September 14, 2007
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Bush addressed the country, and the world, with a speech that said American troops in Iraq could be start to be withdrawn gradually: "The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is 'return on success' -- the more successful we are, the more American troops can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.
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Is he kidding? Is America that stupid to buy his crap? Enough already BUSH!
wait, what? is who kidding? what crap? i was too busy getting my applebees to go,
Sincerest Regards,
America
Go fuck yourself #2.
LOL at number two. What's the matter No. 3, you can't handle the truth? Middle America (and by that I mean a state of mind, not a geographic location) are some of the most ignorant, stupid, facile people on the face of the planet.
#4 hit it right on the head. In New York we forget that we are pretty different from the rest of the country. Where we question authority the rest of the country does everything they can to believe in it because they don't want to do the work or have the responsibility of making decision for themselves. They'd rather just drive the two blocks to Appleby's so they can stuff themselves in the sofa and then blame someone else because they are fat.
Dear #3, I would gladly, but I can no longer reach down there...
Sincerest Regards,
America
I think #3 is a fatty...
For the self proclaimed "smart half" of America it's really sad that you don't see the irony of your posts #2, #4, and MT.
Don't forget that New York is a big state with allot of different political view points. New York doesn't mean just New York City. I'm sure allot of people from New York voted for this turkey.
I watched Big Brother 8 then shut off my TV. Didn't want to listen to prez's BS after being so delightfully entertained.
Go Team Dani!
In New York we forget that we are pretty different from the rest of the country. Where we question authority the rest of the country does everything they can to believe in it because they don't want to do the work or have the responsibility of making decision for themselves.
ROTFLMAO!
Exactly how much "thought" goes into entering the voting booth and flipping every lever for a Democrat?
Most New Yorkers I deal with can't do anything more than regurgitate the party platform. They have no real understanding of the issues. If they were well informed they should know the opposition's position and be able to offer well thought out explanations about why their position is correct. But they can't. Challenge them in the slightest bit and they fall back to their default reaction of hurling insults from their high horse. This thread is a perfect example.
Can anybody name the 36 countries helping us out in Iraq currently? Go ahead... try it...
By New York, I meant New York City. Maybe the New York metropolitan area. I realize you don't have to go far to find hicks that would be dumb enough to swallow Bush's load of horse s**t.
Those same Applebees loving middle american fatasses are the ones in Iraq risking their lives.
You fools! He's using a Jedi mind trick!
The surge is working... the surge is working...
These aren't the droids you're looking for...
"Those same Applebees loving middle american fatasses are the ones in Iraq risking their lives."
The troops being killed and wounded in this pointless war are from all over the U.S. not just middle America
I disagree with you so you must be ignorant and stupid. If moving to NY made us all geniuses why are we paying so much for rent, riding subways that suck and letting the man shut down all out exotic establishments? I've been to 42 of the 50 states and met a-holes and idiots as well as educated and admirable people in all of them. just like everyday in New York.
#8
I don't think it is 36, but the criticism lies in just what those countries are providing and it is less than 10% of the total force (I believe). And most of those are not combat troops, but support troops. Which are vital, but tend not to die.
2, 4 & MT are right!
#11 fails for actually typing "rotflmao." who does that?
#14, The ones in Iraq risking their lives also include plenty of inner city kids who had no other option after they were spit out by a half-assed school system.
Comment #14 was made for all the ignorant people who think living in NYC and being anti-war makes them smarter/better than the rest of the country.
I am well aware that there are many risking their lives from all over the country as well.
I can't believe #18 posted that while logged in. Really showing off your Blue State intelligence there, genius. Speaking of repeating a mantra until you believe it to be the truth, I'm from New York therefore I am smart. . . .
#9, yes, "New York" pretty much means the City unless you clarify it with "State." We've earned it. "City" is more redundant, actually. HALF of the entire state's residents live within the five boroughs. New York *State* is the one that needs the extra clarification. When you hear "New York" you don't think of cows chewing their cud in Poughkeepsie. Jeez................isn't this common sense?
#14... I see where you're going, but from my observation (I do get out of the city once in a while) it's the fatasses who are putting their forks down long enough to cheer their neighbor's kids who are doing the fighting, then diving back into their Jack Daniels chicked-fried steak, or whatever they serve there. Could be middle America or mid-Hudson Valley... or Midwood, Queens for that matter.
Tim N., Jon Stewart introduced a new segment the other night called "You're Not Helping". It was squarely aimed at the jerks on the left like yourself.
Tim N., See why "Guests" are grayed out??
#24, I just love it when a people like yourself uses words like "the jerks on the left like yourself". It clearly identifies you as a moron.
#11, I hope your being sarcastic. Exactly how much "thought" goes into your assumption that NY'ers just go into the voting booth and flip every lever for a Democrat?
Back on Topic: IMO, the speech was just more bait and switch. Even if he does "allow" some troops to come home, it's still only to the level before the escalation *cough*, I mean "surge".
His "reasons" for staying there (Iraq == 9/11, "Boo, WMD's!") differ from his reason for staying (We Broke it, we need to stay there) and I doubt anyone is really buying it. Even the "conservative" GOP members are jumping ship.
#24, Nice, I couldn't agree more or have stated my sentiments so eloquently.
Tim N is such a troll.
Can anybody name the 36 countries helping us out in Iraq currently?
To follow up on that comment, the most recent report, dated August 29, 2007, lists 25 countries with forces in Iraq (see page 25; this information is based on a bi-weekly DOD report):
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/91757.pdf
A total of 11,685 troops.
Bush said: "the 36 nations who have troops on the ground in Iraq."
Again, Bush is lying to the American people.
At least I sign my name, gutsy #24...
Stop picking on Tim N.
If all (or even most??) New Yorkers just flip every switch for Democrats, how did the last two mayors end up being Republicans (or Republicans when elected)?
A very uninformed statement if you ask me..
Can't believe no one took this cheap shot, but #3, go fuck yourself, and also realize that since #2's message was signed by "America", your instruction was redundant, as that's exactly what America has been doing to itself since 2000.
"New York" is "New York" and "Upstate" is the rest of it, realize it, out-of-towners. And there's nothing confusing about what I just said.
1,2,4,5,6, great work being true patriots (remember, it does have a meaning and it is a compliment to be called that). I still have to say if any female EU citizen wants to marry me and help me gain citizenship, I'll gladly throw away my US passport. Just like Iraq doesn't have much chance of being healed in the next 20 years, neither does the US, and I'd rather live with greater peace elsewhere.
NY isn't so great anymore, as much as I hate to say it, because the trash from the outside ("I'm from Ohio, let's eat at TGI Friday's in Times Square!") is influencing things way too much.
I'd rather live someplace that saw from the beginning that Bush is an ass and would not have elected him. Seriously, let's get together, female EU citizen--we've got some citizenship to work toward.
Thank you, Murray Hillster. Today, you are my hero.
That was the point during which I let out a string of profanity at the man moving his lips on my teevee last night. He constantly spews out lies and the country constantly falls for it.
It's tiring, to say the least.
#11, I hope your being sarcastic. Exactly how much "thought" goes into your assumption that NY'ers just go into the voting booth and flip every lever for a Democrat?
I don't know, maybe because with the exception of mayoral elections every Congressperson, Senator, and City Council member from the City is a Democrat? Sure, they don't get 100% of the vote but that wasn't entirely the point. The real point was that IN MY EXPERIENCE the people I talk to don't know anything about the issues beyond the slogans. Gothamist is a perfect microcosm of this. Challenge anyone to explain their beliefs and they fall back on the "you must be a Republican therefore you're stupid and wrong which makes me right".
#24, I just love it when a people like yourself uses words like "the jerks on the left like yourself". It clearly identifies you as a moron.
I didn't say all people on the left were jerks. Just the ones that have nothing to offer but denouncing the other side without explaining themselves. If it isn't right when the conservatives do it, why is it ok for the left?
At least I sign my name, gutsy #24...
You hide behind this on an almost daily basis, Tim. N. It's tiresome. Try explaining your beliefs sometime and we can talk.
NY isn't so great anymore, as much as I hate to say it, because the trash from the outside ("I'm from Ohio, let's eat at TGI Friday's in Times Square!") is influencing things way too much.
Yeah, New York certainly doesn't suck because it's been overrun with overcompensated Baby Boomer and Gen X lawyers and bankers. Certainly Bush and people from Ohio are the cause of the rampant million dollar generic condo boom tearing down historic buildings. And Wall Street's demand for profits couldn't possibly be behind the expansion of Starbucks and bank branches and cell phone stores on every corner. Yeah, it's all the fault of Iowa that every New York neighborhood looks like a clone of every other.
[22] wrote:
Not true. About 8M of 19M NYS residents live in the five boroughs. Still a large portion obviously, but saying "half" is inaccurate.If all (or even most??) New Yorkers just flip every switch for Democrats, how did the last two mayors end up being Republicans (or Republicans when elected)?
A very uninformed statement if you ask me..
It wasn't meant to be taken literally but since you mention it, Bloomberg used to be a Democrat and he only ran as a Republican to duck the Democratic primary aka the quadrennial panderfest to unions and minorities. And Giuliani only won because Dinkens was a disaster as well as the fact that the period of 1992 to 1994 was full of "throw the incumbents out" elections. See: Bush 41 in 1992, Democrats in Congress in 1994.
Man, is it any wonder nothing gets done in this country? You can't even post a review of a politician's speech without the comments degenerating into mindless squabbling.
Anyone notice how Bush had a prime time speech ON a Jewish holiday?
I'd rather live someplace that saw from the beginning that Bush is an ass and would not have elected him.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Just remember to redirect your hatred of the Midwest to hatred of Eastern Europeans and Muslims and you'll fit in just fine in Western Europe. Oh, I hope you're white. Western Europeans are kind of racist about Africans. . . and Arabs. . . and Turks. . . and pretty much anyone not white.
1,2,4,5,6, great work being true patriots
So true patriotism is insulting half of America, believing everything you say must be true, and ignoring all criticism? Funny, I thought that was what Democrats spent the last six years telling us NOT patriotism. I thought we were supposed to question authority. I guess the rules don't apply to Democrats in your mind.
Can we all just agree that idiots exist on the so-called left and right, but it just so happens that on this case, the idiots that are in the left are right and this president is a total douche. I get douche chills just listening to this jerk-off talk.
Same anonymous troll over and over and over.
And so, so wrong on so many things.
For one, I've been off the blogs for about a month (out leading my life) and two, anyone can link and find out what they want. I sign my comments because I stand behind them. You are free to disagree with them, but unless you sign your own, you leave quite a void of credibility.
You've also clearly misinterpreted many of the other posts here (including my own, which was agreeing in part with your initial point that people are too quick to criticize folks from other parts of the country) in your zeal to fill the post log with your mindless blatherings. I've gotten into many debates with folks on the posts who disagree, but they usually take the time to read before they react. But whatever.
And for the record, my beliefs are simple: our President lies a lot, and most of the country (geography aside) is so goddamned scared of everything around them that they choose to believe him as a way of finding temporary comfort.
NO I.D. NEEDED
Behold the eyes,
Behold the smirk,
Behold the lies,
Behold the jerk.
georg buch rulz
Same anonymous troll over and over and over.
And so, so wrong on so many things.
Another of your long posts where you say nothing. You're the saint and everyone else is wrong.
And yet you never tell the us how we're wrong. You only hurl insults. One has to wonder if you have any grasp of any issue beyond the obvious. Bush lies? No shit. Apparently that's the entire foundation for Hillary Clinton's campaign. Don't be shocked when the void of real discussion backfires. It will be 2000 all over again. What should have been a slamdunk is going to be very close.
Saying that a person has no credibility because they don't sign their posts is ridiculous. It's a crutch you rely on so that you don't have to think too hard about things you don't agree with.
And if you want to be taken seriously don't call other people's postings "mindless blather".
the most dangerous problem with any kind of troop pullout is Iran. They'll easily, at this point take over Iraq and then, then we'll be up shits creek... Anyone who thinks different is ignorant.
We should have never sent any ground troops to Iraq. We were doing just find patroling them from the Persian Gulf. If we kept all our enegrry and resources in Afghanistan, Bin Laden, the main reason for this entire near-east assault, would be custody.
Anyone who actually listened/watched the testimony by the Commanding General, and our Ambassador to Iraq, would have heard that TWO completely INDEPENDENT organizations concluded that the figures General Petraeus referenced were the "most accurate available."
With regular deplorable attacks like this one on our military heros, it's not surprising the from the New York Slime's editorial section never includes the author's name.
Note who is making this a partisan debate....
"New York Slimes" = MORON ALERT!
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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)