I believe Bush will announce a new military initiative during his...

[Redleg]

press conference tonight. I am hedging because the term "military initiative" could mean a lot of things including:
1) sending additional troops to Iraq,
2) opening another front in the "war or terra,"
3) starting the draft,
4) using new military tactics or have a new objective in Iraq,
5) blah blah blah

[AlinPA]

1. Yes, and he will add a large dose of fake patriotism. n/t

[bedtimeforbonzo]

2. bombing Iran

is probably in the pipeline.

or killing the first born son of every iraqi.

[fryguy]

3. 6) pulling head out of own ass

[markus]

4. Stay the Course

He has a secret plan to get us out of Iraq by Jan. 1, 2005. Count on it.

Oh, and anyone who criticizes him is responsible for the deaths of American solders.

[ewagner]

5. Don't know specifics

but I think the whole purpose of this press conference is to announce a new initiative of some kind.

The repubs aren't stupid (although they do stupid things at times) They know that they are behind the curve in the news cycle and they need to "get out in front".

I don't know what he'll do but I expect something new and "headline grabbing" from tonight's Morality Play in One Act

[GiovanniC]

6. Look For Him to Send 10,000 Additional Troops

To Iraq.

My prediction. Anyone wanna bet $10?

[GiovanniC]

7. We'll Also Hear About How "Great"

Things are going in Iraq, despite all the "libral media" wanting to talk about deaths and stuff.

[riverwalker]

8. Arial Sharon is in Washington

today. Odd timing.

[feistydem]

10. Hmmmm??? Maybe a ground-breaking Middle East peace initiative?

Bush has been losing the conservative Jewish vote. That would make the news and overshadow the commission testimonies --barring Ashcroft doesn't say something really shocking, like: "I'd like to take this opportunity to express that I am gay."

[feistydem]

9. All are possibilities except the draft. he won't go there until he's

re-selected by Diebold. Then he'd have nothing to lose. Democrats will truly have to go underground if Bushie ends up back in the WH.

[Goldmund]

11. But what if...

...the Generals told him "Mr. President, we will either double the troups in Iraq or we are bound to get slaughtered in the upcoming popular uprising"?

Then he has 3 options:

1) Keep doing what he's doing, and by election time, the war will either have been lost or it will be apparent that it will be lost. He becomes a president who lost the war started on false premises. No chance at all at reelection.

2) Nuke-em-all of some kind. Since the WMDs don't exist, "liburating Eye-rakis" has become the excuse for the invasion. It becomes impossible to maintain. That, and the unimaginable reaction of the Muslim world to a civilian slaughter in Iraq -- terrorism flourishes, etc.

3) The Draft. Not a good political option for him by any means, but with some help of the media whores -- "it's this generation's turn to defend freedom", rallying around the flag, etc -- he may hope to mitigate the fallout. Again, not a good option, but MAYBE the least bad option.

[feistydem]

13. He may move troops around to boost the forces in Iraq, but

he is not going to utter the word "draft." Besides the public freaking out, the Congress would go ballistic on him because they would have to explain to their constituents the rationale for the draft as well as the war.

Say "draft" and watch all remaining support for this war go into the toilet. It's always fine when it's somebody else's kid dying on the battlefield.

The media would love it, yes. But I don't think even they could put a bow on that image.

[Goldmund]

17. I'm agreeing with you...

...but according to everything I've read, there's no way to meaningfully boost the number of troops without a draft. That's why tours are being extended for soldiers already there, and those back from Iraq are being called again.

Again, I agree that the draft would be a political disaster.

But assume that the Generals informed him what I suggested in the original post. What does he do?

Disaster or not, it may be his only option.

And a disclaimer -- I'm playing the Devil's advocate. I'm not sure I think this will happen, but I'm sure that I can't discount it.

[feistydem]

19. I think you are right that there is no way to boost troops without a draft

I just don't think the Bushies would risk it. They'll pull them out of a majority of other posts and re-assign them (or pay more Third World mercenaries) before they will speak of a draft.

Unfortunately, it may end up being the only option for Kerry if he's elected so we don't end up leaving behind a terrorist paradise.

[onethatcares]

12. all of the above and

Do not be afraid of the troops on the corner, this is only a training exercise that will be ongoing until the supreme court affirms I am the king. See ya later, suckas,

[Insider]

16. ...and cut.

See ya later, suckas

darn the truth. how about the moving real life story of a real life soldier? the story that makes him pause to regain his composure? the story that quotes real life soldier's parent?

will he hold up dog tags? i hope not.

[vern]

14. or...

according to the Guardian, bush will use the first 12 minutes to "reassure" the nation about the situation in Iraq.

[Vickers]

15. But the real question is: how many flags will he be wearing on his lapel?

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say 26. I think we can use the "flag/lapel" angle as a bellwether of how crazy things are. He might have to wear two blazers for tonight's speech.

:P

[punpirate]

18. Probably, the emphasis will be on...

... "blah, blah, blah."

[onethatcares]

20. it'll be blah, blah, blah, terra, terra, terra, I didn't know and

no one with a shred of intelligence couda noed, but with that, ya/ll seen the bas i cot yesturday? we dun aet it. freddiymercury and all.

[seabeyond]

21. ya i read this earlier

and i come to this too. and he will go on and on and on. what i want to know what he is going to read for 12 mins the goat book. probably all questioned are to stay on topic too

[imax2268]

22. another 87 billion per haps...?

terra,terra,terra,murderers,gangs,thugs,they hate our freedoms,terra,terra,terra,murderers,gangs,thugs,they hate our freedoms,terra,terra,terra,murderers,gangs,thugs,they hate our freedoms...

Thank you goodnight...!

[VolcanoJen]

23. No, but he will announce a new "STICK IT TO THE CIA" initiative.

That may very well end up to be a Domestic Political Police Force, not unlike its predecessors, the Gestapo and the Stasi.

[vern]

24. enlistment

he'll announce that his daughters enlisted in the army today.

[markus]

25. I have a plan.

Let's see, we're going to stay the course because he has a plan. Where have we heard this before.

He didn't step up and call for a draft because the people behind him aren't that stupid.

He doesn't want an exit strategy. The strategy is to replace the cold war with the war on Islam.

The draft will come in teh second term.