Tonight, President Bush will speak to the nation about the situation in Iraq. It's about time.
I hope tonight he'll address his words not just to us, and certainly not to Karl Rove or Donald Rumsfeld, but to a young American soldier in Iraq right now -- the soldier carrying an M-16 in a dangerous place where he or she can't tell friend from foe, the marine out on patrol at night who doesn't know what's coming around the next bend. America's brave young men and women deserve to hear the truth.
For too long, the Bush administration's strategy has been to divide not unite, to spin not to lead, to attack their political enemies at home rather than fight America's enemies attacking our troops in Iraq.
It's long past time to get it right in Iraq. The administration's current lack of a coherent strategy is courting disaster instead of doing what's needed for success.
That's what we need from this administration. No more false rosy scenarios. No more happy talk about the Iraq insurgency being in "its final throes" when our military leadership knows that's just spin.
It was with our troops in mind that I offered up a plan for Iraq in a New York Times op-ed this morning. I wrote: "The reality is the Bush administration's choices have made Iraq into what it wasn't before the war -- a breeding ground for jihadists."
As I said in the article and I will say again on the Senate floor today, there's no time to wait this is a time for humility from the White House, and a time to take specific steps to finally get it right in Iraq. It starts by telling the truth, and being straight with Americans.
Here's what I think President Bush needs to address tonight - and we need to hold him accountable:
* The president must announce immediately that the United States will not have a permanent military presence or bases in Iraq.
* The United States must also insist that the Iraqis establish a truly inclusive political process and meet the deadlines for finishing the constitution and holding elections in December.
* We need to put the training of Iraqi troops on a true six month wartime footing and ensure that the Iraqi government has the budget needed to deploy them.
* The administration needs to work not just at security but at reconstruction -- Iraqis need to see the electricity working and the water flowing.
* The administration needs to get Iraq's neighbors off the sidelines -- they can't afford a failed Iraq on their doorstep, and Bush-style unilateralism needs to bend to getting these countries on board.
* And the administration must immediately draw up a detailed plan with clear milestones for the transfer of military and police responsibilities to Iraqis after the December elections. The plan should be shared with Congress.
It's the only way we can set the stage for American forces to begin to come home.
The next months are critical to the future of Iraq and our security. If the administration fails to take the kind of steps I outlined today, we will stumble along, our troops at greater risk, casualties rising, costs rising, the patience of the American people wearing thin, and the specter of quagmire staring us in the face.
I urge you to watch the president's speech tonight with a careful eye and to act in every way possible to demand what our troops deserve - leadership equal to their sacrifices.
Five times he invoked nine-eleven. There is no connection between nine-eleven and Irag. He is attempting to brainwash America and the world into making a connection, which does not exist.
A message Bush is sending, unknown to him, is he stands on very weak ground with his need to use nine-eleven to justify the Iraq war.
We will "stand down" when the Iraqi "stand up."
How can the Iraqi stand up when they are being blown up on a daily basis?
Bush alludes our mission has changed from the "weapons of mass destruction" excuse for Iraq to "stopping the terrorist" excuse in Iraq.
There were no terrorists there before Bush started his war. Iraq is a haven for those terrorist today.
No war plan going in, no war plan now, no war exit plan at all. He is buying time.
How abhorrent of him to commend our troops, which they truly deserve, but behind closed doors he cuts their veteran's benefits.
Our troops were not prepared, lack equipment, lack leadership, and they come home to a cut in their benefits.
On Capital Hill, today, rumors are flying Bush is working towards a "cut and run" policy.
Only one round of applause during his speech, and that applause was for our troops, not Bush.
Bush, a true immoral monster.
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Incidently, that one round of applause, which our troops deserve, was initiated by Bush staff standing off to one side, barely visible. That applause was a deliberate ploy by Bush; a total staged event.
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Purl Gurl, did you catch the Bush lies tonight in his speech?
I have the truth on good authority.
My neighbor knows a mailman who has someone on his route that told him that her cousin works as a beautician and heard the truth about Bush from one of her customers who is the wife of someone in the State Department. Our very own State Department!
It seems there never was any Iraqi liberation/war.
Saddam sent Bush word three weeks before the "war" started that he wanted to surrender if he could have a life in exile.
Bush quickly got camera crews and special effects people together to film a Hollywood staged "liberation" that the world would believe with Saddam's assistance. Saddam readily agreed in return for a life in Orlando's Disneyworld with permanent residence in upper floors of the best hotel on the Disney grounds.
The whole war was staged. Those of our citizens and soldiers who have "died" are actually in witness-protection-like programs with changed identies and eventual reunification with family members.
Car bombings, firefights, etc. are staged daily.
Saddam will undergo a mock trial and be "executed" on camera for the world to see.
Bush wants to make things look progressively worse, with indications of prisoner abuse, etc., until 2006, when a turn-around will start.
By election time 2008 we will have defeated terrorism in the USA as Bush stages our increasing success from 2006 until 2008. Then Republicans will enjoy their greatest ever defeat of Democrats in the elections of 2008.
This brilliant strategy was Cheney's idea - the Halliburton contracts are real and not staged, and Cheney is getting millions, under the table, from these contracts.
We are currently negotiating with Iran to stage military bombings of their nuclear facilities.
So, you were right in telling us about Bush being a liar.
[ June 29, 2005, 18:16: Message edited by: Art ]
-------------------- The light of truth is blinding to most.
More comforting to look only at the shadows of falseness. Posts: 4402 | From: Florida | Registered: Jun 2003
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"Incidently, that one round of applause, which our troops deserve, was initiated by Bush staff standing off to one side, barely visible. That applause was a deliberate ploy by Bush; a total staged event."
How come you didn't tell the whole story? The troops were told not to applause or hurrah. If they were allowed, they would have done it after every sentance and you would have said Bush was using the venue as grandstanding. As usual, you take half the story and spin to your agenda. You're not fooling anyone other than yourself I'm not sure what's more revealing, your one sided facts or your nude pictures
-------------------- Roll Tide Posts: 46 | From: Mobile, Al USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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"The troops were told not to applause or hurrah."
Ah ha!
Our troops were not told that. You need to research before commenting.
Our troops were told to be "polite and respectful," according to several news reports which I watched. Reporters specifically asked about what orders were issued, and specifically asked if our troops were told not to applause.
There was no mention of applause in their orders.
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I heard different, by news reports. Does it really matter. I'm quite sure they would have loved to let loose. They love this President and love serving under him. That seems to make the anti-Bush crowd angry for some reason.
-------------------- Roll Tide Posts: 46 | From: Mobile, Al USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Purl Gurl: "The troops were told not to applause or hurrah."
Ah ha!
Our troops were not told that. You need to research before commenting.
Our troops were told to be "polite and respectful," according to several news reports which I watched. Reporters specifically asked about what orders were issued, and specifically asked if our troops were told not to applause.
There was no mention of applause in their orders.
I second that!
Posts: 1458 | From: Ohio | Registered: Mar 2004
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I don't think using 9/11 will help Bush this time! He is already being criticized for this.
Posts: 1458 | From: Ohio | Registered: Mar 2004
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"Does it really matter. I'm quite sure they would have loved to let loose."
Yes, it does matter. Our troops should have been served cold beer, or champagne, and provided chips and dips during his speech, then told to party down!
Suppressing response from troops is wrongful. It is not right to intimidate our troops. Much of Bush's speech was about honoring our troops, which Bush does not. Those boys and girls should have been allowed to cut loose as often as they please during his speech. We owe them.
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A real president would have approached those troop's commanding officer and advised her,
"Tell your troops to applaud, shout, whistle, or hurrah whenever they want."
Bush would have sent a strong message instead of a hypocritical message, with our troops clapping and cheering in the background.
Dead silence does not lend well to a rally, and Bush's speech was intended to be a rally for our troops. Instead, he presented a lecture, a rather dumbfounding one at that.
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"If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job"
Complete lie. Check news sources and you will quickly discover those top brass who called for more troops to be committed to Iraq, suddenly retired early.
Bush is giving the boot to those of high rank who disagree with him. Reads like Bolton, yes?
Posts: 7504 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Bush will go down as a great president, comparable to Reagan, for protecting the USA. May take 15 years or more. Hillary will help rate Bush more highly by providing a contast to Bush, and events in the mideast, years from now, will confirm Bush's wisdom in his Iraqi policies.
Many liberals want us to fail in the mideast - they hope the terrorists win. That's why they emphasize the USA losses, gloat on the terrorist attacks, say we are Nazis and stuck in a hopeless quagmire, and say Bush lied to us.
-------------------- The light of truth is blinding to most.
More comforting to look only at the shadows of falseness. Posts: 4402 | From: Florida | Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Art: Bush will go down as a great president, comparable to Reagan, for protecting the USA. May take 15 years or more. Hillary will help rate Bush more highly by providing a contast to Bush, and events in the mideast, years from now, will confirm Bush's wisdom in his Iraqi policies.
Many liberals want us to fail in the mideast - they hope the terrorists win. That's why they emphasize the USA losses, gloat on the terrorist attacks, say we are Nazis and stuck in a hopeless quagmire, and say Bush lied to us.
Art, sorry, I can't tell who to whom you're responding....
posted
bamaman is clearly a member of the "Rush" congregation. Since when, pray tell, does the White house staff clue in the members of the congregqtion on their preperations. Do they actually expect me to believe anyone that insist, even after about 50 different groups proved that they concocted excuses to attack Iraq (several before the attack), that the shrubbery might possibly be truthful now (that is, the ones dumb enough to think I would believe anything said by tham any more and particularly those dumb enough to still believe that jerk and his ilk can tell the truth or might even care what it is)?
NO, I DO NOT BELIEVE THE TROOPS WERE ORDERED NOT TO APPLAUDE AND I SURELY DON'T BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE APPLAUDED AFTER EVERY SENTENCE. Lets try maintaining at least some semblance of respect for others and "try" to not present foolish crap (i.e., partisan BS!)as fact!
Posts: 11304 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Art: Bush will go down as a great president, comparable to Reagan, for protecting the USA. May take 15 years or more. Hillary will help rate Bush more highly by providing a contast to Bush, and events in the mideast, years from now, will confirm Bush's wisdom in his Iraqi policies.
Many liberals want us to fail in the mideast - they hope the terrorists win. That's why they emphasize the USA losses, gloat on the terrorist attacks, say we are Nazis and stuck in a hopeless quagmire, and say Bush lied to us.
Art, sorry, I can't tell who to whom you're responding....
Hmmmmmmmmmm............
-------------------- The light of truth is blinding to most.
More comforting to look only at the shadows of falseness. Posts: 4402 | From: Florida | Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Art: Many liberals want us to fail in the mideast - they hope the terrorists win. That's why they emphasize the USA losses, gloat on the terrorist attacks, say we are Nazis and stuck in a hopeless quagmire, and say Bush lied to us.
Liberals live in america and are americans too, why would they want the terrorists to win and the usa to lose, they stand to loose as much as anyone else if america falls. What, do liberals live in a different country and can stand back and say i told you so bushy, now america is beyond repair.. good thing we dont live there..??? I dont understand your logic on this at all, Where are all these liberals that want their economy to collapse? it would affect them too..
And about bush being called a liar, well i guess if the shoe fits, there are many non liberals and non democrats that think he is a liar as well, does that mean that they want america to fall as well? I dont think so, in fact i think they care more about america and dont want to see a crappy unfit leader march us blindfolded head-on into ruin.
-------------------- "Gentleman, you have come sixty days too late. The depression is over." Herbert Hoover 1930 Posts: 678 | From: currently in hiding due to investigation | Registered: Oct 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Purl Gurl: I will go out on a date with him the second Tuesday of next week.
Wow you have a full schedule. I was going to ask you out for this week but you are booked well into the future, and my sheep should be recovered by next week.
-------------------- The light of truth is blinding to most.
More comforting to look only at the shadows of falseness. Posts: 4402 | From: Florida | Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Art: Many liberals want us to fail in the mideast - they hope the terrorists win. That's why they emphasize the USA losses, gloat on the terrorist attacks, say we are Nazis and stuck in a hopeless quagmire, and say Bush lied to us.
Liberals live in america and are americans too, why would they want the terrorists to win and the usa to lose, they stand to loose as much as anyone else if america falls. What, do liberals live in a different country and can stand back and say i told you so bushy, now america is beyond repair.. good thing we dont live there..??? I dont understand your logic on this at all, Where are all these liberals that want their economy to collapse? it would affect them too..
And about bush being called a liar, well i guess if the shoe fits, there are many non liberals and non democrats that think he is a liar as well, does that mean that they want america to fall as well? I dont think so, in fact i think they care more about america and dont want to see a crappy unfit leader march us blindfolded head-on into ruin.
Art: Many democrats are praying for a new 9/11 to insure a Republican defeat in future elections. Hillary would be a sure thing in 2008 if the terrorists score big before then. Al Qaeda is likely planning a series of attacks in the USA for 2008 to influence elections toward a democratic vote. The terrorists would love to see the democrats get into power and the democrats would love to see the terrorists start winning.
-------------------- The light of truth is blinding to most.
More comforting to look only at the shadows of falseness. Posts: 4402 | From: Florida | Registered: Jun 2003
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"If the Republicans were united on this and outspoken and confrontational, we would be in a stronger position and speeches like this last night would not even be necessary."
they are even losing within their own party now that the truth is out...
pulled it from rush's site just now... here's another...
"One person within 184 square miles, and they can't find her. Maybe Natalee Holloway was never there or this is all a stunt and a setup, or maybe the people who say they saw her got it wrong. Maybe the people who said she was there lied. My point is, isn't that's what they're saying about weapons of mass destruction?"
rush still hasn't bothered to read the president's own report which clearly states that sadam aboandoned his WMD programs at the end of the gulf war....
the point? some people will never get a grip on reality, no matter how patient you are with them and how hard you try to get thru to them and help them become part of the human race.... Pink Floyd's song Dogs come to mind.... heres the lines You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder You know it’s going to get harder, and harder, and harder as you get older And in the end you’ll pack up, fly down south Hide your head in the sand Just another sad old man All alone and dying of cancer.
And when you lose control, you’ll reap the harvest that you’ve sown And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone And it’s too late to loose the weight you used to need to throw around So have a good drown, as you go down alone Dragged down by the stone. lyrics were usually by Roger Waters, music by David Gilmore...
the point is karma.... what goes around comes around... be careful what you preach...your own followers are the most likely ones to turn and bite your head off
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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Bush's spin doctors are working overtime today spewing out excuses for the lack of applause for Bush last night.
They have even contested the single applause during his speech was initiated by Bush staff standing to one side, although this was directly observed and filmed.
Posts: 7504 | Registered: Dec 2003
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...The guy from White House advance, during the initial meetings, said, 'Be careful not to let this become a pep rally,' Captain Earnhardt recalled in a telephone interview. Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, confirmed that account.
As the message drifted down to commanders, it appears that it may have gained an interpretation beyond what the administration's image-makers had in mind. "This is a very disciplined environment," said Captain Earnhardt, "and some guys may have taken it a bit far," leaving the troops hesitant to applaud.
After two presidential campaigns, Mr. Bush has finely tuned his sense of timing for cueing applause, especially when it comes to his most oft-expressed declarations of resolve to face down terrorists. But when the crowd did not respond on Tuesday , he seemed to speed up his delivery a bit. Then, toward the end of the 28-minute speech, there was an outbreak of clapping when Mr. Bush said, "We will stay in the fight until the fight is done."
Terry Moran, an ABC News White House correspondent, said on the air on Tuesday night that the first to clap appeared to be a woman who works for the White House, arranging events. Some other reporters had the same account, but Captain Earnhardt and others in the back of the room say the applause was started by a group of officers.
quote:Originally posted by glassman: this is how far out of touch rush is....
"If the Republicans were united on this and outspoken and confrontational, we would be in a stronger position and speeches like this last night would not even be necessary."
they are even losing within their own party now that the truth is out...
pulled it from rush's site just now... here's another...
"One person within 184 square miles, and they can't find her. Maybe Natalee Holloway was never there or this is all a stunt and a setup, or maybe the people who say they saw her got it wrong. Maybe the people who said she was there lied. My point is, isn't that's what they're saying about weapons of mass destruction?"
rush still hasn't bothered to read the president's own report which clearly states that sadam aboandoned his WMD programs at the end of the gulf war....
the point? some people will never get a grip on reality, no matter how patient you are with them and how hard you try to get thru to them and help them become part of the human race....
Art: What is out of touch with reality here? Limbaugh's satire on the missing person reveals the stupidity of those who say the WMD were never there in Iraq and can't now be hidden either in Iraq or somewhere else. Limbaugh is very much in touch with reality.
The reality you can't get in touch with is we don't know what happened to Saddam's WMD. We only know we haven't found them yet. No one can say for sure they have been destroyed - the evidence for this is just not there. No one claims they have all been destroyed. That is the reality you are contuinually out of touch with in many of your posts.
It's interesting that you project your own tendency to misinterpret reality onto me, Limbaugh and others.
-------------------- The light of truth is blinding to most.
More comforting to look only at the shadows of falseness. Posts: 4402 | From: Florida | Registered: Jun 2003
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Purl Gurl:...Terry Moran, an ABC News White House correspondent, said on the air on Tuesday night that the first to clap appeared to be a woman who works for the White House, arranging events.
Art: Why are you so obsessed with the clap?
-------------------- The light of truth is blinding to most.
More comforting to look only at the shadows of falseness. Posts: 4402 | From: Florida | Registered: Jun 2003
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