Bush: I won't be rushed on Iraq

[maddezmom]

Look at all the jerks smirk

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday he would "not be rushed" into a decision on a strategy change for Iraq, saying that in a round of consultations he heard both some interesting ideas and some "ideas that would lead to defeat."

"And I reject those ideas," Bush said after meeting with top generals and Defense Department officials at the Pentagon. He said those ideas included "leaving before the job is done, ideas such as not helping this (Iraqi) government take the necessary and hard steps to be able to do its job."

Bush spoke with reporters after wrapping up a round of high-level talks on revising his Iraq war policy. Earlier he spoke by telephone with two Kurdish leaders in Iraq as part of what the White House called efforts to forge a "moderate bloc" behind the shaky central government in Baghdad.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061213/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_36

Iraq panel to shape U.S. policy despite tepid embrace

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite a tepid embrace from the White House, the Iraq Study Group's recommendations will help shape President George W. Bush's new policy if only because of their popular support, analysts said on Wednesday.

While saying he will take the report "very seriously," Bush has all but rejected its appeal to engage Iran and Syria directly over Iraq and has been cool to the idea of withdrawing many U.S. troops from combat by early 2008 if possible.

Bush has not ruled out the group's proposal to organize a regional support group for Iraq but he has made clear he will not be bound by the 10-member panel's recommendations and has commissioned his own internal review of U.S. Iraq policy.

Analysts said the White House was, understandably, trying to put some distance between itself and the panel led by Republican former Secretary of State James Baker and Democrat former Rep. Lee Hamilton to preserve Bush's options.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061213/pl_nm/iraq_usa_group_dc_3

[cassiepriam]

1. He has had three years........

How much time does he need??

[bluedog]

2. why?.he "rushed" to invade Iraq!

[otohara]

22. Couldn't Get There Fast Enough

Fuck em...let's take him out! GWB

[Roland99]

26. No shit! Yanked those inspectors and started bombing the crap out of a defenseless nation.

[IndianaGreen]

34. He ran every red light and stop sign to get his war

and now he is stuck, like Napoleon was in Russia in 1812.

[mindwalker_i]

36. Wouldn't want to find a solution too quick now would we?

What's another couple of roadside bombs? What another couple of troops lost? What's another score of dead Iraqis out of the hundreds of thousands? Hey, he's got parties to go to and stuff.

-mwalker

[rodeodance]

3. We have already been defeated mr. bush-------

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday he would "not be rushed" into a decision on a strategy change for Iraq, saying that in a round of consultations he heard both some interesting ideas and some "ideas that would lead to defeat."

[coalition_unwilling]

19. I think we were probably "defeated" before we even invaded or, at

the latest, when we pushed through Sniper Alley in Nasiriyah and encountered the fedayeen Saddam.

Ian Masters, on KPFK's "Background Briefing," refers to a quick victory (toppling the Hussein regime) followed by a slow defeat.

In the main, I believe we were defeated because we never had a solid definition of "victory."

[ShockediSay]

32. We were defeated before we began by our leadership

You know who you are!

PS
I wouldn't be planning any trips abroad once you're out of office
Those war crime prosecutors can really put a crimp in your vacation travel plans

[musette_sf]

4. Bush: I won't be rushed on Iraq

"after all, I've got all these Christmas parties to go to... heh heh heh... "

i just read where Georgie Butch and Scarlett O'Draperies are attending *24* Christmas parties this year. what's the death of someone's son or daughter matter, when it's PAR-TAY TIME???

[Vinca]

5. Oh, what the hell - it's not his kid getting blown to smithereens.

And what's a few more dead Eye-rack-eez? So what if they're innocent. Wrong place at the wrong time, right Shrub?:mad:

[bluedog]

13. bring up the "draft" again.say on house floor

and see how fast these Cons change their views.......

[bluerum]

14. Not his kid - and not his stupid squatter's ass either. nt

[The Count]

6. Thinking is hard work...I'm the decider, so, I won't decide anything just yet

Way to go, Little Boots! Don't let the dying disturb you! Just go to the 24 parties and work hard - you can do it!

[truthisfreedom]

7. What's "the job", mr. president? What is "the mission"? What is "victory"?

Why do you keep referring to our activities in Iraq in such nebulous terms? DEFINE VICTORY, MR. PRESIDENT!

[Imagevision]

8. Bush will "not be rushed" -- he could care less how many US. troops get dead!!

[BOSSHOG]

9. He's a criminal holed up in a house surrounded by cops

not wanting to throw out his weapon and surrender. He's an idiot. A very proud idiot with nothing to be proud of; just like members of his dwindling base.

[arewenotdemo]

16. good analogy

Meanwhile, he's on the phone and dictating his terms...or the hostages he's taken (anyone in Iraq) get it.

[Avalux]

10. He isn't going to change anything; the objective is to stay in Iraq.

Victory is not possible, unless the victory Bush speaks of is permanent bases and an indefinite US presence. That's what he wants.

[tabasco]

33. Exactly right. Iraq is the gift that keeps on giving ...

to Halliburton, Exxon, etc.

[Chico Man]

52. Isn't that jack and the beanstalk?

Or are the stories the same?

[la la]

11. how many times

did he say 'strategy' or 'strategic'?

I started counting and got to 6 and then couldn't stand to listen anymore :grr:

[katsy]

12. He's met with top generals...

blah blah blah.

The only one he hasn't met with is howdy doody.

Oh wait, that was the voice in his head.

[coalition_unwilling]

20. During World War II, Secretary of War Stimson forced the

retriement and cashiering of many (>200) senior officers in the U.S. military for general incompetence. Too bad that the top echelons of the current Pentagon aren't cleaned out for being the "losers" they are.

[katsy]

24. It may be that time again.

[Beetwasher]

15. "Now Watch This Drive"

n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

17. He was in a big rush to get in

And in no hurry to pull out.

Boy, do I feel sorry for Laura.

[Miss Chybil]

18. Too bad he didn't say that a few years and thousands of lives ago. nt

[Massachusetts]

21. And Meanwhile.......

Woops there goes another life. Buck you Fush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[underpants]

23. LOL this is actually getting surreal

First there was a RUSH to go to war NOW not so much.

He heard some ideas that would "lead to defeat" so did I, 4 years ago. How does he know they will lead to defeat? Does he know something he has been holding back on for these 4 years?

and finally

I am glad to hear that he has rejected these ideas that will lead to defeat. Did he really need to say that? Was there some question that he might adopt them in this new and improved plan even though his world of experience and competence told him that they would "lead to defeat"?

[Joe for Clark]

25. Man, he knows what he is going to do -

He is waiting for something to happen now.

Joe

[grytpype]

27. Let him take his time. He'll f*ck it up anyway, so what's the hurry?

[Imagevision]

28. I'm hoping we will see what happens with Pelosi after January 3rd.!!

[DemReadingDU]

29. Bush is scary

[Seabiscuit]

30. Yup. It's gonna be more of the same old, same old kill, kill, kill.

Maybe it's about time Congress cut off the money - just give Bush the bare minimum to pay for an evacuation of Iraq.

Otherwise, it's at least 2 more years of this pointless hellish bloodbath.

[Az_lefty]

31. that group of war mongers in that picture is just disgusting!!!

of course they don't feel rushed, they have nothing to lose. Neither their live nor those in their families are on the line, they could care less.
:puke:

[Gregorian]

35. Yeah, what's a few more thousand dead people.

People don't make any difference to the MAN and his corporations.


So take all the time you need little Georgie. The world can wait for your deception decision.

[badgerpup]

37. Nothing is going to get through that bubble he lives in...

He's got a rationalization for everything.
So what if he and his vanity war is unpopular? Truman was like, waaay unpopular, but was justified later, and now everyone thinks Truman was a great guy!
:banghead:
What he doesn't...or refuses to hear is that Truman went about things differently than he is doing and had the backing of NATO.

Can we PLEASE get an intervention? :hide::yoiks:

[flordehinojos]

38. the smiling *ss chorus group

THE SMILING ASS CHORUS GROUP.

[rodeodance]

39. Bush: Iraq enemy far from being defeated

yet, to many, the US IS the enemy!


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

Bush: Iraq enemy far from being defeated

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer 8 minutes ago

WASHINGTON -
President Bush on Wednesday said the enemy in
Iraq is "far from being defeated," but he vowed not to be rushed into adjusting his strategy and gave little indication that he intends to veer sharply from the direction his war policies have taken.

"We're not going to give up. The stakes are too high and the consequences too grave," Bush said after meeting at the
Pentagon with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Rumsfeld's designated successor, Robert Gates.

There are competing schools of thought inside the military and the administration on whether a short-term increase in U.S. troop strength in Iraq — possibly in the range of 20,000 — would be enough to quell the sectarian warfare in Baghdad.

After a third straight day of soliciting war advice from top military and diplomatic officials, Bush gave no clue as to whether he will include that in his forthcoming plan. Some generals believe it would be too little, too late, in a war that already has claimed more than 2,900 U.S. lives.........

[Redstone]

40. But, but, the "enemy" is ALL the Iraqis! NONE of them wants us there!

How's he going to "defeat" the entire population? Kill them all?

Redstone

[Drum]

41. You could read that as an admission of defeat...

:shrug:

[JuniperLea]

42. The stakes are too high and the consequences too grave

He means the ink isn't dry in the new history books yet. He wants to prolong this mess until he is out of office so when it all goes to hell he can't be blamed... or so he thinks.

[ewoden]

43. WTF happened to "Mission Accomplished "?

Oh Grand Duke Codpiece.
WTF happened to those weapons of mass destruction?
WTF happened to being greeted with flowers?
WTF happened to eliminating a harbour for terror?
WTF happened to democracy at home and abroad?
WTF happened to bringing Osama to justice?
WTF happened to the FREAKING RULE OF LAW?????????????????????????????
WTF Happened to the Constitutionally described concept of a Government in three branches?
WTF happened to the 1st amendment?
WTF happened to the 4th amendment?
WTF happened to the 5th amendment?
WTF happened to the 6th amendment?

[Rex]

44. Which Iraqi enemy is Dimson referring to?

Dam that boy is d u m b.

[rodeodance]

45. anyone outside his bubble.

[unkachuck]

46. yes, the 'enemy' in Iraq....

....is 'far from being defeated' because the 'enemy' in Iraq is winning....what are you and your Republican friends trying to accomplish in Iraq?....the start of world war 3?....

....re-read your father and his friends lips....the people of the middle east are not going you let you or your Republican friends steal their oil....get use to it, cut a deal and get out of Iraq, now!....

....if we keep killing, stealing and otherwise screwing-over the people of the world at our current rate, we WILL have hundreds of millions of people coming over here to screw with us....

....I'm not sure I'm going to be happy in your new Republican world....

[truthisfreedom]

47. "Stakes are too high." R-i-i-i-i-ght. Translation: "I'm taking out a 2nd mortgage to keep gambling

and I'm not quitting UNTIL EVERYTHING WE KNOW AND LOVE IS GONE FOREVER."

[Proud Liberal Dem]

49. WHO'S THE ENEMY??????!!!

Who(m) exactly is Bush talking about? Saddam's defeated, Zarqawi (for what he was worth in terms of playing role of the next "boogeyman" in line) is dead. Who(m) are we fighting and trying to defeat now? Does Bush even know? :shrug: The only REAL "enemy" that we have is the person that orchestrated the 9/11 terror attacks. Remember him? Hint:It was NOT Saddam or anybody we're currently fighting in Iraq!

[Spearman87]

51. Chaos, genocide and Full-blown civil war!

(Not this "civil war light" we are seeing now). I seriously think that's a big reason we aren't sure (neither Reps nor Dems) what to do, aren't sure what if anything can lead to a stabilization of that country, and why Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations are begging us not to leave. I'm convinced that no one knows with certainty what policy we can now move to that would stabilize Iraq and be good for the Middle East as a whole....all we know is we can now leave and do what's best for saving American lives. That's fine if the only goal is to save another 3,000 American soldiers from dying, and if another 20,000 Iraqis die, Iraqi lives be damned. We opened Pandora's box but for the moment we are sort of sitting on the lid holding back the worst evils that were located near the bottom. We still have the potential to create a full-blown regional crisis where other countries are drawn into a wider Suni/Shiite conflict, and an even greater magnitude of slaugter could occur. We still have the potential for being held responsible by history for the slaughter of many thousands more non-Americans than have already died over there.

I don't know how to stop it; Unfortunately the answer is probably not as simple as a phased withdrawal and everyone will start playing nice with each other again. And then there's the legacy aspect of all this, for Bush and everyone in that administration. I'm sure they would say it is "making sure that 2,900 Americans did not die for nothing", but they have to know there is still a range of possibilities for how history will judge them based on how we exit and what happens next and what happens for the next 25 years. Things are awful in Iraq now. Things could get much worse. It's looking bad for their legacies now.....that could be worse too.....also could get better, depending on how the Mideast evolves over the next few years. But that's through the long view of history that we have no access to.

[BushOut06]

48. Sure, take all the time you need! The US population is 300 million, what's a few thousand?

Asswipe.

[KansDem]

50. This is just plain sick...

People are dying every day and he just twiddles his thumbs...

He is one sick bastard.