Bush Sets Up Panel To Counter Baker's Group

[Jcrowley]

Bush Initiates Iraq Policy Review Separate From Baker Group's

By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 15, 2006; A16

President Bush formally launched a sweeping internal review of Iraq policy yesterday, pulling together studies underway by various government agencies, according to U.S. officials.

The initiative, begun after Bush met at the White House with his foreign policy team, parallels the effort by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group to salvage U.S. policy in Iraq, develop an exit strategy and protect long-term U.S. interests in the region. The two reviews are not competitive, administration officials said, although the White House wants to complete the process before mid-December, about the time the Iraq Study Group's final report is expected.

The White House's decision changes the dynamics of what happens next to U.S. policy deliberations. The administration will have its own working document as well as recommendations from an independent bipartisan commission to consider as it struggles to prevent further deterioration in Iraq.

"The president has asked all his national security agencies to assess the situation in Iraq, review the options and recommend the best way forward. The ISG report will be duly considered, and we look forward to their recommendations, as the president has always said," a White House official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the new initiative has not been announced. "The president indicated Monday that he is interested in hearing interesting ideas both within his administration and from the Baker-Hamilton commission."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111401095_pf.html

[Demeter]

1. This Would Be Funny, If I Didn't Live Here

but as it is, Bush's comedy routines have seriously distorted and deformed, if not destroyed, my sense of humor.

[TAPat]

2. Perfect timing!

"The president has asked all his national security agencies to assess the situation in Iraq, review the options and recommend the best way forward."

:rofl:

Geez, what an asshat :eyes:

[leftchick]

3. this has cheney all over it

trying to salvage his oil deals....

<snip>

The White House review could give the administration alternatives so that it feels less pressure to fully implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group report, foreign policy experts said.

Bush made the decision after his national security team held secret meetings Friday and Saturday to discuss the disparate efforts inside the administration and the implications for Iraq after the Republican defeat in the midterm elections. Further informal meetings were held Monday before yesterday's decision, officials said.

<snip>

The review will knit together separate efforts that have been underway at the State Department and the Pentagon over the past six weeks, U.S. officials said. It will also include reports by the CIA and the National Security Council. National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley will oversee the expedited review and integrate the various papers, officials said.

In a measure of the suddenness and importance of the review, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this week postponed a long-planned trip to an Asia-Pacific conference in Vietnam to take part in discussions about Iraq.

[bryant69]

6. It makes sense

Set up a tame panel - still there's a Rovian side to it - give yourself just enough cover so that your insanity looks almost normal.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Virginia Dare]

4. I'd be willing to bet that it was actually...

Darth Cheney who set this panel up.

[Plaid Adder]

5. Why do Poppy and Junior have to drag the ENTIRE WORLD into their Oedipal battle?

I merely ask.

Sigh,

The Plaid Adder

[KoKo]

14. Little Chimp must have thrown hissy fit over Newsweek's cover.

Agree...Poppy and Junior's Elephantine/Oedipal Battle will leave more destruction in it's wake. And, let's throw in their little buddy Blair into the mix.

They are all fighting for their lives to save themselves from the trials that should be forthcoming for "Crimes against Humanity.'

Time for this Crime Family Enterprise to be brought down and they are preparing their evidence that they think will allow them to get off easy.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. And what has the Shrub been doing about Iraq for the last 3+ years? I know! As per Stephen Colbert

Playing it by his gut? Ludicrous.

Personally I believe that Shrub did exactly what he said he would do about Iraq, make chaos out of order. Everyone thought it was just another Bushism but he was speaking the truth.

Think of all of the billions of dollars that were ripped off. The Bush Crime Family strikes again........

[WinkyDink]

10. Bush always speaks his truth, whether wittingly or not, whether we

recognize it as such or not.

[leesa]

8. Dubya keeps pushing it and Poppy might have to take out his own kid.

Let him augment his crimes and foolishness.

[LynnTheDem]

9. rotflmao!!!

Only bush could possibly be so stupid, so childish, so totally fucking ignorant.

[Jackpine Radical]

17. " Only bush?" Oh, by no means.

Rove, Cheney, Rummy, the list is virtually endless.

[HereSince1628]

11. So, one panel to be centrist the other to the far right: result stay right

This is an interesting dynamic which sets up the playing field to yield a result more favorable to the radical neocon foreign policy. Any resulting compromise between the two "plans" will be to the neocon side of center.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Centrist? Baker & Co.?

More like old guard far-right capitalist pigs v. wacko neocon delusional empire-builders.

[HereSince1628]

15. In their minds, yes, The Baker Hamilton panel is "bipartisan" and

thus balanced. Thus the need for Cheney's Crazies to mount a challenge to it.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. In THEIR minds, maybe Baker & Co. + a Dem hawk or 2 = "center,"

but that's not what most people would call "center."

[annabanana]

12. Oh Brother!

What are the odds that jr.'s panel will come up with recommedations that completely support the same failed crap he's pushing now, with the added seasoning of massive infusions of additional troops.?

[roamer65]

18. More Bush Crime Family nonsense.

I really am getting tired of it.:eyes: