Posted on 04/14/2004 2:38:23 PM PDT by Eurotwit
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Many Iraqis expressed relief Wednesday at President Bush (news - web sites)'s willingness to keep U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites) — but even some who saw the Americans as a protector of security feared more bloodshed if Washington sends more troops.
Most Iraqis were at first unaware of Bush's remarks, which were made before dawn in Iraq — too late for inclusion in morning newspapers.
The U.S.-funded Al-Iraqiya television station did not broadcast Bush's news conference. However, a news ticker at the bottom of the screen during regular programming highlighted some of his comments, including his rejection of suggestions that Iraq was becoming another Vietnam — a quagmire without a ready exit.
The two main TV stations in the region, Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera, broadcast excerpts of Bush's statements in their morning news broadcasts.
"I was relieved to hear Bush saying that U.S. troops will remain in Iraq because any withdrawal means disaster in my country," said Razzaq Abdel-Zahra, the owner of auto parts shop. "Every militia will try to take control of Iraq. This will lead to a civil war and subsequently Iraq will fall apart."
Bush has told military commanders to be prepared to use "decisive force" against insurgents, and Abdel-Zahra said that will lead to more unrest.
"Violence breeds only violence," he said.
Grocer Hussein Hamid also said he hoped the Americans would stay.
"If the Americans leave Iraq now there will be a security and political vacuum and the country could reach the verge of collapse because every political party and religious sect will try to control the country," he said.
Entifadh Qanbar, spokesman for Ahmed Chalabi, a member of Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council, said sending in more troops is not a solution to the country's problems.
"The solution is to allow broader and more active Iraqi participation in protecting the security of Iraq by creating new security organizations and a new police force equipped with adequate weapons," he said.
Ibrahim al-Qaisi, who owns a clothes shop in Baghdad, was more skeptical about Bush's motives.
"Bush has to crack down in Iraq because he has an occupation force," said al-Qaisi, adding the president's statements were made "for American public opinion. Bush doesn't care about the opinion of the Iraqi people; he wants to convince the Americans to elect him."
At least 87 U.S. troops have been killed this month in battles with insurgents in Fallujah, Shiite militiamen in the south, and gunmen in Baghdad and on its outskirts. That makes it the bloodiest month for Americans since the military entered Iraq.
Bush said he was ready to allow an increase, rather than the planned decrease, in U.S. troop strength.
"Why send more troops to the country?" asked Haidar Taleb, 32, the owner of a Baghdad bakery.
Bush "is in fact in a second Vietnam. ... American soldiers used to come buy bread from here. Now, they are frightened and don't walk in the streets."
Northeast and West coast journalism schools.
What is really funny is that they don't realize they are a part of history. They don't even know that future generations are going to read their moronic questions with disgust. Future, perhaps more decent, journalism students are going to think about the chances they threw away to ask valid, meaningful questions. Instead they will go down in history asking this president "what mistakes did you make?" and "are you going to apologize?"
I do not condone but I have some insight into the Libs' hatred. Bush shows them up for what they are, what they are not and what they can never be.
I am a boomer too and only slightly younger than W. I came from a working class background in the rural Midwest. In manner and in character - if not in accomplishment and talent - there were many people just like Bush where I grew up. I also went to elite schools including the ivys. To put it mildly, there were less people of this sort there, though more back then there are now I imagine.
Many Boomers thus privileged became these self-deluded little snobs that have it in the back of their minds that they are better than where they came from, and where they came from is the good ole' heartland of the USA, hicks and all. Many of my generation imagine themselves to be a sort of "gentry" or a "natural aristocracy;" that by virtue of what they take to be their superior education, intellect, intelligence, taste and, of course, their "creativity" all should surely see just how exceptional they truly are, that their opinions are naturally superior and that they just obviously have the right to run the country. It is sort of a "Divine Right of Twits."
This notion that they have of themselves is comically at odds with the reality of their pasts, presents and futures. Those of us boomers that did not completely have our heads up our rumps got over this problem by the age of 30 or so, generally went into business (lots went into technology, BTW) and over the course of our (productive) lives became conservatives to one degree or another. The rest of this privileged, indulged, indulgent, cosseted and self-important bunch still cling to this creamy dream world of theirs and in our world they inhabit every parasitic, unproductive and "creative" niche of this society from the Media to Wall St. to Law School to the Academy to the Nonprofit to the political machine of the Democrat Party.
They hate him simply for the reason that he reminds them of what they are not nor could even be. It is thrice cruel, bitter and painful: he squarely put before them not only the awful truth that they are not who they think they are, that not only are they not the sort he is, but they are not even the sort they grew up with. Old Uncle Joe who ran a grain elevator was actually a better person then they are. Little did they suspect this.
And he is just so natural, comfy and happy to be just another plain and simple spoken American, and he went to Harvard too. It drives them nuts.
It is like politely showing a surely drunk the door, and you know how they feel about that.
Hehehe...boy, is that the truth. I wonder exactly why this is so. Does he remoind them not of their fathers but ther grandfathers? Their bosses? The dean of whatever school they went to?
I love to watch this spell he casts on them: The effect is at once magical and comic. Too funny.
The Democrat party is doing to itself what we Republicans could never accomplish.
The "Bad Guys" Attack Us--& Kill a LOT of Ours.
We THEN ATTACK a MAJOR SUPPORTER of the "Bad Guys (MILLIONS of Dollars to the Families of "Homicide Bombers...")
The Bad Guys get SO UPSET that we have attacked them, that they send Dozens of "Fighters" to Iraq.
Our Military--TRAINED to "Deal With" the "Jihardists"--is NOW "Confronted With" the "Best" "Warriors of Militant Islam" in Iraq; NOT in America.
Once again, Tell me how "W" "Got It Wrong??"
The Radical Islamic Suicidal Maniacs are NOW focused on Iraq--where our Soldiers are--Not on America. ---& This is a "Bad Thing???"
I'm EMBARRASSED to have to Say This;--EVERY Psychopathic, Suicidal Jihadist who dies in Iraq is One Less who might Die & Kill in America.
Iraq is "Flypaper" for the Suicidal Psychopathic "Jihardists" of Islam.
Better Iraq than America.
Doc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.