Bush adding 21,500 troops to Iraq force - LIVE thread- speech 9pm EST

Yahoo/AP ^ | 1-10-07 | TerenceHunt

[STARWISE]

Unswayed by anti-war passions, President Bush will send 21,500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq and build the American presence there toward its highest level to quell worsening bloodshed. The move puts Bush on a collision course with the new Democratic Congress and runs counter to advice from some senior generals.

Set to announce his decisions in a prime-time speech Wednesday night, Bush was to acknowledge making major mistakes in Iraq, primarily failing to deploy enough U.S. soldiers and demand more Iraqi troops and cooperation to confront the country's near-anarchy.

In advance of Bush's address, White House counselor Dan Bartlett said U.S. military operations have been "handcuffed by political interference by Iraqi leadership" — but now will proceed under rules allowing troops to confront Shiite militias as well as Sunni insurgents.

(snip)

The new Democratic leaders of Congress met with Bush and complained afterward that their opposition to a buildup had been ignored. "This is the third time we are going down this path. Two times this has not worked," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Why are they doing this now? That question remains."

Senate and House Democrats are arranging votes urging the president not to send more troops. While lacking the force of law, the measures would compel Republicans to go on record as either bucking the president or supporting an escalation.

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Carried live online by: C-span

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

He should wear the bear as PJ suggests;

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1762588/posts

[tobyhill]

If they cut off funding I think the Rats and MSM would be more stunned than the military supporters because they wouldn't be seeing the immediate withdrawal like they were expecting and then they're stuck being labeled anti-military based on their vote.

[RushCrush]

I'm insulted by the fact that anyone asks and broadcasts this dufus' opinion (Vilsack)

[Portrait of a Lady]

"God bless our courageous President and Commander-in-Chief and our most awesome military!"


My nephew is one of the 21,500 being deployed. He leaves in one week. This is his 5th tour of duty. Please keep him in your prayers.

[maica]

This one isn't. Call the crusade!


****


I'm with you!

[PhiKapMom]

Isn't that just great -- he is against the UN but for pullout of our troops in Iraq! (sarcasm)

[Chena]

Since you are no expert on the military, let the experts do what is needed. No one is asking you to serve. So sit back and watch the soaps or football. All my relatives in the mililtary support the President.

BRAVO!!!!

[littlehouse36]

Gramma wearing a shawl, of course.

[Fudd Fan]

God bless your nephew and keep him safe. He will certainly be in my prayers.

[Island Dee Little Sis]

He's a complete idiot...Loved the question dodging. But what a way to follow it up! OLLIE!!!!

[do the dhue]

If they wanted to succeed, why would we need 150,000 troops there two to three years after we went there and after Saddam Hussein is dead?

We did succeed. We cut through Hussein's defenses like butter. We failed in conveying the message to the Iraqi's (and they were persuaded too) that we are a liberating force and not a occupying force.

Like the President said, we cleared bad areas but the terrorist moved back. We needed more troops for Security.

Right now, there are 320,000 trained Iraqi Troops. It looks to me as if they will clear these areas again and leave Iraqi Troops in the area to keep it secure.

Our additional troops will be helping the Iraqi Troops secure their Country. I think we should add more Troops, so when the time comes we can bring Adolphmadjihad down too.

[SoCalPol]

Ollie North supporting the Prez, on TV now

[PhiKapMom]

I refuse to watch those two morons! I have my TV on sports right now!

[MamaB]

Thank him for serving. Prayers being offered.

[txradioguy]

My point is...you Goofy Moonbat...that we ARE winning in Iraq. The average Iraq just trying to raise his family WANTS us there and WANTS Iraq to succeed.

80% of the violence in the country happens with in a 30 mile radius of Baghdad and 100% of the MSM won't leave the Green Zone to see what is really happening in the rest of the country.

They count on Sops like you to eat up 100% of what they "report" as the Gospel.

So when they say "we aren't winning in Iraq...the Iraqi's want us gone"...they count on people like you to nod your head and dutifully repeat every word they say.

The soldiers on the ground told the new SecDef they wanted more troops on the ground...the Generals are telling the President to get more troops on the ground.

The majority of this country wants us to succeed in Iraq.

But the Libtards and their willing accomplices in the DBM wasnt us to think otherwise.

[Wolfstar]

He also let the Iraqis know that they better step up too.

Thanks for your reply Jonny. Re the above, that really is the heart of the matter. Building a country is not just about voting and holding up purple fingers. It's about demanding order in the streets, turning in the bad guys, police that put loyalty to the country ahead of their clerics, and so on. If the Iraqis won't fight for their own country, nothing we do will ever matter short of declaring and rigidly enforcing martial law and staying for a generation.

If President Bush made any "mistakes," it was in expecting the elected Iraqi government to take hold of its own country and maybe waiting a little too long for them to do so.

As for Durbin, the man is symbolic of the total disgrace the Democrat Party has become. This morning, AmeriBrit resurrected a thread I wrote and posted on 7/19/03 listing in detail what the Dems (and some Republicans) were saying about Iraq in support of Clinton's policies back in 1998.

The hypocrisy on Capitol Hill these days is so thick I'm surprised anyone can breathe for the sulphuric fumes.

[Fudd Fan]

Ollie looks p-o'd.

[StoneWall Brigade]

82 Republicans in the house voted for the minimum wage increase

[Chena]

Most important part of this night's speech yet NOT ONE PERSON HAS MENTIONED IT!!! Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity — and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq. "We are also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence sharing — and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region." Take in account what the president said above and the ending of the speech and you get the picture. Iran and Syria stop supporting the insurgency or we will strike back. Everyone is to busy talking about the the partisan politics and not looking at the BIG picture.....

Great catch! BTTT

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity — and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria."

We will address Iran and Syria and the Iranians and Syrians know we are going to address Iran and Syria. Somalia wasn't a fluke. It was designed to let both countries know that we may just have boots on the ground there.

If anyone hasn't noticed, in the last week we have taken down many, many Jihadists around the world. I think this "new plan" has been in place for a long time.