Posted on 06/12/2006 8:21:45 PM PDT by Libloather
Bush reviews Iraq plan, says oil is key
By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
23 minutes ago
CAMP DAVID, Md. - President Bush began a two-day strategy session on Iraq at Camp David on Monday, saying Iraq's neighbors should be doing more to help and suggesting the nation's vast supply of oil could be a way of reuniting the country.
Bush said the United States expects countries that have promised $13 billion in financial assistance to make good on their pledges. He also reassured Iraqis the U.S. stands ready to help the new government, but said success depends largely on Baghdad's ability to secure the nation and care for its citizens.
Bush's huddle with top advisers was a chance to outline ways the U.S. government can best help Iraq, where the power runs sporadically and Iraqi civilian and U.S. troop deaths are mounting. White House advisers said the U.S. mission in Iraq was at a breakpoint, rhetoric that suggests the administration is anxious to shift responsibility for the future of Iraq to the Iraqis.
"The best way to win this war against an insurgency is to stand up a unity government which is capable of defending itself, but also providing tangible benefits to the people," Bush said, standing outside a cabin at the secluded, wooded presidential retreat with his national security team and members of his Cabinet.
"Ultimately, the Iraqi people are going to have to make up their mind. Do they want to live in terror, or do they want to live in peace?" he said.
Now in its fourth year, the war also was an issue Monday on Capitol Hill.
The Senate opened debate on a military policy bill, and John Kerry, D-Mass., intended to offer a plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of the year. The White House has long opposed setting deadlines in Iraq, and Kerry's amendment is expected to be defeated in a vote later this week.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, in a speech in Washington, called the war in Iraq an "intractable conflict" and said Americans deserve a plan from the president that provides troops with an exit strategy. "It is no longer sufficient to say 'we will stand down as the Iraqis stand up,'" Reid said, quoting a Bush refrain.
The House and Senate are poised to deal with a $94.5 billion measure to fund Iraq and provide additional aid for the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast. The bill should receive easy approval, even as impatience is growing with the Iraq war and its $8 billion monthly tab.
On Thursday, the House will vote on a resolution supporting the U.S. mission in Iraq.
The Camp David meeting came as the Bush administration was trying to capitalize on momentum generated by last week's swearing-in of key Iraqi national security officials and the U.S. airstrike that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq.
Al-Qaida named a successor Monday to al-Zarqawi and said he would stick to the slain leader's path — attacks on Shiites as well as on U.S. and Iraqi forces. Bush warned, "I think the successor to Zarqawi is going to be on our list to bring to justice."
The highlight of the Camp David work session is Tuesday's secured video teleconference with new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and members of his cabinet. During the first day of meetings, Bush and his advisers addressed violence in Iraq, especially in Baghdad and Basra, as well as the Iraqi economy and oil.
The war is weighing down Bush's approval rating at home, and Republicans are worried about losing control of Congress in November's midterm elections. Only a third of respondents to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll in early June supported Bush's handling of the situation — an all-time low.
"I keep reminding the American people that the stakes are worth it," Bush said. "It is worth it to help Iraq succeed. It is worth it to have a democracy in the Middle East."
Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Baghdad, said he thinks it will be possible to withdraw some of the 130,000 U.S. forces in the months ahead as long as Iraq's government and security forces make progress.
But Bush, who noted that Iraq's new defense minister was just sworn in last week, made no predictions about U.S. troop withdrawals. He said Casey would make recommendations after assessing the Iraqis' ability to take the fight to the enemy and secure the country.
"Whatever we do will be based upon the conditions on the ground," Bush said.
Dour looks on their faces.
Bush is wrong on that one. Oil is a disuniting factor in Iraq. The Sunni dominated areas don't have any, and it fuels their angst. Just another PR soundbite, which misses the mark.
WRONG! I am sick of hearing this crap. Repeat the lie often enough...blah blah blah
Iraq is hurting Bush in the polls, although not the only reason. Whether it will have a real impact though in Congressional races is another matter. There the focus will be more on going forward, rather than grading someone for the past. But as time passes, Bush's grade is more and more about the past, and less and less about the future.
That doesn't mean they can't share in the proceeds from the oil.
I'm pretty sure the point is that Iraq has oil to sell, and those proceeds would then benefit the entire country.
True as a theoretical matter, but Sunni's don't have much investment in those other folks will share belief. The place is not like Germany, where big bucks went into that toxic waste dump formerly known as the Socialist Democratic Republic of Germany, aka East Germany. The folks just don't relate too well to each other.
Cheney looks like he is about 80 years old.
True. They have tough jobs.
Misleading headline. Has to be done purposely.
"Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, in a speech in Washington, called the war in Iraq an "intractable conflict" and said Americans deserve a plan from the president that provides troops with an exit strategy. "It is no longer sufficient to say 'we will stand down as the Iraqis stand up,'" Reid said, quoting a Bush refrain."
It would be far more honest for Reid to admit that the Democrats' Great Society is a quagmire with little in the way of results to show for 7 trillion or so dollars. Americans deserve a plan from the Senate that provides the citizenry with an end to this foolishness. All the Great Society has done is to take honest wage-earners and pair them with vermin on the left and send them all down the same sewer.
"Cheney looks like he is about 80 years old."
And your point is...
I read through the piece twice - the only reference to oil I found is : Bush and his advisers addressed violence in Iraq, especially in Baghdad and Basra, as well as the Iraqi economy and oil.
And it does not say "oil is key" and was not connected to Iran............
This is the second blatantly erroneous and deliberately misleading headline tonight.
They know that many people skim the headlines and take that as gospel.
OR - did I miss where Bush said, in reference to Iran "oil is key"?
That he looks 80 years old.
"suggesting the nation's vast supply of oil could be a way of reuniting the country."
As I posted, I think the reverse is probably true.
Rather that be honest and report this - Yahoo news refers to the poll figures of almost 2 weeks ago.
It's deliberately deceptive - but most people will swallow it without a second thought...even in here ;o(
I suppose if his numbers were to climb into the stratosphere, rather than mention it, they will continue to report - "two-four-nine months ago, Bush's approval rating was 30%"
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