The Return of James Baker, III

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

By MISSY COMLEY BEATTIE

http://www.counterpunch.org/beattie10102006.html

<snip>

James Baker is talking departure from "stay the course."

Meanwhile, the president has continued his Desperation Comeback Tour, crisscrossing the country to campaign for Republicans, stating at every stop that a vote for Democrats aids the enemy and appeases terrorists. His lyrics are the same and he is not harmonizing with the opinion of the public. In fact, George is off key and tone deaf.

Baker has just said, "it's not appeasement to talk to your enemies," something George Bush has stubbornly refused to do during his performance as occupier of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. James Baker has already talked with leaders of Syria and Iran about the future of Iraq.

The task to clean up after Bush is tremendous. Baker is a Bush family loyalist with years of experience. In other words, he is your typical politico, reluctant to rock any boats before the vote. If he were a statesman, he'd say "troops out now." He knows that polls taken in Iraq show that most Iraqis want us out of their country and believe that violence will abate once the occupiers have left. Baker is also aware that al-Qaeda leaders regard U.S. presence in Iraq as their greatest recruitment tool. Further, Baker certainly has examined the National Intelligence Estimate report that terrorism has increased because of the invasion of Iraq. But most importantly, he sees the mounting casualties in Iraq. During the first nine days of October, the U.S. lost 33 troops. Two other coalition soldiers were killed. Hundreds of Iraqis have died this month. And there is this staggering truth: for every soldier killed, eight are wounded...

[C_U_L8R]

1. the babysitter's here

oh george !

[Webster Green]

2. God forbid we should vote on the available facts...

He's protecting the chimp, and his Gang Of Pervs by withholding his grim Iraq assessment until after the elections.

"The votes have been counted and re-counted" -The BFEE Fixer, 2000

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

9. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, he has to...

...say publicly in coming weeks. I suspicion he despises Chimpy as much if not more than we do.

[swag]

3. That nasal, whinging, mildewed corpse.

[longship]

4. That smarmy jerk

:kick:

[AtomicKitten]

5. he's waiting until after the election

to support the Dems' position on Iraq

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

6. I wonder who he actually reports to...

...I don't think it would be Chimpy.

[AtomicKitten]

7. He's a PNAC boy.

They aren't happy with how Junior has executed their dream war.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

8. They are most certainly very unhappy with Junior...

...I think this is the source of the stress that shows so clearly now in all Chimpy's public appearances. He knows the powers that be view him as a problem, and that's not generally a very healthy position to be in---they play for keeps.

[madfloridian]

10. Oliphant was pushing Baker's book on the Franken show today.

It was very irritating.