W's Address

[CJY]

I watched / listened.

As I have said in other posts, anything is better than no strategy. I am happy to see some change.

For the troups sake, I truly hope this works.

I wonder why it took so long to come to this conclusion though.

 

[PW2]

Re: W's Address

If you believe this will work, I think the Mackinac bridge is for sale, cheap.. I will check into it for you.

I am fundamentally opposed to a strategy where the success of the US military in a combat operation is completely dependent on the performance of the Iraqi military, and their willingness to take on the Sadr army, something they have been absolutely opposed to in the past.

Also, I am concerned about the sabre rattling re Iran and Syria. We are in no way prepared, militarily or otherwise, to take on Iran. We better learn how to talk to them, as the ISG suggested.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: W's Address

"I wonder why it took so long to come to this conclusion though."

Karl Rove, **** Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld telling Dubya what they wanted him to believe. Obviously the Democratic landslide neutering his power base opened his eyes.

I hope he's right and I hope it works.

 

[PW2]

Re: W's Address

The question, Willy, is what will be different tomorrow, 6 months from now, 1 year from now, and so on.

We are losing an average of 4 American soldiers a day in Iraq now, and that number is likely to increase under this "new" policy. What will change 1 year, or 5 years from now? There is no American Military solution to this.
The Iraqis will make what they will of this opportunity.

BTW, no mention has been made that I have seen on this board, but I fully support the recent strikes in Somalia. That is precisely what we should be doing, and how we should be doing it, both there and in Iraq and elsewhere in the region and globe. They are the real "enemy".

There is no way we should be going thru Baghdad neighborhoods in a civil war. That is the job of the Iraqis, and the responsibilty of its leadership.

Can you say "Murtha Plan"?

 

[CJY]

Re: W's Address

I will withhold judgement until I see results, good or bad. I will hold onto hope though.

I will agree, we are doing things we should not be doing in Iraq. But, if we are going to do them, I want our military to have the best chance for success. Hopefully this offers that. Many on the ground in Iraq have said they are undermanned.

 

[PW2]

Re: W's Address

Where are all the Bush supporters on this board?
I share your hope that this policy somehow "works" CJY.

I just can't imagine how it can.

Someone explain to me why this new direction is just the ticket, however long it has taken to implement, to finally achieve "Victory" in Iraq.

Please. I want to believe!

 

[aspeck]

Re: W's Address

Finally some comments that aren't completely filled with hatred towards our President. Thanks guys, that is a bit refreshing.

And yes, I hope the direction works also.

 

[jtexas]

Re: W's Address

W's address:

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC

 

[oddjob]

Re: W's Address

Plans the same. The strategy is changing. Called war. One does something diff. The other must adapt or lose. Close to rocket science aint it?

CYJ - PW says it wont work, or something to the effect. I thought you two were on the same program....8)

 

[CJY]

Re: W's Address

"CYJ - PW says it wont work, or something to the effect. I thought you two were on the same program...."

People that think, don't always come to the same conclusion.

Probably hard for you to understand.....being that followers don't have to worry about it. One mind, one thought, the rest follow.

 

[CJY]

Re: W's Address

Not only that OJ, I don't know that it will work, I am simply hopeful. I believe PW2 has indicated the same.

BTW, W is also unsure, but holds the same hope.

"Close to rocket science aint it?"

I believe it is alot closer to it than you give it credit for being. We are seeing the biggest and toughest is not always the successor. Some thought, planning, strategizing is a big part of war, especially this type of war. The past couple of years is proof of that. Surely, Rush has told you this?

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: W's Address

I watched / listened.

As I have said in other posts, anything is better than no strategy. I am happy to see some change.

For the troups sake, I truly hope this works.

I wonder why it took so long to come to this conclusion though.

Hey CJY, That is a classy statement, and I respect you for it. It is more then for the "troops sake" it is for America, and the civilized world's sake. I know a lot of you guys hate Bush, (which I find a little surprizing as you seem both informed and somewhat logical for Liberals). Islamo facists will hide in Mosques, hostbitals, behind women and children, and they love to chop heads or use electric drills; and most troubling: seem to have much more will to impose their way then many Americans and most Europeans except the Brits have. The Japanize were much tougher a mere 60 + years ago and we ate them for breakfast, (with a lot of admitted losses on the way). The loss of American determination is striking to me. It does not seem to me that we can win wars since 1975, (unless they only last a day or so), but maybe I'm wrong, (I sure hope so). I hope the Democrats: who seem to be invested in failure, do not cut off the funds to force failure that they did so sucessfully in 1975, (which helped all of their careers). Some of the Repubs think a little failure would be good for us too: Sen Chuck Hagel come to mind, (what a piece of garbage). I have the least respect for those who voted for this war when they thought it was politically expedient, only to stab all of us in the back when they thought they could personally benifit from that back stabbing. Hopefully those will suffer some consequences some day. Respectfully JR

 

[treedancer]

Re: W's Address

Myself when we get more troops in country, I hope that we go after Muqtada al-Sadr,and his whole high command .We should have took him out when we had the chance. I believe it will be welcome news by the Iraq,s Maliki government as well,they may act like they are all bummed out about it, but in my opinion that is the only way that we will get a stable government in Iraq.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: W's Address

I was generally pleased with what he had to say. I like the fact that he has articulated that our commitment there is not an open ended committment. I also liked that it has been emphasized that Iraq needs to step up and start working for its independance. All in all, if things go the way he has described, it will be a significant improvement. I have always felt most of the negative issues have been due to the people advising the president. Flushing out the inadequate portions of the administration will help to resolve the problems.

As a side note, there is little "stay the course" to this new plan. Its good to see that, finally, there is the recognition that something different has to be done, and that there is a more specific end goal that just might be possible.

Good job prez...

 

[88spl]

Re: W's Address

Change is good, but what if......................The Maliki government doesn't really want a true democracy, but rather a Shiite controlled theocracy. President Bush is right we need to finshed what we started there. If there is more security (troops) to prevent the blood shed, and investigation into finding those responsible for it.

 

[oddjob]

Re: W's Address

Were fighting to win and will do what is neccesary, W stated that in the outset. Thats my definition of staying the course.

This debate is all about the meaning of specific word in the english language. All because of your hatred of Bush and the American was of life. If America cant agree on what the meaning of the word is,is.....than you can always argue someones intellect, intention,...etc.
I'll play with words as long you want. I need not worry about stones from the left. Only from the enemy.

 

[PW2]

Re: W's Address

Quote>
Close to rocket science aint it?
>

That is my big problem with the current conservative mindset--they seem to think international relations are simple and easy. Might makes right.

All Dems and even Reagan knew better, as did Bush 41, but while conservative they were realists and pragmatists, and knew the limits of our power.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: W's Address

EDIT: never mind...

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: W's Address

Quote>
Close to rocket science aint it?
>

That is my big problem with the current conservative mindset--they seem to think international relations are simple and easy. Might makes right.

All Dems and even Reagan knew better, as did Bush 41, but while conservative they were realists and pragmatists, and knew the limits of our power.

Li'l mind readin' PW?? I wish you guys would stick to what you know to be facts rather than your BS projections on the statements and or actions of others. respectfully JR

 

[rodbolt]

Re: W's Address

can some one define a win ? there is no govt that can surrender,there is no populace that can declare loss or victory, there is nothing but an ideal.
we are making a war on ghosts that are centuries old.
the ame ghosts have defeated most other nations that have conqured that area of the world and the same ghost is going to drain the us.
I dont mind our president failed history and it seems daddy bought his grades. I do mind the same president surrounded himself with folks of the same intellect.

even astute posters like oldmercs have difficulty with modern history, maybe even cant say how many democratically elected govts the US has toppled in the mid east.
even more modern is why did saddam gas the northern kurds maybe ?