Bush Drops 'Stay The Course' Phrase

But White House Rejects Calls For Dramatic Policy Shift In Iraq

(CBS/AP)  With just two weeks until Election Day, the White House sought to ease political anxieties over security in Iraq — most notably by no longer saying the United States will "stay the course" in Iraq — but rejected calls from lawmakers for a dramatic policy shift.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said Monday the phrase "stay the course" doesn't capture the "dynamism" of the tactics America and its allies are employing.

"He stopped using it," Snow said of that phrase.

Snow said the United States would adjust its Iraq strategy but would not issue any ultimatums to the Iraqis.

"Are there dramatic shifts in policy? The answer is no," Snow said.

Meanwhile, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday that Iraqi forces should be able to take full control of security in the country within the next 12 to 18 months with minimal American support.

Gen. George Casey said the United States should continue to focus on drawing down the number of American forces in the country, adding that he would not hesitate to ask for more troops if he felt they were necessary.

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who opened the rare joint press conference with Casey, said that the Iraqi government had agreed to develop a timeline for progress by the end of the year. He declared that the United States needed to redouble its efforts to succeed in Iraq.

The Nov. 7 elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress, and lawmakers in both parties are calling on President Bush to change his war plans.

"We're on the verge of chaos, and the current plan is not working," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in an Associated Press interview. U.S. and Iraqi officials should be held accountable for the lack of progress, said Graham, a Republican who is a frequent critic of the administration's policies.

Asked who in particular should be held accountable — Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, perhaps, or the generals leading the war, Graham said: "All of them. It's their job to come up with a game plan" to end the violence.

Mr. Bush, in a CNBC interview, said, "Well, I've been talking about a change in tactics ever since I — ever since we went in, because the role of the commander in chief is to say to our generals, `You adjust to the enemy on the battlefield."'

Showing progress in Iraq is critical because the approaching elections are widely viewed as a referendum on the war.

A report in Sunday's New York Times said the head of the U.S.-led Multinational Forces in Iraq and Khalilzad were working on a plan that probably would — for the first time — outline milestones for disarming sectarian militias and meeting other political and economic goals.

Rumsfeld, in remarks at the Pentagon, said U.S. government and military officials were working with Iraq to set a broad timetable for Iraqis to take over 16 provinces still being controlled by U.S. troops. But he said officials were not talking about penalizing the Iraqis if they don't hit certain benchmarks.

The Iraqis have taken control of two southern provinces but have been slow to take the lead in others, particularly those around Baghdad and in the volatile regions north and west of the capital. Rumsfeld said specific target dates probably will not be set.

Rumsfeld visited the White House early Monday with Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rumsfeld said the United States was looking at when the Iraqis would move close to setting up a reconciliation process to help quell worsening sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shiites.

On Monday, White House counselor Dan Bartlett said that Iraq needed to "step up" its commitment to ending sectarian violence and added of the Bush administration, "We aren't sitting there with our heads in the sand. We are completely changing on a week-by-week basis."

Facing growing impatience with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's failure to stem the carnage, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh said international forces must not abandon Iraq while the situation there remains volatile.

"I do believe there is no option for the international community to cut and run," he told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Tony Blair in London. He said Iraqis and the international community need to be realistic, "but not defeatist."

"We need to understand that there is a need of utmost urgency to deal with many of the problems of Iraq but we must not give in to panic," he said.

At least 2,799 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,236 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

[clestes-2009]

Isn't it just hilarious to watch these bozos who started this mess try to wiggle out of it. Reminds me of watching a big fat nightcrawler struggle to get off the hook.

exusmcsgt said it best. Same strategy different words.

[bluestardad]

I believe that Rush Linbaugh is having a crash therapy course in dodging military service and Talking Real Loud Speaking Republican. All of you who have never registered for the draft nor served in the military are automatically invited to attend. Remember if you like what your elected representatives are doing Stay the Course Vote Republican. Sign up for the up close and personal meeting with the Duke of Dope, Chief of Chicken Hawks, Pontiff of Pork, that great Sultan of Swine, running his open mouth with one half of his brain stuffed up his backside Rush Linbaugh

[stevyz1]

Someone commented that the phrase used by President Bush last night ((April 13, 2004) -- stay the course -- had a familiar ring to it. It should:

STAY THE COURSE - "Persist in an action or policy; remain with a plan despite criticism or setbacks. This phrase, perhaps based on a sailing metaphor of keeping an unchanged course in navigation, was popularized during the 1980 Presidential campaign.Republicans have helped to popularize the expression. During 1982, according to the Washington Post, Ronald Reagan 'visited 14 states in 10 days of campaigning since Labor Day, carrying his 'stay the course' message." From "Safire's New Political Dictionary" by William Safire (Random House, New York, 1993).

[monceau1]

Tony Blaire, in fact, used the phrase just two days ago, I believe. Or maybe it was "cut and run." It sounds even more ridiculous coming from a Englishman.

[bearpause]

The utter gall of the administyratioin is beginning to wear thin. How can the President even keep a straight face when he says "...it's never been 'stay the course'." One network ran over a half dozen videos of that very phrase being uttered by the President or Tony Snow.

This Orwellian doublespeak serves no other purpose than to disguise failed policy and the lack of any clear strategy.

[bearpause]

The utter gall of the administyratioin is beginning to wear thin. How can the President even keep a straight face when he says "...it's never been 'stay the course'." One network ran over a half dozen videos of that very phrase being uttered by the President or Tony Snow.

This Orwellian doublespeak serves no other purpose than to disguise failed policy and the lack of any clear strategy.

[exusmcsgt]

And so much for the timetable:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. and Iraqi forces on Wednesday raided Sadr City, the stronghold of the feared Shiite militia led by radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki disavowed the operation, saying he had not been consulted and insisting "that it will not be repeated."

The defiant al-Maliki also slammed the top U.S. military and diplomatic representatives in Iraq for saying Iraq needed to set a timetable to curb violence ravaging the country.

"I affirm that this government represents the will of the people and no one has the right to impose a timetable on it," al-Maliki said at a news conference.

[exusmcsgt]

So he drops the phrase but keeps the strategy. What an improvement......

[tibu987]

p.s. to a previous:
I just read this one: "the sacrifices of war are and will continue to be worth it".
Hello, is there anyone home in Washington, almost three thousand young Americans dead and thousands of Iraqi's including children.
DUH!
I will let you to guess to whom the above quote is attributed.
Vote out the incumbents, Dems and Repubs.
Vote for term limits when possible.
I back our troops 100%, but this is a war they and most Americans did not choose to be in, and they should get out of now. I am unhappy with the high ranking officers of all the branches that let this situtation continue.
They should be ashamed.

[yeoldedem]

The longer the US waits around in Iraq trying to clean up Bush's mess, the less time we have to hunt down Bin Laden or Al Queda; the alternative is to invade counties that have nothing (directly) to do with it and bring people over to his cause, as they begin to believe that the enemy of their enemy is their friend.

[frankly6]

Had enough? Vote for change.

[frankly6]

Repackaging a failed policy. Brilliant.

[pakaal]

Someone forgot to tell Rumsfeld we aren't using "stay the course" any more, he just told Hannity on the radio that the President is not backing away from "stay the course".

Whew, I was worried we were seeing some flip-flopping going on. It'd be a shame to end up with Bush being the guy who voted for 'stay the course' before he voted against 'stay the course'.

[thgdriver]

tibu987

Is there some place I can vote for "post" limits?

[tibu987]

"Stay the course", "Mission, accomplished",
"We will not give up", and the lulu of lulu's,
"I've got a gut feeling".
Meanwhile more and more young Americans lose their lives along with many Iraqi's and children,in a war they did not choose to have and nor did millions upon millions of Americans choose to be in.
It will take more than "a gut feeling" to get us out of this mess.
What's the next of "W"'s lines, Well, they were just too tough for us?
Vote out the incumbents, Dems or Repubs.
Vote for term limits when possible.

[thgdriver]

I am not sure where I read it but, when North Korea set off that bomb last week, It was something about the French apologizing for everything and then surrendering to the N.koreans.

[laurieleemoo]

so keeping that in mind---i don't think it would be possible for Chirac to rub anything in anyone's face do you. And by the way---since the French are such good friends of yours, why don't you tell them to KEEP OUR AMERICAN HORSES OFF OF THEIR DINNER PLATES?

[laurieleemoo]

his police were begging him to bring in the military, but he said no---we will let them burn down the place first---then when they are done---we will tell them to stop. Yes, I would say that was a perfect example of how the Democrats would handle things---just like the French President. And by the way-----who the HELL is Jock Itch Chirac to decide for America what an immediate threat to america is????????????????

[laurieleemoo]

i'm not sure what he Chirac considers an immediate threat---but I would say--the 1st day France was on fire would have been the time to act----I mean i would have called that an immediate threat to the citizens---and he DID NOTHING.

[laurieleemoo]

monceau---okay i would not rely too heavily on what Jock Itch Chirac says---is he not the one that let his country burn for two months before he finally put a stop to the civil unrest. Oh yeah, he would be a good act to follow. On that premise---we should have let Sadaam actually use his WMD's for a few months against us before we did anything, right?