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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carried live online by: C-span

[marajade]

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

That's why its polling at 30 percent?

I don't believe the MSM. I voted for Republicans, like McCain for U S Senator in AZ who is in favor of this plan.

[Island Dee Little Sis]

I think he's a serious Bad A... If he was running the show, we may have been done by now.

[Howlin]

I never heard one of them even come close to trying to answer the question.

[do the dhue]

Ollie North supporting the Prez, on TV now

You know what I would like to have?

A Reagan/North ticket in 2008.

Do you know Michael Reagan (the adopted one)? I think he would be a great President.

[daybreakcoming]

God bless your nephew and his 21,500 comrades. I will add him to my prayers for our two nephews and others.

[Eric Blair 2084]

I don't know what movie this was from, somebody help me out:

"What we have here, is a failure to communicate!"

Bill O'Reilly said that 2 years ago as one of his few criticisms of W. If he would just tell the folks what his thoughts are, everyone except the Surrender Monkeys would have been on board.

[prov1813man]

I don't get it --- and I think he's Jewish, so surely he realizes the threat to Israel as well.

Being Jewish has nothing to do with this, unless you factor in that over 80% of Jews voted for the party endorsed by their mortal enemies. Then, it makes sense that his actions would be irrational.

[RushCrush]

But you believe polling then?

Okay then let's give them a dictatorship, that must be what they want, right?

[Chena]

That's it. A Red Straight Jacket. They tied down her arms, and should have bound her mouth.

Let's start a Pelosi Duct Tape Brigade! I'll send the first roll with the message, "LET'S ROLL!!" ;)

[freema]

No, I fed them lunch today, and then they left.

[txradioguy]

Thank you for proving that you're stupid enough to actually believe push polls.

I'm curious to know now what your DU name is.

[rip033]

I wasn't sure if anyone else posted I didn't get to read all the posts. My frustration is with the media, even Fox. Partisan bickering is better print with the MSM then the underlying message.. The question is? Rhetoric or a change in strategy? Only the future will tell. Tomorrow the SecDef is to make an announcement on what Fox stated "Significant increase in the military." I don't know what to think. This strategy I suspect is more of a regional one. With the action taken in Somalia this week it looks like that just maybe, the gloves may come off. The President will have to act quickly and decisive for it to succeed. The dems are going to try to subvert as usual. I truly believe that the dems really have no idea of world affairs.

[Island Dee Little Sis]

Talk about weak...Why do they even bother with a co-host? Not that Sean doesn't usually run the show anyway!

[marajade]

If the polling was inaccurate, we would have retained the House and the Senate.

[Miss Marple]

Goshdarn it Torie, don't get me started. He was NOT slow on Katrina! I watched the whole thing unfold and I saw what happened. Just because the media says something and Shep Smith cries on TV doesn't make it so!!

He couldn't do this until he got Maliki to agree to it because Iraq is a sovereign country!! And Maliki probably didn't feel any sense of urgency until he saw the results of our election!

Interestingly, Huckabee is doing a good job now and sounds like he understands the situation quite well....certainly better than Vilsack!

[Torie]

Wasn't that the Godfather? :)

[advance_copy]

MSNBC: Hillary Clinton says "I cannot support Bush's proposed escalation of war in Iraq".

Is anyone surprised?

[BurbankKarl]

He also said Sadr has a target on his head. The guy will leave or be taken out.

I think the Rules of Engagement are changing big time.

[Seattle Conservative]

I live on the Issaquah plateau and just walked over to a neighbors for a meeting - snow is much deeper than I thought - a little over ankle deep and it's really coming down.

[NinoFan]

I'm shocked!