Posted on 01/10/2007 8:42:37 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - President Bush promised a diplomatic offensive to win support for Iraq from Middle Eastern countries that, if anything, have become more hostile to U.S. policy in Iraq since Saddam Hussein's execution.
In doses of rhetoric hard to square with facts in the region, Bush portrayed the ordinary people of the Middle East as being behind U.S. goals in Iraq, in his speech to the nation Wednesday night.
And he declared the need to address Iran's and Syria's support for insurgents, without acknowledging his refusal to engage either country diplomatically, as many U.S. allies and the Iraq Study Group proposed.
The war that toppled Saddam Hussein's Sunni-run regime has rekindled the centuries-old divide between Sunni and Shiite Muslims through Middle East, suspicions that have grown stronger since Saddam's Dec. 30 execution.
Bush, who often invoked the Iraqi leader and his "evil mind" in the past, ignored him in the speech.
In Saudi Arabia, the religious establishment — rooted in the hard-line Wahhabi stream of Sunni Islam — has stepped up its anti-Shiite rhetoric. Last month, about 30 clerics called on Sunnis around the Middle East to support their brethren in Iraq against Shiites and praised the insurgency.
Despite such vitriol, Bush said that from " Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian Territories, millions of ordinary people" are asking: "Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?"
Also in his speech:
_Bush declared "al-Qaida is still active in Iraq" and a failed U.S. mission would give such terrorists a safe haven from which to plot attacks against Americans.
Although few quarrel with that appraisal now, it is also the case that Iraq — contrary to assertions at the time — was not a magnet for al-Qaida before the U.S. invasion.
_Bush proposed $414 million to double the number of U.S. civilian workers who help coordinate local reconstruction projects. These State Department-led units, dubbed Provincial Reconstruction Teams, are to focus on projects both inside and outside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. Some will be merged into combat brigades.
He also proposed $400 million in quick-response funds for the teams to do local reconstruction and rebuilding projects.
However, the special inspector general for Iraq said in an October report that continued violence and the lack of security seriously impeded reconstruction. Workers have been prevented from traveling to project sites and the lives of contractors at rebuilding sites are in danger.
The report quoted Iraq's minister of electricity as saying: "Every day I send repair teams, but they can't get to the area; there are too many insurgents ... no one can help."
_The speech also reflected Bush's evolving qualifications about the U.S. commitment to Iraq, not as ironclad now as when he said just over a year ago, "We will stay until the job is done."
The president said in his speech that he made it clear to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Iraqi leaders "that America's commitment is not open-ended."
"If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people — and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people."
Overall, Bush presented a sobering account of the situation in Iraq, in marked contrast to past statements by the president and his commanders that the U.S. was "on the brink of success," insurgents had been "brought to their knees," and "we have broken the back of the insurgency."
His once-confident challenge to the insurgents — "Bring 'em on" — was replaced by grimmer realism.
Even so, Bush rested much of his case on unknowables — among them whether Iraqi leaders can live up to their pledge to free their forces of the sectarian pressures that have severely limited their effectiveness and made some matters worse.
He declared unequivocally that when U.S. and Iraqi forces sweep insurgents out of Baghdad neighborhoods this time, they won't just rush back in. "This time, we have the force levels we need to hold the areas that have been cleared," he said.
___
Associated Press writer Larry Margasak contributed to this story.
Maybe AgitProp should run the numbers on the new minimum wage and see how much more minimum wage earners will end up paying in higher income taxes.
You can't spell PRAVDA with out A-P.
What's to mention? The dude's dead.
I noticed that the general press reaction was that of extreme negativity, but hey...what do we expect. Even if Bush's strategy works, will it be reported that way?
Presedent Bush cannot rely on the the MSM to convey perspective to the American people. He must engage in a marathon PR program to counter them. If not, then even a victory could be turned into political defeat.
The Democratic Party took the bait and are now "bringing it on" at every turn - that is some sad realism.
"His once-confident challenge to the insurgents — "Bring 'em on" — was replaced by grimmer realism."
Yeah, that's because the MSM/Rats teamed up with the enemy and have negatively pounded the WOT and President's effort 24/7 after the initial few weeks of the war.
Most Presidents assume their government will assist to defeat the enemy, but in this case they have helped the enemy.. if there are problems in Iraq it's not for the lack of effort by our President and troops or to any great degree to those we are fighting, half the battle has been lost at home by the very people who swore to protect Americans.
Thanks!
ap definitely had a bunch of stuff in the can ready to let loose.
I missed that one, Thanks!
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