Bush Delivers Somber Review Of Iraq

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

(CBS/AP) 
For all his fervor about the importance of the military mission in Iraq, Mr. Bush sidestepped when asked whether the Nov. 7 elections should be viewed as a referendum on the war.

"The election is a referendum on which party has a plan to make the economy grow, and which party has a plan to make the American people safe," he said. "If we succeed in Iraq, the country (the United States) is more secure. If we don't succeed in Iraq, the country is less secure."

As he has numerous times while campaigning for Republican candidates, Mr. Bush said of the Democrats, "I do not question their patriotism. I question whether or not they understand how dangerous the world is."

Mr. Bush doggedly defended the job that defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has done. "I'm satisfied at how he's done all his jobs. He's a smart, tough, capable administrator," the president said.

Then, the commander in chief took full responsibility for the war.

"You asked me about accountability. It rests right here," he said, pointing at his chest for emphasis, "That's what the 2004 campaign was all about."

One Republican strategist close to the White House says this news conference was a big mistake, reports Axelrod. He says he was flooded with calls from Republicans nationwide who say the president needs to do less talking in the campaign's final days, not more.

The news conference was dominated by foreign policy, from Iraq to Iran, Syria and a question about North Korea, the secretive communist regime which recently said it had set off a nuclear test.

"The leader of North Korea likes to threaten," Mr. Bush said. "In my judgment what he's doing is testing the will of the five countries that are working together to convince him there's a better way forward for his people."

The president has refused to authorize one-on-one negotiations with North Korea. Instead, talks occur through a multinational group that includes Russia, China, South Korea and Japan as well as the United States.

Mr. Bush brushed off a North Korean warning for South Korea to stay clear of sanctions against Pyongyang for a nuclear test, declaring "the coalition remains firm."

[stick130]

I am more concerned than ever about another attack. After Bush invaded Iraq after 9/11 then later told a reporter televised, "Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11". If we were to be invaded by a Country and I lost my family, I would do anything I could to inflict punnishment upon the Country that ruined my life. Why would we expect any less from the Iraqi people. Bush has made us less safe by causing more people to hate the USA.

[bluestardad]

STEP BACK FROM FEAR!
We in America need to pull back from this Frenzy of Fear that has spellbound us since September 11, 2001. I am not saying to let down our guard or not be prudent with our Law enforcement, Intelligence agencies or Military as their constant job is to protect the American people and they do it well. Rationally speaking it is more likely that a person will be killed in a car accident on the way to get milk than killed by a Terrorist in America. Hispanics coming across our border for work are not the terrorist or the enemy. Unfair trade practices initiated by our government are the cause of our jobs leaving and the demise of the Middle Class in America not some Terrorist plot. Political Parties have been using fear in an attempt to maintain power in this country. Americans do the math you are more likely to do yourself bodily harm than to be harmed by a Terrorist. America is a Land of Opportunity and hopes where people live in Freedom. America is not a land were people will be governed by Fear.

Michael C. Boetjer
Captain U. S. Army
Double Blue Star Father

[usawatchman]

(Sorry people- here we go this is what I wanted to post)
bluestardad that is only a fraction of the real truth..

OUR GOVERNMENT and OUR COURTS are CORRUPT

The TROOPS are DYING IN-VAIN for a LIE

ALL of these people who think they are fighting for AMERICA
the AMERICAN WAY
for FREEDOM, and LIBERTY

it is a LIE

The TRUTH IS IT all comes down to the COURTS and
COURTS are CORRUPT

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467

the U.S. SUPREME COURT COVERED UP GOVERNMENT CRIME
even when the CRIMES showed up
on paper in the COURT RECORD..!

I guess we have a DOUBLE STANDARD JUSTICE SYSTEM
you know
ONE for the GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
(Bureaucrats / Politicians)
and
ONE FOR THE PEASANTS
(The People)..!


I can't even begin to list the names of
REPUBLICANS (CONSERVATIVE) TALK SHOW HOSTS
(They are ALL COMPLICIT- I spent years asking for their help)

THESE REPUBLICANS (CONSERVATIVE) TALK SHOW HOSTS
who helped this administration
who helped this administration court appointees
who helped these CRIMINALS COVER THESE CRIMES AGAINST ME.

[usawatchman]

(sorry posted wrong one)
bluestardad that is only a fraction of the real truth..

OUR GOVERNMENT and OUR COURTS are CORRUPT

The TROOPS are DYING IN-VAIN for a LIE

ALL of these people who think they are fighting for AMERICA
the AMERICAN WAY
for FREEDOM, and LIBERTY

it is a LIE

The TRUTH IS IT all comes down to the COURTS and
COURTS are CORRUPT

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467

the U.S. SUPREME COURT COVERED UP GOVERNMENT CRIME
even when the CRIMES showed up
on paper in the COURT RECORD..!

I guess we have a DOUBLE STANDARD JUSTICE SYSTEM
you know
ONE for the GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
(Bureaucrats / Politicians)
and
ONE FOR THE PEASANTS
(The People)..!

[usawatchman]

NOTHING HAS CHANGED
if OUR GOVERNMENT and OUR COURTS are CORRUPT

The TROOPS are DYING IN-VAIN for a LIE

ALL of these people who think they are fighting for AMERICA
the AMERICAN WAY
for FREEDOM, and LIBERTY

it is a LIE

The TRUTH IS IT all comes down to the COURTS and
COURTS are CORRUPT

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
James B. Veasaw v. Cari M. Domingues,et al.
No: 05-1467

the U.S. SUPREME COURT COVERED UP GOVERNMENT CRIME
even when the CRIMES showed up
on paper in the COURT RECORD..!

I guess we have a DOUBLE STANDARD JUSTICE SYSTEM
you know
ONE for the GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
(Bureaucrats / Politicians)
and
ONE FOR THE PEASANTS (The People)..!

I can't even begin to list the names of
REPUBLICANS (CONSERVATIVE) TALK SHOW HOSTS
(They are ALL COMPLICIT- I spent years asking for their help)

THESE REPUBLICANS (CONSERVATIVE) TALK SHOW HOSTS
who helped this administration
who helped this administration court appointees
who helped these CRIMINALS COVER THESE CRIMES AGAINST ME.

[Coolcal5420032001]

The word "retreat" is a strategy that can save lives and end the abortion that is going on in Iraqu. Retreat would help in accessing on what to do since plan one fail. In any theather that has taken place no matter how large or small steps backward helped in saving or winning. I wuold advise the president to have the troops to step back, not a withdrawal but a stragic move that could make everyone save face and put an end to this war.

[bluestardad]

My daughter who had a 1 year old baby son was stop loss with one week left in the West Virginia National Guard. Sent to Iraq for 18 months and had to engage with her weapon Iraqi youths (kids) throwing cinder blocks at her convoy air guards trying to knock down the air guards so Iraqi people could shoot up the convoy. You look into her eyes and see the innocents gone then tell me to support this war! You chicken hawk sack of ***!

[bluestardad]

Send your kids you pimp not mine they have already had three tours!

[alphaa10-2009]

Welcome to Newspeak-- the real meaning of "timetable"

According to Chairman Bush, "timetable" means anything this Red Queen of a politician says it means, neither more nor less. It can mean holding in place, it also can changing and THEN holding any course variation at any time. If this is "holding", what does it mean to move?

Though Bush wasn't in the Navy, even he should be able to understand his concept of "stay the course" is wrong, not to mention flatly illogical. The outrage is Bush is fully aware of his deceit, and still believes he is not widely seen as the consumate opportunist he always has been.

The worrisome aspect of all this is dictatorship begins with petty deceit, proceeding directly to damning deceit and overt abuse of power. Bush made every link he could between Iraq and 911, and years later, abruptly protested he never specifically linked the two. Clearly, the low cunning of this Prevaricator-in-Chief endangers the very democracy he claims to defend.

[exusmcsgt]

peacemaker2k-

What cost do you feel is just for this boondoogle? Obviously $500 billion and 3,000 American dead are not enough for you.

[stick130]

Bush stated Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. So how can we not loose when we have nothing to gain. Were loosing more every day we stay in Iraq. Bush's "LIES" got the U.S. and Iraq into this mess and doesn't have a clue and won't listen to anyone to get us out of the mess he started. Hopefully Nov.7th will force this adminastration to change it's Course.The World lost when Bush got elected.

[peacemaker2k]

"
The military commanders do not want unnecessary deaths, but right now, they are on the ground in Iraq, by order of the President. People are dying all around our troops and they cannot do much about it. They do not know why they are there, or why the people in Iraq started killing each other.
"


They are there to help keep order. The terrorists have sparked a religious uproar and are trying to prevent the governement from succeeding through any means possible. Bush has said this in a recent speech.


"
If the experts said it would be this way, why did we not take the time to create a better plan? I think I know part of the reasons: "politics". The party wanting this war needed it to BEGIN quickly or it might never come to pass.
"


Time? Time for the terrorist/extremist to strike again and/or get better prepared? No plan is perfect, it matters the end result.

Stop going with the flow people! I bet alot of you are fallowing the flow, in thinking Bush is the problem. Though it is highly unlikely. The right thing is rarely the easy thing... Suck it up.

Only the future will tell if leaving Irag is best or not. What if we all (majority) vote to leave Irag, then 3 years down the road we get nuked/attacked by terrorist from Irag/middle east because we did not finish the job.

Please think from multiple angles and possibilities, be open minded.

[frankly6]

Another speach from the playbook "HOW TO BE A GOOD REPUBLICAN. Chapter 1: POLISH THAT T*RD.

[mh4cbs1]

These retired Senior Army Generals who served in Iraq, according to Cheney's recent potifications, "apparently do not have the Stomach for War"....
(...lousy Generals, must be terrorist sympathizers, just like 2/3 of America...)

By Mark Benjamin / Salon

Oct. 25, 2006 | WASHINGTON -- Two retired senior Army generals, who served in Iraq and previously voted Republican, are now openly endorsing a Democratic takeover of Congress. The generals, and an active-duty senior military official, told Salon in separate interviews that they believe a Democratic victory will help reverse course from what they consider to be a disastrous Bush administration policy in Iraq. The two retired generals, Maj. Gen. John Batiste and Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, first openly criticized the handling of the war last spring, when they called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

(CBS would rather cover Paris Hilton than these Generals)

[mh4cbs1]

Written By Pat Tillman's Brother....
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday/

[book54552134]

Dubya - If "Americans have no intention of standing in the crossfire between rival factions", then why is it that the US is investing billions on military bases there that are designed for permanency? Dubya is simply spewing ever more propaganda, this time in hopes of swaying the upcoming elections. His Administration is in the process of preparing the ground there for a permanent occupancy by the US military.

[bluestardad]

SOS Same old Shiza in a different package nothing new. we gotta get this criminal out of there.

[tibu987]

"Everything old is new again".
These quotes come to mind after hearing "W's"
explanatios of the war in Iraq.

"A lie, repeated often enough, will end up as the truth."

'the bigger the lie, the greater likelihood that people will believe it'.

Attributed to: Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Propaganda Minister 1933-1945

And this one, from a movie,:
"Who is the more foolish......the fool or the fool who follows him?"

'Nuff said.

[tomflint69]

USAwatchman, I agree with you. There had been very heavy casusalities of U.S soldiers on that day. Like always, why public should be told!!!!

[clestes-2009]

meboard I hope not a repeat of the 1960's!

Interesting post marcelde. Remains to be seen if it remains true.