized that to be considered ESL you have to have a reasonable fluency in another language as well as English. He can hardly be called a fluent English speaker and his Spanish pretty much sucks too. That led to a second, more persuasive theory: Bush is just an idiot.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:17 amI take this brief time to remind everyone that Bush, Bremer, Powell, and Sen. McConnell have all said that if the Iraqis ask us to leave, then we leave. I guess Puh Tray Us (phontics, in case Bush forgets how to pronounce it) can then take a hike.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am“You know, sometimes people read what they want to in the president’s words,”
Why is Bush speaking of himself in third person? Looks like even Bush is trying to distance himself from Bush.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:20 amPresident Bush said in an interview on Thursday that he would withdraw American forces from Iraq if the new government that is elected on Sunday asked him to do so, but that he expected Iraq’s first democratically elected leaders would want the troops to remain as helpers, not as occupiers.
Posted by Judd November 22, 2005 11:27
Way to support your generals on the ground, Bush.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:21 amGDumbya’s whole attitude about Iraq is that of a short-timer. He can agree to a “pause” in the draw-down because he knows that he is no longer being held accountable for the mess he will be leaving behind in January. History will judge him harshly; however, nothing is really expected of him for the remainder of his term. The country has given up on him and he is close enough to the end of his presi-dunce-y that he can run the clock out.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:21 amBlueProteus Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 11:20 am
“You know, sometimes people read what they want to in the president’s words,”
Why is Bush speaking of himself in third person? Looks like even Bush is trying to distance himself from Bush.
Probably for the same reason he once made a statement about “trying” to be president.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:22 amI noticed this new “return on success” meme a couple of weeks ago making its first appearance, and it has been repeated frequently since then.
I hope someone is tracking usage ofthe phrase, because I’ve head no other single phase to come out of this Administration in recent years that has been used in so many conflicting and demonstrably false situations.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:23 am“You know, sometimes people read what they want to in the president’s words,” he said. “My statement was, in essence, this: if General Petraeus needs 45 days, he’ll have 45 days.”
Ummmm , why ?
When in the hell is someone going to confront this moron about all the times we were told that “we’re winning” and/or “we’re turning a corner” in Iraq ?
Why doesn’t anyone stand up and say to this retarded simian : “Do you believe that , besides your retarded 19% base , the American people and/or the US Congress would ever have agreed to your foolish pursuit in Iraq , if they were to know it would last for 6 years minimum?”
April 12th, 2008 at 11:29 amExactly how stupid does Bush think we are? It’s getting pretty funny watching him try to put the toothpaste back in the tube. He said that Betrayus could have “all the time he needs” and that’s exactly what he meant. Also, how much time Betrayus needs is not determined by Betrayus, it is determined by Bush and his agenda. Bush has made it very clear that his Generals are not acting independently. He has often said that he will do what his Generals want, but whenever a General disagrees with Bush, he quickly finds he needs to spend more time with his family.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:31 amJan. 20th 2009, The Oval Office
Bush putters around the office collecting his meager possessions into a cardboard box. The new President enters.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am“Oh, hey noobie. Everything I know about Iraq is in that manilla folder thar on tha desk.” The folder contains one piece of paper- Saddam bad, oil good. Presidenting-hard
“See ya.”
That’s damage control? Bush needs to work far harder on his control and less hard on his damage.
-AF
April 12th, 2008 at 11:35 amAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
Mugsy Says:
I noticed this new “return on success” meme a couple of weeks ago making its first appearance, and it has been repeated frequently since then.
Actually, he has been using that term for quite some time. I did a google search and found it goes back to at least September 2007.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0914/p25s01-usfp.html
He started using that when he realized that “stay the course” was starting to backfire on him.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:42 amWhat I meant to say was … exactly what I said before … just using slightly different, but equally ambiguous phrases.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:47 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Mugsy Says:
I noticed this new “return on success” meme a couple of weeks ago making its first appearance, and it has been repeated frequently since then.
Actually, he has been using that term for quite some time. I did a google search and found it goes back to at least September 2007.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0914/p25s01-usfp.html
He started using that when he realized that “stay the course” was starting to backfire on him.
Only in the GOP do slogans matter more than prudent planning and intelligence …………
Stay The Farce
April 12th, 2008 at 11:56 amBush feels his comment’s on troop reductions were misunderstood, were his words about being a compassionate conservative, no nation building, protecting the environment, and having a more responsible government, misunderstood? Mr. Bush seems to have a problem with his words, deeds, and his actions. You, Mr. Bush are not credible!
April 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pmIn response to Hillary’s response to Barack’s comments: If Obama’s out of touch, then Hillary’s out of time.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:20 pmMcWars Says:
In response to Hillary’s response to Barack’s comments: If Obama’s out of touch, then Hillary’s out of time.
I am concerned about his comments, though. Especially since they are, once again, being taken out of context. If anyone takes the time to listen to his rebuttal, it is obvious what he meant to say. He just said it in a more ambiguous manner when he first brought up the subject.
I hope that Obama apologizes for how he strung the words together and admits that they could be interpreted as condescending. Then he needs to tell America what he really meant by what he said.
If the people can forgive Hillary for her Bosnia “misstatements” (lies) and for her NAFTA misstatements (again, lies) and her comments on the pregnant woman who died because she didn’t have health insurance (another lie), then I think they can forgive Obama for poorly chosen words where their meaning was something that America needs to think about.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:40 pmAbsolutely, Bilbo. I know Obama didn’t mean that. But, to be realistic, there are voters in the remaining states who may not take the time to that through.
In my mind, this unfortunately indicates that Obama’s support has reached it’s height. This may guarantee Clinton wins in Penn and Indiana. I still do not believe that she will take North Carolina at any rate.
This may also be a further signal of a bar-knuckled brawl at the convention. Let’s see how this plays out in the polls during the next week..hopefully the impact is very low.
We may also have to battle the right’s new portrayal of him as being a “snobbish, harvard-trained lawyer.”
April 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pmWho cares what President “Dopey” says about his f-ed up “Trophy War”.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:51 pmIf we had the right to draft legislation as citizens (ni4d.us) then we could just IMPEACH him by initiative.
Too bad you guys are stuck in your ways and think that federal officials are smarter then the average American. They’re not. They’re just better at Lying and Stealing!
April 12th, 2008 at 12:55 pmLosing hope is a sad thing.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:59 pmGeorge W. Bush, you are under arrest for War Crimes, corruption, and criminal behaviour. Put you hands over your head and turn around. You have the right to remain silence…
April 12th, 2008 at 1:00 pmThe Bush administration reminds of a line from the Janet Jackson song “Escapade”:
“We’ll make the rules up as we go, and break them all if we’re not having fun.”
April 12th, 2008 at 1:04 pmIn my mind, this unfortunately indicates that Obama’s support has reached it’s height. This may guarantee Clinton wins in Penn and Indiana. I still do not believe that she will take North Carolina at any rate.
I’m not sure that is true. Look at what he did in Pennsylvania, before his slip-up. He shaved Clinton’s huge double digit lead to a small single digit lead. It shows that when people get to know who Obama is, they like him.
But, I do think he has to apologize. If he doesn’t it is going to dog him for the remainder of his campaign. I think he will realize this and handle it in the same way he handled the Wright situation. I would love to see him use this as an opportunity to do a speech like he did about the Wright situation. He can apologize for the way his words came out and then go on to speak about what has happened to middle class America and why people have a right to be bitter. If he frames it in the same words he did his rebuttal, I think he will be able to turn this into a very big plus for his campaign.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:07 pmsacopenapa Says:
George W. Bush, you are under arrest for War Crimes, corruption, and criminal behaviour. Put you hands over your head and turn around. You have the right to remain silence…
If I had a dream….this would be it! I so hope that when Obama takes office, he will go after each and every one of the Bush Crime Family for the crimes they have committed. That is the only way that people will ever be able to trust in their government again. If he chooses to let it all go, people are going to wonder if he is doing it because he wants the same powers that Bush has bestowed on himself.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:09 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Yours is the right way of characterizing all of this, bilbo. I had a knee-jerk cynical thought for a minute there, without recalling how well Obama handled the Wright situation. Sorry about that.
Indeed, Obama should apologize for the poorly-worded remark, explain himself, and move on.
Does it ever occur to you that when a candidate has a record of running an almost spotless campaign, the penalty of slipping up can be greater than for the candidate who screws up on a regular basis?
April 12th, 2008 at 1:26 pmJohn Kennedy was shot dead in the streets of Dallas.
Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached
Regan traded with the enemy
The deal has obviously been cut for the bush aministration.
Nothing will happen to them just as nothing happened to the traitor Oliver North.
Our dream must not be of trials for these criminals but rather for a chance to move our country back in the right direction.
This is still America and justice is for sale.
Only a few will go to the streets and they will be dealt with swiftly and efficiently, just as they do at all right wing political speeches. If there are protesters you will never see them.
There will be no revolution so this election is do or die for America.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pmI hear people say that impeaching Bush and Cheney now would only be a waste of time. I disagree strongly. To delay impeaching Bush and Cheney now would only be a waste of our soldiers’ lives.
We voted the Democrats into power two years ago to do two things: End the war in Iraq, and hold Bush and Cheney accountable for their actions (and inactions). They have failed spectacularly in both regards, especially as they put little or no effort into it.
It’s time to look at third parties. We know a majority of Americans reject the Republican philosophy, so they’re out. The Democrats were given their chance and failed. It’s time to start looking at other parties. Don’t let yourself fall into their trap of thinking that you have to choose a Democrat or Republican. They’re the ones telling you that only because they want to remain in power. And neither of them deserves it.
Give ‘em the bird, vote for a third! A soldier’s life depends on it.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:07 pmbush isn’t concerned that people will misinterpret his words. He is concerned that they will interpret his words correctly.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
I hear people say that impeaching Bush and Cheney now would only be a waste of time. I disagree strongly. To delay impeaching Bush and Cheney now would only be a waste of our soldiers’ lives.
And it would save the lives of people in Iran and save further damage being done to this country’s reputation around the world. If Bush and Chaney were both under articles of impeachment, they could hardly start another war with Iran.
I truly believe that if the House does not start impeachment proceedings against both Bush and Chaney immediately, they will be derelict in their duty to defend this country and its people.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:12 pmBush: “You know, sometimes people read what they want to in the president’s words,” he said.
It’s not easy, George, trying to make sense out of the things you say…
April 12th, 2008 at 2:13 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
It’s time to look at third parties. We know a majority of Americans reject the Republican philosophy, so they’re out. The Democrats were given their chance and failed. It’s time to start looking at other parties. Don’t let yourself fall into their trap of thinking that you have to choose a Democrat or Republican. They’re the ones telling you that only because they want to remain in power. And neither of them deserves it.
Give ‘em the bird, vote for a third! A soldier’s life depends on it.
Wayne, I share your frustration and ideologically I totally agree with what you have said here. Unfortunately if this were to happen today, it would do nothing other than guarantee another four years of Republican rule. I really don’t think this country could survive that.
But, once a Democrat is elected as our President, I do think that the public should start a movement asking for a better way to choose our President. Our current system is antiquated and is heavily skewed towards the richest and most influential candidates, not necessarily the candidates who would be best for our country.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:14 pm>We may also have to battle the right’s new portrayal of him >as being a “snobbish, harvard-trained lawyer.”
Yeah, he needs to wear the tie ALOT less than he does now…
April 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm45 days? 45 years? who cares? welcome to Operation Infinite War.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pmquoting myself:
Our current system is antiquated and is heavily skewed towards the richest and most influential candidates, not necessarily the candidates who would be best for our country.
Once I ready what I had written here I had an sudden realization. I have often wondered what it is about Obama that I like other than the fact that he is so eloquent. And I just now realized it is because he IS NOT one of the richest and most influential candidates. That accompanied by the fact that so many people are donating small amounts of money, more than once, to his campaign, I truly feel that Obama is as close as we can get to a candidate that is supported by the people and not corporate America.
But, with public financing of campaigns and abandoning the antiquated electoral college system, I think we can truly get a President who entirely represents “we the people”
April 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pmChocolate Jesus Says:
Yeah, he needs to wear the tie ALOT less than he does now…
And, he needs to learn to like coffee. Sheesh…how can anyone vote for a Presidential candidate who prefers orange juice over coffee?
April 12th, 2008 at 2:20 pmMcWars Says:
Does it ever occur to you that when a candidate has a record of running an almost spotless campaign, the penalty of slipping up can be greater than for the candidate who screws up on a regular basis?
Yeah, and why is that? And why is it that the MSM virtually ignores all of McCain’s slip ups and the fact that he has changed his position on everything he believed when he was truly a moderate and a “maverick”?
Bill Clinton did this country a huge disservice when he allowed (actually encouraged) the telecommunications act that allowed the condensation of media. That was the one thing he did as President I can never forgive.
Has anyone ever asked Hillary what she thinks about that decision and what it has caused to happen to our media today?
April 12th, 2008 at 2:23 pm“Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said this week that he abandoned “hope” of there being fewer than 100,000 troops in Iraq by the end of this year.”
100 years, 100,000 troops, starting to see a pattern here?…
April 12th, 2008 at 2:31 pmsarc/off
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Wayne, I share your frustration and ideologically I totally agree with what you have said here. Unfortunately if this were to happen today, it would do nothing other than guarantee another four years of Republican rule. I really don’t think this country could survive that.
Well, the election isn’t being held today, is it? And I’m not just talking about the White House changing to a third party (which would still take a few years), I’m talking about the House and Senate. There is time for other candidates to get their names on the ballot in November to replace the Democrats and Republicans who have failed us. I agree it takes courage to take such a bold step, but I believe that you, in particular, bilbo, have that courage within you. You can do it, and you have time to talk other people into doing it.
But I think it would be a mistake to assume that continuing to let either party run things is going to give us any kind of chance to change the way Washington thinks and works. We have to eliminate the problem in Washington, and that problem is the two major parties.
If not now, when?
April 12th, 2008 at 2:38 pmSAN DIEGO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says if an initiative to ban gay marriage qualifies for the November ballot, he’s prepared to fight it.
California’s governor was in San Diego Friday speaking at the annual convention of the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation’s largest gay Republican group.
Schwarzenegger said he was confident that a ban would never pass in California but called the effort “a waste of time,” joking that he wished activists would focus on allowing naturalized citizens to run for president instead.
I didn’t like the guy, and voted for Davis, but I have to admit, he’s “gets” California, and knows how to triangulate, better than any other current politician, in state or out.
I shudder, thinking what kind of hole we’d be in if Darrell Issa had somehow gotten elected governor…
April 12th, 2008 at 2:44 pmhe wished activists would focus on allowing naturalized citizens to run for president instead.
The dems can thank the Founding Fathers prescience, ’cause if Arnold could get in the race, he’d fry McCain, Hillary, and Obama.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:47 pmbarfly Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
he wished activists would focus on allowing naturalized citizens to run for president instead.
The dems can thank the Founding Fathers prescience, ’cause if Arnold could get in the race, he’d fry McCain, Hillary, and Obama.
Using which weapon? ;)
April 12th, 2008 at 4:06 pmSeptember and September and September, creep in their petty pace from year to year.
April 12th, 2008 at 4:44 pmTranslation: “Even if he Believes he’s telling the truth; he’s lying. And Gen Petraeus is lying in front of the bus waiting for Bushco to throw it in gear.”
April 12th, 2008 at 5:34 pmW.C Bush has been back-paddling since he was born… That rainy day when Barbara went to the toilet and Dubya was born.
April 12th, 2008 at 6:13 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
But I think it would be a mistake to assume that continuing to let either party run things is going to give us any kind of chance to change the way Washington thinks and works. We have to eliminate the problem in Washington, and that problem is the two major parties.
If not now, when?
I still totally agree with you, but I don’t think now is the time. If a third party started, they would not just pick members of Congress to run, they would also pick a president to run. I still think it’s too dangerous for this country right now.
If not now, when…..the day after the next election.
I would love to see Russ Feingold start a “Progressive” party and take all the truly progressive members of the Senate and the House with him. I think that would truly shake up the establishment.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am