Bush to lay out Iraq victory strategy (AFP)

[Up2Late]

(Now this would be news!)

Bush to lay out Iraq victory strategy

30/11/2005 00h08

DENVER, United States (AFP) - US President George W. Bush was to unveil a "strategy for victory in Iraq" on Wednesday, hoping to convince a skeptical US public two and a half years after the war began that he has a plan to end it. He was to unfurl the blueprint at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, at a time when his poll numbers have sunk to their lowest ever and more and more Americans want him to chart a course for a quick US withdrawal.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Tuesday that the speech, the first in a series of appeals for support ahead of Iraq's December 15 elections, would center on efforts to train Iraqi security forces to replace US soldiers. McClellan said that the Pentagon hoped to have enough self-sufficient Iraqi troops to draw down the US presence in the war-torn country in 2006 -- raising the possibility of troop reductions ahead of the November 2006 US elections, over which the increasingly unpopular war looms large.

Bush, who has rejected any timetable for a withdrawal, said Tuesday, "The people don't want me making decisions based upon politics; they want me to make decisions based upon the recommendation from our generals on the ground."

"We've heard some people say, pull them out right now. That's a huge mistake. It'd be a terrible mistake. It sends a bad message to our troops, and it sends a bad message to our enemy, and it sends a bad message to the Iraqis," he said on a swing through El Paso, Texas, to talk about security along the border with Mexico.

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/051129223653.df5idiy0.html>
(more at link above)

[acmavm]

1. Make decisions based on recommendations of the generals? That's

odd, he's ignored all their requests for troops, armor, and bullets to date. Who's he think he's fooling?

[Wetzelbill]

2. I don't think he believes he's fooling anybody

nor do I think he cares either way. He just sorta goes through the motions and wallows in his little Messianic complex that he has. He's so insulated and out of touch I wonder if he even understand what reality is anymore.

[Up2Late]

6. I just love the skeptical tone of this writer, like this bit...

"...hoping to convince a skeptical US public two and a half years after the war began that he has a plan to end it."

Love it!

And who the hell are these "some people?"

"..."We've heard some people say, pull them out right now. That's a huge mistake. It'd be a terrible mistake...."

Is he referring to the THREE (3) House Representatives who voted for that sham ReThug resolution that got 3 Yes vote before the Thanksgiving break?:wtf:

[0007]

3. Sends a bad message to our enemy? Every time junior opens

his pie hole the crowd becomes smaller. Of course at military installations, it is mandatory to listen to junior talk in circles. But who in tv land wants to listen? When a five second blip from any outlet is enough. 0h' hum.

[yourout]

4. Easy 5 step plan....

#1. Leave Iraq
#2. Appologise, Appologise, Appologise
#3. Pay reparisions
#4. All partys responsible tried for war crimes
#5. All partys responsible given prison sentances in Iraq

[Clara T]

5. War Criminal justifies His War Crimes- News at 11

[Up2Late]

7. Nice graphic Clara T!

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[Peter Frank]

8. Like Up2Late said - Welcome! -- Nice graphic, but don't forget Cheney...

[cliss]

9. "unveil a strategy for victory?"

I just read on another thread that the White House is releasing a 29-page document that will get into the details of this Grandiose Plot.

Can you imagine 29 pages? What's it going to say?

Page 1: The Iraqis will stand up so we can stand down.

Page 2: The Iraqis will police themselves.

Page 3: The Iraqis will fight their own terrorists.

.
.
.
Page 29: We're not going home.

[Up2Late]

12. You forgot pages 4 thru 28 will say...

...THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK :evilgrin:

[SoCalDem]

10. Hhhere's whut we gonna dooo..

We gonnna smack 'em & hit 'em hard.. It's hardwerk bein' a warprezzdent..& we'll stay there until we are supposed to leave..It's hardwerk..9-11..Saddam..rape rooms..mass graves..zzzt-zzzt-bbbzzzz...

[PittPoliSci]

11. little bit late for that isn't it?

[Wordie]

13. BBC take: "US 'to reduce its forces in Iraq' "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4483496.stm
US 'to reduce its forces in Iraq'

<snip>
The White House says it expects conditions in Iraq will permit a reduction in the number of American forces in the country next year.

A spokesman told journalists progress was being made with the training of Iraqi security forces and that would allow the US to reduce its presence.

The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the rhetoric from the White House has changed.

...While vows to "stay the course" have not been jettisoned entirely, the president realises that to halt the decline in his popularity and help the Republican Party keep control of Congress after mid-term elections next year, he needs to persuade Americans that he has a plan to get out of Iraq, our correspondent says. <unsnip>

That last paragraph I quoted just about says it all.

Dare I say it...a "flip flop"??? LOL

...COL??? :(

[rodeodance]

14. Bush: Iraqi Forces in State of Readiness

This official also said that "Bush would not talk about troop withdrawals".

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051130/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq;_ylt=ApJ5exCrBDAtLKhO0qlOKDis0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ
Bush: Iraqi Forces in State of Readiness

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer Wed Nov 30, 3:10 AM ET

WASHINGTON -

President Bush is trying to convince skeptical Americans that Iraqi forces are increasingly able to protect their nation but the president is not ready to set dates for withdrawing U.S. troops.

In a speech Wednesday at the U.S. Naval Academy, Bush was detailing the training of Iraqi security forces and talking about the territories Iraqis control nearly three years after the U.S.-led invasion. The White House also was issuing a 35-page plan titled "Our National Strategy for Victory in Iraq."
"The Iraqis are becoming more and more capable of doing that which they want to do, which is secure their own country against terrorists and Saddamists," Bush said Tuesday.

His speech in Annapolis, Md., was the first in a series of addresses he'll make between now and the Dec. 15 election in Iraq to outline political, security and economic strategies for Iraq. Bush will talk about setbacks experienced in the training of Iraqi security forces and improvements that have been made, as well as areas now being controlled by Iraqis, a senior White House official said, insisting on anonymity because the president's address has not been released......

[Missy M]

15. Instead of "terrorists and Saddamists" I think they are trying to...

protect their country from 'Bushists'

[salin]

16. did Bush give the speech at 1 am?

AP tips their hat - all prewritten, but written as if the speech has already occurred, and as if they had attended it. Only give away? The time stamp on the posting of the AP story.

[Up2Late]

23. Shoooh! Your not supposed to notice that!

Someone must not have gotten the memo.

It almost seems like the WH controls what the AP says huh?

Exactly why I don't trust the AP anymore, the AFP article that I originally posted could be argued as poorly translated, so I'm giving them reasonable doubt.

[patricia92243]

17. Everything I've seen about it says he will TALK his usual drival BUT the t

troops will start coming home. All of them home before the'06 elections.

[HereSince1628]

18. Watch for them to say "all combat troops" rather than all troops

They have already assigned much of the ground force to what some have sometimes been called "policing." WIth the stroke of a pen all US combat forces can be redefined.

Be very skeptical (or sceptical if you prefer, just don't trust them).

Since this promises to be a major GOP mid-term strategy it needs to be monitored closely so that light shines on every lie.

[patricia92243]

19. VERY good point. In other words, lots of "framing" and small amount of

actual withdrawal = victory for the Republican party. I keep forgetting how good at being evil they really are.

[T_i_B]

20. Bush to outline Iraq exit plans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4484330.stm

US President George W Bush is to begin trying to persuade Americans that he has a plan to get troops out of Iraq.

He is set to unveil a so-called National Strategy for Victory in Iraq in a speech in Maryland.

The speech marks the first time the administration's strategy will be available in a single unclassified document, the White House says.

It comes a day after the White House said it expected to be able to reduce its number of troops in Iraq next year.

[BikeWriter]

21. But, but, it was supposed to be a cake walk!

[Up2Late]

24. Yeah, I seem to remember him making a speech on the USS A. Lincoln?

And I remember a big banner behind him that said "Mission Accomplished."

What's all this talk about Winning? Didn't we do that back in 2003?:sarcasm:

[Mark E. Smith]

22. Bush's New "Stratergy" - Stay The Course!

As always, Junior is just a tangle of contradiction.

[Writer]

25. Frankly, I doubt the average American is paying attention to him.

They'll see the headline, roll their eyes, then keep flipping through their copies of People Magazine.