Today's Bush Radio Address: "I recognize that the recent violence in Iraq has been unsettling"

[Anthony Soprano]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061202.html



THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I returned home this week from a visit to the Middle East. On my trip, I met with Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq to discuss how we can improve the situation on the ground in his country and help the Iraqis build a lasting democracy.

My meeting with Prime Minister Maliki was our third since he took office six months ago. With each meeting, I'm coming to know him better, and I'm becoming more impressed by his desire to make the difficult choices that will put his country on a better path. During our meeting, I told the Prime Minister that America is ready to make changes to better support the unity government of Iraq, and that several key principles will guide our efforts.

First, the success of Prime Minister Maliki's government is critical to success in Iraq. His unity government was chosen through free elections in which nearly 12 million Iraqis cast their ballots in support of democracy. Our goal in Iraq is to strengthen his democratic government and help Iraq's leaders build a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself -- and is an ally in the war on terror.

Second, the success of the Iraqi government depends on the success of the Iraqi security forces. The training of Iraqi security forces has been steady, yet we both agreed that we need to do more, and we need to do it faster. The Prime Minister wants to show the people who elected him that he's willing to make the hard decisions necessary to provide security.

To do that, he needs larger and more capable Iraqi forces under his control, and he needs them quickly. By helping Iraq's elected leaders get the Iraqi forces they need, we will help Iraq's democratic government become more effective in fighting the terrorists and other violent extremists, and in providing security and stability, particularly in Baghdad.

Third, success in Iraq requires strong institutions that will stand the test of time and hardship. Our goal in Iraq is to help Prime Minister Maliki build a country that is united, where the rule of law prevails and the rights of minorities are respected. The Prime Minister made clear that splitting his country into parts is not what the Iraqi people want and that any partition of Iraq would lead to an increase in sectarian violence.

Security in Iraq requires sustained action by the Iraqi security forces, yet in the long term, security in Iraq hinges on reconciliation among Iraq's different ethnic and religious communities. And the Prime Minister has committed his government to achieving that goal.

The Prime Minister and I also discussed the review of America's strategy in Iraq that is now nearing completion. As part of this review, I've asked our military leaders in the Pentagon and those on the ground in Iraq to provide their recommendations on the best way forward.

A bipartisan panel, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton, is also conducting a review. And I look forward to receiving their report next week. I want to hear all advice before I make any decisions about adjustments to our strategy in Iraq.

I recognize that the recent violence in Iraq has been unsettling. Many people in our country are wondering about the way forward. The work ahead will not be easy, yet by helping Prime Minister Maliki strengthen Iraq's democratic institutions and promote national reconciliation, our military leaders and diplomats can help put Iraq on a solid path to liberty and democracy. The decisions we make in Iraq will be felt across the broader Middle East.

Failure in Iraq would embolden the extremists who hate America and want nothing more than to see our demise. It would strengthen the hand of those who are seeking to undermine young democracies across the region and give the extremists an open field to overthrow moderate governments, take control of countries, impose their rule on millions, and threaten the American people. Our Nation must not allow this to happen.

Success in Iraq will require leaders in Washington -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- to come together and find greater consensus on the best path forward. So I will work with leaders in both parties to achieve this goal. Together we can help Iraqis build a free and democratic nation in the heart of the Middle East, strengthen moderates and reformers across the region who are working for peace, and leave our children and grandchildren a more secure and hopeful world.

Thank you for listening.

[liberal N proud]

1. That picture gives many thoughts...

One of which is Why is Laura standing between to fakes?

[YDogg]

4. Yeah. A killer flanked by two make-believe soldiers.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. every time he calls for bipartisanship, he pulls something

like appointing that neonazi anti-feminist to the head of family planning and reproductive policy.

There is NOTHING that this guy says that can be believed. Nothing. He is a congenital liar.

[PADemD]

3. Did you notice how puffy Bush's face is in that image?

[lpbk2713]

5. So he got the memo .....

That's the same way he found out about the Katrina damage to the Gulf Coast.

And similarly, he sat on his ass and did nothing to help.

[gratuitous]

6. Work together? The Decider working with people?

Shorter Bush: "I'm blowing smoke up your ass. Hell, I couldn't even meet with Maliki anywhere in his own fucking country. That should tell you something."

[Anthony Soprano]

7. Reuters headline from earlier today: "Bush vows to seek Iraq consensus"

So The Decider is also The Listener...he promises to listen but that's where the promises end, because he's The...well, you know.

:silly:

Bush vows to seek Iraq consensus

By Matt Spetalnick 1 hour, 41 minutes ago



http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061202/pl_nm/iraq_bush_dc_1

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush pledged on Saturday to seek bipartisan consensus on the way forward in Iraq, as he awaited a panel's recommendations on how to shift course in the unpopular war.

Bush offered conciliatory words but no concessions to critics of his Iraq policy before a report on Wednesday from a panel led by former Secretary of State James Baker, which is expected to urge a gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.

He used his weekly radio address to reassert his commitment to bolster Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after their summit in Jordan on Thursday, where he insisted Washington was not looking for a "graceful exit" from Iraq.

Under pressure on Iraq after his party's stinging election losses last month, Bush has indicated he will look closely at -- but not necessarily heed -- the findings of Baker's independent Iraq Study Group. Internal White House and Pentagon reviews are also nearing completion. "I want to hear all advice before I make any decisions about adjustments to our strategy in Iraq," he said.

[Red Knight]

8. He's wrong about this for sure:

Third, success in Iraq requires strong institutions that will stand the test of time and hardship. Our goal in Iraq is to help Prime Minister Maliki build a country that is united, where the rule of law prevails and the rights of minorities are respected. The Prime Minister made clear that splitting his country into parts is not what the Iraqi people want and that any partition of Iraq would lead to an increase in sectarian violence.


It's certain that the Shias and Kurds want their own states. The only ones who possibly don't are the Sunnis and even that's questionable.

The country has already split up(apart from certain areas like Bagdhad)with Kurds in the north, Shittes in the south and Sunnis in the center. THEY did that. It's THEIR solution. Those regions are relatively stable, in fact.

It's only where they come together in places like Bagdhad that we have trouble.

If Bush doesn't even realize this, there is no chance in Iraq. It will break apart anyway--or they'll be fighting forever.

[riderinthestorm]

9. The "recent violence"??!! WTF? 650k dead Iraqis, 3k dead Americans

and how many maimed and displaced? More than a million.

I am thoroughly disgusted at this despicable attempt by the Admin to somehow paint all of this violence as just a "recent" thing connected to Ramadan, or US elections, or whatevah. It's been a civil war for so long now, the purposeful disconnection/obfuscation by this Admin just pisses me off to no end.

:grr: