White House Hopes for Iraq Turning Point

[PfcHammer]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040503/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq_040503223636

White House Hopes for Iraq Turning Point
54 minutes ago Add White House - AP to My Yahoo!

By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - After the deadliest month yet for U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites), top Bush administration officials fear the situation will deteriorate in coming weeks as insurgents try to create turmoil amid the June 30 handover of power to Iraqis.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, White House officials said Monday they see reason to be hopeful that the situation will eventually improve. But they can't say when the turning point will come.

From President Bush (news - web sites) down, the administration now acknowledges that the U.S.-led occupation bred more frustration among Iraqis than the White House had initially expected.

A senior administration official said Monday afternoon that there were developments that could lead to an improvement: The Americans on the ground know more about how to work with local leaders; Iraqis will soon have a measure of political power; they already have defense and interior ministers.

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[Gothmog]

1. Can you say Denial

The Nile is not just a river in Egypt.

[lancdem]

7. See this post from Josh Marshall

http://talkingpointsmemo.com

One of the things I've found difficult about writing about Iraq in recent days is imputing some level of seriousness to the arguments of the president and his retainers who continue to press an optimistic view of what's happening in Iraq. From them,
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on any given day, you can still hear the argument that, notwithstanding some tough days, things are still getting better in Iraq and the key to success is sticking with it.

At the same time, I talk to, or have conversations related to me with, various foreign policy, intelligence and military experts, all of whom --- across the political spectrum --- seem to believe that things are about as bleak as they can be. On top of this, they seem uniform in the belief -- sometimes based on inference, other times based on direct knowledge -- that the White House is fresh out of ideas about what to do, and basically hasn't any idea how to proceed.

[FlemingsGhost]

2. The retreat in Fallujah was a turning point.

Just not the kind they were looking for, I'm guessing.

[Cocoa]

3. good enough for me

a vague promise things might get better at some undetermined time. :thumbsup:

[Just Me]

4. They NEVER operated on a prospect of "hope" with respect to humanity.

They always operated on a "hope" to shove their power down the whole world's throats!!! They always operated on a "this is a dangerous and dark world that MUST be controlled" agenda from the very start!!!

Only a demonic and evil mind would propose such a vision to the incredible possibilities offered by humanity.

These people are not "beacons". They are the shadows and dark hearts of humanity.

I reject them, period.

[Tellurian]

5. Soft article...

Too soft, after the last few months of Hardball..

The tone of the last few paragragh sound very detached and distant..


Something smells rotten in Denmark!

[Jacobin]

6. Faith based invasion

"gee, we really fucked things up in Iraq. We sure 'hope' it gets better...at least before the selection."

[pinto]

8. Eng translation: We don't know when, we don't know how, don't know,

but we have to say something.

Remember light at the end of the tunnel?
Remember only a course adjustment?
Remember we have a plan, but can't tell you yet?
Remember the official lies?

[grasswire]

9. this is nuts

Last sentence:

"Bush has not been told by military commanders there is a shortfall, both officials said."

They're running out of $$ and Bush hasn't been told? What kind of crapo disinformation is this?????

[Skittles]

12. so we all know something Bush doesn't?

no f***ing surprise there

[Miss Authoritiva]

10. The syndrome of inappropriate laughter.

Don't think me evil, but I am laughing. I do this when things not under my control get really bad -- I laugh inappropriately.

Bush administration officials fear things will get worse but also hope things will get better.

The Iraqis are way more pissed off about the US occupation than Bush thought they'd be.

Americans abused/tortured Iraqi prisoners but, fair's fair, we're also building schools.

The war machine is running out of money, but nobody can find Bush to tell him.

I am beyond anger and pain: I am laughing.

[Coventina]

11. Well, I hope they don't hurt themselves hoping....

WHAT THE F*CK ARE THEY ACTUALLY GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?????

[Tellurian]

13. They seem to be saying Buh-Bye... take care- not! nt

Think about this..

Our Nat'l Guard is stretched to the limit..

If we have, shall we say an *event* in this country...

We just don't have the manpower or the armed forces to deal with it...

I have really, really bad vibes about this sudden Cut and Run with the Bush Gang!

[Politicub]

14. I hope to win the lottery

Doesn't mean that I will.

[amber dog democrat]

15. What we need to do is Invade Iran now.

and Syria later. Lets bring them freedom too. But wait, Syria has no oil.
So we will settle for just invading Iran instead.

and while we are at it, lets keep waiting for those developments that might lead to an improvement. This reminds me of the early stages of the Vietnam War.

[Zech Marquis]

16. afraid not

if the US were invaded and had prisoners abused and photographed like those Iraqis were, do you think that the American insurgents would be willig to look the other way and tell the invaders,"oh we know that was an accident, so don't worry about it"/

Hell No! :argh:

I tell you all here in DU, when the Marines left Fallujah without "bringing the killers to justice" ans owboy Sockpuppet likes to say, that was the turning point --from trying to control a very, very bad sitation, to just saying,"fuck it, we're out of here". That was when the whole sham fell aprt, and no amount of superglue can put this mess together again.

is there a evel beyond FUBAR? If not, this is it :-(