Blair snubbed by Bush move to send more troops to Iraq

[cal04]

President Bush is set to recommend that America sends up to 50,000 additional troops to Iraq in a last effort to stabilise the country, but will reject Tony Blair’s entreaties to start a new Middle East peace initiative.

The Prime Minister has emphasised to Mr Bush that solving the Israel-Palestine issue is the key to defeating extremism across the Middle East. But the US President has decided that a bold military push in Baghdad can still deliver “victory” in Iraq and defeat radicalism in the region.

Senior US officials now expect Mr Bush to deliver his new plan for Iraq early next month. They say that it will be an explicit rejection of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group’s two main recommendations: to pull out US combat troops by early 2008 and to intensify diplomatic efforts in the region.

(snip)
Senior US officials say that Mr Bush is embracing a politically controversial plan presented to him last week by General Jack Keane, a former army vice-chief of staff, and Frederick Kagan, of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank. The plan focuses on a military solution in Iraq, and rejects diplomacy with Iraq’s neighbours.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2509829,00.html

[queenbdem87]

1. whats that i hear....20% approval ratings?

[ribrepin]

2. What is it with these guys????

Does Bush have pictures of Blair with a goat or somthing? He treats Blair and McCain with contempt and they just come back for more.

I can't believe the privilege of Bush's "friendship" is so awe inspiring.