Bush envisions U.S. presence in Iraq like S.Korea

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability but not in a frontline combat role, the White House said on Wednesday.

The United States has had thousands of U.S. troops in South Korea to guard against a North Korean invasion for 50 years.

Democrats in control of the U.S. Congress have been pressing Bush to agree to a timetable for pulling troops from Iraq, an idea firmly opposed by the president.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush would like to see a U.S. role in Iraq ultimately similar to that in South Korea.

"The Korean model is one in which the United States provides a security presence, but you've had the development of a successful democracy in South Korea over a period of years, and, therefore, the United States is there as a force of stability," Snow told reporters.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N30416213.htm

[Lerkfish]

1. for once, some honesty

must be off his meds

[maddezmom]

3. he's gotta come up for some reason for the palace he's builing over there

[Demeter]

2. I'm Sure He Would--Nobody Else Would, Though Except Dead-Eye Dick

whatever they are serving at the White HOuse, don't drink it!

[truthisfreedom]

4. So there will be a South Iraq where we are, and a North Iraq where they have nukes and starving

people?

[shain from kane]

5. Corporate Iraq: surrounding the oil fields. Population: indian reservations, located in the desert.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. We need to get the hell out of both places.

[LynnTheDem]

7. See, problem is, see...the people of Iraq DON'T.

It's that simple.

Just like George Duuhhhbya bUsh.

[Adsos Letter]

8. I'm trying to remember when it was that the South Koreans

were killing our troops because we were in their country...it's not comin' to me right at the moment... :crazy:

[Massachusetts]

9. Bu$hit envisions nothing!

[BootinUp]

10. This statement will work against them.

Mark my words.

[pingzing58]

11. Strategic control of oil reserves - it's all Bushco wants - even if means getting our troops killed.

[blayne]

12. Except for the one obvious difference...

that the South Koreans, for the most part, were not opposed to our presence in their country, while the people in Iraq want us out because our presence there is tearing their country apart.

However, the most important result of our continued presence there would be the terror networks continued focus on wanting to kill as many Americans as possible. That is the complete opposite of Bush's main argument for us originally going into Iraq, which was supposed to prevent future terror attacks.

I guess we are getting a glimpse of Bush's real agenda: putting a military base there to watch over our oil wells. Yes, we would get to keep a closer eye on a few rogue nations, but at what price to our national security and reputation?

[peacebird]

13. translation: "we'll stay til the oil runs dry then leave"

at least - as long as the new oil laws give the profits to our corporations we will stay, if our buddies in big bidness don't get the oil deals all bets are off.

[David__77]

14. Now Iraqis can debate whether or not they want this.

I suspect this statement will make it easier to support the expulsion of US troops. Very few Iraqis want the country to become the next permanent outpost of US power. Those that do spent decades in exile in many cases.

[coalition_unwilling]

15. AKA "The Madness of King George." Although, given the Dems'

recent performance on the supplemental, maybe it should be "The Emperor's New Clothes"

[Lance_Boyle]

16. Better get to work on that Iraqi armistice...

Seems to me in Korea there was delegates from all sides (and all supporting powers) seated at a negotiating table working out armistice details for years before the killing stopped. I don't see any such parallel (poor pun partially intended) in Iraq.

[endarkenment]

17. "not in a frontline combat role"? Huh?

In fact our Army in South Korea was deployed (at least until recently) in a frontline position frequently referred to as 'the speed bump'. Even when Dumbfuck is lying he gets it wrong.

[CANDO]

18. Baby sitting our oil fields.

That's what our soldiers signed up to do. Be all you can be, protecting oil interests for Exxonmobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Texaco, etc.

[Roland99]

19. He also envisioned mushroom clouds and stockpiles. He's INSANE!!!

[Aviation Pro]

20. Ah, so he envisions....

...us securing the oil rich fields and leaving the dregs to Iran? Did he really major in history or stupidity while at Yale?

[Screwfly]

21. Talk about a state of denial

They have surged 5 brigades into Iraq, and the insurgency is getting stronger not weaker.

The insurgents are attacking armored columns and overwhelming them.

There are getting to be so many dead bodies littering the streets of Baghdad the authorities have to use a semi-truck to collect them.

Even though the insurgents have no air force they are wagging creditable air war against occupation forces.

All this is stuff I learned from the news today. Heaven knows how much worse the situation will look tomorrow.

[Heidi]

22. Kick.

:kick:

[rodeodance]

23. Bush envisions U.S. presence in Iraq like S.Korea

Source: reuters


Bush envisions U.S. presence in Iraq like S.Korea
30 May 2007 14:55:45 GMT

More WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability but not in a frontline combat role, the White House said on Wednesday.

The United States has had thousands of U.S. troops in South Korea to guard against a North Korean invasion for 50 years.

Democrats in control of the U.S. Congress have been pressing Bush to agree to a timetable for pulling troops from Iraq, an idea firmly opposed by the president.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush would like to see a U.S. role in Iraq ultimately similar to that in South Korea.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N30416213.htm

[mike_c]

24. as long as there is oil in the middle east and massive profits to be made...

...by U.S. corporations. The sun never sets on England the United States.

[Jim__]

25. Does that mean we're going to partition Iraq and defend one side? - n/t

[Sukie1941]

26. Then there's the new embassy in Iraq

So far, twenty-one buildings!

We sure don't want to waste such a thing!

[Erika]

27. Bush needs to envision himself impeached and jailed

and sentenced to a death like Saddam. He's killed far more Iraqis than Saddam ever did.

[liberal renegade]

28. He's the Envisionator Guy

[TexasLawyer]

29. Bush's timetable

We'll leave just as soon as hell freezes over.

[libodem]

30. What are we mining out of South Korea?

[Buck Rabbit]

31. Role like in South Vietnam is more likely.

[Lisa]

32. it looks like Jon Stewart was right ...

"Remember the Pottery Barn rule -- if you break something, say a lamp, you have to glue it back together again even if it looks ugly and doesn't work ... and you have to stay in the store forever ... and oh yeah, it's an exploding lamp."

Bush can say that he doesn't want troops in a frontline combat role -- thing is, the line is wherever they happen to be stationed!

[cliss]

33. Once again, Bush outdoes himself.

I swear, this man has diarrhea of the mouth. Just wait till the columnists get hold of his latest "logic".

First of all, it's ridiculous of him to compare S. Korea to Iraq. Korea has been under threat of an attack. Iraq wasn't in that situation (except with the U.S., of course).
Korea has no oil.
Plus, we've pulled out all but a skeleton crew of troops from that country. Guess where they went?
Korea tolerates a U.S. presence. They don't like us there, but it's nowhere near the antipathy like in Iraq.
Plus, we haven't treated the Koreans like have the Iraqis.

This latest line of "reasoning" is just about as crappy as last year's pile of crap. When they said Iraq was just like the U.S., in its beginning with a Constitution, and the Revolutionary War. (Guess who was the Empire?). They even pulled out the example of "Lincoln in Iraq". Barf.

[classysassy]

34. Hello

dumbo,we are not wanted.

[bamacrat]

35. Why when we dont have enough troops in this country to respond to a disaster

All the national guard is in Iraq, all the army is too. We need to fortify the home country before we take the world over.

[kskiska]

36. White House envisions "Korean model" in Iraq

Source: Seattle Times

By Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Bush would like to see the U.S. military provide long-term stability in Iraq as it has in South Korea, where thousands of American troops have been based for more than half a century, the White House said Wednesday.

White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters Bush believes U.S. forces eventually will end their combat role in Iraq but will continue to be needed in the country to deter threats and to help handle potential crises, as they have done in South Korea.

The United States has kept forces in South Korea since war erupted with North Korea in 1950 and currently has about 30,000 troops there.

"At some point you want to get to a situation in which the Iraqis have the capability to go ahead and handle the fundamental matters of security ... so that if you need the ability to react quickly you can be there, but the Iraqis are conducting the lion's share of their business," Snow said.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003728832_iraq31.html

[BOSSHOG]

37. I envision the whole fucking bush crime cabal in jail

PNAC members, bush and his cabinet, those who make a living on right wing hate radio and the 15% of americans who still support the fucking murderous bastard.

[enid602]

38. satellite

What do the Iraqis think? I don't think they signed on to become a satellite state.

[Wwagsthedog]

39. The white house is delusional.

The situation in Iraq is nowhere near that of South Korea.

[sinkingfeeling]

40. Wonder how many Iraqis share Bush's vision.

[shain from kane]

41. Let's see the map.

[azurnoir]

42. Now try to act surprised

This has been the entire purpose of the Bush presidency, to make Iraq the permanent oil supply to the US, meaning we no longer have to please the Saudi's, if he gets away with this it is only the beginning.

[TwilightGardener]

43. Saw it coming. The White House must also be envisioning 50 years

of terrorist recruitment.

[dave_p]

45. I thought they meant 2-3 million dead

But it's just military occupation forever.

Probably amount to the same thing anyway by the time they're done.

[acmavm]

44. I'm sure that the Iraqis want to be reminded, every day, day after

long day, about the invaders that killed hundreds of thousands of their people.

This is not going to work out very well george.