(WH Chief of Staff) Bolten: Iraq mission will continue after Bush term

[sabra]

Source: USAToday

President Bush will address the nation next week about Iraq and U.S. efforts to get that country "well on the path" to stability by the end of his term, White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten said Wednesday.

Bolten, who predicted a sizable presence of U.S. troops would remain in Iraq after Bush leaves office, spoke days before the administration delivers a crucial progress report Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to testify on Monday and Tuesday.

In an interview with the USA TODAY editorial board, Bolten said the president plans to talk later next week about what his aides recommend and how he plans to proceed.

Bush wants to make "it possible for his successor — whichever party that successor is from — to have a sustained presence in the Middle East," Bolten said. "And have America continue to be a respected and influential power in the Middle East."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070906/1a_bottomstrip06.art.htm

[unhappycamper]

1. Meet another dot.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1744632

[rfranklin]

2. That has been the objective all along...permanent occupation...

so what's newsworthy about that?

[redqueen]

7. Some people seem to think any pres with a D by their name will end the occupation.

We'll see...

[Botany]

3. Fine

but College republicans, Fundies, right wing talkers & listeners,
and Freepres can go .....

no private armies aka Blackwater.

[beberocks]

6. Excellent suggestion, and they can pay for this fiasco too.

Notice Bolten et al don't talk about the money an ongoing occupation would cost? I think the economy is going to be so shaky Americans will finally start to pay attention to the billions this thing is costing us.

[davhill]

4. Unfortunately, I think he's right

It will be a Democrat who may even campaign upon ending the war. But we are so enmeshed by now that even starting to withdraw will be logistically and politically difficult. If we attack Iran it will be even more difficult to withdraw. Wilson, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Nixon all campaigned on keeping us or getting us out of their respective wars. Eisenhower in Korea was the only one who succeeded.

[havocmom]

5. Of course it will He has NEVER fixed anything he has broken.

He is a fuck up kinda guy. Not a fuck up then make it right sort.

[mike_c]

8. imperialist pigs....

eom

[Javaman]

9. Kind of goes along with everything moron* does...

he fucks up in business, someone else bails him* out, he* fucks up the world, someone else will be left holding the bag.

ahhh got to love that bush* ethic.

[Cha]

10. the boltons say a lotta shit..all of it buSHIT.

We have our own destiny in mind..not the fate of some fascists', asshole, genocidal, maniacs.

[Bandit]

11. I have no doubt that on this issue he is correct

America will not leave Iraq within the next few decades unless the Iraqi people absolutely demand it. We have US puppets in place at the moment so that is not likely for the near future anyway.