Bush Admin Plans to Delay Major Assaults in Iraq Until After U.S.Elections

[Roland99]

From Drudge:

LA TIMES MONDAY: Bush Administration Plans to Delay Major Assaults in Iraq Until After U.S. Election... Developing...


If so, this is completely unacceptable!!!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Roland99]

1. Bush Administration Plans to Delay Major Assaults in Iraq

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-strategy11oct11,1,7977309.story?coll=la-home-headlines

The Bush administration will delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race.

Although American commanders in Iraq have been buoyed by recent successes in insurgent-held towns such as Samarra and Tall Afar, administration and Pentagon officials say they will not try to retake cities such as Fallujah and Ramadi -- where insurgents' grip is strongest and U.S. military casualties could be the greatest -- until after Americans vote in what is likely to be a close election.

"When this election's over, you'll see us move very vigorously," said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Once you're past the election, it changes the political ramifications" of a large-scale offensive, the official said. "We're not on hold right now. We're just not as aggressive."

Any delay in pacifying Iraq's most troublesome cities, however, could alter the dynamics of a different election -- the one in January, when Iraqis are to elect members of a national assembly.

[secular_warrior]

2. Of course he is - I'm surprised this hasn't been a bigger issue

It has even been raised by conservative commentators (I believe Blankley, Gen. Barry McCaffrey and others) that the Iraq war - like Vietnam - is now being waged by politicians and directed by politics instead of the military situation on the ground. Large sections of the country have been ceded to the insurgents. Bush is not fighting to win, but to avoid casualties and keep Iraq out of the headlines.

The fact that Kerry hasn't hammered this point more is beyond me. Not only did Bush break Iraq, he isn't even trying to fix it -- all because of politics. To me, *this* is the scandal that isn't even talked about. I would think this story - if no other - is the one that would trouble even the conservative-leaning voters out there.

[frylock]

3. remember to support the troops..

and by support, I mean use them as political pawns. And may gawd continue to bless 'murika.

[Roland99]

4. Wonder how many of the troops are going to wonder why they're waiting.

[opihimoimoi]

5. in the mean time... those fellas are recovering, regrouping, and

gaining strength.... wait are the Bush guys doing ???

[Roland99]

7. Playing politics with our soldiers' lives!

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Roland99]

6. And more on this...Iraqis are growing restless...doubting elections

There's nothing at stake here. Naah. Not a damn thing. Let's just worry about our poll numbers and if we can get re-elected. Those silly insurgents won't mind and neither will the people having to endure the weeks on-end of strife. It's hard work winning an election. Can't waver from the campaign.


Iraqis Fearing a Sunni Boycott of the Election
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/international/middleeast/11sunni.html?hp&ex=1097553600&en=f4b04514b50c0b5e&ei=5094

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 10 - Leaders of Iraq's crucial Sunni Arab minority say they have failed to generate any enthusiasm for nationwide elections scheduled for January, and are so fearful of insurgent violence and threats that they can meet only in private to talk about how - or even whether - to take part.

The leaders among the Sunni Arabs, which had dominated Iraqi politics since the nation's birth in 1920, also said in interviews here that many prospective Sunni voters were so suspicious of the American enterprise in Iraq, and so infuriated by the chaotic security situation in the Sunni-dominated areas, that they were likely to stay away from the polls in large numbers.

Sunni participation is crucial to the election. While a Sunni boycott remains far from certain and some Sunni leaders still hold out hope for a turnaround, American officials fear that if large numbers of Sunnis do not vote, the election will be regarded as illegitimate and may even feed the insurgency that has gripped much of the country.

While American military commanders say they intend to open up many predominantly Sunni areas now under the control of insurgents, some Sunni tribal and religious leaders say that so far the campaign appears to be having the opposite effect, alienating the people it is supposed to liberate.

"What elections are you talking about?" said Raad Rahim Ahmed, a 50-year-old resident of Samarra, who said American soldiers killed his wife and two children when they cleared the city of insurgents last week.

"I've lost my entire family," he said. "Why should I trust this government? Why should I vote at all?"

[opihimoimoi]

8. The Bush Boys are not emphatic at all. They don't think for others, only

for themselves and whats best for them....

[Roland99]

9. ABC News was reporting denials from the Bush White House

Are they sending mixed messages again??

[michigandem2]

10. what a crock of shit....its ignorant...

they are totally doing this...if the casualty number rises..they consider that to be a bad thing...but the 1000 + that have already died...don't matter...nice eh?

[Roland99]

11. It is *really* turning into another Vietnam!

[opiate69]

12. I read this in the Tacoma News tribune today.....

And the implications have been running through my mind all day... if they're holding out until the elections are over, and Bush wins, they can feel free to go "balls out", since he won't have to worry about getting re-elected.. and if Kerry wins, they can still go balls out and leave President Kerry an unbelievably fucked up mess... (of course, we all know that would be nothing compared to a few of Clinton's staff supposedly removing the "W"s off of the White House computers, right? </end sarcasm> ) In any case, I can't believe this isn't being shouted from every friggin' rooftop... this is wrong on so many levels.

[Roland99]

13. Either way this is going to be a major f*ck up for the US