Bush: Iranians Are ‘Assholes’
Bush: Iranians Are ‘Assholes’
While serving as CentCom commander between March 2007 and March 2008, Adm. William Fallon consistently pressed the Bush administration for more engagement with Iran and criticized the calls for another war. “This constant drumbeat of conflict is what strikes me which is not helpful and not useful,” Fallon told al Jazeera last year.
In his new book “The War Within,” Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward details a telling White House meeting on Iran in spring 2007 (p. 334):
“I think we need to do something to get engaged with these guys,” Fallon said. Iraq shared a 900-mile border with Iran, and he needed guidance and a strategy for dealing with the Iranians.
“Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.”
Fallon was stunned. Declaring them “assholes” was not a strategy. Lots of words and ideas were thrown around at the meeting, especially about the Iranian leaders. They were bad, evil, out of touch with their people. But no one offered a real approach.
Fallon’s advocacy for diplomatic engagement irritated administration officials, who were enamored with Gen. David Petraeus. Fallon — a “fan of transition” in Iraq — repeatedly challenged Petraeus’s personnel requests. According to Woodward, the commander was trying to ensure that the United States didn’t “send any more than necessary to the war zone” (p. 343).
In a March interview with Esquire, Fallon said that he was in “hot water” with the White House for meeting with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Fallon noted that such meetings were essential to making sure that regional leaders don’t get “too spun up” by the administration’s war rhetoric. In “The War Within,” Woodward writes that as soon as that article came out, Fallon offered his resignation (pp. 408-9):
Fallon was in Baghdad on March 11 when the article was made public. He realized instantly the uproar it would case. Fallon knew he already was on shaky ground. Days earlier, he had warned Gates that the article was coming. But now he called again.
“I think I need to be gone,” Fallon said.
“Okay,” Gates said.
Fallon said he would have stayed if Gates had “offered a vote of confidence and backed his commander”; that, however, never happened.
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“Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.”
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Oh yeah… wake up, America, and smell the Freedom Fries cookin’…
September 11th, 2008 at 11:05 amYou know, even though most of us who’ve kept our eyes open the past few years always conjectured that this was the way that it happened, it still makes me ill to actually see how our foreign policy was based on the tantrums of an intellectual 2-year old and a bunch of syncophantic toadies who thought it was more important to keep their job than to actually defend the Constitution.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:07 amCrying and whailing and pissing down their legs will not win democracy back…it takes guts and action.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:10 am“Well,” Bush said, “these are a**holes.”
It takes one to know one.
The scary thing, of course, is that the current republican presidential candidate is as unhinged as GDumbya. We need to keep hammering this fact home with the voters.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:10 amSorry to be OT but it’s time to rebrand McCain’s campaign as the “Campaign to Nowhere” Spread the word. Let it go viral. McCain’s “Campaign to Nowhere”
September 11th, 2008 at 11:10 amThere is no one better qualified to know all about assholes…
September 11th, 2008 at 11:14 amThere is no one better qualified to know all about a55holes…
September 11th, 2008 at 11:14 amSo. after trying to take rational and responsible approach to the demands of his appointment and then being criticized for it Fallon’ choices were to kowtow or resign.
Colin Powell faced much the same choice.
In other countries, the UK for example, the principled resignation of any high ranking official is a big deal. In the Bush administration and with the help of a compliant media its just business as usual.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:15 amShrub, you’re the most reprehensible excuse for a human, much less the leader of a (once) great nation.
Goddamn you make me sick, stupid motherfcuker.
I hate you, big dumb pussy, shit-for-brains, you need a serious a$$ kicking.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:17 amEven if Iran is enriching uranium en route to developing a nuclear weapon, you think schoolyard taunting by the leader of the frat hous…er, free world is going to do anything short of speeding up the process?
September 11th, 2008 at 11:18 amHow mature.
Harvard and Yale must really be proud of Bush’s superior vocabulary, and logic skills (Ready to revoke his degrees yet?)
Four months, one week and two days to go…
September 11th, 2008 at 11:18 amWhat’s the Chimp doing with his extended finger in that photo above? Testing for assholishness?
September 11th, 2008 at 11:20 amThe Bush Family..
September 11th, 2008 at 11:22 amhttp://www.communitycurrency.org/BushCrimeFamily.html
OT. But How about Obama changing his stump speech to say: “McCain can put lipstick on George Bush, but he’s still George Bush.” ???
September 11th, 2008 at 11:22 am“Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.”
That sums up his total diplomatic strategy.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:22 amIt also shows he is adept at projection.
Bush is a “C” student and brags about it.
A ‘C’ on a report card that his Daddy had to buy.
No doubt the Dumbya couldn’t even outscore Vince Young on the Wonderlic test.
Pathetic. America is hopelessly lost in stupidity, and Shithead Shrub is the poster boy.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:23 amName calling is the first refuge of ignorant scoundrels!
September 11th, 2008 at 11:23 amtom Says: The scary thing, of course, is that the current republican presidential candidate is as unhinged as GDumbya. We need to keep hammering this fact home with the voters.
I just read a great article about how the media are underestimating the shelf-life of Palin’s shock nomination, the record number of Democratic voter registrations, the increase in the 18-24 year olds voting population from 2004, the energization of the black voting population that usually doesn’t vote, and the passing of the over 65 crowd that voted for Bush in 2004.
I really don’t think McCain can win outright. But, I still don’t trust the Cons when it comes to stealing these elections.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:26 amOh, God. I am so very, very embarrassed.
Please, someone, pass me my Unknown American bag!
September 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am.
Well Georgie, everone’s got one.
.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:27 amIf I was duped by Chalabi into making the US the laughing stock of the world, I’d be little sore too. The Iranians played Bush like a fiddle.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:30 amGuido the Loving OBGYN Says: Bush is a “C” student and brags about it. That’s all you need to know.
Because the Ivy League schools pride themselves on their selectivity, once admitted to one of their institutions, it’s virtualy impossible for a student to fail out, since that would suggest that their system for selecting the ‘best’ was some how flawed.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:31 amTsk. He’s swillin’ again.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:32 am“Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.”
________________________________________________
Oh, well done, Dubya! That’ll really show ‘em!
(wonder if we can get a collection of quotes from world leaders expressing their thoughts on Bushco…)
September 11th, 2008 at 11:34 amYup. The “grownups” are sure in charge.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:34 amOleHippieChick Says:
Tsk. He’s swillin’ again.
Again? I don’t think he ever stopped.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:39 amsatirev…
thanks for that.
It is mind-boggling that the ’solution’ to the Republican manufactured voting debacle of 2000 was then provided and implemented by Republicans which made vote-stealing even easier.
I have to fault the Democratic leadership for not making this a HUGE issue as soon as the regained the House majority in 2007 along with several governorships. I don’t doubt that the extant Gonzalez State DOJ personnel would have delayed or denied any meaningful effort to restore the integrity of the voting system but Reid and Pelosi should have had the issue front and center ALL the time just to keep in the public eye as much as possible.
But once again it’s only been the grassroots who have kept their eye on the ball and once again we’re faced with changing the tires on the car AFTER its moving.
We will all have to depend on a massive Dem turnout that will overwhelm vote-stealing attempts. But even with such a turnout vote-stealing will still occur and ironically a landslide may well encourage the idea that the system works after all and the issue will be forgotten again.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:41 amFallon was stunned. Declaring them “assholes” was not a strategy.
Sure its a strategy! That was Bushs entire strategy for Iraq: Saddam is an asshole
September 11th, 2008 at 11:44 am“Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.”
Look who’s talking. Bush is the very definition of an asshole, he lied to invade a sovereign nation killing hundreds of thousands of its people, he’s dragged this country into the toilet and he has the gall to judge others?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
September 11th, 2008 at 11:46 amGuess who just drew a line in the harbor with those “assholes”?
The Jerusalem Post reported the Bush administration imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its 18 affiliated companies for aiding the rogue regime in Tehran. There are numerous inducements for businesses and other governments not to utilize IRISL, but the kicker in the article is:
The vessels must be physically blocked should they enter US jurisdiction.
http://peureport.blogspot.com/2008/09/bush-draws-line-in-harbor-on-iran.html
September 11th, 2008 at 11:46 am“Well,” Bush said, “these are a$$holes.”
Look who’s talking. Bush is the very definition of an a$$hole, he lied to invade a sovereign nation killing hundreds of thousands of its people, he’s dragged this country into the toilet and he has the gall to judge others?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
September 11th, 2008 at 11:46 amThese pots sure do enjoy calling the kettle black. “Assholes out of touch with the people” describes them to a tee. Even 18 months ago bush had a clear majority dissatisfied. This admin has contantly been accused of living in a bubble.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:47 amBush drew a line in the harbor with those a$$holes:
The Jerusalem Post reported the Bush administration imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its 18 affiliated companies for aiding the rogue regime in Tehran. There are numerous inducements for businesses and other governments not to utilize IRISL, but the kicker in the article is:
The vessels must be physically blocked should they enter US jurisdiction.
http://peureport.blogspot.com/2008/09/bush-draws-line-in-harbor-on-iran.html
September 11th, 2008 at 11:47 amThese pots sure do enjoy calling the kettle black.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:48 amsatirev Says: BELIEVE NOTHING WHICH THE CORRUPT SPIN DOCTORS ARE TELLING YOU. Mathematically, it does not compute.
Gallup, USA Today and the other polls conducted by Corporate-owned ‘media’ admitted to polling more Republicans than Democrats in their polls, and either no Independents or very few, in their recent polls where McCain was ahead.
And then there’s this:
http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/09/10/mccain-finds-it-tough-without-palin/
September 11th, 2008 at 11:49 amunbelievable: Because the Ivy League schools pride themselves on their selectivity…
Indeed. Universities’ marketing of the professional accomplishments of their alumni attracts students and money.
But who in their right and responsible mind would want to attend ANY University that ‘produced’ Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice etc?
September 11th, 2008 at 11:50 amFor Fox network viewers, yes ‘Iranians are Assholes’ is the only strategy and foreign policy plan.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:51 amThese Fox viewers have also a similar strategies for Russians,Syrians,Venezuelans and others..
Now you can see why our foreign policy is in a total constipation.
“I think we need to do something to get engaged with these guys,” Fallon said. Iraq shared a 900-mile border with Iran, and he needed guidance and a strategy for dealing with the Iranians.
“Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.”
Fallon was stunned. Declaring them “assholes” was not a strategy. Lots of words and ideas were thrown around at the meeting, especially about the Iranian leaders. They were bad, evil, out of touch with their people. But no one offered a real approach.”
There was an approach. The Iranians, following 9-11, attempted to engage the US diplomatically: sent a letter via the Swiss Embassy; but, was rebuffed by Bush. The neo-cons didn’t want peace, they want a New American Century Empire. Remember, Bush said that money trumps peace.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:51 amAs we know there’s one’s chronological age and one’s “effective age”. Bush looks older than his own father right now.
In GDumbya’s case, his 40-plus years of raging, uninterrupted active alcoholism has certainly taken its toll, hasn’t it?
September 11th, 2008 at 11:51 amunbelievable Says:
Guido the Loving OBGYN Says: Bush is a “C” student and brags about it. That’s all you need to know.
Because the Ivy League schools pride themselves on their selectivity, once admitted to one of their institutions, it’s virtualy impossible for a student to fail out, since that would suggest that their system for selecting the ‘best’ was some how flawed.
I actually believe the nation’s best students are found at the tier-2 schools, where more of them have been denied spots at tier-1 schools in favor of big-money students. Why tap the endowment to help these lower-income students when mom & dad can reserve the spot for their brat by adding to the endowment?
These days I have regards for top-tier schools only for their non-MBA graduate and Ph.D. programs.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:55 amThe biggest assholes I know of is himself and all the rest of his misadministration.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:55 amDiplomacy at it’s redneck apex.
Bush could phuck up free beer at a High School Prom Party.
The kicker? McCain is worse. He has to continually apologize to his peers in the Senate for blowing his top & uttering profanities in his moments of rage & lack of comprehension.
When did America become a C student? When Republics took control.
PTSD / PTA – ‘08
September 11th, 2008 at 11:55 am5th Estate Says: But who in their right and responsible mind would want to attend ANY University that ‘produced’ Bush, Rumsfeld, Rice etc?
They’ve definitely seen their stock lose a bit if face value in recent years. But, in general, people will continue to attend because many of these schools do rank in the top ten or twenty of first-tier universities on a number of major study subjects and research – especially business, law and medicine.
September 11th, 2008 at 11:56 amAn A$$hole calling Iranians A$$holes….makes sense to me.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pmAnd historians will call the coming war with Iran:
September 11th, 2008 at 12:03 pm‘The Assholes War’.
WAKE UP AMERICA !!!
GWBush and John McCain have the same simple-minded mentality !!! This is not leadership !!!
Lets get the word out that McCain is not competent to lead this great country of ours.
WAKE UP AMERICA – Vote competence – VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN !!
September 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pmThe polls are intentionally frustrating, Obgyn. Sure, the Obama/Biden campaign is issuing too many compliments to the the enemy during this critical juncture in our nation, but the pollsters’ sampling is flawed and possibly designed to limit democratic voter turnout. We’re supposed feel frustrated about our prospects when the issues are clearly in our favor?
September 11th, 2008 at 12:12 pmDenial and Projection.
The pillars of the Bush Administration.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:17 pmEight years on the job and he finally mastered diplomacy. At least McPOW style. Keep this perspective, that Iran approached the US in 2001 to cooperate and improve relations. Their motivation is irrelevant. All countries do things in self-interest only. But a cocky, ignorant bush rebuffed them. One has to think the Vulcan tarpit would be less sticky with a friendlier Iran. Image how much worse this will be with the lipsticked pigs in the WH?
September 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pmPathetic. The U.S. military is trying to carry out diplomacy, but must do it in secret because the executive branch is so aggressive and hostile. Bush’s America has become Bizarro World.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:11 pmAlthough many of you have rightly focused on B*sh here, when I read this I was struck by the fact that Admiral Fallon was expressing some of the same ideas we believed in 6.75 years ago. For that we were called “traitors” by most of my husband’s family. Especially since some of them are in the Navy, wonder if they would label Fallon a traitor?
We have not spoken in 6 years and the betrayal still hurts, although not as much.
This will be saved.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:14 pmmoderation? WTF? TP how can you possibly flag me for using the same word you use in the title of this thread?
September 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pmApparently, Rethugs are not the only hypocrites around here.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:17 pmCorrection dubya………
Iranians are shrewd and calculating ass-holes…..way beyond your intelectual capabilities as commander-in-chief.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:19 pm“Well,” Bush said, “these are assholes.”
Only a Christian rightie can speak like that in public and be praised for it.
If Biden said it, you know Saint Ann the Coultergiest would be calling for Biden to be excommunicated from the chyrch even though she is not quite the example. All the same, you Robertson’s et al would be crazed.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:21 pmWhat’s the Chimp doing with his extended finger in that photo above
“My fellow Americans, pull my finger.”
September 11th, 2008 at 1:28 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Oh, God. I am so very, very embarrassed.
Please, someone, pass me my Unknown American bag!
I’d loan you mine, but I’ve been wearing it nonstop since 2001 and it’s become part of me. I’m not sure I know how to take it off. Besides, If by some Rovian chance, McCain wins, I’m gonna need mine for a good while yet.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:28 pmAnd people wonder why U.S. foreign policy has been in the toilet the past eight years.
September 11th, 2008 at 1:42 pmlooks like the moderation of my 1st post on this thread has been removed. Perhaps my point about their hyprocrasy their own use of the word struck home.
September 11th, 2008 at 2:05 pmBush also said:
Tell Syria “to cut that shit out” while chewing a hot buttered roll.
“Wall Street got drunk” in reference to our current economic crisis. It seems they invited Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the cocaine event.
September 11th, 2008 at 2:23 pmA**holes are the ones arming Colombia’s drug/mafia president, Uribe. A**holes are the ones who lied about 9/11 and WMD and tried to connect it to Iraq. A**holes are the ones who invaded Panama, who armed terrorist milicias in Nicaragua to destroy DEMOCRACY. A**holes are the ones who are trying to discredit Hugo Chavez calling him a tirant, but at the same time, are invading other countries to steal their resources! A**hole is the North American Embassador to Bolivia, who just been expeled for conspiring against a democraticly ellected president! A**holes are the entire Bush family!
Sorry for the name calling… I was just using the same word the president of the United States used when talking about foringner policy… I apologyse if I have offended anyone, but the Bush familiy! That comment about them stands!
September 11th, 2008 at 4:06 pmNo, this administration certainly doesn’t want to use diplomacy with other nations to work together, afterall everyone else is wrong and bush/mcmcain are the only right ones. Obama said, ” I will put people in my administration that will have different ideas so I can get a clear picture.” “I don’t want just yes people around me.”
How is it that NOT a good working idea ?
September 11th, 2008 at 4:23 pmIranian a$$holes just need a dose of Bush applied Freedhem. One application should do….
September 11th, 2008 at 4:24 pmWow, he said that and cheney’s lips didn’t even move!
September 11th, 2008 at 6:44 pmNice mouth, Mr. President!!!
Did Jesus teach you that?!?!?!?
September 11th, 2008 at 7:33 pmYou can put lipstick on a pig but you don’t have to put it on Rudy Guiliani because he’s already wearing some that matches his eye shadow…
September 11th, 2008 at 11:38 pm