Posted on 11/29/2006 1:59:55 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Bush Once Again Ignores Reality In Iraq
Today, President Bush once again refused to acknowledge the facts on the ground in Iraq. In a week when major news outlets agreed that Iraq is now mired in a civil war and when U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said that "we are almost" seeing a civil war, President Bush continues to stick by his stay-the-course rhetoric. [Washington Post, 11/27/06; Today, NBC, 11/27/06; MSNBC, 11/27/06] According to the Associated Press, President Bush declared "that an al-Qaida plot to stoke cycles of sectarian revenge in Iraq is to blame for escalating bloodshed, refusing to debate whether the country has fallen into civil war." [AP, 11/28/06]
In fact, the Bush Administration's repeated failure to plan and implement effective policies in Iraq has created an environment that allowed the internal discord and violence that has claimed the lives of thousands of American troops and Iraqi citizens. As 16 intelligence agencies earlier concluded that Bush policies in Iraq have made the terror threat around the world worse not better, a classified Marine Corp report notes that, "the social and political situation has deteriorated to a point" where American and Iraqi troops "are no longer capable of militarily defeating the insurgency in al-Anbar." [Washington Post, 11/27/06]
"While news agencies, numerous experts and many American and Iraqi leaders all agree that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war, President Bush neither acknowledges the facts on the ground nor recognizes that his Administration's failed policies have contributed to the chaos," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "Ignoring the obvious and blaming Al Qaeda won't bring stability to Iraq and won't help our troops achieve success. Everyone but President Bush recognizes that the Iraq War has only made Al Qaeda stronger and America's position in the war on terror weaker. Democrats are committed to a new direction in Iraq and are united behind a strategy of phased re-deployment and benchmarks that make it clear to the Iraqis that they must take responsibility for the future of their country."
Bush's Failed Policies In Iraq Helped Lead To Today's Problems NIE Said Iraq Made Overall Terrorism Problem Worse. The National Intelligence Estimate "says that the Iraq war has made the overall terrorism problem worse." [New York Times, 9/24/06]
* NIE: Iraq War Spread Jihad Ideology. An opening section of the report, "Indicators of the Spread of the Global Jihadist Movement," cites the Iraq war as a reason for the diffusion of jihad ideology. The classified National Intelligence Estimate attributes a more direct role to the Iraq war in fueling radicalism than that presented either in recent White House documents or in a report released Wednesday by the House Intelligence Committee, according to several officials in Washington involved in preparing the assessment or who have read the final document. [New York Times, 9/24/06]
Rumsfeld Threatened to Fire "The Next Person" That Talked About Planning for Post-War Iraq. Long before the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld forbade military strategists to develop plans for securing a post-war Iraq, the retiring commander of the Army Transportation Corps said Thursday. In fact, said Brig. Gen. Mark Scheid, Rumsfeld said "he would fire the next person" who talked about the need for a post-war plan." [McClatchy-Tribune Newspapers, 9/9/06]
* Administration's Failure To Plan For Post-War Iraq Aided Insurgency. The Bush Administration's failure to plan adequately for the postwar period has been well documented. The Pentagon, for example, ignored extensive State Department studies of how to achieve stability after an invasion, administer a postwar government and rebuild the country. And Administration officials have acknowledged the mistake of dismantling the Iraqi army and canceling pensions to its veteran officers -- which many say hindered security, enhanced anti-U.S. feeling and aided what would later become a violent insurgency. [Washington Post, 6/12/05]
2003: National Intelligence Estimate Warned in 2003 Of the Strength of the Insurgency and the Possibility for Civil War. "U.S. intelligence agencies repeatedly warned the White House beginning more than two years ago that the insurgency in Iraq had deep local roots, was likely to worsen and could lead to civil war, according to former senior intelligence officials who helped craft the reports." [San Jose Mercury News, 3/1/06]
Source URL: http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/11/bush_once_again.php
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I want to know who leaked the confidential memo from the National Security Advisor. They should be tried for treason.
That's not a strategy; that's babble.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
These bastards are defeatist and, yes, I'll say it, Anti-American. They know that if one of their Presidents is in office during a war in the future, Republicans will have the class and patriotism to support it regardless of whether they agree with it, so they have free reign to hope for our defeat without consequence. Bastards.
Once again the Libs care more about politics and bashing Bush than Helping us win the WOT.
So, the DNC relies on "major news organizations and Kofi Annan".
Our President relies on his commanders in Iraq.
Hmm....whom to trust, I wonder.
[Washington Post, 11/27/06; Today, NBC, 11/27/06; MSNBC, 11/27/06]
Well, if it came from two corporate divisions of NBC, and the Washington Post then we can question it.
It MUST be true!! Our President MUST obey these highly intelligent news readers!
Excellent point!
I really hate democrats. The msm should report on the real news in Iraq, instead of 2 people were killed in Iraq. 2 people killed in Detroit, or DC, or LA won't even be a blip on their radar.
I disagree. They do have a policy. As with the entire WOT, it's cut, run, negotiate, surrender and die.
If the Democrats really believe Iraq is a hopeless disaster, why are they now hedging on withdrawal? Merely trying to have it both ways.
"Main Stream Media Cynically Attempts to Dictate Reality, Yet Fails to Report It"
I guess the news outlets are deciding foriegn policy and war strategy now. What jerks. Since the election they have gotten mouthier than ever. Can't wait till '08.
Why is it that Democrats quote anyone and everyone who says things are going horribly wrong and take it as gospel, but when the Generals on the ground say we can win, they blow them off? Demcrats, what do you have to offer America? Name 1 thing!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.