Bush Doesn't See Longtime Presence in Iraq

[Champ]

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writer

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE - President Bush (news - web sites) says he doesn't envision a longtime presence of U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites) similar to post-World War II deployments in Europe and South Korea (news - web sites) that continue today.


"I think the Iraqi people want us to leave once we've helped them get on the path of stability and democracy and once we have trained their troops to do their own hard work," Bush said Monday in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press.


Still, Bush said, "It's very difficult for me to predict what forces will exist although I will tell you that Iraq's leadership has made it quite clear that they can manage their own affairs at the appropriate time."


If free and open Iraqi elections lead to the seating of a fundamentalist Islamic government, "I will be disappointed. But democracy is democracy," Bush said. "If that's what the people choose, that's what the people choose."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=716&e=4&u=/ap/20041019/ap_on_el_pr/bush_interview

[leftchick]

1. so then what is up with the 14 permanent bases chimpy*?

and the Embassy for 3000? Has anyone thought to ask about those "little" issues?

[gatlingforme]

10. LOL... I like your animation. Good point.

[jmcgowanjm]

18. I don't see a long term presence either

IRR 10/18
US searching for captured helicopter crew shot down on Saturday.

US forces on Sunday intensified their search for two airmen
it lost when the Iraqi Resistance shot down their helicopters
on Saturday in the ar-Ridwaniyah area near at-Tallah south
of Baghdad, according to the local correspondent of
Mafkarat al-Islam.

One American Apache helicopter was shot down on
Saturday with a Strela rocket, blowing it apart in the sky
and killing three US soldiers who were aboard.

A second helicopter, a Black Hawk, was also struck by a
Strela on Saturday, causing it to crash. The two pilots of that
craft survived, however, and the Resistance captured them
and took them away to an unknown location.

The terrain in which both helicopters were shot down is
covered with shrubbery and date palms which afforded cover
to the Resistance fighters who were therefore able to strike
the American aircraft without having been
observed.

[jmcgowanjm]

20. Even as Britain redeploys 750 troops to back up Americans

I knew the BlackWatch had already been sent.

British military experts have voiced fears that the transfer
of troops out of southern Iraq would leave a large
“security vacuum” in the south. Nevertheless, Britain, a
satellite of the United States, was compelled to make the
move on orders from Washington.

And that Falluja offensive?

The US occupation's last-ditch effort to hold the Euphrates
front at Fallujah looks increasingly hopeless as Iraqi
partisan units flow into the city.
The Marines' so-called "cordon" around the city is thus
revealed to be a fiction. The Marines are pinned down East of
the city, unable to break out despite several desperate
attempts.

[jmowreader]

33. Three in an Apache? How?

An Apache has two seats and no cargo area. You can't get three people in one unless someone sits in the gunner's lap.

[NickB79]

36. Fancy trick, fitting 3 guys in a 2-man Apache helicopter

Honestly, why do you continue to post stuff like this when it rivals Fox News for accuracy, or should I say, inaccuracy?

[hatrack]

28. No, no - those bases are for the air shows!

EVERYONE knows how much the Iraqis love the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. They're crazy about American military technology!

[stevedeshazer]

2. The US is building 14 military bases in Iraq

Why, if we aren't planning to be there for the long haul?

[birdbrain]

15. In the debates, Kerry mentioned the 14 permanent bases in Iraq

and Bush didn't contradict it. If it wasn't true one presumes somebody would've told him to deny it?!?!

[Meehowski]

3. Spin......

Soupe du jour.............

[ClintonTyree]

4. People must come to realize.............

that whatever Bush says, expect the direct opposite to occur. It's happened on EVERY issue from this Maladministration.

[tabasco]

5. So we had thousands of people killed ...

spent hundreds of billions, lost world respect, but Iraq will end up as an islamic dictatorship???? Is anyone calling Bush on this ??

[OneBlueSky]

6. he's l-y-y-y-y-y-y-ing . . .

again . . . and again . . . and again . . .

Q: How can you tell when the president is lying?

A: His lips are moving.

[54anickel]

21. Worse than lying - he's delusional and believes the lies he spews.

He should be under professional care, on meds, under supervision and put away where he can't do anymore harm to others.

[JohnyCanuck]

24. He should be in a straight-jacket in a padded cell. n/t

[truthisfreedom]

7. there goes that hard work phrase again. it's all about hard work, huh

chimpy? like the hard work of burying their women and children?

[acmavm]

8. Proof postive that bush*s first instinct about ANYTHING is to lie about

it. He's reeling 'em of left and right, especially in the last week.

What the hell is wrong with the press. I say for all of those stupid worthless f***** the same damn day we get rid of bush*. There was the PERFECT opportunity to bring up those air bases, something the American people have a right to know about, and they just let it slide right on by.

Wonder what line of work most of these worthless pieces of shit who fancy themselves as journalists will be doing after the election. Because then they'll be seen for being the blatant frauds that they are. The shame of it all, selling their souls to this administration because they're afraid that they'll be 'Helen Thomased'. Oh and of course, like Matt Lauer or Tony Snow, worthless in the first place.

[gatlingforme]

9. The headline should read "Bush doesn't see... anything" n/t

[Inland]

25. Perfect! Bush got us INTO the war by not committing to any

estimate of cost or time---and in fact, refusing to do so as impossible, as he does here. At the time, I thought he was just covering up, but it turns out even worse. He didn't know, didn't care. What a mess.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

11. Champ, Would you be a Virginia fan?

Looks like the Seminoles decided to put it all together at a bad time for you guys. We thought it would go the other way.
Let's just hope the election turns out as it should!

[Champ]

13. Not really

Liked some of the players that been through there, but mostly an Arizona State fan. I hope Kerry moves into the White House this upcoming election.

[BootinUp]

12. I want Kerry to hammer this idiot!!!

Don't let them get away with this double talk, have it both ways, bullshit!!

[ladjf]

14. But, right after Nov. 2nd., I predict that he'll decide that we

need to stay there semi-permanently.

[trotsky]

16. To help foster democracy, of course.

:eyes:

[Jack Rabbit]

17. Months ago, he saw a vast biochemical arsenal and ties to al Qaida

Why should anybody believe what Bush says? There is a curse on Bush that prevents him from making a true statement containing the word Iraq or Saddam.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. I think that's one of them

ixagerashuns.

[Jacobin]

22. Hey, its only a few decades, give or take

[shanti]

23. we will, we won't, we will, we won't

come on chimpy, make up your friggin mind! :grr:

[Jim Sagle]

26. He's a flip flopper. As Al Franken says, "Flippity floppity floop."

[oldlady]

27. 2nd Debate quote

Bush:
I don't see how the Iraqis are going to have confidence in the American president if all they hear is that it was a mistake to be there in the first place.

This war is a LONG, LONG war, and it requires steadfast determination and it requires a complete understanding that we not only chase down Al Qaida but we disrupt terrorist safe havens as well as people who could provide the terrorists with support.

[jokerman93]

29. Can anyone say "Cut and Run" boys and girls? N/T

[Az_lefty]

30. So if they elect Osama or Zarkawi, that's OK?

:wtf:

[leQ]

31. any idea on why they stuck bush's national guard tidbit in there?

i get the feeling that tom raum (wire writer) is a republican.

[young_at_heart]

32. Vietnam.......Vietnam........Vietnam

Young people who don't really understand what happened need to see footage of the carnage and learn about the politics back then.

[Cocoa]

34. Liar!

:mad:

[davidinalameda]

35. All together now

BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!

lie lie lie lie lie

[maddezmom]

38. LOL....my thoughts too!

[sweetheart]

37. ha ha - he's losing conservative support

There are voters and members of his own party to whom he promised
last time round, not to have troops abroad, and to have clear
exit strategies... and he has neither. So he's soft selling a lie
to keep them on board. The GOP desperation is beginning to show.
The realize that they can't win by just turning out their faithful,
as the ranks have thinned... so he's been charged with making
wooly lies.

conseravives (small "c") are furious with this big government,
fiscally irresponsible, foreign wars imperialism... and its gonna
send him in to retirement. Poppy's mistake was violating his
covenant of "no new taxes" and sonny's making a similar mistake.
Crossing genuine conservatives is a mistake. OOps... where's the
soap. :-)

[kerouac]

39. he didn't see casualties either. n/t

[Bo]

40. Wonder what he is on today.....

[BiggJawn]

41. And he told Pat Robertson "We're not gonna have any casualties!"

"I think the Iraqi people want us to leave ..."

No fucking shit, you PNAC bastard!

The fucking Chimp's insane.

[w4rma]

42. No!!! He SAYS he doesn't see one! Who is the Repug writing these headlines

for the AP!!?? Why do they act like they believe they can read Mr. Bush's mind?