Bush Encouraged By Baghdad Crackdown

President Is Optimistic On Iraq, But Warns Of Possible "Spectacular Attacks" By Enemy

(CBS/AP)  President Bush said Tuesday that U.S. and Iraqi forces are making important progress in a security crackdown in Baghdad but warned that America's enemies will retaliate with deadly attacks.

Three weeks into an intensified security effort, Mr. Bush said, "It's too early to judge the success of this operation ... But even at this early hour there are some encouraging signs."

Iraq's government has kept its pledge to deploy three additional Iraqi Army brigades to Baghdad and has lifted restrictions that prevented coalition and Iraqi forces from going into certain areas, the president said.

Mr. Bush offered his assessment in a speech before the American Legion.

"We can expect al Qaeda and other extremists to try to derail this strategy by launching spectacular attacks," he said.

He used the occasion to announce he has named a bipartisan team to lead an investigation of problems at the nation's military and veterans hospitals. It will be headed by former Senate GOP leader Bob Dole and University of Miami president Donna Shalala, who was secretary of health and human services in the Clinton administration.

"We have a moral obligation to provide the best possible care and treatment to the men and women who served our country," the president said in a speech to the American Legion. "They deserve it and they're going to get it."

Already grappling with low approval ratings and eager to avoid charges that he failed to act promptly, President Bush said an interagency task force of seven Cabinet secretaries, led by Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson, would be convened to determine what can be done immediately to improve veterans' care.

The president announced last Friday he had ordered a comprehensive review of conditions at the nation's network of military and veteran hospitals, which has been overwhelmed by injured troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The review came in the wake of disclosures of shoddy outpatient health care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, one of the nation's premier facilities for treating veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Bush announced in January he was sending an additional 21,500 U.S. troops to Iraq, largely for a crackdown on violence in Baghdad, despite widespread opposition to the war and opposition to his plan in the Democratic-controlled Congress.

Mr. Bush said critics in Congress want to have it both ways — fighting terrorists in Iraq and deterring Iran's influence in the country while also pushing to withdraw troops.

"That sounds good in theory, but doing so at this moment would undermine everything our troops have worked for," Mr. Bush said. "There are no shortcuts in Iraq."

He pushed Democrats in Congress to approve his latest spending request for the Iraq war without any limitations.

"Members of Congress have every right to express their opinions. They have every right. They also have a responsibility to fund our war fighters," he said.

Violence has dropped in the capital. But U.S. military officials say insurgents have fled Baghdad for outlying areas, where attacks are on the rise.

President Bush said Iraqi and U.S. forces have rounded up more than 700 people affiliated with Shiite extremists, and also have launched successful operations against Sunni extremists.

"Iraqi and U.S. forces are making gradual but important progress almost every day, and we will remain steadfast until our objectives are achieved," Mr. Bush said.

His appointment of Dole and Shalala as greeted with applause.

Dole, as a young Army officer during World War II, was grievously wounded in action in the Apennine Mountains in Italy. He spent years in treatment and underwent numerous surgeries. He went on to become Senate majority leader as a Republican lawmaker and later ran unsuccessfully for president.

Shalala was secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton. She is now president of the University of Miami.

CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer reports that the panel will report back to the president by June 30.

[iceman_1960]

Mr. Bush said, "It's too early to judge the success of this operation ... But even at this early hour there are some encouraging signs."

The guy is shameless.

He's had almost four years to get this right.

Imagine Eisenhower stuck on the beaches of Normandy for four years, saying "It's too early to judge the success of this operation ... But even at this early hour there are some encouraging signs."

[clemenhagen1]

"We can expect al Qaeda and other extremists to try to derail this strategy by launching spectacular attacks," he said. BUSH QUOTE

Bush once again vainly attempts to portray a link between Iraq & al Qaeda. The Iraq War has been a salvation for al Qaeda; al Qaeda could have and should have been vanquished by now if President Bush and his Project for a New American Century crew hadn't arrogantly swaggered into this fiasco with the infamous "Bring 'em on!" braggadocio. The Iraq conflict almost exclusively revolves around a civil and religious clash between Sunni insurgents (funded to a large extent by Saudi Arabia) and Shiite militias (who operate with the tacit approval of the Maliki government and who receive material support from Iran). Everytime Bush simplifies the conflict into his tired "us vs. them" rhetoric, with evil al Qaeda front and center in the imagery, he does a disservice to the reality and/or complexity of the conflict. Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia must be brought into the mix as part of any regional diplomatic solution to the on-going civil strife. Accomplish that and you can then go renew the fight against al Qaeda and their facilitators, the Taliban.

[firststate]

liebernuts may wonder how long it'll take him to get kicked off here in his newest incarnation as 1881. One of the cracks in his armor against the "real" world is that in his rantings, shrub is actually right up there with the dems as a friend of the Illegals using his twisted reasoning. Shrub supports the "guest worker program" and the reich wing-nuts call that amnesty.

Most of us do support the troops, but not georgie's make it up as he goes mission. The reich wing-nuts rant about supporting the troops, but they want to cut funds from the VA for medical care. The war costs over $4,000.00 per second, each and every second, over $240,000 per minute, over $14,400,000.00 per hour, over $345,600,000.00 per day. They don't mind spending that much money to get our young men and women hurt or killed, but just can't find the money to take care of them the way they deserve if they are injured. They support the troops until their injuries prevent their continuing to fight and then they just say Bush You, mother-busher.

[randalds]

A troll is an individual who chronically posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by the fact that they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming characteristics, and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of life on the net, as in, %u201COh, ignore him, he's just a troll.%u201D

Posted by down-ndirty at 12:27 AM : Mar 07, 2007

As good of a description as I've ever read and it sure fits liber and lars and mbc. Trolls most likely don't even believe the bullshi*t that they spew out themselves. The point is not to make a point, but to cause a reaction. It's a form attention seeking. Sad and sick really.

[down-ndirty]

Ignore Lieber. He's just a troll. He used to go by lieberman8, or something like that. The name's about the same but the trite vile that spews from his asss is exactly the same.

A troll is an individual who chronically posts specious arguments, flames or personal attacks for no other purpose than to annoy someone or disrupt a discussion. Trolls are recognizable by the fact that they simply want to utter flame bait. Like the ugly creatures they are named after, they exhibit no redeeming characteristics, and as such, they are recognized as a lower form of life on the net, as in, %u201COh, ignore him, he's just a troll.%u201D

[dirtydog55]

"Again, I repeat - the American people still support our troops AND THE MISSION" Posted by Lieber1881

You're half right, half wit. We do support the troops. But you've got your head up your conceited asss so far, you're talking out your belly button.

Someone disagrees with you and you resort to your "canned insults."

Have you ever served your country? In the military? I thought not.

[lucasnico]

lieber.....how wrong you are. Americans support the troops, but overwhelming say NO to the mission.

another 9 GI's killed today, and bush calls that encouragement..... 28% approval rating and dropping.

[lieber1881]

I read the polls, and the independent news sources, clueless one.

What do you read? Al Qaeda propaganda, Liberal nonsense from CBS? or the rags from ANSWER and MoveOn. Org?

Or maybe Mein Kampf is your speed.

Again, I repeat - the American people still support our troops AND THE MISSION - they want change, not the Blame America, Hand it over to Iran and Al Qaeda spew you, Botox Girl - the friend of the ILLEGALS - and prune face Harry, plus the rest of the traitorous Dems want.

And remember - NOT SO FAST. You have but a slim majority - and it will evaporate very, very fast. Too tooties, Hitlerite Dems. Bin Laden isn't going to get his victory so soon - and he just might get his a%% handed to him on a skewer - but no thanks to cowards and traitors here at home.

[dirtydog55]

"The American people DID support the war in Iraq, and guess what, the majority of us still do..." Posted by Lieber1881

"...the majority still do?" Did you just wake up? Have you not been paying attention to the polls?

Say what you will about the polls, however, the people no longer support the war. Some of us never did, and quietly predicted the outcome.

[lieber1881]

joan,

bs as usual from the neo-nazi left.

The American people DID support the war in Iraq, and guess what, the majority of us still do - except the way it is being fought.

Now, let the warriors fight it the way it needs to be fought, and stop acting like whiney little traitors. If you had your way in 1942 we'd be speaking German - that is, those of us not gassed or slaughtered.

Use what is left of your brain, girl. Unless you want to wear a Hajibi and get beaten by your spouse - if you have one.

[joanpz]

GW Bush, U.S. Citizens DID NOT VOTE FOR A WAR IN IRAQ - am sure the Iraqi People are tired of hearing you say: "The US is fighting Al Quaeda over there (?) because the 'US doesn't want to fight them here'" -
To date, the U.S. is involved in a "genocide" war equal to Sudan!
At this point, the US is "fighting" THREE FOES, none of the U.S. Citizen's making...Al Quaeda, Shiias, & Sunnis!

[jerr11]

Bush Encouraged By Baghdad Crackdown


Sure, we're REALLY turning the corner THIS time!

Ha Ha! haven't we heard it all before?

[firststate]

"...Whether Al Quada was there before we went into Iraq or not is immaterial, they are there now, Iran is there now, militants hell bent on destroying democracy are there now..."

Posted by notblue

It may be immaterial regarding Iraq, but there are lots more countries he can get a hard on for, so it's not immaterial because the incompetent-in-chief's in office until 2009, unless we are blessed with a miracle. He's one of the few people alive who doesn't realize what a bushup invading Iraq was. It did lots of harm and little good. Any advantage of freedom for Iraqi citizens is outweighed by the fact that you can't make people want freedom badly enough to drop the sectarian and tribal sh'it and fight for freedom, instead.

There is no practical way to prevent some other military action if the mood strikes him. He didn't learn the lesson that starting a war based upon "I wanna," is pisspoor foreign policy. No risk to life and limb is too great, because it's not his life or limbs being risked, so that war is no longer the last resort.

Everything he's bushed up pales when one considers that this sociopath can order a nuKUlar strike. That's enough to make an atheist pray, just in case.

[clemenhagen1]

POST FOR NOTBLUE: Respond if able...I would like to know your take on this perspective regarding al Qaeda.

"We can expect al Qaeda and other extremists to try to derail this strategy by launching spectacular attacks," he said. BUSH QUOTE

Bush once again vainly attempts to portray a link between Iraq & al Qaeda. The Iraq War has been a salvation for al Qaeda; al Qaeda could have and should have been vanquished by now if President Bush and his Project for a New American Century crew hadn't arrogantly swaggered into this fiasco with the infamous "Bring 'em on!" braggadocio. The Iraq conflict almost exclusively revolves around a civil and religious clash between Sunni insurgents (funded to a large extent by Saudi Arabia) and Shiite militias (who operate with the tacit approval of the Maliki government and who receive material support from Iran). Everytime Bush simplifies the conflict into his tired "us vs. them" rhetoric, with evil al Qaeda front and center in the imagery, he does a disservice to the reality and/or complexity of the conflict. Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia must be brought into the mix as part of any regional diplomatic solution to the on-going civil strife. Accomplish that and you can then go renew the fight against al Qaeda and their facilitators, the Taliban.

[liberalvet]

seven-pesos

While I agree with you that Bush is a piece of shiit, I will say you are a complete idiot on everything else you stated. Not everyone in the south is a confedrate flag waving moron. I for one was born and raised in the south and have absolutely nothing in common with the balnket statements you have made. While we may not be the majority in the south there are many progressive minded people living down. So no I do not like what you have said, and I for one would be more than gald to pay you a visit and discuss these topics face to face.

[seven-pesos]

what an idiot piece of *****, slave state creep, bush is!

but, they still love bush in the south.

ignorance, hate, and bible thumping...

that's the south for you, folks!

i ***** on the bush loving south.

i wipe my azz with the confederate flag.

don't like it? come see me!

nothing good comes out of the south!

[seven-pesos]

they love war in the south.

all those f8ggot slave state military academies.

sunday afternoon parades in gay, tight butt uniforms.

confederate flags and cotton candy.

too bad the south has lost every war they ever started...

iraq will be no different.

war, hate, division, bush loving, ignorant, arrogant, fat azzed, smelly, republican snakes and christian evangelist freaks...

that's the south for you, folks!

[rharrin1]

Harry Truman==the buck stops here

bush==the buck used to stop here before I got in

[rharrin1]

March 6 and bush says he is encouraged by the crack down in Iraq, please explain what there is to be encouraged about, over 100 deaths March 6.

The only thing he has to be encouraged about is THE PRICE OF OIL WENT UP March 6.

[forthepeaple]

hey bush been sitting on a *** in the past couple of days. i know how much you missed him. or have you been feeling alittle rums instead. your day will come and when it does the whole world will rejoice. go and watch the movie independant day. to bad that I am that president and we are comming to take back our indepance and our freedom for we are the true americans