Bush Wins Again
Opinion piece in Leftist propaganda daily, The Washington Post:
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Friday, September 7, 2007; 1:18 PM
Despite everything, President Bush continues to be able to set the terms of the debate in Washington.
Consider how the talk now is mostly about when to end the “surge” — not when to end the war. How did that happen?
It’s a victory for Bush and his attempts to buy time. In time, there will either be progress in Iraq — or the war will become someone else’s problem.
In December, after a Republican electoral rout and a devastating report from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, the debate shifted briefly to how — not when — to withdraw. But then Bush announced his surge of troops — and asked the press and the public to give it time. In May, it seemed like September would be a decisive deadline, with some Republicans agreeing that, barring significant political progress in Iraq, they would join Democrats in demanding withdrawal.
Now, however, the big news is that Bush’s commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, is willing to contemplate a possible drawdown of one brigade early next year — if the circumstances are right. That’s one combat brigade out of the five that make up the surge; one out of 20 such brigades in country in total; or less than 5,000 of the 168,000 troops currently in Iraq.
And this is the plan despite the fact that a majority of the U.S. public, according to the polls, favors an immediate or gradual withdrawal of all troops from Iraq — and has for well over a year.
Nevertheless, Petraeus has apparently emboldened congressional Republicans to stand firm behind the president, and has put Democratic leaders in a tizzy. So unless those quavering Dems suddenly grow some spine, it looks like there won’t even be any serious debate in Washington about a complete withdrawal until next spring or so.
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i just heard a “speech” by reid that it won’t be gen. petraeus assessment but but bushes..another attempt to belittle the opinion of the pvt. sgt. lt. capt. and gen. that are just stooges…
September 7th, 2007 at 3:44 pmWhahhhh…Whahhhh…poor diaper babies in the LMSM, they didn’t get their way…Whahhhh….
September 7th, 2007 at 3:45 pmgreat pic.. i suppose it was staged,, and all the smiles were ordered..notice all the “fingers”,, hmmm i guess that was in another politico foto-op..
September 7th, 2007 at 3:49 pmI watched the speech on TV. The CIC walked around and took pics with quite a few of the troops. And why not? Wouldn’t it be cool, when these young troops are in their 40’s and 50’s to be able to show their kids and grandkids a pic of them posing with the CIC? It doesn’t get any better than that. It will be the highlight of their career for many.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:54 pma friend of mine here in wisc. has a son in al assad and he got to the speech.. it is a highlite of his career.. no pics but he did get a coin fm gen pace..another highlite,, my son didn’t make it (i don’t think) he is not in the rear with the gear..his highlite is meeting oliver north and being on tv with him and meeting ol’ pat…..proud dad of 2OIF vets
September 7th, 2007 at 4:10 pm(A) The President shall submit an initial report, in classified and unclassified format, to the Congress, not later than July 15, 2007, assessing the status of each of the specific benchmarks established above, and declaring, in his judgment, whether satisfactory progress toward meeting these benchmarks is, or is not, being achieved.
(B) The President, having consulted with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Commander, Multi-National Forces Iraq, the United States Ambassador to Iraq, and the Commander of U.S. Central Command, will prepare the report and submit the report to Congress.
(C) If the President’s assessment of any of the specific benchmarks established above is unsatisfactory, the President shall include in that report a description of such revisions to the political, economic, regional, and military components of the strategy, as announced by the President on January 10, 2007. In addition, the President shall include in the report, the advisability of implementing such aspects of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, as he deems appropriate.
(D) The President shall submit a second report to the Congress, not later than September 15, 2007, following the same procedures and criteria outlined above.
Later in the legislation:
(3) TESTIMONY BEFORE CONGRESS.—Prior to the submission of the President’s second report on September 15, 2007, and at a time to be agreed upon by the leadership of the Congress and the Administration, the United States Ambassador to Iraq and the Commander, Multi-National Forces Iraq will be made available to testify in open and closed sessions before the relevant committees of the Congress.
The President was always intended to give “the report.” The General was always intended to give “the testimony.”
Someone got confused, and thought The General was going to give The President’s report. And those someones tilt left at windmills.
September 7th, 2007 at 4:20 pmBush is winning because Gen Petraeus has found the key to open the seemingly intransigent Iraqi lock. What was desired all along is the Iraqis step forward and help with security then take responsibility for their own security — This is the policy change that has worked in Iraq. Back this up with U.S. knowledge and firepower, the momentum is now on our side.
It is ironic that the outcome that was desired all along is now derided by Democrats, amazing.
The Iraq civilian government, even with their near total political stasis, will follow — Hopefully sooner than later, because the Iraqi people will soon demand it.
I would also like to give a big tip of the stetson to web sites like this one who have done wonders in getting the truth out to the public. Congrats Pat, well done. Truth will win.
September 7th, 2007 at 4:37 pmGotta admire Petraeous’s strategy. It is working better than even he thought would happen. The results are being duplicated elsewhere…and the only areas that seem to be holding out are the Shia areas controlled by the Shia mafias.
And it looks like the Iraqi MP’s are tired of Maliki. An Iraqi government that is religiously neutral in it’s governance might not be too far away sans Al-Maliki.
This could be great news in a couple of months. Then we and the Iraqis can destroy the Persian Shia militias and get everyone on board a fair and representative Iraqi government.
That would be a stunning achievement.Also real bad news for the slumber party.
A drink to the men and women in our military and to the Field Commander that leads them: Gen Petraeous.
And hats off to the CIC that hung tough and continues to throw shit in the faces of the white flag wavers.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:27 pmdad 3/7:
Whoo-hoo. Fantastic. It’ll be a great keepsake. And an interview with Col North to boot? Damn, that’s doubly cool.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:30 pmFunny how talk of winning the war or how to actually end it with a victory only brings in the minds of left wing idiots the image of the hated “Bush” and his possibility to score a political victory. Did this fuckwad even think how much of a douchebag this makes him sound like? How about thinking hey this might be a good thing? Wow for the United States to win a war might be good wow what an original fucking thought. Stick that one in your pipe and smoke it.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:47 pmThe libs are hit with a bad case of BDS - Bush Derangement Syndrome. Whenever Bush is involved they have to go totally deranged and negative, even if it involves effectively protecting the USA and providing an opportunity for Freedom to 50 million people in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wonder who they will blame in early 09 when the new leaders maintain the existing path, which is the only acceptable way forward - imho
September 7th, 2007 at 8:08 pmToo bad our CIC and some of the bigwigs can’t go to some of the little FOB’s where the boys in the trenches are. My son is in his 14th month looking at 2 more before he gets to come home and would love a pic or two also. Funny how the Hobbits get the pics and the USO shows and minority of the troops get to actually fight this war. Guess the largest part of the Military is the support team,but I am just saying the one’s in the feild would like some extra bennie’s too. So CIC ,on Nov. 11th the 1-325 82nd is having thier welcome home, so how about coming so they can have some pics too!
September 7th, 2007 at 8:41 pmHow did that uber-vermin Chuck Schumer get away w/his filthy and treasonous diatribe the other day against the US military on the floor of the Senate w/out Pat landing on him like 10 tons of bricks?
I had a big trial this week, so I’m a little late, but Benedict Schumer is not gonna escape on my blog.
September 7th, 2007 at 9:07 pmFor those wondering, here’s what I was referring to on al-Schumer:
http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/51c8617f-5d29-4151-b598-1f9b9dafd04f
September 7th, 2007 at 9:17 pmPresident Bush, fuck yeah! Screw you, asshole leftists, you’re not going to rob us of victory this time!
September 7th, 2007 at 11:04 pmbill-tb;
Yeah, it sorta reminds me of the saying: “Be careful what you ask for, you might get it!” The Ds have always operated from the assumption that progress in Iraq is impossible, not worth it, and a dangerous validation of the American Way. So the demand/request for more security wasn’t serious, it was just an assumed way to rub pro-liberationists’ faces in their failure. So their reaction to success is a weird mixture of disbelief, outrage, and frustration.
Looks good on ‘em.
September 8th, 2007 at 9:50 pm