Bush seriously considering agreeing with McCain and ordering more troops into Iraq

[Herman Munster]

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_061213.htm

The White House announced yesterday that President Bush's speech announcing his new policies for Iraq won't be given until January. The reason? CNN's The Situation Room mentioned "senior administration officials" who suggested Bush wants more time because he "is planning to do something big" namely, he is "very seriously considering agreeing with John McCain and increasing troop levels." In fact, the Los Angeles Times reports on its front page that "strong support has coalesced in the Pentagon behind a military plan to 'double down' in the country with a substantial buildup in...troops, an increase in industrial aid and a major combat offensive against Muqtada Sadr, the radical Shiite leader impeding development of the Iraqi government." The Times also notes that strategy would overlap "somewhat a course promoted by" McCain. And the Washington Times says "top military officials with whom Mr. Bush met yesterday backed Mr. McCain's stance."

Other interesting developments catalogued in this morning's newspapers could have an effect on Bush's eventual decision: A New York Times piece says Saudi Arabia has warned the US that, in the event of a US pullout, they may back the Sunnis in any fighting against the Shiites. Another New York Times story reports on a plan presented to US officials by the Iraqi army. The plan calls for Iraqi troops to take over Baghdad security by early 2007. A spokesman for the National Security Council, Gordon Johndroe, "said Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the senior American military commander in Iraq, was assessing the plan." On the other hand, the Boston Globe runs excerpts from the diary of a US officer in Iraq, Army Captain Phillip Carter. The entries cast serious doubt on the feasibility of Iraqi security forces being ready to take over from their US counterparts any time soon.

[Bjornsdotter]

1. Must be channeling Nixon n/t

[onethatcares]

2. where are they going to get them?

are they going to go for the over50 crowd that's been out for 12-20 yrs? Are they going to go into the jails ala those dumbass prison/army movies? Scratch that idea, without a draft and the inherent 2 yr start up, it's not going to happen.

Doesn't the plan sound alot like "VietNamization"? I think we discovered that didn't work too well.

[Imagevision]

6. We currently have 75,000 US. troops in Germany

[Lex]

3. If he does that I predict it will finish killing the Republican party

because it will be a BIG SLAP in the face of the electorate who voted primarily to get rid of as many Rs and possible and get rid of this war!

And Bush decides to send more troops in the face the citizens having spoken loud & clear in November?!

This ought to fishing off the Repub party. Or at least continue the slaughter of it.

Way to go, Bush.

The rest of the Repubs must be crapping their pants.

[zreosumgame]

4. wonder what John got for that?

providing a way dumbaya can say he was just following 'advice'?

[Clarkie1]

5. They certainly won't be withdrawing troops anytime soon, that is for certain.

I hope they don't go this route because it would be disasterous and without a poltical solution just stir up more hatred for the U.S. in the region.

[HughMoran]

7. Bush is a mental defective

He needs to be removed from office - he's lost his marbles.

[Imagevision]

8. This is too close to a dictatorship