Bush adding 21,500 troops to Iraq force - LIVE thread- speech 9pm EST

Yahoo/AP ^ | 1-10-07 | TerenceHunt

[STARWISE]

Unswayed by anti-war passions, President Bush will send 21,500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq and build the American presence there toward its highest level to quell worsening bloodshed. The move puts Bush on a collision course with the new Democratic Congress and runs counter to advice from some senior generals.

Set to announce his decisions in a prime-time speech Wednesday night, Bush was to acknowledge making major mistakes in Iraq, primarily failing to deploy enough U.S. soldiers and demand more Iraqi troops and cooperation to confront the country's near-anarchy.

In advance of Bush's address, White House counselor Dan Bartlett said U.S. military operations have been "handcuffed by political interference by Iraqi leadership" — but now will proceed under rules allowing troops to confront Shiite militias as well as Sunni insurgents.

(snip)

The new Democratic leaders of Congress met with Bush and complained afterward that their opposition to a buildup had been ignored. "This is the third time we are going down this path. Two times this has not worked," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Why are they doing this now? That question remains."

Senate and House Democrats are arranging votes urging the president not to send more troops. While lacking the force of law, the measures would compel Republicans to go on record as either bucking the president or supporting an escalation.

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Carried live online by: C-span

[Miss Marple]

Clark was on before the speech, on O'Reilly. He opposes the surge and wants instead to "send a group of high-level diplomats on a Gulfstream with carrots and sticks and tell them not to come home until thay've got something."

I am not making this up. How's that for a specific plan? HA!

[do the dhue]

Looks like Fox is relegating the Dems to Fox News Channel.

The Dems are relegated. They should be lucky to be on FNC, because only the dain bread watch the LSM.



One more for the fun of it:

[roses of sharon]

Isn't Brownback that guy that went to that Obamafest at some liberal "church".

I think it was with Rick Warren who supports Syria. So Brownback is probably a member of the "stability"(while they roam the globe blowing up innocents) crowd.

[Howlin]

Edwards on LKL -- almost calling Bush dishonest.

[cgk]

The joker in the deck is whether Iraq will perform on its promises, whether it has the will (does Maliki have the will?), and whether it has the capacity to do so. I think it more likely than not, it/that they will not.

Interesting analysis not far from where I am. My husband just noted that Maliki just seems like a guy who wants to just quit and go home. Maliki may really want that sooner than later if Muqtada al Sadr correctly interprets tonight's speech by the President (pred MSM dec: "High Noon") and he goes after Maliki as a Bush-ally he can get to. And it sure seems like Sadr has extensive access over there.

[Peach]

THank you for that explanation! That one really had me wondering if I was seeing things. LOL

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Good reminder!!!

Will do!

[isthisnickcool]

Powerful speech ... strong stuff ... he needs to do that DAILY!!! GWB will do the right thing, right up until the end, even if he is the last MAN standing. Are there any left in Congress who will join him?

It could have been delivered better. But that's Bush, he seldom comes across as much more than "milky".

I wish the president would have long ago dropped the "can't we all get along" garbage with the Democrats. Every time they say or do something stupid the Republicans, led by the president at times, should be all over them and right in their face. Instead we have had this "turn the other cheek" idiocy and it has given the Democrats and the mainstream media free reign to slap the president and the Republicans over and over. THAT'S why the Republicans lost control of Congress. They have had no cajones.

[guinnessman]

The DBM is using Brownback as evidence that there's no support for the President's plan.

Brownback's Presidential campaign is DOA. (unless he's planning to switch parties)

[RushCrush]

Marajade, didn't you get your Republican talking points yet? We TELL these countries what they want, we don't ask. /s

[cardinal4]

I have been in Denver all day, the only news I was able to see was close captioned CNN Airport, which isnt news. When I landed, I saw Wolf around a table with a map of Iraq and other guys I didnt know moving pieces around, I didnt even bother to read the captions..

[txradioguy]

Thank you for staying strong and supporting us...and I hope your right...I hope this changes the minds of those that were wavering.

[Peach]

Thank you too, CedarDave, for that explanation.

[freema]

It's my local fox, sorry. McInierney was awesome.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

What is wrong with Brownback? Does somebody have something on him? He surely has changed. I used to respect him. No more.

[onyx]

He's John Wayne McCain regarding the WOT and supporting the troops and POTUS. He's been a GOOD ally for POTUS in this regard.

[Howlin]

After all we've lost, I WANT THIS.

[acsrp38]

Is the cartoon channel on??

[Txsleuth]

He said that it is time to start a deployment of our troops from Iraq...

He basically said that what Pres. Bush just said isn't going to work...and so we need to come home..and the Iraqis have to do it.

IOW...one of the most important things that the USA is SUPPOSED to do...is reassure the Iraqis that WANT to help us...and help the troops, that we WON'T cut and run.

So..the POTUS gives a speech saying we are sending more troops and economic help...but

The dems come out and say ...OH NO....no we are going to bring the troops HOME!!!

This is after Pres. Bush said in his speech that Sen. Lieberman came to him to form a task group to bridge the partisan divide....and Pres. Bush AGREED.

What a joke our politicans are....

[RushCrush]

A very lovely white Bordeaux all over my Sony Viao!