What Do You Think of Bush's Speech?
Last night Bush addressed the nation to lay out his new plan for Iraq. Really it isn't a new plan - just a supersized version of his old one. Keep the troops there - and add about 21,500 more.
Bush is really faced with a lose-lose situation. We are in over our head and the American people are crying for change. We have over extended our troops (and pocketbooks) and we can't leave behind a huge mess now by leaving.
Here are some quotes by the administration and politicans in reaction to the speech:
"Last night the president chose, fundamentally, to ignore the foundation built by the Iraq Study Group, the foundation built on a bipartisan basis here, and knowingly and willfully has divided the country yet again, and the Congress over this issue." — Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
"To ask our young men and women to sacrifice their lives to be put in the middle of a civil war is wrong. It's, first of all, in my opinion, morally wrong. It's tactically, strategically, militarily wrong." — Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.
"Americans broadly agree — and we in the administration count ourselves among them — that the situation in Iraq is unacceptable." — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"We can't afford to continue this course. I have consistently called for the redeployment of our military from Iraq, but now Congress must use its main power — the power of the purse — to put an end to our involvement in this disastrous war." — Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.
"American patience is limited, and obviously if the Iraqis fail to maintain their commitments we'll have to revisit our strategy." — Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
"I fear that what the president has proposed is more likely to make things worse." — Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Del.
"It seems as though a solution to the problem is always six months away." — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Iran and Syria say they oppose Bush's plan, the Iraqi government backs it and it seems like the people of Iraq are skeptical.
So what other choices are out there? Are we screwed no matter what?
Bush is really faced with a lose-lose situation. We are in over our head and the American people are crying for change. We have over extended our troops (and pocketbooks) and we can't leave behind a huge mess now by leaving.
Here are some quotes by the administration and politicans in reaction to the speech:
"Last night the president chose, fundamentally, to ignore the foundation built by the Iraq Study Group, the foundation built on a bipartisan basis here, and knowingly and willfully has divided the country yet again, and the Congress over this issue." — Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
"To ask our young men and women to sacrifice their lives to be put in the middle of a civil war is wrong. It's, first of all, in my opinion, morally wrong. It's tactically, strategically, militarily wrong." — Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.
"Americans broadly agree — and we in the administration count ourselves among them — that the situation in Iraq is unacceptable." — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"We can't afford to continue this course. I have consistently called for the redeployment of our military from Iraq, but now Congress must use its main power — the power of the purse — to put an end to our involvement in this disastrous war." — Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.
"American patience is limited, and obviously if the Iraqis fail to maintain their commitments we'll have to revisit our strategy." — Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
"I fear that what the president has proposed is more likely to make things worse." — Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Del.
"It seems as though a solution to the problem is always six months away." — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Iran and Syria say they oppose Bush's plan, the Iraqi government backs it and it seems like the people of Iraq are skeptical.
So what other choices are out there? Are we screwed no matter what?
posted by Shawn at 4:54 PM
1 Comments:
One small point I read today that seems to be a very telling factor thatthis new strategy is all talk: the 20,000 + troops break down into 5 brigades. 4 of those brigades were already scheduled to go to Iraq. their deployment time is just being pushed up from a few months to now. The President is essentially getting everyone excited on the deployment of one new brigade to Iraq. seems like not much of a foundation.
The point about Iraqi troops taking more responsiblity for the command and control of the country is also transparent. Wasn't that the plan all along?
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