Bush's 'days, weeks' add up to 6 months

Wash Times ^ | Joseph Curl

[Sir Gawain]

President Bush told the United Nations on Sept. 13

[EYEWatchin]

My Grandpa' always said "Wait broke the wagon down!"

[george wythe]

If started enough months in advance, is the US capable of having its troops "capable and ready" at any time of the year?

[TomB]

Another point to remember about the deployment issue is that many of the troops who were deployed as active duty in '91 are now, because of military downsizing, reserve status.

IOW, there are many units that were actively serving prior to the first Gulf War and they are now reserve. It takes time to bring those units up to speed.

[BJR]

That's right groupie, I'm a conservative who actually reads and knows the facts. Go back thru archives and find plenty of comments by Rumsfield, Franks and Meyers (they just might know something about the subject) that the military was ready to do whatever the president asked a month ago.

You will also find them saying that having access thru Turkey was preferrable, but they had contingency plans in case that fell thru.

And how do you explain away Bush issuing a Mar 17 deadline with there still no Turkey approval, Mr real conservative, smart guy?

Stop being such a lemming!

[TomB]

If started enough months in advance, is the US capable of having its troops "capable and ready" at any time of the year?

I'm not sure what you are asking. Could you please restate the question?

[PhiKapMom]

That's a great idea! Protest Boeing! I cannot believe that we have not speeded up production with the C-141's unable to carry close to cargo that they used to because of fatigue of the 141's. Mind boggling that they didn't plan for that contingency!

[george wythe]

I don't understand your #159 either.

I was trying to figure out what you meant there.

I previously asked the question of when was the best time to fight an Iraqi war weather-wise and you wrote a non sequitor.

[dirtboy]

That's right groupie, I'm a conservative who actually reads and knows the facts. Go back thru archives and find plenty of comments by Rumsfield, Franks and Meyers (they just might know something about the subject) that the military was ready to do whatever the president asked a month ago. You will also find them saying that having access thru Turkey was preferrable, but they had contingency plans in case that fell thru.

Of course, that means redeploying the shipborne forces from the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, around Arabia and then offloading the men and equipment and deploying them forward - but don't let that little detail get in the way of your attempts to politicize this matter.

And how do you explain away Bush issuing a Mar 17 deadline with there still no Turkey approval, Mr real conservative, smart guy? Stop being such a lemming!

Ah, the last recourse of the cornered Bush-basher - "LEMMING!" "CHEERLEADER!" All you needed for the trifecta was to toss in "BUSHBOT!" Sorry, but I have criticized Bush many times on this forum, so your charges won't stick - but folks hopefully will remember how you have tried to politicize this debate. No one else, other than a troll who is currently suspended, has tried to make political points against Bush, but you sure did.

But back to your pointless point - diplomacy normally consists of a series of deadlines until you have worked out all alternate possibilities. Bush is trying to get his ally Tony Blair as much political cover as possible, and is in turn taking some heat from a few folks who would normally support him. I will debate those folks and understand their impatience, I'd like the military to be rolling now as well. But you, bucko, who uses this matter to make a political point, this ain't the time or the place. The elections are a long ways off, and you'll have plenty of time to spread your slime once this war is over.

[Amelia]

The facts are we are trying to make the UN stronger not weaker! My opinion!

Is this a fact, or your opinion?

If it's a FACT, please back it up with proof.

If it's your opinion, well, you know what opinions are like. Everybody's got one.

[TomB]

The best time for our troops to fight is when they are in place and ready. Which means they needed time to get all the units where they needed to be and have all the pieces within Iraq in place. I believe that the time is near (a few days), and that there really hasn't been much delay.

I can't see the logic in attacking Iraq without all our assets in place just because the weather is good. With our capabilities, the weather will affect the Iraqis more than us. Not to mention this will be a very short campaign.

[Wordsmith]

And what was the reason for his "time is running out," "weeks not months," fluid deadlines, and "show their cards" bravado? What about his ducking legitimate questions from reporters on his position reversals today? Done to protect we civilians? You are simply in a state of denial if you accept and rationalize his abysmal performance over the past four months.

IMO, the President's actions have all been attempts to maintain a difficult balance. Keep up enough pressure on Hussein to disrupt his ability to increase the level of threat he poses to us and others. To keep the heat on, on the one hand.

And, on the other hand, not stir the public to the point where it is demanding action be taken immediately, thus risking precipitating an attack that could cripple the US economy.

The President, while not always successful, has performed admirably overall. And yes, I believe all his actions have been taken to protect our economy, our country, and our lives.

[TLBSHOW]

With Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story...


Sunday, July 14, 2002 10:14 a.m. EDT

Gen. Franks: Military Ready for Iraq Attack

Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command, denied late Saturday earlier reports that the military currently doesn't have the force levels and readiness to attack Iraq if President Bush ordered an invasion today.

Gen. Franks suggested the military was prepared for any and all contingencies, during the following exchange with Fox News Channel's Rita Cosby.

COSBY: Would we be ready militarily now if we did go in, hypothetically? Are we physically ready right now militarily?

FRANKS: I think the [Defense] Secretary - as a matter of fact, I think I have said we are prepared to do whatever the president asks us to do.

COSBY: Would we be ready militarily now?

FRANKS: We are prepared to do whatever the president asks us to do. (End of Excerpt)http://www.newsmax.com/showinside.shtml?a=2002/7/14/91638

[george wythe]

I can't see the logic in attacking Iraq without all our assets in place just because the weather is good.

Why the false dilemma?

Is it not possible to have “all our assets in place” and good weather?

[dirtboy]

TLBSHOW (The gift is to see the truth......)

And I see Santa left you a bag of coal instead...

[Miss Marple]

We are prepared to do whatever the president asks us to do.

Read that sentence again. Franks knew what the President would ask him, and it darn sure wasn't to invade Iraq at that time.

[Wordsmith]

How do you know they have an antibiotic-resistant strain that's not treatable? ...

At some point, you have to deal with what we know, not what we imagine in our worst nightmares.

"Dealing with what we know" about the current state of bioweapons engineering, I believe it is technologically MUCH simpler to add a supplement that engenders anti-biotic resistence to highly refined anthrax, than it is to achieve the degree of granularity present in the 2001 anthrax. IOW, for anybody that could produce anthrax of the quality used in 2001 it would be child's play to increase it's resistence to antibiotics.

[TomB]

Is it not possible to have “all our assets in place” and good weather?

I have said, and I am saying now, that we have only recently had all our assets in place. If you want to argue that point fine, but I suggest you do it more convincingly that TLBSHOW.

[Amelia]

When you do think that the best time to send our troops to fight Iraq?

I have no idea, I'm not a military strategist. I've heard winter is best, but I've also heard that after spending half the summer at Ft. Irwin, our troops are quite capable of fighting in the heat of summer in Iraq.

If you'll recall, I jumped in here disputing your statement that it only took 2 months to get the troops ready for Desert Storm. It took at least that long to get the tanks & APVs on the ships.

[TomB]

"I think I have said we are prepared to do whatever the president asks us to do."

LOL, what do you want him to say, "Gee no Rita, we couldn't stop a rowdy teenager right now."? Nowhere does he say he has all his assets in place and is ready for the invasion of Iraq.

We're still waiting for you to show us all the troops were in place in September

[BJR]

The truth hurts doesn't it pal. Go ahead and stay in your silly little zone. You justify Bush making grossly misleading statements and backtracking for Tony Blair's benefit. What is that if not politics? And then you criticize me for being political.....what pathetic logic.

You bet I'm thinking politics and make no apology for it. The last thing I want is a liberal president elected in 2004. Your guy makes that more likely to happen with every passing day.