"Administration's Tone Signals a Longer, Broader Iraq Conflict "

[dajoki]

NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/17/politics/17prexy.html?ex=1287201600&en=6e0153ec202ffdb3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Administration's Tone Signals a Longer, Broader Iraq Conflict

By DAVID E. SANGER
Published: October 17, 2005

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 - For most of the 30 months since American-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration has argued that as democracy took hold in Iraq, the insurgency would lose steam because Al Qaeda and the opponents of the country's interim government had nothing to offer Iraqis or the people of the Middle East.

Over time, President Bush told troops at Fort Bragg, N.C., this spring, "the terrorists will lose their sponsors, lose their recruits, and lose their hopes for turning that region into a base for attacks on America and our allies around the world."

But inside the administration, that belief provides less solace than it once did. Senior officials say the intelligence reports flowing over their desks in recent months argue that even if democratic institutions take hold, the insurgency may strengthen. And that possibility has created a quandary for an administration that desperately wants to equate democracy-building with winning the war, but so far has not been able to match the two.

<<snip>>

Mr. Bush's own way of talking about the future, in Iraq and beyond, has undergone a subtle but significant change in recent weeks. In several speeches, he has begun warning that the insurgency is already metastasizing into a far broader struggle to "establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia." While he still predicts victory, he appears to be preparing the country for a struggle of cold war proportions. It is a very different tone than administration officials sounded in the heady days after Saddam Hussein's fall, and then his capture.

[Zenlitened]

1. No one could have anticipated that invading Iraq would...

... fuel radical islamists known to be seeking to establish a moslem empire.

:crazy:

[drdtroit]

2. Terrorism = the new "Red Scare"

Lots of money to be made in the terror biz.

[dajoki]

6. you hit the nail on the head n/t

[tabasco]

3. They're ready to fight to the last drop of YOUR blood !

All patriotic Americans should be prepared to fight for Halliburton profits!! STAY THE COURSE !! The rich will bravely stay behind to trickle down the profits to the working people!!

[dajoki]

7. check this thread out

even on the college campuses they want anybody's blood but their own.http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2162178

[LynnTheDem]

4. Iraq stability could take 10 years-British minister

"I think in 5 to 10 years we will see Iraq becoming stable,"
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L12221379.htm

ENLIST, rightwingnuts! We don't have enough warm bodies to die for bush's lies to 2006, let alone to 2015! SIGN UP YOUR KIDS, TOO!

Rah Rah Rah!

[tanyev]

5. "Mr. Bush's own way of talking about the future,

in Iraq and beyond, has undergone a subtle but significant change in recent weeks."

Let's be accurate here. Mr. Bush's scriptwriters may have made "subtle but significant changes", but Mr. Bush's own way of talking remains nearly incoherent.

[dajoki]

8. i'd say totally incoherent n/t

[gratuitous]

9. Again calling the role of the Fourth Estate into question

If a madman is gibbering about events and circumstances that are plainly contradicted by the evidence before your eyes, do you report that the madman is gibbering, or do you do a straight report without mentioning that what the madman is gibbering is plainly at odds with reality?

And if a reporter chooses the latter course, has that reporter abdicated his or her responsibility to the public?

[dajoki]

11. you must report the whole story...

present the facts in true form; the way the madman is gibbering about them and let the public decide the reality. anyone with common sense should be able to distinguish between the facts and the gibberish. trouble is there are too many ignorant people around that are fooled easily.

[kenny blankenship]

10. Spiralling Paranoia--ever enlarging Evil Foe, ever darkening view,

...Apocalyptic Final Decisive Battle between Good and Eeevul looming.

In several speeches, he has begun warning that the insurgency is already metastasizing into a far broader struggle to "establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia."

Either it's a sign of his own spiralling paranoia, or a rhetorical ploy, born-of-desperation, to instill spiralling paranoia in the public mind, to prevent them from considering the wisdom of dropping this stupid war.

Or it's both. Rove thought it up, Bush believes it and is trying to sell America on the "Sea of Demonic Infidels Rising Up Around Us" threat.