BUSH-LAST DITCH EFFORT TO SAVE FACE & PREP FOR 08- MORE $$$ & TROOPS TO IRAQ (Guardian)

[kpete]

US plans last big push in Iraq


Strategy document calls for extra 20,000 troops, aid for Iraqi army and regional summit

Simon Tisdall
Thursday November 16, 2006
The Guardian


President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to 20,000 soldiers, according to sources familiar with the administration's internal deliberations.

...................

"You've got to remember, whatever the Democrats say, it's Bush still calling the shots. He believes it's a matter of political will. That's what Kissinger told him. And he's going to stick with it," a former senior administration official said. "He is in a state of denial about Iraq. Nobody else is any more. But he is. But he knows he's got less than a year, maybe six months, to make it work. If it fails, I expect the withdrawal process to begin next fall."

The "last push" strategy is also intended to give Mr Bush and the Republicans "political time and space" to recover from their election drubbing and prepare for the 2008 presidential campaign, the official said. "The Iraq Study Group buys time for the president to have one last go. If the Democrats are smart, they'll play along, and I think they will. But forget about bipartisanship. It's all about who's going to be in best shape to win the White House.

The official added: "Bush has said 'no' to withdrawal, so what else do you have? The Baker report will be a set of ideas, more realistic than in the past, that can be used as political tools. What they're going to say is: lower the goals, forget about the democracy crap, put more resources in, do it."


more at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1948748,00.html

[fooj]

1. Here it comes...

:grr:

[kpete]

6. The Decider

and the Denier

[kenny blankenship]

2. To expect the Great Polarizer to do anything otherwise

was highly unrealistic. All Rove knows is polarization. (And of course Bush only knows what Rove and Cheney tell him).
Bush wants to trap hill Democrats into support for his war and into the pattern of accepting his leadership. He will hit them early and often for war appropriations. Congress cannot directly influence troop levels or strategy. They have only 2 levers to halt a President bent on escalating a war or bent on permanent war: catastrophically defunding the conflict or impeaching the President. One of those levers will have to be pulled before this is all over.

Or they can meekly follow Bush's lead for the next 2 years.

Another way to put this is that moderates are going to have to decide whether they are really AGAINST the war, or really FOR it. Bush ain't going to let you steer down the middle. Since the Chimperor is adamantly opposed to a change of goals in Iraq, (quel surprise) and since he commands the military, you can take your pick from
A) Get Out Now, or B) Shut up & Support Our Troops.

[kerstin]

3. Investigate 9/11. Now. n/t

[Golden Raisin]

4. And of course the Bush girls

will be the first to volunteer/sign up for active, frontline duty in this latest "big push".

[gulfcoastliberal]

5. Well, those against leaving Iraq should love this...

I don't understand how any dem thinks that we somehow "owe" Iraq our blood and money. Anyone thinking we are "stabilizing" that country is delusional.

[aquart]

8. Well, we probably do owe them our money.

Millenniums of reparations, I would assume.

[aquart]

7. So if we don't give him all our money and all our soldiers....

well, dammit, then it's our fault if we lose this war.

And Fox News will tell us so.

Nobody has the guts to take away Murdoch's broadcast license, I assume?

[Coexist]

9. General Abizaid was quite clear on my tee-vee today

more troops are not needed:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2725650&mesg_id=2725650

[LiviaOlivia]

10. All that matters

to the little bastard we call President is getting through the next two years without having to order the withdrawl himself.

That is all he cares about at this point, not having to admit his miserable failure in public.

If there is a hell, that fucking weasel is going to burn & burn & burn.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. They probably plan to build towards their fight for Iran.

[The Count]

12. 4 points to victory - so much for those thiming Poppy will get us out

Adopting some of Clark's idea (talk with the countries in the region) - only as window dressing for escalation. The main thing they want : more money!

4 NEW WAYS OF ASKING FOR MONEY

I so hope dems don't allow themselves bullied on it!
As for war as path to 2008, even since Michael reagan said Dems do it, i knew it was projection!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1948748,00.html
Four-point strategy

· Increase US troop levels by up to 20,000 to secure Baghdad and allow redeployments elsewhere in Iraq

· Focus on regional cooperation with international conference and/or direct diplomatic involvement of countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

· Revive reconciliation process between Sunni, Shia and others

· Increased resources from Congress to fund training and equipment of Iraqi security forces

[oc2002]

13. If the Democrats go along with this, it proves they should not be re-elected.

The last push is a hoax, nothing more, a ploy to make it look like there is a way to force change in Iraq. A tactic that has no merrit.

If the democrats accept this without bringing the 'senior advisors' before congress to testify under oath, and make them explain thier 'theory' or why they think it would work when it has failed time after time, then Congress has failed its obligations.

Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

[4_TN_TITANS]

14. Like hell * still calls all the shots in Iraq...

The Dem Congress now controls the pocketbook that finances the whole fiasco. No money, no war....

[Disturbed]

15. Oh, now it makes sense. McLame was calling for 20K more

troops for Iraq. He and Busholini are on the same page of delusion.

[cassiepriam]

16. Dems: Just say no. That is why you were elected. nt