Bush, Defense Policy Team Have Meeting

[Khephra]

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush is mapping out defense strategy with his top defense advisers as U.S. deaths in Iraq inch toward 1,000 and the election campaign focuses intently on he and Democrat John Kerry's credentials for keeping the nation safe.

``This is a chance for the president and other military leaders to get outside of Washington, D.C., and have a good detailed discussion about key defense priorities,'' White House press secretary Scott McClellan said of the meeting Monday at the president's ranch.

Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard Myers and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice were among those set to attend. Gen. George Casey, the senior U.S. officer in Iraq, and Gen. John Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command, planned to participate via a video conference hookup.

Bush's fourth annual meeting on defense priorities focuses on Iraq and threats to national security in the future. The candidates' campaigns, meanwhile, are embroiled in a debate over the past.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4444192,00.html

[Tight_rope]

1. "Bush spends a week at his ranch relaxing.." Now this sounds like Dimpson

[sam sarrha]

14. sounds like he Relaxes more than my old hound dog...

:boring:

[Gman]

2. It's been killing this guy that he couldn't

go to Crawford this August like he always does because of the flak about being on vacation so much.

[Wright Patman]

4. Starting in late January,

he can spend all his time at his beloved pig farm without even having the pretense of a 'day job.' Let's hope this repugnant member of the leisure class is able to enjoy a permanent vacation at that time.

Sure, he ought to be on trial for war crimes, but I'll take that for now. The world has seen enough of this guy. No more legacies for high office, please!

[July]

9. When did he get to Crawford?

We were supposed to get the message a few weeks ago that Bush would be working -- or at least campaigning -- during August. IIRC, he spent the last week of July in Crawford, and now he's spending another week there. Or is it a "week"? Perhaps he'll spend all of his time until the convention there?

Is there a website out there keeping track of Bush's vacation time?

I'd bet the farm that he'll get in quite a few vacation days from that late July visit until mid-September (maybe he'll have to "relax" AFTER the convention, too?).

[ugarte]

3. The only one they care about is #1,000

Bad press, you know.

[Florida_Geek]

5. Where's Colon..

Oh Colon where oh where are you..... Calling Colon........

[GOPAgainstGW]

6. Funny!!!!

Great pic, god Condi is totally worthless!!!!

[Bruce McAuley]

15. We're not talking statecraft here, we're talking WAR

They don't need Powell for this, and he'd only get in the way.

Bruce

[Swamp Rat]

7. They are lost... on the agenda for this meeting is:

"What the fuck are we gonna do???"

[UpInArms]

8. they'll just arrange for the mudia to reset the counter

and never report the number -

maybe they will figure out how to make cardboard cut-outs to stand in the streets.

[snippy]

10. Bush had one of these defense meetings in Crawford in late 2002

and said it was to review military progress in Afghanistan. It later was revealed that the meeting was to review plans for the upcoming invasion of Iraq. If Bush says that this most recent meeting was to focus on Iraq, you can be sure that the purpose of the meeting was something else.

[UpInArms]

11. do I hear "Iran"? ...................... eom

[hang a left]

12. Are they gonna roll out their "new product"?

Iran...anyone?

[PATRICK]

13. real story

a. He has to get R&R or he will fold at the Convention. he can't campaign with half the vigor that he absolutely needs.

b. Since this demonstrates weakness we can't have that so the props of "business at the ranch" much look as Rose Garden and portentous and presidential as possible- which it isn't really. A better strategy would be to kick back at the real Rose Garden, but Bush's delicate psyche NEEDS Crawford.

c. Need to get out of DC to plan the dirty stuff of the Convention and the campaign in general away from prying eyes.

d. Good place to escape the press and ration off folksy photo ops through the gates.

e. He really is in trouble in Iraq and the ranch is a good place for an emotional breakdown or rant.

f. Good place for Cheney to keep Bush away from harder realities than even Bush must see.