Bush Delivers Somber Review Of Iraq

President Calls Mounting U.S. Casualties 'Serious Concern' But Rejects Timetable For Pulling Out

(CBS/AP)  President Bush said Wednesday that mounting U.S. casualties in Iraq are a "serious concern," but again refused to set a timetable for pulling out American troops.

"A fixed timetable for withdrawal, in my judgment, means defeat," he said.

In a somber, pre-election review of a long and brutal war, Mr. Bush conceded that the United States is taking heavy casualties and said, "I know many Americans are not satisfied with the situation in Iraq."

"I'm not satisfied either," he said at a speech and question and answer session at the White House 13 days before Nov. 7 congressional elections in which Republican control of the House of Representatives and the Senate is at stake.

"Americans have no intention of taking sides in a sectarian struggle or standing in the crossfire between rival factions," Mr. Bush said.

Several Democratic critics have said that is precisely what the administration is risking with an open-ended commitment of American forces, at a time that a year-old Iraqi government gropes for a compromise that can satisfy Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish political interests.

Mr. Bush gave Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki a vote of confidence just hours after Mr. Maliki called his own news conference to reject timetables set on Tuesday for Iraqis to take over from U.S. troops, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod. Mr. Bush was cautiously supportive.

In Baghdad, the Iraqi leader took a hard slap at the United States for a raid by U.S. and Iraqi forces on the stronghold of a Shiite militia led by a radical anti-American cleric on whom Al-Maliki relies for political support. Al-Maliki said the raid "will not be repeated."

Al-Maliki also criticized the top U.S. military and diplomatic representatives in Iraq for saying his government needed to set a timetable to curb violence in 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," he said.

It was just two weeks ago that the president had his last formal, solo White House news conference, and he's never had two of them this close together, reports CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller. But with the midterm elections less than two weeks off and control of Congress at stake, he wants his message to be heard.

In his opening moments at the podium in the East Room of the White House, Mr. Bush departed starkly from a practice of not talking about specific deaths in Iraq.

"There has been heavy fighting, many enemy fighters have been killed or captured and we've suffered casualties of our own," he said. "This month we've lost 93 American service members in Iraq, the most since October of 2005. During roughly the same period, more than 300 Iraqi security personnel have given their lives in battle. Iraqi civilians have suffered unspeakable violence at the hands of the terrorists, insurgents, illegal militias, armed groups and criminals."

He called these events "a serious concern to me, and a serious concern to the American people."

[grumpas]

All this news conference is an pre-election ploy to help his sinking party! I would bet money he instantly makes an about face when the election is over!

so would I. Unfortunately, the republican party is on the verge of a split and Bush is trying to win any bit of support to help struggling candidates. It is too bad that he isn't focusing on stabalizing or leaving Iraq. I'm an independent, so democrat or republican, I want the right person for my country. Bush and the republicans are loosing favor not so much because they have not tried their best (I don't think any of us know what is like to have the pressure of millions on your back, especially when they don't agree) but we must stop spending so much on a war that even a college student could see is not going to have a positive outcome. We have to maintain American internal stability. We are too focused on the world right now and we've got serious problems at home.

[meboard]

Ah good! Yet another opportunity to embarrass himself in front of the nation. He'll probably say something clever like, "I'm pleased to announce that I'm, ahhh--that we're considering troop level reductions. We will no longer send personnel that are over six feet tall. I hope this announcment signifies my, ahh--our willingness to be flexible."

[shingles1]

"This is more of a discussion, an explanation"; in other words, more of the same.

So what's the "news" value of this "news" conference then.

That we should all just clap louder?

[kevboom]

Why doesn't Bush just move and become the president of Iraq, since he obviously doesn't care about anything going on in this country.

[energyecon]

REPACKAGE AND SPIN, SPIN, SPIN...

More of the sham of a strategy - God help the USA and the American people because this White House sure isn't!

[tejasdemo]

kevboom...best suggestion I've heard yet ! Bush would be a perfect fit for Iraq. It's hot in Texas. It's hot in Iraq. It's desert like in West Texas where Bush hung out and ripped people off for a while. It's a desert in Iraq.

Nobody would understand what he is saying over there. Nobody knows what the hell he is saying over here either.

Great idea !

[frankrussel1]

I suppose there's no point to actually telling us when the *** thing is scheduled. No sense in actually providing any facts, is there? Who what WHEN why?? Remember that *** from journalism school retards?

[meboard]

True tejasdemo, he knows all their customs...he held hands with that Saudi guy when he visited the ranch. He could hold hands with a suicide bomber. maybe talk him out of blowing himself up...or maybe not????

[rsoxfan1123]

So let me get this straight, this conference announced a three-pronged plan called "Stay the Course"? Oops, we don't call it that anymore.

[webdepot]

It is obvious this administration has zero control over anything..
The admin says we're winning in Iraq, the NIE says Iraq is now a terrorist breeding ground.

The admin says things are going well in Iraq, the generals in Iraq say things suck.

The admin says the Iraqi gov't has agreed to timelines to success, Nuri al-Maliki has just used his own news conference to dismiss talk of any "timetable" for action.

It is obvious this administration is not on the same page as anyone else in the entire world... spin, spin, spin.... it's getting us dizzy already..
Time for change... matter of fact, way past time for change..

[Syndicate]

A lot more thought should have been put into Iraq. Iraq was doable until we ****** it up.

[Syndicate]

Sorry about the curse word I thought the filter would get it.

[bluestardad]

Iraqi Baker Commission note, Please remember that James Baker represented/defended the Saudi Government against the Law Suit filed by the Survivors and family members of the 9/11 attack. So do not expect anything of substance or in the Best Interest of America coming out of the Iraqi Baker Commission as chartered by President Bush.

[bluestardad]

bush just keeps spouting more of the same like if he tells a lie long enough it will become truth?

[stevyz1]

we are not satisfied either mr president....republican rule has dragged us down like an anchor its time to cut the rope!!!!

[mjv2944]

VOTE/VOTE/VOTE! That is the one thing that politicians understand. This is a hopeless situation, that can only be corrected with better military leadership, politicians keeping their noses out, bring an additional 200,000 troops, level Baghdad, ooorrrrrr GET THE HELL OUT!!!!!!

[staff2--2008]

why are we listening to this guy...it's obvious he's an idiot who is told what to say...Rumsfeld and Cheney are the puppetmasters...

[ussoldrsdad]

So Mr. President came on today to finally let everyone know what the current plan is. Why? Because it was time. We are at war and we see all the media coverage from the "experts" opinions and agenda pushers, but what we need when we are at war is a nation of people who know what their current leader and cabinet are working towards. Do they really tell you all everything? Of course not. Do any countries do that? Of course not. Look, keep the reality meter high and let your imagination of the future world guide your next vote, but stay awake to what is all around you everyday but buried among many of the ideals of a world full of information.

[webdepot]

bluestardad--
Now you're in the ballpark..
A quote from the past:
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."
1927, Hitler's Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Gvebbels during Hitler's rise to power.

Of course, grand-daddy Bush made his millions selling material to Nazi Germany, no doubt paid for with the confiscated wealth of the Jews.. Nice to know the Bush family got it's start to power on the bodies of those in the holocaust... and Bush is keeping his power on the bodies of our soldiers.

[patriotic9]

Bush's speech is a sign of his completely failed policies.It is not the failure of the Bush Administration but the failure of RADICAL,NON-SENSE and THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD BACKWARD CHRISTIANITY,since Bush had made all his policies on the basis of Christianity and Bible.North Korea was openly claiming to built NUKES but he called it BLUFFING,whereas Saddam didn't have WMDs but he attacked Iraq because like his other RADICAL CHRISTIAN BROTHERS he has no concern about the lives of American people but was concerned about the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.Lies after lies after lies,is that what christian learn in their churches.Oh I am sorry they also learn to SODOMIZE and SEXUALLY MOLEST little boys in the same churches where they call HOMOSEXUAL RIGHTS TO MARRY a SIN.

[ussoldrsdad]

So Mr. President came on today to finally let everyone know what the current plan is. Why? Because it was time. We are at war and we see all the media coverage from the "experts" opinions and agenda pushers, but what we need when we are at war is a nation of people who know what their current leader and cabinet are working towards. Do they really tell you all everything? Of course not. Do any countries do that? Of course not. Look, keep the reality meter high and let your imagination of the future world guide your next vote, but stay awake to what is all around you everyday but buried among many of the ideals of a world full of information.

[chicatibu]

I don%u2019t think it%u2019s so much what the president says as what biased liberals think he says. It%u2019s nearly impossible to understand what a man says when the hate is beyond reason. I listen to the president and understand every word, I don%u2019t always agree never the less I understand where he%u2019s coming from. Thos people who complain about the presidents decisions don%u2019t seem to understand there no his decisions to make, he%u2019s accountable for more than just some ill-informed dissenters opinions.
It seems to me those who don%u2019t know are the ones explaining things, those who do know are to busy doing to reply. In other words the patients are trying to take over the asylum.

[rsoxfan1123]

patriotic9 - don't confuse all Christians and Christianity with the radical right. the radical right is closer to the pharisees of old than the Christians

[rsoxfan1123]

chicatibu- be more specific. that vague philosophical nonsense doesn't fly outside the coffee shop.

[sharon1216]

The President is so full of his self that he would answer a question with I quote"I HAVE NO IDEA LADY". When asked about the presence of one of the key officials not being present in the conference yesterday. what a great answer I guess they didn't have question on this note cards. Why stand there and be a complete IDIOT on Breakin News.

[radiob-2009]

One minute he is abandoning the STAY THE COURSE policy soundbite and the next he is not.Yesterday he held a meeting with conservative talk show host and other conservative groups.Here from the Washington Post is a quote " And Rumsfeld told Hannity that it is "nonsense" to say Bush is "backing away from 'stay the course,' " saying he only wants to avoid confusion.Can anybody say flip flop?

[tejasdemo]

Can anyone think of a Bush administration official who actually fought in a war ? I'm not being sarcastic, I can not think of one.

[clestes-2009]

Yo gw, I like it when you make a fool of yourself!

Hang in there and keep saying the same old thing (stay the course aint much different than no timetable) and ignore all the good advice Baker and co are giving you, continue to press forward with your failing policies and lose both houses of Congress this fall.

Can anyone say "impeachment".

And lest you forget tejasdemo, Colin Powell was quite a soldier.

Bush has poor judgment. I really believe that Bush believes in what he's doing, but Bush himself receives so much spin from his own administration he's out of touch with reality. I sort of feel sorry for him.

[miffedintn]

Impeachment? What are we waiting on? Start the process! Can we put an express lane in?

[tejasdemo]

cleste....thanks, I did forget but actually speaking about current civlian White House guys or gals.

[diamtool]

It is clear that repubs will say anything at this point to get elected. They are scared. They should be. Bush has squandered the lives and limbs of far too many American youth in an ill conceived, unplanned, optional war. No overwhelming force, No exit strategy, lots of nation building. Things the repubs always barked about when they were the minority and democrats were trying to justify military force.
Now a civil war has broken out along predictable, ancient sectarian lines because of Bush's inept planning. 800 million or so in funds missing. Three hours of electricity a day in Baghdad. Bush is paying to train and equip the militias that our troops then have to fight against in Sadr city! This is a disaster of incredible proportions. Unlike Katrina this one is the fault of two or three men. They sold the American people a bill of goods while the people were still shook from 9/11. They misled us down this path for their own unknown reasons. The reasons they gave the people changed constantly and turned out to be lies or mistakes of insufficient diligence or caution. Their hubris and pride led to their fall as it always does. Now "all the king's horses and all the king's men" cannot put it back together again. We the people will have to figure that one out. Starting 11/7.

God Bless our Troops
God Forgive George Bush

[shingles1]

tejasdemo:

http://www.serchia.net/politicianmilitaryduty.htm

They just ATTACK those who serve.

[rsoxfan1123]

jjasonham-everyone has to look in the mirror. bush probably justifies his actions to himself, but make no mistake. deep down inside he knows what he has done. studies have shown that almost every prison inmate (regardless of how horrific their actions) has rationalized and justified their actions. it is a part of the defense system of the psyche. I feel no sympathy for him whatsoever. it is the service members and their families that deserve empathy and respect.

[clestes-2009]

chicatibu, no one has misunderstood gw. He says what he wants to say dispite better ideas from his speech writers who I am sure wish he would shut his mouth more often.

Have you listened to him? There is no "wrong reading" of his words. They are plain and blunt.

[one_american]

No matter how plainly the President explains it, some people just can't get it through their thick heads.

Maybe repetition would help?

We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.
We are staying in Iraq until the job is done.


And there is nothing you can do about that, liberals.

[rsoxfan1123]

diamtool-absolutely excellent post. are you Moore incognito?

[rsoxfan1123]

One_American- or until someone else gets in office and figures a way out of this mess. isn't that the real exit strategy? bush exits office after 8 years and the next president figures to how to get out of Iraq?

[clestes-2009]

jjasonham, save your pity for someone who deserves it. gw deserves everything he gets. He is responsible for the 3000 US dead and the 500,000 Iraqi dead and all the mained (number uncounted) and all the displaced people who lives he has destroyed.

gw will be lucky if he gets off with impeachment. He should be tried as a war criminal. He started invading Iraq on false pretenses. That is a war crime.

[rsoxfan1123]

clestes-wasn't attacking Iraq against the UN directive a crime according to the Geneva Convention?

[connapa]

I think Bush's most recent declaration just sealed the fate of the Republican Party at the polls in the next two weeks. Unfortunately for our country, the fact that neither party will be able to muster a 2/3 majority, any legislative effort to get our troops out will undoubtedly be vetoed and an override will be impossible. Unfortunately, we have just been consigned to two more years in Iraq with all the concommitant deaths and injuries that this political position entails.
May God have mercy on Mr. (I hesitate to call him President since he does not represent the majority of Americans, and never has) Bush's soul.

[one_american]

rsoxfan1123:

You have no idea what you are talking about.

The greatest military and diplomatic minds in America today are already working to resolve the issue.

The weakest political minds are sitting on the sidelines bashing President Bush.

Do you really believe that any Democrats could do better just because they say they can?

Just how naive are you?

True.

[rsoxfan1123]

we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place had the democrats been in office. how naive are you?

[miffedintn]

Are we forgetting the children of our men & women who have lost their mom or dad or maybe both? Have we forgotten the little Iraqi children who are caught in the middle of this war? My gosh, our children are our future & look what we're doing to them! We're teaching them that this is ok, to have a president that lies, that does what he wishes with no conscience. We teach them it's ok to hate one another, what has happened?

[max_neiman]

Since the phoney Casey press conference in Iraq yesterday, it's clear that the administration is doing a public relations campaign. The fact that Iraq PM Maleki is furious over the discussion of deadlines and the just-completed raid in Sadr City indicates that there was no consultation with the Iraqi government about the administration's latest spin on its failed policies. This is just damage control stemming from Caldwell's "disheartened" press conference last week, where he gave a more accurate picture of our situation in Iraq. It would be a real public service if the media quite being cowed by the administration and called them for this cynical campaign-inspired pr campaign. It's got nothing to do with the disastrous fundamentals that are spiralling ever-downward in Iraq.

[max_neiman]

Since the phoney Casey press conference in Iraq yesterday, it's clear that the administration is doing a public relations campaign. The fact that Iraq PM Maleki is furious over the discussion of deadlines and the just-completed raid in Sadr City indicates that there was no consultation with the Iraqi government about the administration's latest spin on its failed policies. This is just damage control stemming from Caldwell's "disheartened" press conference last week, where he gave a more accurate picture of our situation in Iraq. It would be a real public service if the media quite being cowed by the administration and called them for this cynical campaign-inspired pr campaign. It's got nothing to do with the disastrous fundamentals that are spiralling ever-downward in Iraq.

[huskerarmy]

"...Wars, especially in our times, are always wars against children."
--Howard Zinn

[rsoxfan1123]

I agree with you, max, but the media (other than FOX, and that is the Bush news station) doesn't look too "cowed" to me.