Iraq: Bush Vows to Punish Iraqi Insurgents (says, "Bring them on!")

AP via Yahoo! News ^ | 07/02/03 | SCOTT LINDLAW

[TigerLikesRooster]

White House - AP

Bush Vows to Punish Iraqi Insurgents

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By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) pledged Wednesday that the United States will deal harshly with those who attack American troops in Iraq (news - web sites), and said such violence will not undercut his resolve to keep Americans there until stability is restored.

"Anybody who wants to harm American troops will be found and brought to justice," Bush said at an impromptu news conference at the White House. "There are some who feel like if they attack us, we may decide to leave prematurely. They don't understand what they're talking about if that's the case."

Increasing attacks have killed more than 23 U.S. soldiers and wounded dozens more since Bush declared major combat over on May 1. On Tuesday, assailants traveling in a vehicle in central Baghdad fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a U.S. military vehicle, wounding three soldiers. Another grenade slammed into a U.S. truck on a road south of Baghdad, injuring three soldiers, one of whom died at a field hospital overnight.

"There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring them on," Bush said. "We got the force necessary to deal with the security situation."

[yonif]

"There are some who feel like that, you know, the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring them on," Bush said. "We got the force necessary to deal with the security situation."

Hmm...I thought the policy of this country was to support negotiation with these people about peace not to go after them with force. I must have been watching too many Israel-related reports on TV to give me that perception.

[FreeAtlanta]

Your comments just seemed a little too anti-Bush for the sake of being anti-Bush.

You have to see that having a strong president helps our soldiers morale. Bush is a leader for these men and women. Words like this inspire. However, I agree with "Mind Numbed Robot" that if it had come from Clinton it wouldn't have meant much. If it had been from Clinton or Gore, then our troops would just shrugged and dug in deeper. Character counts. I don't agree with everything Bush does, but I believe he is a man of strong Character.

[Frank_Discussion]

Okay, let me interject: He was REMINDING the troops of their authority, because, yes, in the shifting nature of things over there thay may not realize that full force is still understood.

The troops have been put into an informal peace-keeping mode, when the formal mode is still an active war. His statement is a psychological push, not a command. You may not take the president's words in the right spirit, but the troops will. As will our foes.

[Principled]

Better he simply sated U.S. resolve to see the job to a successful conclusion.

IMO, that's exactly what he did.

[ohioman]

Bush's speaks plainly. Real American loves this. The English; however, are known for much more elequent speech. Hell, it is there language and Churchill was the greatest leader of WWII.

[CatoRenasci]

As a former artillery officer, I agree with you on the effect of Bush's comments.

[HOYA97]

HUA!!!!!!!

[MilitaryBuff]

"Bring them on" over there........... please

[nuffsenuff]

You can say what you want about his speaking abilities...

But sometimes he says the perfectly right thing at the perfectly right time...

You've got to appreciate that. No matter what side of the aisle you sit on.

[AAABEST]

My answer is bring them on," Bush said.

Was he patroling a Baghdad street when he said this? If so he's got a lot of guts.

[webfooter]

First thing...My Prayers go out to all the troops who are still in Iraq. I read FR daily and very rarely have I seen mentioned are the hundreds of workers that Kellog/Brown & Root has sent over to Iraq since the war. There are more of our people there other than just our soldiers that are being shot at, and they are unarmed! I know this because my father has been over there working for KBR for the past two months. As of this morning, he is coming home. Workers have been shot and killed and others are missing since he has been there. He said that the money isn't worth it! My prayers also go out to the families of all the soldiers. My father made the choice to come home, I know the soldiers don't get that choice. My message to all the Freepers out there.......Our troops are not the only Americans over there now. Please include in your prayers all the workers over there trying to help the Iraqi people rebuild while doing it unarmed. I consider myself lucky that my Dad chose to leave.

[Pukin Dog]

Thank you for your service. If not for the ROE over the Gulf of Sidra, I would have bagged a Mig-25 and a -21, and become a rock star. All we were allowed to do was chase them away from the carrier, and try to goad them into taking a shot, where by then we could blast them. They knew better.

[OREALLY]

Maybe the Commander in Chief should have said, I was wrong our military isn't the best in the world...They can't win...it's useless...nice try but you have failed all of us here at home miserably. You men and woman in uniform just are not up to the task ! I am saddened, deeply saddened...I am going to decrease our military and start a new Department of Peace...The cowards in our country have WON !
(Big Sarcasm ! hahaha)

[tripod]

Look, let's not be naive. The statement would have been perfect for Patton if he were trying to goad an opposing German force into the open for a good old fistfight. But you can be sure he would only have done so when he knew he was ready to kick ass, even with a smaller force. But, that was then and now is now. This enemy is not even fighting a guerilla war like in Viet Nam. The Tet offensive (a rather conventional attack by Viet Kong and Northern regulars) was an utter disaster. But this is a terrorist war; they won't launch anything comparable to a conventional attack. Inviting them to "bring it on" is inviting suicide bombers, assigns, snipers, sabotage, car bombs, etc. etc. etc. Now you tell me, as an occupying force if it makes any sense to tell the enemy to "bring it on." We will eventually win this war, but it is going to be through sacrifice not heroics, by outsmarting the enemy not necessarily goading them into a fight, and most of all through sheer determination over the long haul.

[OREALLY]

BULL...You just haven't known a good Commander in Chief before...I remember the one's that sent our troops to war without letting them win the war !!!!!

[Smogger]

Inviting them to "bring it on" is inviting suicide bombers, assigns, snipers, sabotage, car bombs, etc. etc. etc.

As if our presence didn't invite these attacks already...

[OREALLY]

My marine husband read your post...He had a good laugh...
He had 2 tours in Vietnam...This is some of the tactics the Viet Cong used: suicide bombers even children,snipers even children,sabotage,Sappers, mingling and hiding within the civilians. There is more but I think it is a waste of my time... I can sure see why the terrorist are different than the Cong?...HAHAHA You are a real expert on Vietnam, maybe as a protestor if you was alive then...

[HardStarboard]

>>> It is the wimps like Carter that piss them off. <<<

Good Lord; can you picture Carter's response to 9/11? Open a HforH branch in Kabul?

[tripod]

I was alive and I supported our troops and winning that war. Thank you very much. Don't tell me that the Viet Nam War - as bad as it was - compares to what we are up against now. They are different types of conflicts plain and simple. I am sure your Marine husband would agree that Tet was a disaster for the enemy. I'm also sure he would concur that Al-Qaeda and the host of other terroist groups won't intitiate an modern day "Tet offensive" in Baghdad or anywhere else for that matter.

[tripod]

Oh Really, what about Reagan. You think Bush tops him? Time will tell.