Bush to consult generals about Iraq strategy

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15347136/

Bush to consult generals about Iraq strategy
'We are constantly adjusting tactics,' president says

WASHINGTON - President Bush acknowledged Friday that the situation in Iraq was tough and said he would consult with American generals to see if a change in tactics was necessary to combat the escalating violence.

Seventy-four American troops have died in Iraq in October, which is likely to become the deadliest month for U.S. forces in nearly two years.

“One of the reasons you’re seeing more casualties is the enemy is active and so are our troops,” Bush said in a brief interview with The Associated Press.

He said he planned consultations in the next day with Gen. John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, and Gen. George Casey, who leads the U.S.-led Multinational Forces in Iraq.

“We are constantly adjusting tactics so we can achieve our objectives and right now, it’s tough,” the president said.

[ckramer]

1. What? Commander-in-chief consult these lowly ranked generals?

Let's act like Harry Truman!

[HuffleClaw]

2. *snicker* 'consult'??? WHEN has he EVER listened to advice?

i rather doubt he's gonna start now.

[kstewart33]

3. Sounds like he's sidestepping Rummy.

Now that's different.

[Demit]

4. What a novel idea!

That President Bush, he sure knows how to think outside the box!

[Phillycat]

9. My thoughts exactly.

You might have wanted to do that, oh, say, BEFORE THIS TURNED INTO A FREAKING UNWINNABLE BLOODBATH.

So then, before we went?

[Rambis]

5. Nice one!

If you would have listened to them before the war we wouldn't be in this mess!

[radfringe]

6. .......

[Benhurst]

7. Wow! This proves he's desperate.

[54anickel]

11. It's so he can maintain his "I don't pay attention to polls" BS. If there

is a change in strategy it won't be because he's caving into pressure from the polls or the pols. It will be based on the advice of the military. But it will only be a change in tactics, not strategy (splitting hairs?). Of course he's still got that "I'm the decider" image to uphold. :eyes:

[DURHAM D]

8. Oh my God - we are going to cut and run.

I thought we were still in the adapting stage.

I guess they will announce the major policy shift on Nov. 1 - just in time for the midterms.

[0007]

10. Constantly adjusting to tactics? Consulting with Generals?

The enemy is active these days?

Does Abizaid live under a rock?

Absolutely without a brain!

[kurth]

13. We are constantly adjusting tactics so we can cut and run

is what he REALLY meant.

[keta11]

12. He is calling in the generals for appearances

I bet he calls the generals nuts after meeting and goes back to whatever he does during the day. I have watched this guy and he has no conception of the disaster he has spawned in Iraq.

I also bet you 5 years from now if anyone asks him about Iraq, he would reply: What???

That is my reading of the man.

[Beetwasher]

14. IOW: "I'm Going To Pretend Like I'm Actually Doing Something

But don't get your hopes up that I'll actually do something. As a matter of fact, I'll probably be playing video games during the briefing."

[jwirr]

15. He's fired most of the generals who had enough guts to say no.

[rodeodance]

16. shall we place bets?------they just might be honest (for ONCE).??

[VegasWolf]

17. Well, it seems that Bush's God has told Rummy's God to go to Hell. nt

[AIJ Alom]

18. Maybe he should have done this before the start of the Iraq War ?

Maybe A$$ Clown in Chief should have finished Afghanistan first.

[Vidar]

19. First time for everything.

[Evergreen Emerald]

20. Why is it news, that in a war, the generals are consulted?

It just shows the dysfunction of our society. If the commander in chief--who knows nothing but war except what he learned under a bar stool--does not consult the experts, he should have been ousted long ago. The fact that this news story is told as if consulting the generals in a time of war is a novelty, is outrageous.

We expect so little of our leaders.

[rodeodance]

21. its a politically motivated consult.

[killbotfactory]

22. He needs to reconsult God

Because whoever he thinks God is who told him to attack Iraq has steered him wrong.

[rodeodance]

23. Bush plots Iraq strategy with top generals (cnn)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/10/21/iraq.main/index.html?section=cnn_topstories&eref=yahoo

Bush plots Iraq strategy with top generals

POSTED: 10:08 a.m. EDT, October 21, 2006

Story Highlights
• Clashes between Shiite militia and police erupt in second southern city
• Amara returns to relative calm after Mehdi Army briefly seizes control of city
• U.S. forces kill suspected senior al Qaeda in Iraq leader, military says
• Bush and his top military brass meet to discuss Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush met with senior generals in Washington Saturday for face-to-face discussions on the war in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived at the White House early Saturday morning for the discussions.

Also participating were Gen. John Abizaid, the head of U.S. Central Command; Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and, via videolink from Baghdad, Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. (Watch how the violence is putting pressure on the Bush administration -- 1:53 Video)

The summit came two days after Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said the U.S. was having to rethink its plan to make Baghdad safer amid an upsurge in violence he said could be linked to Ramadan and November's U.S. congressional elections.

Insurgent violence went unabated Saturday. Nine people were killed as clashes between police and members of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's militia erupted in another southern Iraqi town.

Eight Mehdi Army members and a civilian were among the dead in the Wasit province town of Suwayra, nearly 40 miles south of Baghdad, police said.

[Botany]

24. Engineer bush @ 12:30 P.M. "Can we still make it to Chicago by 4:00 PM?

[Warren Stupidity]

25. De facto partition has happened. When will the BMS admit it?

The Sunni forces have declared a sunni emirite, the Kurds have declared an end to the farce of integration of their militias into the fiction of the Iraqi army, and the shiites are openly seizing control of southern Iraq. The Battle for Baghdad is over and we lost.

When will the Bullshit Media System admit that it's over? November 8?

[aquart]

27. It's over. We lost. Can we go home now?

[rodeodance]

26. Rice, speaking to reporters .....Saturday, downplayed Bush's meeting:

.....U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking to reporters en route to Moscow Saturday, downplayed Bush's meeting with his military commanders, Reuters reported.

"I would not read into this somehow that there is a full-scale push for a major re-evaluation ," Reuters quoted her as saying. "The Baghdad security plan was always to be re-evaluated at the time of the end of the plan, which was the end of Ramadan."

The Muslim fasting month ends early next week.

On Friday Bush said the U.S. is "constantly adjusting our tactics so we can achieve the objectives and right now, it's tough," The Associated Press reported. (Full story)

At least 75 U.S. troops have died in Iraq in October, making it one of the deadliest months since the war began.

[0007]

31. This quote is even dumber than junior's

"I would not read into this somehow that there is a full-scale push for a major re-evaluation ," Reuters quoted her as saying. "The Baghdad security plan was always to be re-evaluated at the time of the end of the plan, which was the end of Ramadan."

"If you see someone you don't know getting into an airplane that he doesn't own, call the police right away"

[rodeodance]

28. they are busy little bees on a weekend aren't they!

[Demeter]

29. Bush? Strategy? Plot? With?

What is there about this configuration of words that strikes me as unnatural, unreasonable, unbelieveable, and basically Impossible?

[eppur_se_muova]

33. I love their choice of the word "plot" -- carries sinister connotations.

Bu**sh** does have a certain amount of animal cunning, when he's out to cause harm -- but none otherwise, apparently.

[jimshoes]

30. Who wants to bet we'll

be hearing the word "escalation" starting to be bandied about by next week? Meaning more troops to crush the rebellion. He really don't care how many people have to die so he don't have a lost war hanging around his neck like an albatross.

[leftchick]

32. nothing will change!

this is all about nothing. bush said stay the course again today. The US ain't goin anywhere while he is in the WH!

<snip>

In his weekly radio address Saturday, Bush rejected the idea that the United States was considering withdrawing from Iraq but added that it was "constantly adjusting" its tactics.

"There is one thing we will not do: We will not pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete," Bush said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061021/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqmilitaryunrest_061021142639

[IndianaGreen]

34. The Fuehrer meets with his generals

Bush is wearing a brown suit, the same color as Hitler's uniform, as he meets with the American version of Generals Jodl and Keitel.

[SOS]

35. It was important enough to interrupt his bike ride.

"Before a midmorning bike ride, the president consulted for 90 minutes at the White House with his national security team...Bush also met with Abizaid for a half-hour on Friday."

He spent two whole hours of the weekend discussing his Iraq fiasco.
Between lavish fund-raising parties and riding his bike, he's really commandering now!