Bremer leaves Iraq suddenly...

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[ClintonBeGone]

U.S. governor, Paul Bremer, has left for Washington at short notice and canceled a meeting on Tuesday with visiting Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller, the Polish delegation said.

Officials in the U.S.-led administration had no immediate comment on Bremer's trip to Washington

[jethropalerobber]

In a nut shell, he said that they were considering taking the gloves off and bashing some heads if attacks continued in some of the hot spots like fallujah.

what a great plan.

that's worked really effectively for the israel occupation in recent years - i'm sure it will work great for us too.

[TexKat]

Insurgents Fire Mortars in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents fired mortars after sundown Tuesday in the center of the Iraqi capital, and two rounds exploded within the American headquarters area known as the "green zone," the U.S.-led coalition said.

There were no reports of damage or casualties after up to eight detonations thundered through the heart of the capital shortly after 9:30 p.m.

In a statement issued late Tuesday, the Coalition Provisional Authority said two projectiles exploded in the green zone but caused no casualties. The statement said there was no damage to the coalition headquarters, located in the Republican Palace.

After one of the detonations, white smoke could be seen rising from an area just north of the palace.

Iraqi guards working for Iyad Allawi, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, said they counted at least six detonations near the area, along the west bank of the Tigris River.

Iraqi police began setting up checkpoints in the center of the city in an effort to apprehend those responsible.

[Hatteras]

"Both Saddam and Osama will be captured on October 31 or November 1, 2004."

SURPRISE!

[StriperSniper]

Both Saddam and Osama will be captured on October 31 or November 1, 2004.

Well they better not forget to take them out a good week or so before to thaw. ;-)

[CyberAnt]

Yes .. I heard that too!

[aristeides]

Bremer is known to support higher troop levels in Iraq. If Bush is considering overruling Rumsfeld and sending more troops to Iraq, it is possible Bremer's presence is required in meetings.

[ClintonBeGone]

President Bush is not motivated by what the democrats SAY or DON'T SAY.

Tell that to Carl Rove.

[ClintonBeGone]

Come on... I'm a Bush fan... but this statement is complete denial.

LOL DING DING DING even *I* haven't drank that much koolaid.

[StriperSniper]

Don't know why they heard six explosions. Secondaries? Echoes?

Counting launch and echo was my thought on why some may have reported the number multiplied by factors of two and three.

[BlueElephant]

That's what I think. He's a target.

[lasereye]

But the stready passage of time without Saddam 'proving' he is alive -- to his own supporters

Every article of that trope that I've read cites "CIA sources" or "intelligence sources", which is NOT the CIA speaking -- it's the lib media pulling a "Gilligan".

What would prove Saddam's still alive?

From the Fox News website:

WASHINGTON — The CIA says an audio recording purportedly of Saddam Hussein denying involvement in last week's bombing in Najaf is probably authentic.

A CIA official said the poor quality of the audio message, aired Monday on the Arabic al-Jazeera television network, prevents technical analysts from being certain.

In the message, the voice urged the Iraqi people not to believe those who blamed the ousted dictator and his followers for Friday's attack on the Imam Ali Shrine (search) in Najaf that killed Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim (search) and scores of others.

I guess Fox News is making things up too.

[BriarBey]

I've been at a pucker-factor of 6 all day. Do you rate yourself higher than that?


ROFLMAO!!!!!

YEP I think I can top that!!

[TexKat]

A U.S. soldier of the 1st Armored Division contacts his headquarters as another soldier looks on at a joint check point with Iraqi Police in central Baghdad soon after a series of strong explosions, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

A U.S. soldier of the 1st Armored Division gestures as an Iraqi policeman searches a car at a joint check point in central Baghdad soon after a series of strong explosions, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

US soldiers of the 1st Armored Division search an Iraqi driver during a joint check point with Iraqi Police in central Baghdad soon after a series of strong explosions, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Iraq's U.S. governor Paul Bremer has arrived in Washington and is expected to meet soon with top officials at the White House, a U.S. official said November 11, 2003. Bremer speaks at news conference at the Pentagon, September 26, 2003. Photo by Yuri Gripas/Reuters

[TexKat]

Wednesday when their was a controlled detonation people reported several blasts. But one of the Fox News reporters that is in Baghdad said that there were echoes.

[Ceoman]

Have not read all the previous posts...but on one show this past Sunday, cannot remember which one, someone "predicted" that Bremer would be gone (also, I think on McLaughlin, Tony predicted that Tenet would be gone too by the end of the year)

[TexKat]

Bremer in Washington as White House Mulls Iraq Approach

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraq's U.S. governor, Paul Bremer, returned abruptly to Washington on Tuesday for a White House meeting seen as a decision-making session as the Bush administration considers changes in its postwar approach to the country.

"When decisions need to be made, Bremer comes. Some decisions need to be made," one U.S. official told Reuters.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was no expectation Bremer would be leaving his post.

Bremer's return for what officials called "consultations" comes amid growing frustration in Washington with the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council and what some officials say is increasing friction with Bremer himself.

With a recent surge in attacks on U.S.-led forces occupying Iraq, local people cooperating with them and international organizations, Washington has been seeking ways to reduce the U.S. presence and defuse hostility by shifting more control to Iraqis.

Bremer left Baghdad for Washington on short notice and canceled a meeting on Tuesday with visiting Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller, the Polish delegation in Baghdad said.

A senior administration official confirmed Bremer's meeting at the White House was over but declined to provide details. Bremer is "working with the governing council," was all he would say.

President Bush (news - web sites), speaking to the Heritage Foundation think tank on Tuesday, stressed the U.S. goal of establishing a democratic government in Iraq that could be a model for the Middle East.

"Under our strategy, increasing authority is being transferred to the Iraqi people," he said.

The administration is considering changes in the structure and timing of Iraq's transition to self-governance, including possible alternatives to the governing council to ensure the United States will be able to turn over power as troops are withdrawn, the Washington Post reported.

U.S. officials have also been debating whether to reconstitute some units of the old Iraqi army to speed the buildup of indigenous security forces.

Asked on Monday about U.S. unhappiness with the council, spokesman Scott McClellan dismissed that as "speculation."

The U.S. focus is on ensuring the council meet a Dec. 15 U.N. Security Council deadline to set a timetable for drafting a constitution and holding democratic elections, he said.

Other officials told Reuters there was growing friction between Bremer and Washington over Bremer's resistance to accelerating the transfer of authority to Iraqis.

"I think Bremer thinks he can do the job (of stabilizing Iraq and putting it on the road to democracy) better than the Iraqis and you know, he's right," said one senior official.

"But that's not the issue," the official added.

A major foul-up occurred last week when Turkey withdrew its offer to send troops to Iraq after the Iraqi Governing Council made clear its opposition.

One U.S. official, calling the outcome a "debacle," said it was Bremer's Coalition Provisional Authority that was in touch with the Iraqi council and relayed its views to Washington.

Some experts say Bremer opposed Turkish troops in Iraq because it would fuel tensions with Iraqi Kurds. If Washington could not insure Iraqis would accept the Turks, it should never have asked Ankara to approve the deployment, critics say.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. maybe it does motivate Karl Rove .. but the ultimate decision to respond or not repond is the President's. Recently, the President made a comment in a meeting to his staff .. "forget next year is an election year .. we must do what's right".

That doesn't sound to me like the President is led around by what the dems say or don't say.