Bremer Speculation - does he want out? kicked out?

[RamboLiberal]

Josh Marshall has some interesting speculation:

Is Bremer out? Is he being promoted? Suspended? Two weeks ago the rumor was that he was trying to resign

I've heard every rumor under the sun today. And all that seems really clear is that something major is about to happen on the ground in the US occupation.

Almost two weeks ago now, Bremer had consultations with senior Pentagon officials. And the chatter out of those meetings said that Bremer had grown deeply pessimistic about his job in Iraq and that John Abizaid, chief of the US Central Command, was advocating some sort of decisive move back toward actual war-fighting to arrest the rapidly deteriorating security situation.

Here's what Kaplan says this afternoon in Slate ...

The guess around the Pentagon is that Bremer's role in postwar reconstruction will probably be scaled back, if not suspended, at least until the war is really over. Whatever the U.S. armed forces do next—and it's a safe bet the change in policy will go well beyond semantics—should not come as much of a surprise. The muddling-through of the past couple of months could not have been sustained much longer, on any grounds.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[leftofthedial]

1. he wants to spend more time with his family

n/t

[leftofthedial]

2. he wants to spend more time with his family

n/t

[Robin Hood]

7. Hahaha!!

He's married to Karen Hughes and together they have a rascally little boy named Ari. They all want to be reunited on the pig farm.

[jenk]

3. Chalabi failed, Garner failed, now Bremer is sick and tired

and the Iraq Governing Council is collectively sitting on there 60 year old asses, doing jack shit.

ALL IS WELL!

[aquart]

4. Get Cheney out of that bunker and send HIM to Iraq.

Let him enjoy the fruits of his labor.

[cliss]

5. let's review his situation:

The situation in Iraq is getting worse, not better. Humanitarian agencies, along with the Red Cross and the UN, are pulling out until the situation becomes more stabilized. "life in a powderkeg".

Bremer knows without a doubt that they are in this for a very long haul. He is surrounded by bodyguards. His compound is surrounded by barbed wire and is armed to the gills, but security is probably very vulnerable.

The fledgling Iraqi council is about to get an F on its report card for the year. Bush is "poised" to dump the lot of them and start over with _____ what?

Most importantly, these Iraqi resistance fighters are sharpening their skills. They are on a learning curve and they are getting very good. There is no shortage of arms, either. Every day, US troops confiscate houses packed with Kalashnikovs, rockets, bombs and various other devices.

In the meantime, Paul Bremer (who is Bush's cousin by the way) has accomplished nothing in the time he took over for General Tommy Franks.

Chances are pretty good he's homesick.

[BrotherBuzz]

10. I concur with your assessment...

[legin]

6. If they are going to up the level of hostilities

I would guess that Bremer is too 'soft' (civilised) for the job, so probably some real bastard will be found to replace him.

[anakie]

8. Rummy - if he had any guts

[jpgray]

9. It does look like he ran with his tail between his legs (nt)