On the War, Determined to Go His Own Way: Bush policies will not be changing

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: On the War, Determined to Go His Own Way
By Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 20, 2006; Page A14


Bush said he believes last month's election results were not a rejection of his Iraq policies. "There's not a lot of people saying, 'Get out now,'" he said. "Most Americans are saying, 'We want to achieve the objective.'" (Robert A. Reeder-The Washington Post)

Ever since Republicans were routed last month in what was widely seen as a repudiation of his Iraq strategy, President Bush has been busily listing how his policies there will not be changing.

There will be no timetable for removing American troops, no high-level dialogue with Iran and Syria, and no slackening of support for the widely criticized government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Meanwhile, White House aides are reported to be pushing a major "surge" of troops to Baghdad while preparing a fresh infusion of tens of billions of dollars for the war effort.

Yesterday, in an interview with The Washington Post, while acknowledging that the United States is not winning in Iraq, Bush bluntly dismissed the suggestion that the midterm elections meant voters want to bring the mission in that country to closure. He said he interpreted the election results "as people not satisfied with the progress" in Iraq.

"A lot of people understand that if we leave Iraq, there will be dire consequences," Bush said in the Oval Office. "They expect this administration to listen with people, to work with Democrats, to work with the military, to work with the Iraqis to put a plan in place that achieves the objective. There's not a lot of people saying, 'Get out now.' Most Americans are saying, 'We want to achieve the objective.' "

The comments were another strong indication of the president's determination to chart his own way forward on Iraq, no matter the election results nor any amount of free advice from senior statesmen of past administrations. Bush may well announce a major drawdown of the U.S. presence in Iraq when he appears before the nation after the turn of the year, but that possibility seems remote after statements from him and his aides that suggest an intention to keep the basic contours of the Iraq policy in place -- and possibly even raise the ante by sending more troops....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121901566.html

[rodeodance]

1. he said the same thing today

[whistle]

2. First order of business for the 110th congress, impeachment of Bush and Cheney

[rhiannon55]

3. Does anyone still doubt that the man is a two-bit dictator?

He does whatever he wants and no one is trying to stop him.

Please please please new Democratic majority! Please hand this man his ass--and take away his car keys! That's why we voted the way we did in November.

Please Nancy and Harry, et al. Come January--DO YOUR JOB! We're counting on you!

[katty]

4. of course, why would they? bush is a psychotic cult of 'one'

[applegrove]

5. They are going to leave the mess in Iraq for the Democratic Pres in 2008.