Bush's New Iraq Argument: It Could Be Worse

[rodeodance]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/23/AR2006082301878.html


Bush's New Iraq Argument: It Could Be Worse

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 24, 2006; A01



Of all the words that President Bush used at his news conference this week to defend his policies in Iraq, the one that did not pass his lips was "progress."

For three years, the president tried to reassure Americans that more progress was being made in Iraq than they realized. But with Iraq either in civil war or on the brink of it, Bush dropped the unseen-progress argument in favor of the contention that things could be even worse.

The shifting rhetoric reflected a broader pessimism that has reached into even some of the most optimistic corners of the administration -- a sense that the Iraq venture has taken a dark turn and will not be resolved anytime soon. Bush advisers once believed that if they met certain benchmarks, such as building a constitutional democracy and training a new Iraqi army, the war would be won. Now they believe they have more or less met those goals, yet the war rages on.

While still committed to the venture, officials have privately told friends and associates outside government that they have grown discouraged in recent months. Even the death of al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq proved not to be the turning point they expected, they have told associates, and other developments have been relentlessly dispiriting, with fewer signs of hope...........

[Fridays Child]

1. It "...has taken a dark turn and will not be resolved anytime soon?"

That is a veritable masterpiece of understatement.

[Sherman A1]

2. Yes, his presidency could be worse as welll

I just hope we do not get to find out how much worse.

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. Seems to be pretty bad to me. Worse would be fascism.

[izzie]

3. I am old so I am sure I have been here before.

Is there a light at the end of this tunnel?

[radfringe]

4. Is there a light at the end of this tunnel?

dunno...but I think that corner we turned ends with a brickwall

[izzie]

5. It seems to ne that is what I heard in Vietnam, a light

I think it is a brick wall also. I see that all the places they moved troops from in Iraq is where the terrorist are now going. I also just read that some base that the Brits just left the Iraq people moved in and striped every thing out of it. Think I read that on Electronic Iraq. These new way of doing things in Iraq for the US must be hand picked by Bush. Why else are they working so well.

[PBass]

6. It could be worse...

That's what Bushies say about gas prices, too. Well, it could be worse. Look how much they pay for gas in Europe!!!

Meanwhile, they're attempting to duck the real discussion, that gas prices have doubled under Bush.

[izzie]

9. and the terrorist have really come to see us

Well my sister said 'watch this guy he will leave a mess every place he goes. I have known men like him before'. She sure was right about that. We seem to have our own pig pen like on Snoopy..

[Skittles]

7. are these whores paid to say this shit?

"I would say he was deeply concerned about how many lives are being lost, both American and Iraqi, and how much this is costing the American taxpayer," said Eric Davis, a Rutgers University professor who was among those invited, who urged Bush to launch a New Deal-style economic program in Iraq. "He would like to see progress sooner rather than later." :puke: