Bush: No 'Graceful Exit' From Iraq
Al-Maliki Says Iraqi Forces Will Be 'Fully Ready' By June, But Bush Rejects Talk Of A Timetable
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Play CBS Video Video Bush Rejects 'Graceful Exit' Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Iraq's Prime Minister, President Bush rejected the expected call from the Baker-Hamilton commission for troop withdrawals. Jim Axelrod reports.
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Video Iraq Recommendation: Timetable The highly-anticipated Baker-Hamilton commission will release its report next week. David Martin reports that the panel will call for a timetable for beginning a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
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Video Couric Chats With Iraqi PM Katie Couric talked with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after his summit meeting with President Bush.
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President Bush, right, pauses during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Amman, Jordan, Nov. 30, 2006. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki walk prior to a news conference in Amman, Jordan, Nov. 30, 2006. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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President Bush, left, meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan, right, in the Throne Room of Radhadan Palace in Amman on Nov. 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki waves as he arrives at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, Nov. 29, 2006. (AP)
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Protesters in Amman, Jordan shout anti-Bush slogans, Nov. 29, 2006. Hundreds of Jordanians staged silent sit-ins and angry demonstrations to protest President Bush's visit. (AP)
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Photo Essay Jordan Summit President Bush's high-stakes meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
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Interactive Battle For Iraq The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
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Interactive Globetrotting Follow President Bush as he travels around the globe.
A day after publication of a leaked White House memo questioning al-Maliki's leadership capabilities, Mr. Bush shared a news conference stage with him and offered what sounded like unconditional support. "He's a strong leader," President Bush said. "He's the right guy for Iraq."
Still, the president and his advisers acknowledged formidable challenges for the Iraqi leader in quelling rising sectarian violence.
"There is a real sense of urgency but there is not a sense of panic," said Stephen J. Hadley, Mr. Bush's national security adviser and the author of a leaked memo that underscored doubts about al-Maliki.
In an interview after the summit Thursday, al-Maliki told CBS News anchor Katie Couric that he was "very happy" with his meeting with President Bush.
"I reminded both of us of our victory in Iraq — the victory of democracy and freedom against dictatorship," al-Maliki said.
When al-Maliki returned back to Baghdad Thursday, he repeated the one message from recent days that Iraqis wanted to hear: "We will gradually dispense with the need to have international forces in Iraq."
But, as CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports, that word, "gradually," is an admission that Iraq's defense ministry may not be able to take on that job as soon as is expected by some. The Iraqi army now has almost 119,000 members — that's 10 divisions. Only one, responsible for a relatively stable area south of Baghdad, currently reports to Iraq's prime minister; a second is in the process of transferring command. The others are under control of the coalition and are still riddled with problems, from inadequate training to shortages of equipment, Palmer reports.
The president used the news conference in the Jordanian capital to get in front of reports that a special committee headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former Democratic Rep. Lee Hamilton would call for a phased withdrawal of troops to begin.
"I know there's a lot of speculation that these reports in Washington mean there's going to be some kind of graceful exit out of Iraq," President Bush said. But he said if there is talk of a timetable, "all that does is set people up for unrealistic expectations."
A source close to the study group tells CBS News national security correspondent David Martin that the commission's goal "is a change in the primary mission from combat to support." The bipartisan panel is expected to unveil its recommendations next week.
In an interview, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Couric that there have been questions about al-Maliki's leadership. But, she said, "This is someone when you look in his eyes, that you know his commitment to his people. You know that he has one of the most difficult jobs that one can imagine in the international system."
Al-Maliki, meanwhile, declared in an interview that Iraqi forces would soon be in a position to take over security for the country — a position U.S. officials have questioned.
"I can say that Iraqi forces will be ready, fully ready, to receive this command and to command its own forces, and I can tell you that by next June our forces will be ready," he said.
It's not the first time al-Maliki has spoken of a six-month time frame for having Iraqi soldiers and police up to speed. But his latest words could be seen as implicit OK for the U.S. to prepare for the gradual withdrawal that is expected to be recommended by the Baker-Hamilton commission.
On the Air Force One flight back to Washington, Hadley said Mr. Bush would not act immediately on Iraq policy in light of the commission's coming report, but in "weeks rather than months."
"This is an important report," he said. "We are at an important stage on the issue of Iraq and it's not something we should shoot from the hip on."
When speaking to reporters after the morning summit, President Bush's message sounded more like "stay the course" than "change the course," CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reports.
Rising opposition to the war contributed to the Republican loss of both houses of Congress in midterm elections, and increasing calls for a change in strategy are coming from Democrats and many Republicans. Mr. Bush acknowledged the clamor and said he understood how a withdrawal might be popular.
Still, he declared, "We're going to stay in Iraq to get the job done, so long as the government wants us there."
Mr. Bush said he wanted to begin withdrawing troops "as soon as possible. But I'm a realist because I understand how tough it is inside of Iraq."
There are about 140,000 U.S. forces in Iraq. In fact, the Pentagon is developing plans to send in four more battalions — about 3,500 troops — early next year, partly to boost security in Baghdad,
Mr. Bush said he and al-Maliki agreed to speed the training of Iraqi security forces and turn over more military responsibility to Iraqis.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.
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Then go to Islamist website monitor projects
Then go to Islamist website monitor#17
Then decide how should we deal with BUSH,CHENEY,LIMBAUGH,O'RIELLY,etc who have got our soldiers trapped in an unplanned unconventional warfare.Remember,it's not only Bush or Cheney's fault,people like Limbaugh and O'rielly who sold this war for making money from Republican govt are as guilty as govt in the deaths and destructions of our men and women in uniforms.If Bill O'rielly had right to insult President Bill Clinton for his affair with Monica Lewinsky,we as U.S Citizens also have right to ask Bill O'reilly about the sexual harassment charges against him by a female at work and to ask him that if he was not guilty,why he gave that woman ten million dollars to keep her mouth shut,specially when he preaches about moral values all the times just like those preists who preach people about HOMOSEXUALITY as a SIN and then SEXUALLY MOLEST and SODOMIZE those young little boys in the churches who call them father.Same thing about Limbaugh(the XANAX addict).These people are CATHOLIC PREISTS of the MEDIA.They are the most shamefull creature on the face of earth.
"It should take more to make peace than to prevent war. The sword once drawn, full justice must be done. 'Indemnification for the past and security for the future,' should be painted on our banners." --Thomas Jefferson to Robert Wright, 1812. ME 13:184
Maliki says that he will have control of the Iraqi forces by next June ... BULL. I will bet that in 7 months, nothing will change, except that things will be a lot worst than they are today.
Turning over the Iraqi forces has been part of the plan for many years. I have no clue why it took a summit in Jordan to make that announcement.
Bush is back in the U. S. Now after a grualling 20 minute summit with Maliki, it's time for DUMBYA to take an extended vacation in Crawford TX., maybe he should take that vacation in the streets of Baghdad.
Your post was almost as brief as Bush's attention span, but so very accurate.
I can go to bed now that I've heard the ideal critique of the day's Bushism.
I recall that pottery barn rules apply with Iraq and we damned sure broke it. If the free and independently elected government of Iraq wants us out, aren't we legally obligated to accede to their wishes and morally obligated to get our guys the f### out before Iraq can change its mind?
Fearless leader and company should have actually learned, that democratic elections don't guarantee America-friendly governments. Iran should have been a clue. Maybe we intended to go to Iran, but Bush was playing with his geography globe and found Iraq before Iran and he, in all his wisdom, went about changing the last letter on everything from "n" to "q" to prevent an obvious and humiliating mistake. He might have been too steadfast (stubborn) to accept correction then, too. Could he really be as thick as he seems? He would be funny if only his screwups weren%u2019t fatal for so many. Who would have ever thought they would hear that 41 was the bright one?
NO GRACEFUL EXIT FROM IRAQ? No kidding?
That's like saying there's no graceful way to exit a building that you've set on fire and is falling down around you.
Go fight in Bagdad to help Bush and Cheney get their Oil. Go die for their PNAC NeoCon Empire. Maybe you can prove you are a tough guy and kill a bunch of civillians. You are a sick one, un-American to the core.
If you cared about America you would want Bush and Cheny tossed in JAIL.
IN JAIL
Where they belong!
These NeoCon imperialists LIED us into this horrific, needless War of Choice. Making us LESS safe, letting Osama walk free, killing hundreds of thousands, costing Hundreds of Billions of OUR money (while Haliburton and defense industry make huge profits). This is SICK.
WAKE UP! There are real, honest to goodness WAR CRIMINALs in the White House.
You left wing c.u.n.t.s are betting against your own country. You'd rather we fight this war on our own soil 10 years from now, we need to finish the job. So how about a little support you *** Defeatocrats.
Bush is doing the job that the Dems would never have the guts to do, somebody has to chase down them Al-Quada types... *In Bush voice* We'll get that Al Zarquai fella' AND his dubbya-emm-deees. HE HE HE.
Serioulsly, you losers probably jack off to Keith Olberman's spew everynight right before watching 9/11 conspiricy videos on You-Tube. Get some balls, sTAY TEH COURSE, WMDS11!!111
PROPOGANDA.
Our "news" is pure PROPOGANDA.
By the way.. Bin Laden is DEAD. DEAD. DEAD.
WAKE UP!!!!
America is FASCIST!!!
WE ARE NO LONGER A DEMOCRACY!!!
Fascism 101 -
ENDLESS WAR
CORPORATIONS/ THE RICH RULE
CHURCH SUPPORTS THE STATE
It's a CIVIL WAR! (dictionary definition: a war between political factions or regions within the same country)
It's time we stop giving the Bush administration a free pass on this one. The only reason they won't call it a CIVIL WAR is that they know that means it's over, it's lost and we don't belong there.
Of course there's no graceful exit from Iraq. Just like there's no graceful exit from a building that you've set on fire and is now falling down around you.
Bush was told that this is exactly what would happen before he got us into it. Now were stuck in what is probably the biggest debacle in US history. Now the American people will have to pay for his arrogance and stupidity for many years to come.
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