Bush Challenges Congress on Iraq; 'I'm The Decision-Maker'

www.foxnews.com ^ | Friday, January 26, 2007

[Lucky9teen]

WASHINGTON — President Bush, on a collision course with Congress over Iraq, said Friday "I'm the decision-maker" about sending more troops to the war. He challenged skeptical lawmakers not to prematurely condemn his plan.

"I've picked the plan that I think is most likely to succeed," Bush said in an Oval Office meeting with senior military advisers.

The president had strong words for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who are lining up to support resolutions opposing his decision to send 21,500 troops to Iraq. He challenged them to put up their own ideas. "Some are condeming a plan before it's even had a chance to work," he said.

Bush said lawmakers agree that failure in Iraq would be a disaster and that he chose a strategy that he and his advisers thought would help turn the tide in Iraq.

The president met with Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, newly confirmed by the Senate to command U.S. troops in Iraq.

"My instruction to him was `Get over to the zone as quickly as possible, and implement a plan that will achieve our goals,"' Bush said.

"You're going into an important battle in the war on terror," he told Petraeus.

[Alberta's Child]

President Bush, on a collision course with Congress over Iraq . . .

He's only "on a collision course with Congress" if Congress votes to cut all funding for the U.S. military effort. Since Congress doesn't have the b@lls to do this, there is no "collision course" at all.

[bnelson44]

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. Send to all your friends:

HUGH HEWITT IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE to pledge not to support any Republican Senator who votes to oppose the surge. There's a pledge website here.

The pledge reads:

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

It will be interesting to see if this makes an impact. This is the sort of grassroots pressure that Democrats have been feeling for a while, but it's new to Republicans. I think that Hugh's right to start this drive. Opposition to the surge is wrong (see what Petraeus said) and it's also political suicide for the Republicans.

posted at 06:57 PM by Glenn Reynolds

 

 

[CedarDave]

DC FReepers know all about it. See here:

URGENT: Jane Fonda to Protest Iraq War at Navy Memorial Sat. (Help D.C. Chapter Counter - Protest !)

[bnelson44]

General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy

[Calpernia]

Ah, thank you!

[Rheo]

The President has NEVER wavered in the fight against terror. Never.

I am so greatful that President Bush is the decision maker!

[CedarDave]

"http://www.unitedforpeace.org just sent out an emergency email notification calling for a March on Washington tomorrow, January 27th, 2007"

Thank Goodness. That should make rounding them up for giving aid and comfort to the enemy a lot easier...

LOL. BTW, Kristinn was on Mark Levin's national show last night talking about the FR counter protest, so the word is getting out.

[Lucky9teen]

I hope Duncan Hunter is the GOP nominee to replace Bsh in '08. Duncan will be the just as tough on WOT and Iraq.

I've heard almost "Reaganesque"

[popdonnelly]

"He challenged them to put up their own ideas."

They won't put up any ideas, because the cowards don't want any responsibility. Similar to their "non-binding resolution", which doesn't hold them to anything. Cowards, the whole lot of them. Bush has more personal courage than the entire Congress.

[headstamp]

"The president met with Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, newly confirmed by the Senate to command U.S. troops in Iraq."

The Senate has to approve commanders?

[Rb ver. 2.0]

When Bush shows his spine I love it. I wish he were like this on Immigration.

NOTE: This is not a thread hijack.

[jrooney]

Bush has been making many decisions, some just can't take their head out of the sand to notice. GW is a damn great president and deserves thanks, not constant harping and whining from the ungrateful.

[Just A Nobody]

"I'm the decision-maker"

Yes you are Mr. President!!!
YOU are the Commaner-in-Chief. We do not have a SINate-in-Chief!

Keep reminding the members of our seditionist CONgre$$ of that fact!

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"He's finally come around the the troop surge and the targeting of Iranian operatives. I just pray its not too little too late."

I think it's been in the plan from day one. We had to take and hold territory, build bases, restore infrastructure and attack during winter months. This is the third season since the Iraq invasion, right on target, IMO.

[headstamp]

Bullseye.

Any support the Liberals have for the troops is in the form of portraying them as victims of a "warmonger" president.

[Just A Nobody]

We will be there to counter them. Hanoi janie will also be at the Navy Memorial at 10 AM.

[Lucky9teen]

I, myself believe, part of the WOT IS immigration.

[omega4179]

but, but, november 06! hes a lame duck! /s