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White House Chief of Staff Slams Democratic Senator (Josh Bolten slaps Harry Reid)
Hawaii Reporter ^ | 9-5-06

Posted on 09/05/2006 10:29:44 PM PDT by smoothsailing

Hawaii Reporter

Freedom to Report Real News

White House Chief of Staff Slams Democratic Senator Letter to U.S. Senator Reid Sent on the President's Behalf Re: War in Iraq

By Joshua B. Bolten, 9/5/2006 8:36:24 PM

Dear Senator Reid:

Thank you for your September 4 letter to the President. I am responding on his behalf.

A useful discussion of what we need to do in Iraq requires an accurate and fair-minded description of our current policy: As the President has explained, our goal is an Iraq that can govern itself, defend itself, and sustain itself. In order to achieve this goal, we are pursuing a strategy along three main tracks -- political, economic, and security. Along each of these tracks, we are constantly adjusting our tactics to meet conditions on the ground. We have witnessed both successes and setbacks along the way, which is the story of every war that has been waged and won.

Your letter recites four elements of a proposed "žnew direction" in Iraq. Three of those elements reflect well-established Administration policy; the fourth is dangerously misguided.

First, you propose "transitioning the U.S. mission in Iraq to counter-terrorism, training, logistics and force protection." That is what we are now doing, and have been doing for several years. Our efforts to train the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have evolved and accelerated over the past three years. Our military has had substantial success in building the Iraqi Army -- and increasingly we have seen the Iraqi Army take the lead in fighting the enemies of a free Iraq. The Iraqi Security Forces still must rely on U.S. support, both in direct combat and especially in key combat support functions. But any fair-minded reading of the current situation must recognize that the ISF are unquestionably more capable and shouldering a greater portion of the burden than a year ago -- and because of the extraordinary efforts of the United States military, we expect they will become increasingly capable with each passing month. Your recommendation that we focus on counter-terrorism training and operations -- which is the most demanding task facing our troops -- tracks not only with our policy but also our understanding, as well as the understanding of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, that Iraq is a central front in the war against terror.

Second, your letter proposes "working with Iraqi leaders to disarm the militias and to develop a broad-based and sustainable political settlement, including amending the Constitution to achieve a fair sharing of power and resources." You are once again urging that the Bush Administration adopt an approach that has not only been embraced, but is now being executed. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is pursuing a national reconciliation project.

It is an undertaking that (a) was devised by the Iraqis; (b) has the support of the United States, our coalition partners and the United Nations; and (c) is now being implemented. Further, in Iraq's political evolution, the Sunnis, who boycotted the first Iraq election, are now much more involved in the political process. Prime Minister Maliki is head of a free government that represents all communities in Iraq for the first time in that nation's history. It is in the context of this broad-based, unity government, and the lasting national compact that government is pursuing, that the Iraqis will consider what amendments might be required to the constitution that the Iraqi people adopted last year. On the matter of disarming militias: that is precisely what Prime Minister al-Maliki is working to do. Indeed, Coalition leaders are working with him and his ministers to devise and implement a program to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate members of militias and other illegal armed groups.

Third, your letter calls for "convening an international conference and contact group to support a political settlement in Iraq, to preserve Iraq's sovereignty, and to revitalize the stalled economic reconstruction and rebuilding effort." The International Compact for Iraq, launched recently by the sovereign Iraqi government and the United Nations, is the best way to work with regional and international partners to make substantial economic progress in Iraq, help revitalize the economic reconstruction and rebuilding of that nation, and support a fair and just political settlement in Iraq -- all while preserving Iraqi sovereignty. This effort is well under way, it has momentum, and I urge you to support it.

Three of the key proposals found in your letter, then, are already reflected in current U.S. and Iraqi policy in the region.

On the fourth element of your proposed "žnew direction", however, we do disagree strongly. Our strategy calls for redeploying troops from Iraq as conditions on the ground allow, when the Iraqi Security Forces are capable of defending their nation, and when our military commanders believe the time is right. Your proposal is driven by none of these factors; instead, it would have U.S. forces begin withdrawing from Iraq by the end of the year, without regard to the conditions on the ground. Because your letter lacks specifics, it is difficult to determine exactly what is contemplated by the "phased redeployment" you propose. (One such proposal, advanced by Representative Murtha, a signatory to your letter, suggested that U.S. forces should be redeployed as a "quick reaction force" to Okinawa, which is nearly 5,000 miles from Baghdad).

Regardless of the specifics you envision by "žphased redeployment", any premature withdrawal of U.S forces would have disastrous consequences for America's security. Such a policy would embolden our terrorist enemies; betray the hopes of the Iraqi people; lead to a terrorist state in control of huge oil reserves; shatter the confidence our regional allies have in America; undermine the spread of democracy in the Middle East; and mean the sacrifices of American troops would have been in vain. This "žnew direction" would lead to a crippling defeat for America and a staggering victory for Islamic extremists. That is not a direction this President will follow. The President is being guided by a commitment to victory -- and that plan, in turn, is being driven by the counsel and recommendations of our military commanders in the region.

Finally, your letter calls for replacing Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. We strongly disagree.

Secretary Rumsfeld is an honorable and able public servant. Under his leadership, the United States Armed Forces and our allies have overthrown two brutal tyrannies and liberated more than 50 million people. Al Qaeda has suffered tremendous blows. Secretary Rumsfeld has pursued vigorously the President‚s vision for a transformed U.S. military. And he has played a lead role in forging and implementing many of the policies you now recommend in Iraq. Secretary Rumsfeld retains the full confidence of the President.

We appreciate your stated interest in working with the Administration on policies that honor the sacrifice of our troops and promote our national security, which we believe can be accomplished only through victory in this central front in the War on Terror.

Joshua B. Bolten is the Chief of Staff for the president.

Government Watch...

© 2006 Hawaii Reporter, Inc.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Hawaii; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 109th; bolton; joshbolten; murtha; okinawa; okinawarrf; reid; rumsfeld; term2
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To: Mo1

Josh Rocks! Think the dim wits will get it this time? I doubt it, but even some of the media is starting to back away from the Democrats. They must have finally noticed we have stopped reading and watching and more importantly buying what they are selling.


21 posted on 09/06/2006 1:13:03 AM PDT by defconw (Yes I am a Bushbot, so what of it? (Official Snowflake))
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To: Mo1

Josh Rocks! Think the dim wits will get it this time? I doubt it, but even some of the media is starting to back away from the Democrats. They must have finally noticed we have stopped reading and watching and more importantly buying what they are selling.


22 posted on 09/06/2006 1:13:04 AM PDT by defconw (Yes I am a Bushbot, so what of it? (Official Snowflake))
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To: msnimje

Its not they are ignorant. Because the MSM is on their side, the dems think they can score political points by stating "The administration must do (x)" to the public. They know the MSM will not follow up and say "The administration is ALREADY DOING(x)"

It has nothing to do with ignorance. It has everything to do with how the act of writing such a letter will be reported.


23 posted on 09/06/2006 2:25:50 AM PDT by Personal Responsibility (Amnesia is a train of thought.)
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To: msnimje

I believe they say what they say knowing full well that their 'ideas' (use that phrase extremely loosely) are already what is being done or about to be done...they come out and say it so that it looks like it was all their idea and that they got the administration to do things their way. Reid makes me sick, little puke.


24 posted on 09/06/2006 2:44:11 AM PDT by tina07 (In Memory of my Father - WWII Army Air Force Veteran)
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To: smoothsailing

This needs to be read on as many channels and given as equal time as the Reid whining went on yesterday on those channels.


25 posted on 09/06/2006 2:57:19 AM PDT by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))
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To: freeangel; smoothsailing

"This needs to be read on as many channels and given as equal time as the Reid whining went on yesterday on those channels."

In a news search for other reports of this letter, I found none but the White House release.


26 posted on 09/06/2006 3:01:48 AM PDT by windchime (One war~many fronts.)
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To: smoothsailing
Regardless of the specifics you envision by "phased redeployment", any premature withdrawal of U.S forces would have disastrous consequences for America's security. Such a policy would embolden our terrorist enemies; betray the hopes of the Iraqi people; lead to a terrorist state in control of huge oil reserves; shatter the confidence our regional allies have in America; undermine the spread of democracy in the Middle East; and mean the sacrifices of American troops would have been in vain. This "new direction" would lead to a crippling defeat for America and a staggering victory for Islamic extremists...

Finally, your letter calls for replacing Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. We strongly disagree.

Secretary Rumsfeld is an honorable and able public servant. Under his leadership, the United States Armed Forces and our allies have overthrown two brutal tyrannies and liberated more than 50 million people.

100% on the mark.

27 posted on 09/06/2006 3:06:25 AM PDT by GOPJ (Note to MSM - when dems say "jump", you don't have to ask "how high".)
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To: Coop
Regardless of the specifics you envision by "phased redeployment", any premature withdrawal of U.S forces would have disastrous consequences for America's security. Such a policy would embolden our terrorist enemies; betray the hopes of the Iraqi people; lead to a terrorist state in control of huge oil reserves; shatter the confidence our regional allies have in America; undermine the spread of democracy in the Middle East; and mean the sacrifices of American troops would have been in vain. This "new direction" would lead to a crippling defeat for America and a staggering victory for Islamic extremists...

Finally, your letter calls for replacing Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. We strongly disagree.

Secretary Rumsfeld is an honorable and able public servant. Under his leadership, the United States Armed Forces and our allies have overthrown two brutal tyrannies and liberated more than 50 million people.

100% on the mark.

28 posted on 09/06/2006 3:07:02 AM PDT by GOPJ (Note to MSM - when dems say "jump", you don't have to ask "how high".)
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To: smoothsailing

Like to see happen to Reid what happened to little tommy dashole.
Send him back to Nevada where he can go back to shaking down casinos,


29 posted on 09/06/2006 3:31:03 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (an enemy of islam)
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To: msnimje
Why are they so ignorant as to what is actually happening?

They're not. They simply have a very different agenda.

30 posted on 09/06/2006 4:16:53 AM PDT by bcsco ("He who is wedded to the spirit of the age is soon a widower" – Anonymous)
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To: smoothsailing

Harry Reid's impersonation of Tom Daschle "Deeply Offended"
31 posted on 09/06/2006 4:21:45 AM PDT by stocksthatgoup ("Is it real? Or is it Reuters?")
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To: Mo1

Tony Snow was on some show and said that moving the troops to Okinowa was as far from Baghdad as Bangor Maine. LOL


32 posted on 09/06/2006 4:35:47 AM PDT by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: hsalaw
Why can't Reid read?

Too funny. It takes so many paragraphs to issue someone the 1-finger salute in beaurocratize...
33 posted on 09/06/2006 4:45:08 AM PDT by .cnI redruM (The investigation was a hoax. Fitz should be brought up on charges.)
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To: .cnI redruM; ohioWfan; DrDeb; Dog Gone; Rummyfan; Southack; PhiKapMom; Miss Marple; dighton; ...
Your recommendation that we focus on counter-terrorism training and operations -- which is the most demanding task facing our troops -- tracks not only with our policy but also our understanding, as well as the understanding of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, that Iraq is a central front in the war against terror.

What a fantastic letter!! Just brings a tear to the ol' eye. Think it'll get the same amount of air play Harry's hysterics did? :-p

34 posted on 09/06/2006 4:54:50 AM PDT by Coop (No, there are no @!%$&#*! polls on Irey vs. Murtha!)
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To: smoothsailing; GOPJ

Great find and post, Smooth. Thanks for the ping, GOPJ!


35 posted on 09/06/2006 4:55:18 AM PDT by Coop (No, there are no @!%$&#*! polls on Irey vs. Murtha!)
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To: hsalaw
I never understood Okinawa.

Actually it is quite simple really, that is where we had forces ready to go back to Viet Nam in case the North did anything like invade the South back when Murtha was a brand new congressman.

Surely you remember how well that worked.

36 posted on 09/06/2006 4:57:04 AM PDT by usmcobra (Beware of Southerners that start rattling of their National Origins, The correct answer is American!)
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To: Coop

Bwa-ha-ha-ha bump.


37 posted on 09/06/2006 4:58:21 AM PDT by Dinah Lord (fighting the Islamofascist Jihad - one keystroke at a time...)
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To: Mo1; jazusamo; JohnHuang2; Alamo-Girl; Dog; Corin Stormhands; Gopher Broke; Cap Huff; ...
I just read it a second time, for extra grins.

Harry Reid and friends were utterly and completely outclassed by Mr. Bolten. They'd have had a better chance of success had they challenged the Steelers to a scrimmage! I wish Tony Snow (who gave an excellent interview on Hannity & Colmes last night) were still around FR so I could relay my congratulations.

38 posted on 09/06/2006 5:09:16 AM PDT by Coop (No, there are no @!%$&#*! polls on Irey vs. Murtha!)
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To: Dustbunny
About darn time the Administration started calling a spade a spade.

They do it all the time. The media doesn't cover it, just like this marvelous letter will likely be completely ignored.

39 posted on 09/06/2006 5:10:13 AM PDT by Coop (No, there are no @!%$&#*! polls on Irey vs. Murtha!)
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To: smoothsailing; All

I notice this is in the Hawaii Reporter.

Does anyone know if it was sent to other news outlets? Hate to see such a good letter get limited press.


40 posted on 09/06/2006 5:10:55 AM PDT by Gvl_M3
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