Posted on 12/18/2005 3:23:00 PM PST by FairOpinion
WASHINGTON - President Bush will say Sunday, according to excerpts of a prepared speech, that Iraq's elections signal the birth of democracy in the Middle East, arguing against a U.S. troop pullout while acknowledging the doubts of some "that the war is lost and not worth another dime or another day." The president's speech says that last week's voting for parliament will not bring an end to the violence in Iraq, where he has estimated that 30,000 civilians and more than 2,100 Americans have died. But Iraq's election, 6,000 miles away, "means that America has an ally of growing strength in the fight against terror."
The president is to speak to the nation in his first address from the Oval Office since he announced the invasion of Iraq in March, 2003. Excerpts of his remarks were released in advance.
His speech comes amid an uproar in Congress over whether he exceeded his powers in conducting the war on terror with a secret eavesdropping program and on a day that Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Baghdad.
The Pentagon hopes to be able to reduce U.S. troop levels as Iraqi security forces become more capable of defending their own country, but it is unclear when that point will be reached. The usual U.S. troop level this year of about 138,000 was strengthened to about 160,000 this fall out of concern for a potential rise in violence during voting in October and December.
"It is also important for every American to understand the consequences of pulling out of Iraq before our work is done," excerpts of Bush's speech say. "We would abandon our Iraqi friends and signal to the world that America cannot be trusted to keep its word. ... We would hand Iraq over to enemies who have pledged to attack us and the global terrorist movement would be emboldened and more dangerous than ever before."
Acknowledging doubts about his strategy, Bush's speech reads, "Some look at the challenges in Iraq, and conclude that the war is lost, and not worth another dime or another day.
"I don't believe that," it says. "Our military commanders do not believe that. Our troops in the field, who bear the burden and make the sacrifice, do not believe that America has lost. And not even the terrorists believe it. We know from their own communications that they feel a tightening noose and fear the rise of a democratic Iraq."
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., has said the United States should redeploy all troops as quickly as possible because more than half of the Iraqis people "want us out and almost half of them think we're the enemy."
A new poll shows that a strong majority of Americans oppose an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. The AP-Ipsos poll found 57 percent of those surveyed said the U.S. military should stay until Iraq is stabilized.
There is skepticism on Capitol Hill about the U.S. military's ability to sustain forces in Iraq indefinitely and about the ability of Iraqis to carry the load.
"We failed to expand the Army and Marine Corps as many of us wanted to happen a long time ago," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week," McCain said that even though militias control some parts of the Iraqi military and there is still corruption, there now are certain towns where the Iraqi military has been able to take over from U.S. troops.
Regarding a turnover to Iraqi troops, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said Bush "has to tell us how we're going to get there. The people on the ground said there is one battalion that can fight alone.
"The last speech he gave, he used the word `victory' 14 times. What does that mean?" asked Reid, appearing on "Fox News Sunday."
Levin said Iraqis must be told the United States will reconsider its presence unless the new constitution is revised to give the Sunni-Arab community a bigger stake in running the country.
"That's the club, that's the leverage which we must exercise," said Levin. "They've got to unify in order to beat the insurgency."
A disabled Iraq war veteran who is running for Congress in Illinois said she thinks going into Iraq was a mistake.
"We should have been fighting the enemies that attacked us at home on 9/11," said Major Tammy Duckworth, appearing on ABC's "This Week." "We should have been out there trying to catch Osama bin Laden."
Those of you who haven't read it, I highly recommend reading VP Cheney's speech in Iraq today.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051218-1.html
"Now terrorists are making a stand here in Iraq, trying to force the United States to abandon our friends, and permit the overthrow of this new Middle Eastern democracy. Zarqawi has sworn his allegiance to bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda. And recently we got our hands on a message from bin Laden's deputy, Zawahiri, sent to Zarqawi. The letter makes clear that Iraq is part of a larger plan of imposing Islamic radicalism across the broader Middle East, making Iraq a terrorist haven and a staging ground for attacks against other nations. Zawahiri also expresses the view that America can made to run again. But we're giving him an education. We're in this fight to win. These colors don't run.
The terrorists understand what is at stake in Iraq. That is why they commit acts of random war calculated to shock and intimidate the civilized world -- beheading bound men, murdering mothers and children, killing innocent Iraqis at police stations, mosques, buses, restaurants, stores, and on street corners. The terrorists know that as freedom takes hold, the ideologies of hatred and resentment will lose their appeal. And the advance of democracy in this land will inspire reformers throughout the region.
As this region experiences new hope and progress, we will see the power of freedom change our world, and a terrible threat will be removed from the lives of our children and our grandchildren. This is a battle for the future of civilization. It's a battle worth fighting. It is a battle we are going to win. (Applause.)
I know most of you have heard the political debates that have been going on back home. You've heard some prominent voices advocating a sudden withdrawal of our forces from Iraq. Some have suggested this war is not winnable. And a few seem almost eager to conclude that the struggle is already over. But they are wrong. The only way to lose this fight is to quit. And that is not an option.
Terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness. And this nation has made a decision: We will engage these enemies, facing them far from home so that we do not have to face them on the streets of our own cities. "
Somehow, I think there will be more to his speech than
this.
Have the Dems released a pre-buttal yet?
I think it's going to be a short speech, less than 20 minutes, so I think he will point out the successes in Iraq and ask people to continue to support staying the course.
I think it's 50/50 that he will mention the Patriot Act and the NSA monitoring. I think he wants to stay on the key message of Iraq.
But we'll see.
Well, Reid is on FoxNews now, bashing Bush, I guess that qualifies for that.
Who wants to be the democrats are going to do a pre-buttal or rebuttal?
I bet the media is "granting" the time because they have been embarrased by the fact Pres. Bush has been able to by pass the networks.
Well Duh!
Thank God we have a POTUS who is willing to spend some time actually doing what is best for our country first before spending it on what is best for his party.
It is sad when the President has to do a prime time speech to tell the people we had an election in Iraq. MSM is a waste of time.
Yes, Reid is a man of many facets isn't he?
One never knows what his agenda will be before he speaks.
Not if one totes a liberal agenda.
He is also mentioning the fact the the TERRORISTS THINK WE ARE WINNING...lol! How long have many of us been screaming for the WH to reinterate exactly what the Islamists are saying on their little websites and 'Fatwas'? We keep up with those things here, but it never gets enough press coverage in the media. If more Americans heard their vile words of utter hate,they would stay the course no matter what.
ROTFLMAO!
Sadly enough they rely on the MSM to do the dirty work for them as to not leave the dem's holding the bag in case of a miscue before the speech.
I hope the President can (and will) make a good case of bringing to the American people the importance of renewing the Patriot Act.
In the past, the President hasn't used the means available to explain himself -- until way past the time when support was needed.
I hope he gets counsel to speak more openly about why we need the Patriot Act now, more than ever.
A little over two hours from now. I
have been looking forward to this speech since announced.
Give 'em hell Sir.
P.S. No wonder the Democrats are losers. They apparently, judging by Reid's comments, have no understanding of what "Victory" means. Watch a football game Senator. That'll be a good baby step on your way to understanding the context of "victory" and all it encompasses.
Democrats want Bush to fail in Iraq so that they can take back power in 08. Even if that were to happen our foreign policy would not change.
Demecrats apparently believe in victory the same way they believe in ending recounts. It only ends when the commie scum wins.
I can't imagine Reid could even follow a football game. The females in the Democratic leadership are more masculine.
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