Bush: Iraqis Are Sacrificing In War, Too
President Says The U.S. Is Not Bearing Toll Alone; Cleland Claims Bush Is Ignoring Facts
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Troop Reduction Recommended
A top Pentagon official is expected to recommend that the number of U.S. forces in Iraq be cut by half in order to reduce pressure on an already strained military. Karen Brown reports.
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Slow Going For MRAPs
MRAPs are the safest vehicles yet for U.S. troops in Iraq. The problem is that there are nowhere near enough of them available. David Martin has more.
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Sen. Warner's Defection
Top senate Republican John Warner, R-Va., issued a challenge to President Bush, requesting that some troops cease operations in Iraq and be brought home by Christmas. Bill Plante reports.
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Members of the U.S. Army's Alpha Company, 82nd Airborne run up to a roof while searching an area immediately after rockets were fired by insurgents on August 24, 2007 in the Hurriya neighborhood in Baghdad, Iraq. (Getty Images)
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"Here at home, it can be easy to overlook the bravery shown by Iraqi troops and Iraqi civilians who are in the fight for freedom," Mr. Bush said in a radio address taped at his ranch in central Texas. "But our troops on the ground see it every day."
Mr. Bush told the story of an Iraqi man who stepped forward to intercept a suicide bomber who was running for a team of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens near Baghdad. The bomber and the Iraqi man died as the bomb detonated, but the soldiers and citizens were spared.
A citizens group, Mr. Bush said, tipped off police about the location of an al Qaeda cell believed responsible for the attack, which lead to arrests.
The president's positive take on Iraq's internal efforts comes as lawmakers and the broader public in the U.S. have grown deeply frustrated over Iraq's inability to improve its affairs.
"As security improves, more Iraqis are stepping forward to defend their democracy," Mr. Bush said. "Young Iraqi men are signing up for the army. Iraqi police are now patrolling the streets. Coalition and Iraqi forces have doubled the number of joint operations."
The president's address comes days after he compared the Iraq war to Vietnam — linking the U.S. pullout back then to the rise of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, and warning that withdrawing troops now could have similarly disastrous consequences.
Former Democratic Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia, who lost both legs and an arm while serving in Vietnam, said Mr. Bush is ignoring the facts.
Despite enormous sacrifice by Americans, Cleland said in his party's radio address, "We find ourselves mired in a civil war with no end in sight and Iraqis unable or unwilling to make the political decisions necessary to end this conflict."
Earlier in the week, a bleak assessment by the U.S. intelligence community found that the Iraqi government is hampered by rampant violence and deep sectarian differences. It bluntly reported, "To date, Iraqi political leaders remain unable to govern effectively."
Mr. Bush's strategy this year was to build up U.S. forces in Iraq and give the country's leaders the security and time they need to make fundamental political progress. Mr. Bush is awaiting a pivotal report in September on how much progress has been made with the buildup.
"We cannot expect the new strategy we are carrying out to bring success overnight," he said in another plea for patience from the nation. "But by standing with the Iraqi people as they build their democracy, we will deliver a devastating blow to al Qaeda, we will help provide new hope for millions of people throughout the Middle East, we will gain a friend and ally in the war on terror, and we will make the American people safer."
The president's radio address capped an active week in which he appeared to distance himself from embattled Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, only to endorse Maliki the next day; delivered a speech in which he likened today's fight against extremism to past conflicts in Japan, Korea and Vietnam; and dealt with the release of the sobering intelligence estimate.
That estimate found that Iraq's security will continue to "improve modestly" over the next six to 12 months, provided that coalition forces mount strong counterinsurgency operations and mentor Iraqi forces. But even then, it said, violence levels will remain high as the country struggles to achieve national political reconciliation.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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See all 145 CommentsSen. Hillary Clinton said the Republicans would benefit politically if a terrorist attack occurred before the ''''''''08 vote.
"It''''''''s a horrible prospect to ask yourself, ''''''''What if? What if?'''''''' " Clinton, a New York Democrat, told a house party in Concord, according to the New York Post and The Associated Press and confirmed by her campaign.
"But, if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world."
Clinton added that if such a scenario occurred, she is the best Democratic presidential candidate "to deal with that." AND YOU WANT THIS TRAILER TRASH AS PRESIDENT..RIGHT...
GO AHEAD AMERICA AND VOTE HER IN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS...
(AP) President Bush said Saturday that Iraqis are sacrificing dearly to secure their country, trying to underscore that the U.S. is not bearing the toll alone. But Democrats responded that Mr. Bush is ignoring the facts in an effort to sell the Iraq war.
"Here at home, it can be easy to overlook the bravery shown by Iraqi troops and Iraqi civilians who are in the fight for freedom," Mr. Bush said in a radio address taped at his ranch in central Texas. "But our troops on the ground see it every day."
"Mr. Bush told the story of an Iraqi man who stepped forward to intercept a suicide bomber who was running for a team of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens near Baghdad. The bomber and the Iraqi man died as the bomb detonated, but the soldiers and citizens were spared.
A citizens group, Mr. Bush said, tipped off police about the location of an al Qaeda cell believed responsible for the attack, which lead to arrests."
I am remind of a situation about 18 months ago. A teleconference was set up between President Bush and about 15 young soldiers in the Iraq. It was billed as spontaneous. Before the event, it was revealed that the event was staged and the soldiers rehearsed as to what to say.
May point is that it is now extremely hard to really know what is true and what is not true when the administration speaks on Iraq. Credibility is a huge problem.
had a million dollars wanted ten million, not one million dollar film, or 1000 $1000, but 100 million kids with free medical you are here map song dance skit kits, to make a hundred million dollars for nothing
me verse the world i deserve 99%, the world occupys 99% space time so deserves 99%, so 50% / 50% may be rational and equitable shareing of my market share
210 million represents the richest 3% with over 95% of wealth, poverty lines range $2 to $60 each work day, so giving to 440 to 730,000 each workday for tips of a penny to a dollar from 1/2 % to 11 % of folk marketed to
6 or 10 billion folk is 90,000 counties of 90,000 folk is 300 trail groups of 300 folk, girls get bored and move each 20 seconds to 20 nminutes so i not call them communities?)
$12,000 per year poverty line will buy $60,000 of 2500 sf land and 340 sf home
2500 sqft (50 ft x 50 ft) is 200 lineal feet perimeter, 2.2 to 3650 ''grapes'' per lineal foot (grapes as example or seaweed / algae song / dance art / craft wutever)
... if only 2500 square feet could float like some kind of spore bloom weed dragon tinkering densitys and surface areas and such ...
trails of life is more like kindergarten class, what do you like what do you want to do this that ok well show you how now like this now like that now like this now like that
... ''
"Because if we''d gone to Baghdad, we would have been all alone. There wouldn''t have been anybody else with us %u2014 it would have been a US occupation of Iraq. None of the Arab forces that were willing to fight with us in Kuwait were willing to invade Iraq. Once you got to Iraq and took it over, and took down Saddam Hussein''s government, then what are you going to put in its place? That''s a very volatile part of the world.
And if you take down the central government in Iraq, you could easily end up seeing pieces of Iraq fly off. Part of it%u2026uh%u2026the Syrians would like to have in the West. Part of the eastern part of Iraq the Iranians would like to claim, fought over it for eight years. In the north, you''ve got the Kurds. If the Kurds spin loose and join with the Kurds in Turkey, then you threaten the territorial integrity of Turkey. It''s a%u2026it''s a quagmire, if you go that far in trying to take over Iraq.
The other thing was casualties. Uh%u2026everyone was impressed with that fact that%u2026uh%u2026we were able to do our job with as few casualties as we had. But for the 146 Americans killed in action and for their families, it wasn''t a cheap war. And the question for the President in terms of whether or not we went on to Baghdad and took additional casualties in an effort to get Saddam Hussein, was how many additional dead Americans was Saddam worth? And our judgment was not very many, and I think we got that right." ALL FOR MONEY!!!!!
Pres. Bush showed up for the sermon,and the Bishop began, "I''''d Like to speak to you all this morning about our Pres., who is a liar, a cheat, and a low intelligent weasel. He took the tragedy of 9/11 and used it to frighten and manipulate the American people." " He lied about Weapons of mass destruction and invaded Iraq for oil and money, causing the deaths of tens of thousands, and making the U.S the most hated in the world.""HE has headed the most corrupt bribe-inducing political party since the TEA POT DOME. "The national surplus has turned into a staggering national debt of 7.6 trillion dollars, gas prices are up 85% which the American people cannot afford vital research into global warming and stem cellis stopped cold ''''cause he''''s afraid to lose votes from the religious right.
"He''''s the worst example of a true Christian I''''ve ever seen"
But compared to Di**ck Cheney George W. Bush is a SAINT"
Posted by starleo146 at 10:59 AM : Aug 25, 2007
His image handler made a visit to the Bishop and said,"We''''ve been getting a lot of bad publicity because of Pres. Bush position on stem cell research, the Iraq War,Hurricane Katrina, and the veteran administration.We will make $1oo,000 contribution if during your sermon you will say the Pres. is a saint.
The Bishop thought it over and said," The church is desperate for funding." "I''''ll do it.
Posted by starleo146 at 10:43 AM : Aug 25, 2007
DUH!!!! Sacrificing, My God, estimated 600,000 dead, no water , no electricity, no utilities at all, afraid to go outside. That is above and beyond what any country should have to sacrifice for Bush''s war, and to continue sacrificing, and know that until the USA can vote him out, they will continue to sacrifice. Bush is, indeed, one fool of a person, who assumes everyone else is a fool and will accept his blathering as wisdom.
Another right winger, shedding dishonest crocodile tears for the millions who died in Cambodia, who wouldn''t have died if the Nixon administration hadn''t disrupted the Lon Nol government with a ruthless bombing campaign and invasion, thrusting that nation fully into the spreading Vietnam conflict.
And Nixon did it to save face. That''s the same d*amned reason Bush is keeping the Iraq war going.
Bush is the ultimate hypocrite. He used his father''s powerful friends to dodge that war, jumping to the head of a long Texas ANG waiting list despite minimal qualifications.
He''s the last person on earth to be lecturing America and the world about the conflict in Southeat Asia.
The last person on earth to be doing that.
If that isn''t true, someone please list all the eminent qualifications that, in 1968 (the bloodiest year of the Vietnam War), Bush got past a long waiting list to enter the Texas Air National Guard.
(a) Was Bush married at the time; did he have kids ?
(b) Did he have prior experience as a pilot in jet fighters ?
(c) Did he "ace" the Pilot''s Aptitude Test ?
(d) Did his well connected Texas Congressman dad "know the right people" ?
[Correct answer: (d)]
America has been hijacked by crooks again.
Happens whenever Republicons come to power.
I guess by then Rush L. will be retiring... maybe you DO have a future.
Of course an attack on US soil would benefit Bush. He would hide for 3 days until the CIA was sure the site of such an attack was clear, and then Bush would show up bullhorn in hand and his approval rating would jump to +60%.
Regards,
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 02:12 PM : Aug 25, 2007
Don''t forget his flight jacket. He has to look in charge.
I think the U.S. troops in Iraq should get a monthes vacation too.
Lets give them the month of December off so they can all come home for the holidays.
And who would believe this after the stories of both Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman turned out to be entirely fabricated.
Here is the beginning of a propaganda blitz to keep this war going. The propaganda should be about our troops and how they are ready to come home after doing all that was asked of them and more. They can''t even get the proper equipment to our troops. When they leave bring all our equipment back not even a hammer should be left.I wouldn''t be surprised to know Maliki when he went to Iran and Kissed the Pres. of Iran and walked in hand and hand he wasn''t paying him for the bombs etc. used against our troops .I will never forget Maliki saying the Americans can leave anytime they want just leave there equipment.
The last person on earth to be doing that.
Posted by Iceman_1960 at 03:07 PM : Aug 25, 2007
I would love for a reporter to say Mr. Pres. You have made comparisons between Vietnam and Iraq, Would you explain in detail the difference to the American people. I just want to see his expression, probably DUH!
if those southerners get their way
they''''ll elect another creep just like bush.
that''''s the way of the south.
christian creeps, republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south.
Starleo146, fear not, his propaganda campaign will only placate the 28% that constitute his "faith based reality". The rest of us recognize him for what he is, a flimflam man who tells bold faced lies to the American people while he robs them blind.
In the end these two visions lead to similar attrocities.
Only a few say that the little people of the world are fully able to rule themselves and we should leave them do their best.
Too bad.
ha,ha,ha,
well kizz my azz!
the south has lost every war they ever started.
bush''s war will be no different.
war, hate, christian freaks, republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south!
the south murdered john kennedy...
to make up for this, the south gives us george bush, jr.
hooray for the south.
rednecks, white christian trash, republican snakes...
oh, well...that''''s the south for you, folks!
guaranteed,
warranteed,
money back guarantee,
double your money back guarantee,
will kizz yo'' azz guarantee,
bet my life on it guarantee,
bet my wife on it guarantee,
bet my daughter''s virginity on it guarantee.
ha,ha,ha.
bush loving, southern, republican christian snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south.
he has all the qualifications.
fat, bigoted, republican, christian, drug user, demogogue...
yep, those southerners are taking a good look at rush.
ha,ha,ha.
that''s the south for you, folks!
Shoeshine to attend the chicken dance at Carlos and Charlies with ozone al.
Posted by stonebog at 08:23 PM : Aug 25, 2007
That Swastika you have on Sparky? It''s WAY to tight and cutting off the blood to your very SMALL and insignificant brain. With a mind as small as yours you need every drop of blood to it you can possibably get.... just to function. Sieg Heil Y''all. ROFLMAO
Posted by forthepeopl1 at 02:04 PM : Aug 25, 2007
Woe is me you got me so scared.
AT LEAST IT WON"T BE A REPUBLICAN.
Posted by rharrin1 at 08:20 PM : Aug 25, 2007
LOL Yeah. Didn''t those simple minded freaks say the same thing about Bill? I''d trade those 8 years for this mess ANYTIME! Sieg Heil Bush!!
ONLY 40 PERCENT OF IRAQI UNITS SHOWED UP FOR THE SURGE AND SOME OF THEM SHOT AMERICAN SOLDIERS!
Write and tell that to AIPAC as they brag about buying your Elected Representatives while American soldiers are being killed!
http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm
Congress email http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
House Speakers email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
Republican Party email info@gop.com
Democratic Party email democraticparty@democrats.org
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SUPPORT AMERICAN FIRST
Sitting in his comfy ranch, his every need and comfort attended to, Bush speaks of "bravery in the fight for freedom."
When his troops were freezing and starving at Stalingrad, the German commander in chief, sitting in a warm comfortable room far away, spoke of their duty to show indomitable courage in the face of suffering and death.
Some things never change.
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