Iraq goal same but Bush open to tweaking course
Sun Nov 12, 2006 11:54am ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is ready to make "course adjustments" in Iraq, and will reach out to both parties in Congress, but it has not changed its overarching goal of democracy and stability, the White House said on Sunday.
"The president has always been interested in tactical adjustments, but the ultimate goal is the same, which is success in Iraq," White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
Bush has "always been ready to make course adjustments. Nobody can be happy with the situation in Iraq right now. ... It's clearly time to put fresh eyes on the problem," he said.
Robert Gates, Bush's pick to replace Donald Rumsfeld heading the Pentagon, will provide that perspective, Bolten said.
Days after Democrats took control of Congress in midterm elections, the increasingly unpopular leader faces a radically different political landscape.
Bolten said the Bush administration was looking forward to recommendations from the Iraq Study Group and from top general Peter Pace.
Bolten was cool to the idea of dividing a more and more fractious Iraq into separately governed areas, but said some degree of federal power-sharing could be helpful.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Bolten added, would continue to be a source of tension in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. But the Bush administration would not put forward any new peace initiatives until the time was right, he said.
Bolten also said the administration was still hoping to overcome Democratic opposition to United Nations envoy John Bolton. Some lawmakers were reconsidering their opposition to him, and the White House hoped Congress would confirm him before his temporary appointment expired, said Bolten.
"We're going to be making the case to the members," he said.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2006-11-12T165427Z_01_N20203713_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-USA-1.xml
It might be out of his hands if the People's Party of surrender monkeys have their way. Don't look the to GOP to stand up and put up much of a fight either.
Two and a half years of hard work and sacrifice right down the shitter.
Nancee
Dear God in heaven...
Who cares what these unelected professional fatcats want? The complaint of republicans was tying our troops hands and let them fight. I think these people are deliberately misreading the election. Disgusting.
God help those Iraqis who cast their lot with us. They will be slaughtered just like the Vietnamese who stood with us.
Congressional cat-fight funding debate begins in four months. The new emergency funding at reduced level will be in the electronic pipeline in six months.
I would think even the democrats have to know this is unthinkable. Even if it's for the baser reason of them wanting to survive in the majority in '08. They can't seriously believe that not tending to this will assure power? Their main concern, as it relates to maintaining power, has got to be that they can match President Bush's record on keeping us safe, i.e. not taking another hit.
To eliminate our presence in Iraq, after what it took to establish it, can't be what they're thinking. Unless they are so disengaged from the truth (which is possible) that they are completely whacked.
One of the democrats problems are the people they have ready to assume command of the committees. I think Rangle gets the banking committee, and he is an unreflecting idealogue who can really impact the funding of the war effort. Not good.
For better or worse (and I think it's better overall), our elected government make policy, not the military leadership.
The military have done a lot of good things in Iraq, but we must face facts - they haven't figured out a strategy to win. In modern America, a non-winning strategy is a losing one.
It still isn't too late but time is running out.
Except that, instead of covering Klintoons sorry A$$, this 'Study Group' will be, as evidence by the membership, charged by the Dims with putting together the Bush Impeachment 'evidence'.
JMO ... ~GCR~
Elite panel, my arse.