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

[angcat]

Here is an example of some idiots on the street:

Bush Supporters Hard to Find in Wayne County



Wednesday, January 10, 6:12 p.m.
By Scott Schaffer

The violence in Iraq continues. Gunmen on Wednesday ambushed a convoy of Shiite pilgrims, killing at least nine people. In Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi troops arrested 15 suspected militants.

On the chilly streets of Honesdale, there were plenty of people who said they will be watching the president's speech Wednesday night, but no one who said sending more troops to Iraq is a good idea.

"I think enough lives have been lost over this thing, you know. It's just like a sinkhole," said John Fletcher of Honesdale.

"Bring them home. This is just another Vietnam. That's all this is," said Jim Durante of Honesdale.

"I think that's sad. Three thousand people have already died," said Becky Butler of Vandling.

Wayne County is a red county. In the 2004 election, President Bush won 62 percent of the Wayne County vote. A little more than two years later supporters of the president are hard to find there.

"I know they don't want to lose, but I really don't think we're going to win. They really should train their own soldiers there," said Debra See.

"You're never going to change those people. They have a different way of life, how we live. They don't live the way we live. And you're trying to force them to live like Americans. They're not Americans," Fletcher added.

[beyond the sea]

LOL.

Hannity has a commercial that has been running for a very long time. It goes: “........... I know I’m right ...................stay on the high ground, keep the personal out of it.” — barf

Sean never stops calling names and ridiculing callers and the opposition in general taking the low road. What a hypocrite.

****

The commercial goes on: “The best..... the most hard-hitting” - one more barf.

[DungeonMaster]

Rush should sue him for making all conservative radio hosts look really bad.

[Miss Marple]

Mo1, I have long disliked her...since the Katrina thing. She is too full of herself and will wind up being the Joe Scarborough of radio, if you ask me.

As far as I am concerned, pundits and radio talk show hosts are no more worthy to have an opinion on this than the guy on the street. They simply have a platform.

Personally, I think we need to knock a few of them OFF those platforms, as all they do is sow discontent with whoever is in office, and always act llike they are SO much smarter than everyone else. Phooey on them all.

[syriacus]

Are you serious? I had never thought of that before, lol.

Semi-serious. Some talking head was saying the fighting in Baghdad must be ended because Baghdad is the capital of Iraq.

It hit me...why not change the location of the capital?

Seriously, I know there are probably a million objections to such a move. But, then again, the US, Germany, and Brazil have relocated their capitals.

[Mo1]

I agree ... I have had it with majority of them

[roses of sharon]

I think it is a very interesting idea, we should pass it around, get some "experts" to comment on it.

[Fawn]

I like Hannity...I listen to his radio show when I can.....but I was just ticked at him for granting an interview to the seahag.

[beaversmom]

I wish the president would have long ago dropped the "can't we all get along" garbage with the Democrats.

You don't cuddle up with snakes. You don't cuddle up with sharks. You don't cuddle up with Islamists. And you don't cuddle up with Democrats. You will lose every time.

[beaversmom]

...how he's a terrible speaker

She's got a lot of nerve saying that. I've long thought she could use some voice lessons. I listen to her show on occasion but it's not my favorite. She's very snotty and I find her show pretty juvenile. The guys in the background laughing at every "witty" thing she says is very annoying. I have to take her show in small doses.

[RushCrush]

Stay safe!!

[beyond the sea]

LOL................ Yes, Rush is much better than Vanity ....... but let me tell you........ I and about 30 of our extended family and friends were grossed out by Rush on Thanksgiving Day when he chose to lead off that quite important and solemn day's show with a story of a guy RAPING a LAMB at a farm somewhere.

I made the mistake of having a radio on out in my nursery that day and the children who were out there with the plants were not the audience to hear that crap.

Rush Limbaugh to me is a loser/fake too -- for a few reasons. I took care of him when he was a 22 year old, insecure disc jockey here in Pittsburgh (Jeff Christie).......... no longer.

****

Jeff Christie......... a picture of sartorial splendor. ;-)

[beyond the sea]

Who is the seahag? There are so many....

;-)

[beyond the sea]

Who is the seahag? There are so many....

;-)

[Fawn]

Sheehan Eww.....she makes my skin crawl.

[beyond the sea]

me too.............. she is certifiable

[DungeonMaster]

I have another friend that is growing more and more disgusted with his sense of humor. Rush is a fiscal conservative only. I heard him go off on the religious right, the that "go around preaching from revelation and saying you have to be saved, and say that the world is coming to an end". I can't remember the 4th one that was in there too which was just as pointed...at me.

[jackv]

I am glad I didn't listen to her. Can't stand laura. I KNEW she'd be making fun. She thinks she is the smartest thing on the planet.
Listening to Brian and the Judge and the calls are so smart from intelligent thinkers, US troops, etc. They are talking about the ridiculous ROE. Who made up these ridiculous rules???

[Dolphy]

Laura Ingram is trashing the President speech

Confirming why I made a good decision when I stopped listening to her.

[Allegra]

Thanks. ;-)