Bush plans 'major speech' on Iraq, terrorism

CNN ^ | October 5 2005

[jmc1969]

Bush will deliver a "major speech" speech Thursday on the progress of the war in Iraq and the broader conflict against terrorism, the White House said Wednesday.

Bush will deliver his remarks at 10:10 a.m.

"Over 30 percent of the Iraqi troops are in the lead on these offensive operations. We've got troops embedded with them, and that's an important part of the training mission," he said.

Bush to give greater detail White House press secretary Scott McClellan characterized Bush's planned remarks Thursday morning as a "major speech" that will address the connection between Iraq and the broader war against the al Qaeda terrorist network "in greater detail than he has before."

"He will talk about how [al Qaeda] is a group of people that have a very clear strategy for driving us out of the Middle East, for creating a safe haven in the Middle East -- a safe haven from which they can plan and plot attacks on the rest of the civilized world and a safe haven from which they can seek to overthrow moderate governments in the Middle East," McClellan said.

McClellan said the address "is not a speech on Iraq," but Bush "will talk about Iraq in the context of the broader war on terrorism."

Bush has tried repeatedly to link Iraq to the anti-terror campaign launched after al Qaeda's September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

U.S. and Iraqi forces have carried out a number of operations in western Iraq in recent weeks aimed at disrupting insurgent control in the region and targeting al Qaeda in Iraq, the group led by wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

One recent raid resulted in the terror group's No. 2 operative being killed, U.S. officials have said.

[Bigg Red]

I wish it was a prime-time address.

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you for the notice. I can view before leaving for work.

[gondramB]

Its still good though. The hurricanes and the nominations are big issues but we are at war and have to get back to that as our focus.

And who knows, maybe he will announce some border measures.

[La Enchiladita]

PING

[tfecw]

Is it just me or does it seem like he's had a ton of speeches lately. Like more in the past month than he did in the past 2 years.

[rip033]

Should be. Will this be more fluff or what? Iran still jerking around with the nuke development. What is his plan as Iran continues to play games? With insurgents receiving help from Syria and Iran how does he plan to force not "convince" or "request" but make these nations to cut stop supporting attacks on our troops? It's like were sitting on our hands waiting for some kind of luck to come by and take care of the problem. Two administrations now have sat idle as Iran continues to create instability in the Middle East which is slowly creeping into the rest of the world. Each day they get closer to developing the one thing that can almost guarantee the continuance of their Islamic revolution.

[Bigg Red]

...maybe he will announce some border measures...

&&
A lot of us would like to see that.

[aculeus]

Let's hope he does better than in the past.

[NickatNite2003]

Hey! Cheer up folks..it's not like it's
a 4:35pm Friday speech. :o)

[Yonkers Finest]

........And who knows, maybe he will announce some border measures.........


bahahhahahahhahhahahahahah

I'm not gonna hold my breath and I hope you don't either

[jmc1969]

Welcome to Free Republic troll.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Bush will deliver his remarks at 10:10 a.m.

When virtually no one is listening. Then the media will spin it out of context, rendering it meaningless, just more chatter.

Diogenes is now searching in vain for someone, anyone in the administration who knows how to effectively communicate.

[jimbo123]

I wonder if the failed homicide bombing at OU's football stadium has anything to do with the decision to make this speech.

[Blue Turtle]

Maybe he will talk about profiling terrorists and closing the borders and nominating Justice Brown.....

[Marine_Uncle]

"Welcome to Free Republic troll."
Whamo! Boy he/she/it must have got hit by a 2000lb MK84L.
Sure didn't last long enought for a second opinion.

Looks like GWB no longer rates prime time. Would fizz off to many die hard boob tube viewers. Deprive them of precious time spent at the one eyed cyclops. No use getting millions of law suits against one's network from mentally disabled tube viewers.

[RFEngineer]

"maybe he will announce some border measures."

Yeah....Syrian border measures.....

[Shqipo]

Somebody please Ping me if the speech includes the words "We Will Begin Bombing Damascus in Five Minutes." Thanks all.

[jmc1969]

The President will at least get alot of positive coverage about Iraq with the Constitutional Referendum and then Saddam's trial four days later, followed by the final election in December. The Constitutional Referendum and Saddam's trial and the final election will likely at least get the Presidents numbers on Iraq back up to the mid 40s. If they want to get his ratings on the war at the mid 50s or better they will have to deliver UBL or Z-man.

After the December election there I suspect we will have six months to clean things up and to build the Iraqi forces before the media starts clamoring again for an exit (without a high level capture like the two above). Alot will depend on the level of violence. The real problem with Iraq is that even when we are making great progress all one person has to do is lay a few IEDs or a suicide bomb to get on the Nightly News.