Posted on 01/11/2007 4:49:21 AM PST by IrishMike
President Bush says we are effectively at war with Iran.
Mr. Bush, in a much-anticipated televised speech to the nation last night, accused the Islamic Republic of "providing material support for attacks on American troops." Eschewing advice from his father's secretary of state, James Baker, to open a dialogue with Iran and Syria, the president said American forces in Iraq would "disrupt" attacks from Syria- and Iran-backed terrorists, "interrupt" the supply lines reaching back to those countries, and "seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq." That last sentence is the closest Mr. Bush has come to announcing attacks on Iranian territory, where American intelligence and military leaders have said the most destructive improvised explosives used against American convoys are made.
The new strategy yesterday also eschewed the advice of the outgoing general in charge of Central Command, John Abizaid, and committed America to a two front war to save Iraq from Shiite death squads and Al Qaeda.
The new war strategy will focus on defeating Al Qaeda forces gathered predominantly in the Anbar province of Iraq and will officially end the American-brokered talks with Sunni insurgents in Amman. A new surge of 20,000 troops, predominately for securing Baghdad, will for the first time consider members of the Shiite Mahdi Army legitimate targets in the quest to win back Iraq's capital.
The strategy is in sharp contrast to the counsel of General Abizaid, who warned against the prospect of opening a two front war in Iraq that was narrowly avoided in 2004 when American troops faced down Mahdi Army political leader, Moqtada al-Sadr. Mr. Bush said that the plan to secure Baghdad would be developed by Iraq's leaders.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
I have heard too much tough talk and seen too little action against the axis of evil to believe that anything will be done. I applaud the president on his new words but that is as far as I will go.
" Knock it off, or BEND OVER."
And what I find interesting is that the raid on the "consulate" took place just about the time the President finished his address. Our guys were on the way while he was "dialoging" with Iran. Let's hope the five people arrested will be dialoging a whole lot . . . We ask question --- they give answer.
I have heard too much tough talk and seen too little action against the axis of evil to believe that anything will be done.
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I've noticed a very significant increase in military activity in the last week or two, EVERWHERE.
If I remember my civics lessons well enough, the State Dept and Colin Powell reported to the President of the United States of America. Pretending that Powell was off making policy by himself is naive.
This man would agree with you....
Men, this stuff that some sources sling around about America wanting out of this war, not wanting to fight, is a crock of bullshit. Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight. When you, here, everyone of you, were kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball players, and the All-American football players. Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American." --General Patton
And counterfeited our currencyjustification right there!
Hey Mahmoud - BOO!
Looks that way,
we didn't need a 2nd carrier group for Somalia,
lots of aircraft and additional firepower.
And some creative thinking in regard to tactics would be nice, too. As you suggest there are a lot of "creative" ways to hamstring Iran without our troops being directly involved....yet
I'm with ya' on that. Or maybe we could supply Iranian dissidents with IEDs..... if it's good enough for the goose, it's good enough for the gander. :)
Why did no one know that the Sadr supporters, the Mahdi army, was off limits. No wonder the violence wouldn't end when one side gets a "king's X" card to pull out.
More political bull---- during a war, just like Vietnam. Kill anyone with a gun and let Allah sort 'em out.
Are they doing that also? I thought that was the North Koreans. A pox on both their houses!
I'm glad W had that little "chat" with them.
Check that one off of the Baker plan.
A neutron bomb would be a much better choice. It would also be a lot less expensive than a conventional bombing campaign. However, using a weapon of mass destruction such as that could have far reaching implications we wish to avoid.
So I guess if we take the fight to Iran we'll be reducing a lot of it to rubble.
And raiding the Iranian Consulate in Iraq...arresting five...is the first salvo.
I read that Iran was counterfeiting US dollars in U.S. News & World Report. (Eight-ten years ago).
Here's what I found in a few minutes' search:
"CIA believes that Iran is the #1 counterfieter of US $100 bills in the World. NoKos a distant second. Both use state resources to make the funny money so that the bills are almost impossible for anyone except the Secret Service to catch..."
Check out a contour map of Iran. It is tough to turn a mountain ito a parking lot. Even nukes are linear and can't bend around maountain valleys. Sadam made the mistake of trying to takeout Iran. Even with the financial backing of the USA and Saudi Arabia and the use of chemical weapons, Iraqi forces got turfed out of the low lying floodplains after the Iranians regrouped in the mountains and came screaming back for revenge. I am no trying to be pro-Iranian; just stating the facts.
Not dealing with the facts is exactly how we got into this mess. Don't take a knife to gun fight.
I'm sure Bush thought he would stabilize Iraq before dealing with Iran, and they are also hoping for Iranians to make a change internally. But we are allowing Iran to do too much to us by far.
I'll also note that while Iraq couldn't defeat Iran, the two countries stalemated for years. Iran couldn't defeat Iraq decisively, whereas we did so in short order. Admittedly that was a weakened Iraq.
I'msorry,but it really pi$$eS me off when I see this.
It's PRESIDENT Bush!
Show some friggin' respect, why don't'cha?
Liberal media punks!
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