Bush Sees "Defining Moment" In Iraq

President Says Renewed Violence In Oil-Rich Region Presents Historic Challenge

(CBS/AP)  President Bush said Friday that the flare up in violence in oil-rich southern Iraq and parts of Baghdad presents "a defining moment in the history of Iraq" as the government there seeks to rout out Shiite militias.

"It's going to take awhile, but it's a necessary part of the development of a free society," Mr. Bush said at a White House news conference with visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. At the same time, the president said the situation in Iraq remains "dangerous and fragile."

His comments followed U.S. airstrikes in both the southern city of Basra and in a Shiite militia stronghold in Baghdad. The renewed violence came as tensions rose among followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr angry over a crackdown that has threatened to unravel a militia cease-fire.

"Basra has been a place where criminality has thrived," Mr. Bush said. "They are fighting some pretty tough characters... and yes, there's going to be violence, and that's sad."

He said the resurgent violence would not alter his determination to continue his administration's mission there.

"Any government that presumes to represent the majority of people must confront criminal elements or people who think they can live outside the law. That's what's taking place in Basra and other parts of Iraq," Mr. Bush said. "I would say this is a defining moment in the history of Iraq."

"There have been other defining moments up to now, but this is a defining moment, as well," Mr. Bush said. He said the decision to move troops into Basra was testimony to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's leadership capabilities.

"This is a good test for them," the president said.

"I'm confident we can succeed unless we lose our nerve," he added. "It's going to take a while for them to deal with these elements."

Mr. Bush also suggested that his Iraq policy was working because "troops are coming out."

The new Australian prime minister campaigned on a theme of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq. Mr. Bush brought up Rudd's Iraq stance himself in his opening remarks.

Asking and answering his own question, Mr. Bush said he expected a journalist to ask him, "Aren't you mad at the prime minister for fulfilling his campaign pledge? The answer is no."

"I always like to be in the presence of somebody who does what he says he's going to do ... Here's a guy who meant it ... He consulted closely with his friends. His military commanders consulted closely with our military commanders," Mr. Bush said.

The president noted, however, that Australia continues to have troops in Afghanistan and is helping to train Iraqi farmers in dry-land farming.

For his part, Rudd said, "We're in Afghanistan for the long haul."

The two leaders were asked about civil unrest in Tibet and China's crackdown there and both urged China's leaders to meet with representatives of the Dali Lama to discuss the violence.

"It is absolutely clear that there are human rights abuses in Tibet," Rudd said. "It's clear-cut; we need to be upfront and absolutely straight about what's going on."

Mr. Bush said he told Chinese President Hu Jintao this week that "it's in his country's interest" that top Chinese leaders meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

"We urge restraint," Mr. Bush said.

On relations with Australia, said he expects them to "strengthen and endure" under Rudd.

"I don't see differences when it comes to foreign policy," Mr. Bush said. Even so, both worked to smooth over Australia's decision on Iraq.

Mr. Bush called Rudd a "straightforward fellow" and Rudd called the president "George" and joked with Mr. Bush about being from Queensland in northeast Australia, which has similar terrain as Texas.

Rudd said that after he asked Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki how Australia could help in nonmilitary ways, his country decided to send $165 million to Iraq, the bulk of which will go to help train Iraqis on dry-land farming.

[quetzal0666]

"It''s going to take awhile, but it''s a necessary part of the development of a free society," ......


hmmm.. i thought Peace was the Most Nessesary part of a free society?

SHRUB is Saying the Opposite is needed, Bloodshed,
Such a smart fellow you guys elected......

[erpcat]

its all about the oil...........................

[hockeymanvt]

"Mr. Bush also suggested that his Iraq policy was working because "troops are coming out."


Right George, but they are coming out dead and maimed.

[iceman_1960]

Bush sees Opportunity for Renewed Platitudes in Iraq.

[DaveGress]

A recent book talks about these (defining moments, mission accomplished, and turning point sound bites).
The author points out that we''ve had so many turning points over the last few years that we have turned in a circle.

Can''t this guy at least come up with some new phrase? Don''t misunderestimate him though, he''ll probably will!

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush II has announced that he plans to "re-invade Iraq" all over again, and this time do it right, by bombing every city, town, and village in the country, turning the country into one vast "crater"!

Although this would wipe out most of the country''s citizens, and probably tick off the entire Arab world, the Great Emperor wants to show everyone that no one attacks the Great Emperor and gets away with it.

After the "re-invasion", troops from the US(SA), supported by the better equipped, better fed, and better paid mercenaries from Blackwater US(SA) will "mop up" what is left, killing and torturing those citizens unlucky enough to be still alive. The Great Emperor will then visit the former Iraq, and in a major photo op, rename the country "Bushland" and include it into the Emperor''s empire to be called "The United Republican Neocon States of Emperor Bush II"!!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil (more of the same), McCain????

[j-whitman]

"Return on Success" ???? ---- Listening to Bush & McBush there''s been so much success we shouldn''t have a single troop in Iraq.

What was that George ?? Withdrawals on hold ???

[iceman_1960]

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the Battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country."

- George Idiot Bush, May 1, 2003.

5 Years later...

"The situation in Iraq remains dangerous and fragile. Basra [like Washington D.C.] has been a place where criminality has thrived. They are fighting some pretty tough characters... and yes, there"s going to be violence, and that"s sad."

George Idiot Bush, March 28, 2008
------------------

Now lets all vote for John McSame,

an older, dumber version of George Idiot Bush.

[ubikvalis2]

Just a few more turning points, mission accomplished, defining moments and MILLENIA of civil war and Iraq will be a calm and peaceful utopia.

[fiteit1]

"Any government that presumes to represent the majority of people must confront criminal elements or people who think they can live outside the law. That''s what''s taking place in Basra and other parts of Iraq," Bush said.

Who would know better about living outside the law than Bush?

[truthspeake2]

"It''s going to take awhile, but it''s a necessary part of the development of a free society," Mr. Bush said...


Then they can emulate all the glorious aspects of our current "free" society...corruption, election fraud, housing debales, high energy prices, high food prices, racism, justice only for the rich, murder each other in the streets, global polution and warming, corporate greed, government corruption, etc., etc.

Isn''t "freedom" wonderful!

[steeepe]

The defining moment in Iraq was when the US invaded in 2003. The last five years have been an effort to fix the country we broke and on which we spent 4000 American lives and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars. Bush, Cheney, and their advisors are a bunch of criminal fools.

[mudrose-2009]

Not wasting time on the wasted nonsense of most of these posts. Al-Malike is trying to get the militias under control via the new Iraqi military. It is a defining moment.

[cfin5]

I don''t feel like saying anything bad today. Heard enough already with that little girl dying of cancer......So, I think President Bush has improved a lot in how he talks this last month or so. It''s like listening to a real American speak his mind. Don''t agree with everything, but I do like someone talking plain and frank to me as I would him. Hope the things our leaders do this year compliment our Constitution as to what it says,......not what he or anyone else says it says.

[iceman_1960]

"The new Australian prime minister campaigned on a theme of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq. Mr. Bush brought up Rudd"s Iraq stance himself in his opening remarks. Asking and answering his own question, Mr. Bush said he expected a journalist to ask him, "Aren"t you mad at the prime minister for fulfilling his campaign pledge? The answer is no."
---------------------------

Our next President is campaigning on a theme of withdrawing American troops from Iraq.

It"s a winning platform.

[iceman_1960]

"Not wasting time on the wasted nonsense of most of these posts."
- Posted by mudrose at 01:14 PM : Mar 28, 2008
-------------------

Like Bush, mudrose won"t be able to keep his word.

Neither one would know a "defining moment" if it fell on them.

[briannorwood]

Bush Sees "Defining Moment" In Iraq ...

Hey dumdum, the "defining moment" was when you and your neocon buddies decided to go into that place to begin with!

[mudrose-2009]

It"s a winning platform.

Posted by Iceman_1960

It sure is. al-Qaeda loves it.

[sharncedar]

"I''m confident we can succeed unless we lose our nerve," he added.


Ahh, Bush. How we will miss him.

[mcvet]

It sure is. al-Qaeda loves it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mudrose at 01:19 PM : Mar 28, 2008
+ report abuse

How do YOU know what Al Queda want''s? If you have ANY inside info I do wish you would forward it to that loser Bush! It''s hard to imagine anyone doing worse right now so he needs all the help he can get!! Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Not wasting time on the wasted nonsense of most of these posts. Al-Malike is trying to get the militias under control via the new Iraqi military. It is a defining moment.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by mudrose at 01:14 PM : Mar 28, 2008
+ report abuse

Yeah? Well how many defining moments have we had in the 6 month war that''s now entering its 6th year? How many lies have you come on here with like this only to get very angry 6 months later when it''s shown that you were just being a bootlicker? Sieg Heil Bush

[missingamerica]

lollll...too late, Bush...you had your "defining moment" there on that aircraft carrier way back...

[iceman_1960]

"It"s a winning platform."
Posted by Iceman_1960

"It sure is. al-Qaeda loves it."
Posted by mudrose at 01:19 PM : Mar 28, 2008
---------------------------

So does Bush.

He said so.

He approves of his ally Australia"s decision.

Don"t mention al-Qaeda and Iran together, though. It confuses John McCain.

[prinzowhales]

Having Bush talk about democracy and fighting criminality is like having that Hilton girl speak out on the virtues of virginity...The "defining moment" has come and gone--the Green Target is, after five years still under fire in the capital and the second largest city in Iraq is under the control of free Iraqis....Mission Accomplished...Home by Christmas...Surge...Permanent Surge...Defining Moment...blahblahblahblahblah...anything to continue the Stupid Peoples'' War for the sake of Big Oil, Israel, and the Almighty Dollar.

[sharncedar]

"There have been other defining moments up to now, but this is a defining moment, as well," Mr. Bush said.



Bush will be able to make a living as a stand-up comic portraying himself.

[iceman_1960]

John McCain as a star in Dr. Strangelove...

Hilarious...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0nqtL-P8kzo


[Note: to visit a URL fractured by CBS, like the above...

Copy it to your email notepad;

Join it together into one string;

Copy/Paste the result to the browser address field]

[stevex47]

Mudrose, youre right again. Al Qaeda does love it. Bush was the best recruiter they could ever hope for.

There wasn''t one al qaeda within 1000 miles of iraq before we invaded. Bush, Powell, Cheney, Rove...they plotted this(conspiracy) while lying to the world about WMD''s.

NO PARDONS for ANYONE from this joke they call an administration.

[pvperson]

Defining moment huh, this must be when the Iraqis stand up for themselves. Oh shoot, they only made it two days and then had to call in both the British and American forces. I guess we need to give them more time. Another ten or twenty years will do it, I''m sure.

[iceman_1960]

"This is a defining moment, men..."

Last words of George Armstrong Custer.

[Custer finished at the bottom of his class at West Point, as John McCain did at Annapolis.

Let the voter beware...]

[armydog2]

Perhaps this is a defining moment. The Iraqi''s are making a stand and according to Maliki will not give up. It is about d-a-m-n time they started fighting for themselves. The iraqi''s stand up, we stand down. That is what georgie boy said. Here is your defining moment georgie,keep your word.

[getcentered]

Yea!!! Another DEFINING moment!! Yea!

Hey Americans!!!! Don''t ask yourself why this is happening.......with our invasion and occupation of Iraq, we dropped the ball elsewhere. What will now become of Pakistan? When we picked the wrong battle we might have just gave al-Qaeda members a country. Armies have spent millions of lives in these regions, and it''s still barley under anyone%u2019s control. If we want to win in Afghanistan this is where the focus of our military endeavors need to be. Besides didn%u2019t the al-Qaeda attack us on 9/11? We can not have the best military in the world if we do not know how to pick our battles.............. meanwhile .........The deception metastasizes as the months and causalities mount............... The President who was never deigned to go to Dover Air Force Base to salute the fallen who are coming home says no photographs of their coffins can be permitted because that would hurt the feelings of the families. This is false, tragically false; the real reason is that day after day the photos would starkly reveal the price of Bush%u2019s folly.

[iceman_1960]

"The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict"

by Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and Harvard professor Linda J. Bilmes

Published this month.

[forthepeopl1]

Fielding questions after his speech, Paulson said that "innovation always precedes regulation in our economy" and suggested that oversight needed to catch up. OK PAULSON MY INNVATION IS TO BURN DOWN MY HOUSE,INSTEAD OF GIVEN IT TO THE SCUM BAGS THAT LIED ABOUT THE VALUE..

Once again Paulson defended the government''''''''''''''''s role in coming to the aid of Bear Stearns - which has been criticized by some Democrats and others as akin to a federal bailout.

AND 100 MILLION AMERICANS ARE FACEING BANKRUPY, SO WERE IS MY BAILOUT..AND WE DIDN''''''''''''''''T LIE ABOUT THE VALUE OF OUR HOMES..THEY DID,


"Bear Stearns found itself facing bankruptcy,"
Paulson said. "The Federal Reserve acted promptly to resolve the Bear Stearns situation and avoid a disorderly wind-down. It is the job of regulators to come together to address times such as this; and we did so. Our focus was the stability and orderliness of our financial markets."

Paulson said the administration will explore ways to help struggling homeowners at risk of losing their homes.

In addition, he rejected the need for a "systemwide solution" to deal with homeowners who have no equity in their home. That''''''''''''''''s when one''''''''''''''''s mortgage eclipses the value of their home.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke recently urged lenders loans.SAYING 30 OR 40 OR EVEN 50 PERCENT REFI IS BETTER THAN A BURN DOWN HOME..

[anonymous010]

Interesting...Bush sees a defining moment, and I see a Bush-created clusterf***.

[iceman_1960]

"Mr. Bush called Australian Prime Minister Rudd a "straightforward fellow"
------------------

America will have a straightforward leader next year.

It won"t be Senator "G*ay Talk" McCain.

[colvinatch]

Another defining moment = another bush lie.

[tbweb]

The entire World is glued to the U.S. Presidential Election season and events in Iraq. Iraqis in particular hang on every word from U.S. Presidential Candidates. The Democrats want out of Iraq, the Republicans want in, to stay in Iraq, the Iraqis see the handwriting on the wall and are starting to make their move, starting in Basra! The F-R-E-E-D-O-M egg has hatched, the F-R-E-E-D-O-M bird has cracked its protective shell and popped its little head out, we''ve seen this freedom play before, watch and learn, Its on!

[getcentered]

Lets recap:

9/11 Terrorist attack%u2026%u2026%u2026.
The WORLD gets behind the USA to support whatever action, against those who caused this attack%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026..
Bush declares WAR on the Taliban in Afghanistan%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026..
Allies of the USA unite, and go into Afghanistan ready to kick some a**%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026
Bush declares WAR on Iraq%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026.
The world allies question this decision, and are chastised by the Bush admin for doing so%u2026%u2026%u2026.
The world allies remove support in dismay at the decisions of the Americans to attack Iraq%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026.
The US stands alone in Iraq.....................
Americans die in an unnecessary war in Iraq and the cause of the 9/11 terrorist attacks are lost in the minds of Americans........................

Can we say digress?????

[sgtrds]

Definition.....complete and utter failure.

[singingrick]

The only thing that Bu$h has accomplished in office is making his friends rich while making the rest of the nation poorer and causing the deaths of thousands of Americans in the process.

[iceman_1960]

"Mr. Bush said he told Chinese President Hu Jintao this week that "it"s in his country"s interest" that top Chinese leaders meet with representatives of the Dalai Lama, Tibet"s exiled spiritual leader.

"We urge restraint," Mr. Bush said.
------------------

Privately, the Chinese leaders must be convulsed with laughter about hearing this lecture from Bush.

It"s like getting sobriety counseling from the town drunk.

[frankson2]

ONE OF DOPEY''S SPEECH WRITERS MUST HAVE WRITTEN "DEFINING MOMENT" ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND SLIPPED IT TO HIM TO USE. SOUNDS IMPRESSIVE, BUT WHAT THE HELL IS HE TALKING ABOUT? IF YOU ASKED HIM WHAT IT MEANS, HE''D PROBABLY STARE BACK WITH THAT MORONIC GRIN OF HIS AND SHRUG HIS SHOULDERS.

[getcentered]

"Privately, the Chinese leaders must be convulsed with laughter about hearing this lecture from Bush."

"It"s like getting sobriety counseling from the town drunk."- Iceman_1960

OOOhhhh---nice shot........!

[getcentered]

DUKES!! I''m glad to see some passion out of the Dems!!! If the Dems stay mad and focused until Nov. the GOP will be trashed........good riddance....

[displeased]

We''ve been experiencing a "defining moment" since January 20, 2001

[displeased]

"It''s going to take awhile, but it''s a necessary part of the development of a free society," Mr. Bush said

When are we going to learn that not all countries are capable of a free society. And it''s not our job to force them into submission. As soon as we leave Iraq, the warlords will continue their civil war. The chance of success for a peaceful Iraq is about the same as the volatile Afghanistan.

[rowdytexan2]

Let''s see, the South and the folks there have big oil. Bush''s puppet government is down there killing them as Sadr won''t quit putting pressure on the Iraqi puppet al-Malaki to NOT sign the oil PSA agreements.

The Iraqi puppet al=Malaki takes Iraqi soldiers down there and murders them all so it won''t that US soldiers can''t be blamed for the killing of these people except for the air support.

NICE LITTLE SCAM YOU''VE GOT GOING THERE BUSH!

[joyous88]

the idiot never mentions the security these poor people had before his stupid and illegal immoral
invasion

bush is a war criminal

republicons are Un American

[demslie]

The entire World is glued to the U.S. Presidential Election season and events in Iraq. Iraqis in particular hang on every word from U.S. Presidential Candidates. The Democrats want out of Iraq, the Republicans want in, to stay in Iraq, the Iraqis see the handwriting on the wall and are starting to make their move, starting in Basra! The F-R-E-E-D-O-M egg has hatched, the F-R-E-E-D-O-M bird has cracked its protective shell and popped its little head out, we''''ve seen this freedom play before, watch and learn, Its on!

Posted by tbweb

How stupid can the Democrats be?? The Iraqi people have stated their fear that Ameicans will leave too soon because the Al Qaeda terrorists are being supported from outside Iraq and want to enslave the Iraqi people just like they did in Afganisan. Why do you think Al Qaeda is targeting the "Awakenig Counsels" that are trying to bring peace in Iraqi neighborhoods? What part of freedom are you Democrats seeing in Terrorist Geoncide? But the answer is of course, Democrats don''t give a DAMNN about freedom. They have the same evil hate agenda for America that IRAN and Al Qaeda have. Thats why no Democrat here has said a word about the fact that IRAN planned this entire operation in Basra and give millions of dollars in weapons to the Muqtada al-Sadr ARMY while Muqtada al-Sadr himself is given exile and full support in IRAN. Yes, let just talk about the real problem, America is Bad.

[inventagod]

Mission Accomplished???