Posted on 05/15/2004 3:11:06 AM PDT by snopercod
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Colin Powell emphatically said yesterday that if the incoming Iraqi interim government ordered the departure of foreign troops after June 30, they would pack up without protest, but emphasized he doubted such a request would be made.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
I guess my tin hat isn't in good enough shape for that one.
tin foil
"Bush promised that the Iraqi's could count on our presence indefinitely, until they had a safe and secure country. He should stick to that promise. Publicly".
The President spoke almost these very words, right after Powell and Bremer had both made their initial statements. He was giving a Commencement speech, and stated that we would remain in Iraq until a stable Democracy was in place. By the look on his face, he damn well meant it!
Never fear, "OUR" President IS in CHARGE!
LLS
Bingo! I think we have a winner. Well stated.
I like it. It pressures the UN, the Iraqi's...get it together people. Totally reverses the attitude.
Those calling Falluja a defeat..Peace is a problem? Iraqi control is a failure?
This is the goal, isn't it?
I have heard a Black jack Pershing tale...under local pressure to remove a troop presense, he paid the soldiers in silver dollars, which were soon turning up everywhere.
Locals woke up, it changed thier tune.
What if the UN asks ?
What if France asks ?
What if ....
Instead of Rumsfeld it's Powell who should resign !
Is it that you don't understand diplomacy or that you think Powell doesn't?
I assure you, Powell understands it.
How about assuming both men are doing exactly the job Bush has asked them to do?
Oh yes, I understand diplomacy quite well. That's where a diplomat convinces you that it's raining while he's peeing down your back.
Damn...first time I've seen the actual calendar. Chilling.
Does nobody here remember Viet Nam? We were there "at the request of their government", too.
You understand it well enough to post one liners that indicate you think Powell, and therefore Bush, don't know exactly what they are doing here. I assume they do.
I assume that they do also. The heat has gotten too intense in the kitchen so a graceful way out is being explored. Bremer has stated the same as Powell. The request to the UN is another exit proposal. Expect more trial balloons as time goes by. The idea that we are willing to exit gives the insurgents a reason to believe they are winning. Expect more attacks on our troops as more encouragement is given to them.
I have noticed lately that there have been so much second guessing going on about the way this administration is handling the war on terror, that I have created a new tag for them.
I wonder about those that see every action that does not meet their pre-conceived notion of "victory" as a set back and how we are losing.
For those that lose heart so quickly, I would remind you that the purpose of going into Iraq was not to take over the country, it was to capture or kill Saddam, and his administration of terror. That job is done, anything else that occurs in Iraq is icing on the cake. If we can kill a few more potential terrorist without too much trouble good, but there is no point in destroying a city of 250,000 people to get rid of a few cockroaches.
President Bush gave Saddam and ultimatum, get out of town by 5 or I am coming to get you. Saddam did not leave, and at 5 we went in and got him, and destroyed his government. We could have left at that point, but we decided to take the risk and help Iraq at least get back on its feet.
Some time in the near future, President Bush is going to make another ultimatum, and who ever this is addressed to will have seen Afghanistan and Iraq fall within a matter of a few weeks. That leader will know that they are in the cross hairs, and there will only be one outcome, his death or capture. What is he going to do?
Osama's one weapon, public opinion, make it so bad that the United States turn tail and run. In this he is helped by the left in this country, and our fair weather friends in Europe, do we on this forum want to assist Osama by complaining about every thing that occurs in Iraq?
The one thing that is becoming clear, President Bush is not Johnson, or Nixon, or Carter, and certainly not like Clinton. President Bush has decided on a course of action, and public opinion (or polls) will not sway him from his goals. This is what scares the left more then anything. Up to now, the average politician had only one goal in mind, and that is re-election. I don't think that is President Bush's goal. To Clinton, being President was the goal (others around him wanted the power that goes with the office) but for Clinton, the title and perks was all he wanted and so he was not willing to take on the tough task and as such easily swayed by public opinion (and why he really was not embarrassed over the sex scandal.)
On another, but similar subject, I believe the left in this country have lost their moral anchor, and there is a reason for this.
We (on the right) often complain about the double standard (when someone on the left says are does something stupid, the media gives them a pass, and when someone on the right does something stupid they demand they be punished). There is a silver lining because of this.
The right, must always be careful about what they do or say while the left, having no restrictions can allow their most base thoughts excape out into the world. Without any self editing, the left are beginning to show their real face, and the Amerian people are able to see what they really think and believe. This is a good thing for our side.
The left has made as much progress as they have by hiding their true agenda and hate for this country. President Bush is driving them over the edge, and they honestly believe they have to get him out of office.
There is a reason they want him out of office, do any of you know? I will give you a hint, the Supreme Court.
Who ever wins the 2004 election will be naming at least one, perhaps more Supreme Court judge. This will be the one thing that the next President does while in office that will have the most lasting effect on this nation. The left knows this, do we?
So if you want to help Osama, and you want to help Kennedy and his friends on the left, just keep up the petty sniping at President Bush.
So what you're saying is that Powell lied when he said that if ordered to leave we would? Or is this something the US government in general is perpetuating. We'll tell them one thing and do something else?
No, I am saying they won't ask.
Oh? and why is that?
Read the first 50
I have. I need to see your analysis as to why they won't ask. Please clarify.
"The principle objective of United States policy in Southeast Asia is simply to maintain the integrity and independence of the non-communist nations in that area."--Washington D.C.
January 29, 1964
Did Lyndon Johnson know what he was doing when he said:
"Our purpose in Vietnam is to join in the defense and protection of freedom of a brave people who are under attack that is controlled and directed from outside their country."--Washington D.C.
February 17, 1965
Did Richard Nixon know what he was doing when he said:
"We can now say with confidence that the South Vietnamese can develop the capability for their own defense, and we can say with confidence that all American combat forces can and will be withdrawn."--San Clemente, CA
April 20, 1970
I supported this war back when it was about removing Saddam. I supported it when it was about weapons of mass destruction. I supported it when it was about fighting terrorism in it's own back yard rather then here at home. Hell, I supported it just to kick some arab butt in retaliation for 9-11.
But if Bush and Powell are hell-bent on turning this into another politically-correct war directed by the pointy-heads in D.C., then count me out.
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