President Bush Says "Success" in Iraq "Allows Us to Begin Bringing Some of Our Troops Home"

Last night, President Bush addressed the country, and the world, with a speech that said American troops in Iraq could be start to be withdrawn gradually: "The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is 'return on success' -- the more successful we are, the more American troops can return home." In other words, there is no, as the NY Sun puts it, "no dramatic change in course."

Bush also asked the country to "come together," in spite of their differing opinions about the war. That seems unlikely, given the Democratic response to the speech by Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who said, "The President failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it."

The NY Times offered an angry editorial, No Exit, No Strategy: "Mr. Bush’s claims last night about how well the war is going are believable only if you use Pentagon numbers so obviously cooked that they call to mind the way Americans were duped into first supporting this war." (Also: "return on success" is an "Orwellian slogan.") The Post's editorial, The Korea Parallel, suggesting, "In retrospect, Iraq may prove to be another Korea - a seemingly stalemated war in a strategically vital region that dominated a bitterly partisan presidential campaign." The Daily News editorial, Challenge to Congress, finds a silver lining in the fact that "5,700 troops will be home for Christmas." And if you read Newsday's editorial from yesterday, it sounds a lot like much of today's coverage, "[In his speech,] Bush will make it clear that, beyond a token troop reduction, he has no intention of deviating from a course of action that has produced minimal results at a heavy cost in lives and treasure - and provides no guarantees of future success."

Here's the is the President's address about the "Way Forward in Iraq" plus a White House fact sheet "Return On Success" Guiding Principle For Troop Levels In Iraq , and here is the Democratic response (transcript and video). Coverage-wise, here's the NY Times on the multiple messages that Bush's speech had, plus a sampling of how the American press viewed the speech from BBC News.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on September 14, 2007 8:10 AM

Comments [rss]

moneda

edEx, if you seriously believe that the only forces that are fighting in Iraq, aside from us, are al-Qaeda and Iran I feel sorry for you.

AHT

#63: How is the phrase "libtard" doing anything for this discussion?

guest

Yeah, move to Europe. Sooner or later the tipping point will be reached when they can't afford their social programs. They will have to confront the same problems we're ignoring in Medicare. The US already subsidizes Europe militarily. We also foot the bill for global drug research because we don't have price caps. If the US capped drug prices the drug companies would lose their only profitable market and would likely go back to the bargaining table and tell Canada and Europe to pay more. It's that or watch all drug research move to China and India.

guest

Reality Czech is a perfect example another idiot that thinks he knows everything. Now you're pinning the dollar's fall on Bush? They award a Nobel Prize in economics but you've managed to explain global macroeconomics in one word: Bush. Hop the next flight to Sweden, they're calling your name.

I had an unprovoked encounter with a woman in an elevator a few years ago. She started ranting to her friend about how the dollar's fall was making her trip to Spain more expensive. She ranted about Bush and tried to get me to join in. I nodded and made a noise like "mmm" to show some agreement that I hoped would get her to leave me alone. "Don't get sucked into discussions about politics with crazy strangers" has been a rule of mine. Instead, she turned on me and said, "Oh, are you a Republican?" I said no and tried to explain to her about the trade deficit but she would have none of it. Typical. It was like a real life encounter with Gothamist's regular posters.

guest

Oh yeah, MT can go fuck him/herself as well--indeed, NOT HELPING. But I lolled at #s 2 and 6.

guest

#61, well, no. But I wish I could send "Tim N." and his loudmouth libtard friends off to their own private America, to suffer eternally the Bush administration they so dearly deserve.

slappy

Why is anyone still listening to what this liar has to say? Democracy is going down the drain in America as Bush, his cronies, and their lobbyist monsters dance all the way to the bank. This next election can be a turning point. If things don't start to change, if no one comes forward with a real political vision in this election, we are headed toward some massive discontent and perhaps finally (hopefully) some serious activism that crosses cultural and economic lines in our culture. Things really change when people really want it to. Stop letting them set the parameters of the discussion. They are liars.

AHT

#59, really? Please tell me you're exaggerating. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

And is it just me or is it starting to smell like astroturf in here?

JMH

I would leave America in a heart beat to another first world country but guess what? Those other first world countries don't have a bullshit immigration policy as America does. You can't just walk in and start working contruction, at a hotel or restaurant and they actually kick you out if you over stay your welcome.
It's too bad you're not good enough at anything to qualify to leave. I guess message board trolling doesn't qualify you for a Highly Skilled Immigrant visa in the UK.

guest

Well, shit. I'm from Ohio (hellooo, New York!) and "Tim N." kinda makes me wish I'd pulled the lever for Bush, just to spite him ("oh but I'm not a condescending douchebag--really!"). Suck it, "Tim." You're the reason we "fatasses" of middle America keep electing Bushes and, unless you learn to shut the fuck up, Giulianis.

Reality Czech

Bush is an idiot puppet for the oil companies. This war is a disaster and we should never have been there. Afghanistan, yeah, but Iran no.

Americans are fatasses and dumbasses. We have elected this idiot twice. Most Americans do not care what the world thinks of them and they do not care that the dollar has sunk to all time lows as they never leave this country anyways.

I would leave America in a heart beat to another first world country but guess what? Those other first world countries don't have a bullshit immigration policy as America does. You can't just walk in and start working contruction, at a hotel or restaurant and they actually kick you out if you over stay your welcome.

America is about making money. In greed we trust. Make and take as much from this country while you still can.

Socialism for the rich, capitalism for everyone else!

guest

S.D. #51: I was mainly referring to the City, not the state. I don't think Al Damato is much of an example because he was first elected to the Senate in 1980. I'm pretty sure the upstate population was higher then relative to the city hence better balance between GOP and Democrat. Second, Al probably benefitted from Reagan's coattails. Third, once in congress it's pretty hard to lose your job, at least for a while. And finally, Al might have been many things but he wasn't much of a neocon.

guest

Tim N., your post at #53 proves the assertion that you would rather insult than discuss.

Anytime you feel a person is wrong you should quote them and correct them. But you never do that. Simply telling them they are wrong and insulting them doesn't mean you have won the argument. You may very well be right and I am actually surprised you don't take the time to explain yourself and maybe win a convert.

ed_Extinct

moneda:

areyou living in denial?

Iran is there now, they support the terror cells within? you're a fool to believe anything different... and now with ssaddam gone, this is their opportunity to move in... they couldn't defeat saddam so they waiting for us to do it, now they're home free!

ed_Extinct

Iran an imrpovement? HA! they hide their military and terror cells within the civilian populous... how can that be better? Why do you think civilians are getting creamed over there?

Tim N.

"Tell the truth and duck." --- Murray Kempton

"A simple trick, to fool simple minds." --- Obi-Wan Kenobi

"Don't argue with crazy people!" --- My Mom (sorry, Mom, I temporarily forgot this one)

guest

I disagree with moneda. Iran doesn't need to militarily control Iraq. If the Shiite's align themselves with Iran's mullahs and Iran provides money they will in effect control the country.

S.D.

Tim N., assuming the "guest" is the same one: How much effort does it take to get a throwaway Yahoo.com mail account and register here?

"guest": Just Do it.

© Nike.

edEx, buddy, you know I respect your opinion but at this point, I'm not sure enough people care anymore if Iran goes in or not. Many point out that people are dying in large numbers now, regardless if we pull out. Some see Iran moving in as an improvement.

#11,#33 not on the state level. Also, Remember Sen. Al Damato (sp?) was not a Democrat. Frankly, I think people nationally will vote Democrat just because the GOP has pissed off so many people in recent years.

As for NY, Even though Democrats won the state in the last two presidential elections, it was close. NY and NYC being a "Blue" state/city is an illusion that, IMO, does not stand up to examination.

moneda

edEx, you do realize for Iran to "take over" Iraq they'd have to do what we're failing to do now, right? Their troops would be in the crosshairs of the Iraqi sectarians same as our troops. Nobody is "taking over" Iraq any time soon. Iran has a better shot than we do, sure, but not until Iraq's civil war wanes.

glennQNYC, it doesn't matter how many organizations back the White House's Report figures, because there are many more organizations who will refute those numbers. The fact of the matter is, that report's a load of bullshit, straight out of Cheney's ass.

guest

How serious can the Democrats be about the hearings when Barbara Boxer used her allotted time to "blather" rather than ask a question? Couldn't she have waited until later to preen for the cameras? I'm sure Chuck Schumer could have loaned her one of his. Is it any wonder that Congress has a lower approval rating than Bush.

This is all moot anyway. With the excpetion of maybe Dennis Kucinich all of the Presidential candidates plan on leaving US troops in Muslim lands whether it's Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Afghanistan, etc. And you know nobody has the balls to cut off Israel so the idea that we're "less safe" now is all relative.