Front Page of WP- U.S. Not Winning War in Iraq, Bush Says for 1st Time

[maddezmom]

but we're not losing either according to Bush. :eyes: So let's send more troops so they can't win or lose either. :puke:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121900880.html

President Bush acknowledged for the first time yesterday that the United States is not winning the war in Iraq and said he plans to expand the overall size of the "stressed" U.S. armed forces to meet the challenges of a long-term global struggle against terrorists.

As he searches for a new strategy for Iraq, Bush has now adopted the formula advanced by his top military adviser to describe the situation. "We're not winning, we're not losing," Bush said in an interview with The Washington Post. The assessment was a striking reversal for a president who, days before the November elections, declared, "Absolutely, we're winning."


On the War, Determined to Go His Own Way

By Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 20, 2006; Page A14

Ever since Republicans were routed last month in what was widely seen as a repudiation of his Iraq strategy, President Bush has been busily listing how his policies there will not be changing.

There will be no timetable for removing American troops, no high-level dialogue with Iran and Syria, and no slackening of support for the widely criticized government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Meanwhile, White House aides are reported to be pushing a major "surge" of troops to Baghdad while preparing a fresh infusion of tens of billions of dollars for the war effort.


President Bush said he believes last month's election results were not a rejection of his Iraq policies. "There's not a lot of people saying, 'Get out now,' " he said. "Most Americans are saying, 'We want to achieve the objective.' " (Yesterday, in an interview with The Washington Post, while acknowledging that the United States is not winning in Iraq, Bush bluntly dismissed the suggestion that the midterm elections meant voters want to bring the mission in that country to closure. He said he interpreted the election results "as people not satisfied with the progress" in Iraq.
more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121901566.html?nav=hcmodule

President Bush on Iraq, Elections and Immigration

This 25-minute interview was conducted yesterday in the Oval Office by Washington Post staff writers Peter Baker, Michael A. Fletcher and Michael Abramowitz.

President Bush: Listen, a couple of things before we get going. Obviously, I've been thinking about -- and talking to a lot of people about -- the way forward in Iraq and the way forward in this ideological struggle. I want to share one thought I had with you, and I'm inclined to believe that we do need to increase our troops, the Army, the Marines. And I talked about this to Secretary Gates, and he is going to spend some time talking to the folks in the building, come back with a recommendation to me about how to proceed forward on this idea. I want to give him a little time to get his feet on the ground. And so I'll be addressing this after consultations with him. I just want to share that with you before we get going.

complete interview here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121900886.html?nav=hcmodule

[napi21]

1. So the Deciderhas finally changed his mind? Boy, I bet Tony Snow's

brain is spinning! He is trying to do his job and support the President's position, but damn,it changes every damn day, and Tony is the one who has to take the damn questions!

[maddezmom]

3. it should be an interesting presser today

:hi:

[katmondoo]

2. What an a******

[Philosoraptor]

4. & when it's all over & lost, we can say, 'we won'! & it'll be just fine.

[babylonsister]

5. He really is delusional, isn't he.

This guy is SO dangerous! What recourse do we have to remove him? If there were ever a case for impeachment, this would be it. He won't resign/go quietly; he won't even acknowledge he's wrong.

[maddezmom]

6. my son's behavioral therapist was here this am

(my son has autism) who is also a psychologist, etc said something like maybe you all could declare him insane and lock him up. I wish it was that easy.

[HuffleClaw]

7. "this ideological struggle" ???

yeah, that is just how simple an interpretation bush has of the entire issue at hand. i cannot imagine how frustrating it must be for those advising him to try and explain complex issues to him. this quote must freak out even most of the hawks (whose hawkish aims are usually quite concrete) "this ideological war we're in is going to last for a while". and this; "will Republicans and Democrats be able to work with the administration to assure our military and the American people that we will position our military so that it is ready and able to stay engaged in a long war, and this ideological struggle?"

at the same time he utters crap like that he repeats words like 'victory' and 'objective' but won't bother to define them. empty rhetoric i guess, but i bet he couldn't if he tried.

[Bluebear]

8. So. It WAS a crusade after all. nt

[maddezmom]

9. Bush to have a news conference at 10am EST

just a fyi

[maddezmom]

10. Bush to discuss expanding military

WASHINGTON - President Bush will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. EST. The White House said Bush would open with a 10-minute statement discussing his decision to expand the overall size of the U.S. military to meet the challenges of a long, global struggle against terrorism.

Bush also planned to stress the importance of working in a bipartisan way next year when Democrats take control of Congress heading into the final two years of his administration.

The White House also said Bush would talk about the need to keep the U.S. economy strong.

Bush said Tuesday for the first time that American forces were not winning in Iraq. He also said the military would be expanded to fight a long-term battle against terrorism.

Bush did not say the U.S. was losing the war, which began in March 2003 and has cost the lives of nearly 3,000 troops. Instead, when asked during an interview with The Washington Post whether the war was being won, the president borrowed the phrasing of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061220/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_2