Bush: Give Iraq Plan "A Chance To Work"

President Confronts Skeptical Congress And American Public In State Of The Union Address

(CBS/AP) 
Key Republicans have joined Democrats in drafting resolutions of opposition to the plans he announced two weeks ago to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq. Mr. Bush said his approach had the best chance to succeed.

"Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in Iraq because you understand that the consequences of failure would be grievous and far reaching," the president said. "If American forces step back before Baghdad is secure, the Iraqi government would be overrun by extremists on all sides."

In such a case, he forecast "an epic battle," Shiite extremists backed by Iran against Sunni extremists aided by al Qaeda and supporters of Saddam Hussein's government, leading to violence that could spread across the Middle East. "For America, this is a nightmare scenario," Mr. Bush said.

On domestic matters, the president pressed Congress to help find ways to overhaul entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid before they impose huge problems for future generations.

"Somehow we have not found it in ourselves to act," he said. "So let us work together and do it now."

On immigration, too, the president made a plea to lawmakers that he has made before. Members of his own party were the main obstacle to success in that area — a fact Mr. Bush acknowledged even as he pressed for a better result now than Capitol Hill is run by Democrats more amenable to his ideas.

"Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration," he said. "Let us have a serious, civil and conclusive debate."

Mr. Bush said his energy proposals would cut American imports by the equivalent of 75 percent of the oil coming from the Middle East. His prescription, as always, relied primarily on market incentives and technological advances — not government mandates.

"America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil," he said. "These technologies will help us become better stewards of the environment — and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change."

Mr. Bush called for changing the tax code to encourage more people not covered by medical insurance to buy a plan, and to discourage others from keeping the most costly health care plans.

Under the president's proposal, employer-financed health care benefits would be considered taxable income after a deduction of $15,000 for families and $7,500 for individuals. Those buying their own plan would get the same deductions on their taxes.

The White House said 80 percent of workers with health insurance through their jobs would see a tax cut as a result of the change. But about 20 percent would see a tax increase — those workers whose health insurance cost more than the standard deduction.

"With this reform, more than 100 million men, women and children who are now covered by employer-provided insurance will benefit from lower tax bills," Mr. Bush said. "At the same time, this reform will level the playing field for those who do not get health insurance through their job."

The administration sought to make Mr. Bush's energy initiatives — in particular a 20 percent cut in gasoline usage by 2017 — an eye-catching centerpiece of his address, the one major element not revealed until hours before the speech. "It is in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply, and the way forward is through technology," Bush said.

The cut would be achieved primarily through a sharp escalation in the amount of ethanol and other alternative fuels that the government mandates must be blended into the fuel supply. The rest would come from raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars, a plan that Mr. Bush has proposed in the past but failed to win from Congress.

Acknowledging that some would say such a drastic increase in alternative fuels is unrealistic, the White House argued that the new mandate — which would need approval from Congress — would spur investments in the industry and give technological research a boost.

While setting cutback goals, the president spurned appeals from environmentalists and some major corporations to impose mandatory ceilings on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in hopes of slowing climate change.

[xsoldier2]

I worked in the White House almost every *** day for 4 years, how many of you believe that the *** first ladies bed had boxes under it that never were moved by a cleaning crew? You must be the same ones that believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. She had Vince Foster Killed my friends because he and her had been having an affair for some 15 years and as Ken Starr got close to that fact and Vince was about to confess he was murdered. Come on boys and girls we all know that you can%u2019t squeeze blood out of a turnip but you can squeeze until something pees. The Clintons were as rotten as 400 year old eggs.

[aisat2666]

Gladys, USMCwife,

Are you two married? You sound like husband and wife.

Eithrr that, or both of you are Lierbman

[xsoldier2]

The hate you display will only destroy you. Inaccurate propaganda you have been listening to from the news media has hurt you. If you want to be a little intellectual, think for your self and find the accurate facts.

[mikevilkin]

It's time to take our military out of Iraq and to deploy it on our borders. America is being invaded. America will become Amexico... right after another civil war.
Folks, buy assault weapons. Civil war is coming.

--Michael Vilkin

[dmotte]

Have you noticed that the idiot Bush is always groping for words in his speeches and there is always a blank look in his eyes when asked a question.I think there is a blank space on top of his shoulders.He should have swung with the other scumbags in Iraq.

[rf35]

I%u2019m not saying %u201Ccut and run,%u201D but I do favor a gradual draw-down. If we up and leave too quickly, the government will not survive and in the ensuing power vacuum, another Saddam or worse will take the reins and we%u2019ll be right back where we started. However, if American troops are still in Iraq at levels anywhere near what they are now by the time Bush leaves office, then his failure will be complete. There has to be some middle ground that can get America out of Iraq without allowing their government to collapse. Maybe a huge surge in troops to wipe the insurgents out would be the way to go. Maybe pulling all Americans out and turning the country into a very large glass parking lot would have the best chance at success. I%u2019m not claiming to have the answers%u2026if I did, I would run for president myself and fix this mess. I am saying there must be a better way of dealing with Iraq than what we are doing now or what my Commander in Chief has proposed. If anybody has any serious thoughts, I urge you to write to your Representatives and Senators. This is the basis of democracy, is it not? And just maybe someone will hit on an idea that hasn%u2019t been thought of yet.

[rf35]

After reading the first 10 pages of comments, I can see this isn't really going anywhere, but here's my 2 cents anyway. Last night was one of the most graceful speeches Junior has given in my memory. I liked his comments on energy reform and health insurance. It remains to be seen if anything will actually come of them. On immigration, he talked a lot without saying much. He has some good ideas, some bad, but didn't seem to have much to say on how these goals would be achieved. Kinda like Iraq: good ideas, but how will they come to pass.
As a serviceman who has spent time in Iraq and a student of ancient history, I feel confident in saying that peace in Iraq or any part of the Middle East is not possible. The culture is based on warfare. The religion is based on warfare. The region has been in conflict since humans first arrived there. They can no more tolerate peace than Americans could tolerate living under Imperial Japanese rule! America cannot be involved in this indefinitely.

[random_radar]

"I don't think McCain was sleeping. I think he actually croaked, but the Republicans aren't going to admit it until after he's elected."

Actually, they won't notice until after his term expires. Reagan was a great president because he was unconscious for eight years.

[random_radar]

Its too bad we only sing the first stanza of the national anthem. If we ever got to the fourth verse, we might learn something. In particular, I like the line

"Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just"

Two hundred years ago Americans understood that you don't just kill everyone who gets in your way and fight wars for the hell of it. We actually had national leaders (like George whathisname) who promoted peace and prosperity by avoiding wars.

Of course, there are wars that must be fought against aggressors who won't leave you alone. Aghanistan started out looking like such a war. But modern America sure likes to pick a fight. We go on to Iraq, and now Somalia (a war of revenge), and perhaps Iran soon.

There is no point in asking "Where will it all end?" There will be no end.

[marcodele]

I don't think McCain was sleeping. I think he actually croaked, but the Republicans aren't going to admit it until after he's elected.

[marcodele]

Scouser691: Thanks for posting that. I was thinking that this morning. Do you suppose Karl Rove really thought of the Lennon song when he wrote that? How ironic we've deteriorated so far in our social mores that our President and his followers are chanting "give war a chance."
Scary!

[scouser691]

Good one middlecrank, f*cking hilarious. Check it out folks

[jeffstersf]

No, I think One_American is on something FAR more mentally debilitating than just Jack Daniels. So selective in what he obverves. Ted Kennedy asleep? On YouTube you can see a video of War Proponant #2 (McCain) asleep during his buddy's speech: http://www.youtube.com/share?v=WkkTFVIxMQs&embed=1

[random_radar]

"U.S. senate rejects Bush's plan"

...with a non-binding vote that does nothing to stop him. They are still going to fund the war and support the troops. It is a political ploy to make you think they stand for something.

[random_radar]

"Democrats are not serious about protecting America."

No one in the government is claiming that fighting in Iraq is to protect America. The official line is that we are democratizing the Middle East. Government reports even say openly that the Iraq war is creating more terrorist threats to the United States.

So I would agree with the statement that neither Republicans or Democrats are serious about protecting America. If they were, our military would be at home securing the borders of our nation against terrorists.

[random_radar]

"Did anyone hear Boy Bush mention "wanted dead or alive" Osama bin Laden?"

President Bush and a lot of other government officials already admitted that Osama bin Laden died in the assalt in Aghanistan. They resurrected him for a while to use as a bogey man, but now they have basically forgotten about him since dead men are only marginally useful.

[johnshaft4]

If Bush wasn't so greedy, he could finance the 'surge' with some of the of cash from the sale proceeds from the 500% increase in Afghan opium production.

Remember Iran/Contra and S. American cocaine (brought to you by Fox 'News hero' Col. Oliver North)? Let's not forget 'Nam and heroin either.

The Bush Afghan Drug cartel must be making a killing...

[scouser691]

All bush is saying is give war a chance

[bluestardad]

Wait unit one U.S. Soldier is shown on Video Pleading for their lives while someone cuts off their head! Then you will see how the American People deal with our Elected Officials that have sent us to this war and supported this surge after we voted for withdrawl.

[scouser691]

U.S. senate rejects Bush's plan