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.
Well, that leaves the RATS out from the very get-go. (rolling eyes!)
I love the defense of SecDef Rumsfeld. Too bad Bolton couldn't write what I'm sure he was thinking, along the lines of: "What this country really needs is to get rid of traitorous commie-loving appeasers like you."
S M A C K ! LoL
It's a press release, for anyone to pick up (or blatantly ignore). Suggest you contact individual media organizations and ask them if they covered this release, and then ask them why not.
I thought this was one of the best lines in the letter. He's all but calling Reid a serial exaggerator and snivelling little liar, but he's doing it in such a polished, professional way! :-D
Ping
Senator Reid gets "the arrow of love" from the White House. It's about time the administration answered the insane democrats....Reid first!.
This letter reminds me of my father's aunt ... she was a women with real class .. but yet in a very classic way could make a person look like the nit wit that they were before they knew what hit them .. *L*
Good letter, wrong author. It should have been signed by a college freshman summer intern. That's the highest level of attention in the administration it deserved.
You know, I didn't think anyone could be worse than Tom Daschle, but Reid has him by miles, IMO.....
This is a GREAT letter by Bolten!
Exactly, and I'm fairly sure some of them, especially Reid and Murtha, don't have the intelligence to even realize it.
Harry Reid looks like his family tree had no branches. What a CREEPY WUSSY MEAn guy.
"I wish Tony Snow (who gave an excellent interview on Hannity & Colmes last night) were still around FR so I could relay my congratulations."
Ping Tony on this thread. The your words will get to him.
What can an impotent Democrat Party do when they have no plan and their opponent's plan has been succeeding? Why, steal the opponent's plan and publicy demand that it be implemented at once. Around 50% of the populace will say, "Gee, that Democrat Plan sounds good. Why don't the Republicans try it?".
Outstanding post!!! Thanks!
Do not be deceived.
The RATS are paying VERY CLOSE attention.
They are not ignorant or stupid.
They have an agenda and the President continues to get in the way of said agenda.
They are simply adjusting tactics and rhetoric to have it appear that they give a rip about the country.
If only that were true!
So, they are all plagiarists! ;*)
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