BUSH'S SECRET PLAN TO IGNORE THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP
The initiative, begun after Bush met at the White House with his foreign policy team, parallels the effort by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group…the White House wants to complete the process before mid-December, about the time the Iraq Study Group's final report is expected…But the administration is basically trying to do in one month what the ISG has done over eight months…
… In a measure of the suddenness and importance of the review, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice this week postponed a long-planned trip to an Asia-Pacific conference in Vietnam to take part in discussions about Iraq…
The White House's decision CHANGES THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TO U.S. POLICY DELIBERATIONS. The administration will have IT'S OWN WORKING DOCUMENT as well as recommendations from an independent bipartisan commission to consider as it struggles to prevent further deterioration in Iraq… (emphasis mine)
THE WHITE HOUSE REVIEW COULD GIVE THE ADMINISTRATION ALTERNATIVES SO THAT IT FEELS LESS PRESSURE TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT, FOREIGN POLICTY EXPERTS SAID. (emphasis mine)
Bush made the decision after his national security team held secret meetings Friday and Saturday to discuss…implications for Iraq after the Republican defeat in midterm elections. Further meetings were held Monday…
--"Bush Initiates Iraq Policy Review Separate from Baker's Group's," Robin Wright, Washington Post, November 15, 2006
"The president indicated Monday that he was interested in hearing interesting ideas…" a White House official said.
--ibid
I really hate being right all the time.
I told this to my husband and he did not argue with me. My Republican husband did not argue with me. Not when it comes to the war.
I said, all along, that the big deal being made about the Iraq Study Group by the chattering class would not amount to a small hill of beans if this president chose not to listen, and he said, himself, and I saw him say it, "I don't have to do what the Iraq Study Group suggests. It's just suggestions."
And then along came the midterm elections--which his brain, Karl Rove, assured him was in the bag for Republicans.
As I stated before, the Iraq Study Group was absolutely NOT Bush's idea, and he would not have gone along with it if Congress had not taken the matter out of his hands. He was going along, patting the ISG on their collective heads and saying, "That's nice, guys," while diddly-bopping along his merry Rummy/Cheney-directed path.
Then the American people took a baseball bat to his head and forced him to realize that they were not going to stand for same-old same-old any more just because their fearless leader said, "Trust me."
I think he was just as stunned by that as he was by the uproar caused by the Harriet Myers nomination, when basically, he told Congress, "Trust me. She'd make a great Supreme Court justice."
He just can't get it through his head that he has to be accountable to the American people for the war he forced them to fight.
So now, here we are. He's backed up against the wall with this ISG coming closer and closer and all the pundits saying it was HIS idea all along to bring in Daddy to help WHEN IT WASN'T!!!!
So what does he do? How does he make it so that he can cover his ass and at the same time, ignore the careful deliberations of this nonpartisan group of experts?
Well, first he calls a secret meeting of his secret guys, and tells them, "I want my own study group. I want the results the same time theirs are ready. And it better say what I want it to say if you know what I mean."
… In a measure of the suddenness and importance of the review, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice this week postponed a long-planned trip to an Asia-Pacific conference in Vietnam to take part in discussions about Iraq…
The White House's decision CHANGES THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TO U.S. POLICY DELIBERATIONS. The administration will have IT'S OWN WORKING DOCUMENT as well as recommendations from an independent bipartisan commission to consider as it struggles to prevent further deterioration in Iraq… (emphasis mine)
THE WHITE HOUSE REVIEW COULD GIVE THE ADMINISTRATION ALTERNATIVES SO THAT IT FEELS LESS PRESSURE TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT, FOREIGN POLICTY EXPERTS SAID. (emphasis mine)
Bush made the decision after his national security team held secret meetings Friday and Saturday to discuss…implications for Iraq after the Republican defeat in midterm elections. Further meetings were held Monday…
--"Bush Initiates Iraq Policy Review Separate from Baker's Group's," Robin Wright, Washington Post, November 15, 2006
"The president indicated Monday that he was interested in hearing interesting ideas…" a White House official said.
--ibid
I really hate being right all the time.
I told this to my husband and he did not argue with me. My Republican husband did not argue with me. Not when it comes to the war.
I said, all along, that the big deal being made about the Iraq Study Group by the chattering class would not amount to a small hill of beans if this president chose not to listen, and he said, himself, and I saw him say it, "I don't have to do what the Iraq Study Group suggests. It's just suggestions."
And then along came the midterm elections--which his brain, Karl Rove, assured him was in the bag for Republicans.
As I stated before, the Iraq Study Group was absolutely NOT Bush's idea, and he would not have gone along with it if Congress had not taken the matter out of his hands. He was going along, patting the ISG on their collective heads and saying, "That's nice, guys," while diddly-bopping along his merry Rummy/Cheney-directed path.
Then the American people took a baseball bat to his head and forced him to realize that they were not going to stand for same-old same-old any more just because their fearless leader said, "Trust me."
I think he was just as stunned by that as he was by the uproar caused by the Harriet Myers nomination, when basically, he told Congress, "Trust me. She'd make a great Supreme Court justice."
He just can't get it through his head that he has to be accountable to the American people for the war he forced them to fight.
So now, here we are. He's backed up against the wall with this ISG coming closer and closer and all the pundits saying it was HIS idea all along to bring in Daddy to help WHEN IT WASN'T!!!!
So what does he do? How does he make it so that he can cover his ass and at the same time, ignore the careful deliberations of this nonpartisan group of experts?
Well, first he calls a secret meeting of his secret guys, and tells them, "I want my own study group. I want the results the same time theirs are ready. And it better say what I want it to say if you know what I mean."
No, I wasn't there and no, I can't prove that's what he said, but considering the kinds of things he's been saying for years and years now, it's a good bet. There isn't enough time, anyway, for this to be any kind of across-the-board study that carefully examines all options, the way the ISG is doing. It was thrown together so fast that Rice had to postpone an important trip to make the meeting. It's got to be a classic CYAC--Cover Your Ass Commission.
This way, when the ISG makes its highly public release of its findings, and it says things he does not want to hear and puts forth ideas for things he does not want to do, he will have his rebuttal argument all ready; his own personal facts and figures, so he can say,
posted by Deanie Mills at 2:32 PM
11 Comments:
Don't you realize you are aiding the enenmy. When we pull out and all the sacrifices of our troops are in vain, do you think the terrorist will go away.
No.
They will do just what they did in the time of your beloved Clinton.
They will have a safe haven to plan their next attack on the United States.
It would already have happened if we weren't in Iraq.
First of all, it already DID happen, in Spain and in London--TWICE--even though the Brits have troops in Iraq and are our strongest allies in the region.
Did it stop the terrorist from attacking THEM? Do they and their 145 dead troops in Iraq not count?
Second, DON'T YOU DARE accuse me of aiding the enemy--the very people who have tried repeatedly to KILL MY SON.
Don't you think that I have discussed these very issues repeatedly with troops who have served ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ?
Don't you think I've read and studied everything I can get my hands on about this war FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PEOPLE FIGHTING IT AND NOT THE POLITICIANS WHO STAND TO GAIN FROM IT?
What I write here on this blog, sir, is exactly what I am hearing from the people actually fighting this war and getting blown up daily. You want to accuse THEM of aiding the enemy because they don't cowtow to the Republican party line you be my guest.
I write what I do FOR THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES DYING DAILY FOR FAILED POLICIES OF THE DEAF DUMB AND BLIND WHO SENT THEM TO DIE. People, I might add WHO DID NOT HAVE THE BALLS TO FIGHT THEIR OWN WARS WHEN THEY HAD THE CHANCE.
I write because THOSE WHO ARE ORDERED INTO BATTLE CANNOT SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER WITHOUT GETTING INTO TROUBLE WITH THEIR SUPERIOR OFFICERS. The military culture forbids it, although a growing number of active-duty officers have started speaking out lately.
I AM THEIR VOICE.
Do they all feel this way? No. But many, many, and a growing number, DO. A majority, I strongly suspect. Almost none of them want to go back again.
You sit up all one night listening to your son tell you about the day his buddies died, the ones who lost half their bodies, the ones who lost limbs, the blood and the terrible, terrible waste, the awful misery of being sent BACK AND BACK AND BACK AGAIN to fight the same miserable battles on the same filthy soil.
You listen to how the guys on the ground really feel.
Do it for one night, my friend, and then accuse me of aiding the enemy.
AMEN!!! Deanie you tell it like it is! Aiding the enemy is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. As for you anonymous, do you have child in the military? Do you have a clue what its like to not know if you son is dead or alive for months on end, only to have him come home to be hit by a car and damaged for the rest of his life? For what? Terrorism will be around FOREVER. Bring our troops home surround our borders and fight on our own land. This war is bull, most people are finally waking up and realizing it. Why sign anonymously? What are you afraid of?
Jamie A Marines mom, and a soon to be recruits mom.
Deanie, Don't waste any breath on every ignoramous who can't write a congent argument and therefore must deal in tired old shibboleths...They're not worth the time and effort.
Lee-A veteran.
So you speak for all the troops in Iraq and no one can challenge you because you have a son who serves in Iraq.
I certainly respect your son's service, but you are using the typical Democrat ploy of saying no one can challenge you because you are a victim.
Al Quaida has been decimated in Iraq and this has greatly contributed to the safely of the United States.
I agree that mistakes were made in the conduct of the war and we cannot stay over there forever, but we can't just suddenly pull out. We need to give the Iraq government every possible chance to become strong enough to form a country.
I agree with anonymous........We HAD to defend againt ALL terriorism...I too respect your SON for volunteering to serve our causes, whatever they may be..
Do you honestly believe our current government wants americans to die? This is not a perfect war..is there such a thing?
I DO NOT respect the facts you so eloquently dredge up to support your stance. Next you will start picking out bible versus....
How come all your supporters are the same people? I think there are more of us out here that think yo are full of it!
First of all, to anonymous #1, it is clear to me that you never read anything I say, whether in a post or a commentary. I think you read the titles, scan down a bit, and then mouth off.
I never said that I speak for all the troops. I said I speak for those who feel this way, who can't speak for themselves, and they are a rapidly growing number, from the grunts on the ground all the way up to the Pentagon. Read MILITARY TIMES and figure that out for yourself.
I also never, ever advocated, in any of my posts, pulling everybody out instantaneously. NO ONE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS ADVOCATED IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE PULL-OUT, not even John Murtha.
This is a right-wing myth, like so many of them. Phased redeployments was a tactic put forth by GEN. CASEY TO CONGRESS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. He is the general on the ground, and his ideas were the very same ones put forth by Murtha A YEAR AGO.
You extremists out there see only black and white, and you hear only what you want to hear, when you want to hear it. Extremists on the left do the same thing. It is a human trait.
However, there are some of us out here who just want to speak the truth, who search desperately for what that truth may be, because it is the only way we can live with sending our children off to die.
I have said REPEATEDLY REPEATEDLY REPEATEDLY that if the American people are so damn gung-ho for this war, then they should embrace A NATIONAL DRAFT and send THEIR OWN CHILDREN OFF TO DIE.
If you're not willing to send your own children into battle then you are not qualified to mouth off about whether other people's children should play Russian roulette with their lives IN REPEATED DEPLOYMENTS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN using substandard equipment and with not enough boots on the ground to cover their backs.
If you're not willing to sacrifice your own child in a national draft, then you can take your yellow ribbon and shove it.
I have watched my son closely as he has paid this terrible price over and over again, and you can trace his disillusionment with the madness that has been this war's execution. I've seen the same thing with my nephew who has also done three deployments to hell with the Marines.
THE AMERICAN TROOPS ARE EXHAUSTED, STRETCHED WAY TOO THIN, WITH EQUIPMENT BEING DESTROYED DAILY AND BADLY IN NEED OF REPAIR, BUT THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT RELEASE THE PROPER FUNDING TO DO SO, PERFERRING TO PUMP BILLIONS INTO HIGH-TECH WAR TOYS WE DO NOT NEED IN A FIGHT WITH A COUNTER-INSURGENCY.
You ask ANY grunt on the ground and you will hear this.
I speak for them. You don't like it, you can take it up with the FIVE IMMEDIATE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY IN CURRENT ACTIVE DUTY, WITH SIX COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS BETWEEN THEM.
Look them in the eye and lay your bullshit on them. See what they say.
P.S.
The reason you see the same posters on here is that damn near every one of them currently has a son in active duty with multiple deployments, several of whom are scheduled to return to hell.
Go ahead. Pick on them. See how good it makes you feel.
One more thing.
Who, exactly, are you calling A VICTIM?
Are you calling the men and women who shoulder 60-90-lb packs on their backs, step out in 125-degree heat, and head out to be shot at by snipers, blown up by IED's or hit by ambush?
Are you calling them victims?
Or are you referring to their terrified families?
That would be the ones who help their 18-year olds write out their last will and testament for their CDs and their toys and video games, and discuss with their 20-something sons and daughters what they would prefer for their funerals before putting them on a plane for war?
The ones who, during the quick sat-phone calls they get, where sometimes they can hear explosions in the background, and worry about keeping their voices calm and not letting their child know that they are petrified it may be the last time they speak to them on this earth?
The ones who faithfully pack up large boxes of beef jerky and cans of ravioli and peaches and meat products because all their kids have had to eat for months are MREs, and send them those expensive boxes every single week for seven months, along with MAXIM magaines and Bible studies?
The ones who send cards and letters every single day, and who lie awake fearing the midnight phone call and who jump every time a car drives too slowly down the street?
The ones who write condolence letters to the mothers of their sons and daughter's buddies, searching for words of comfort while they know that they might be reading those letters one day?
Let me tell you something. Our warriors have TWO parents, and they get their courage from the same parents who try so hard to be at least as brave as they are every miserable day of every miserable deployment, knowing that they will have to go through it again and again and again.
Call me a victim again to my face, sir.
"I certainly respect your son's service, but you are using the typical Democrat ploy of saying no one can challenge you because you are a victim."
Deanie that was no "sir". that argument is right out of Ms. Coulter's playbook, so that might just be the cowardly moron to whom you were speaking.
Lee, my friend, I hope you are right, because if I did indeed address Ann Coulter or one of her rabid disciples, then neither one of them had the BALLS to face the mother of a fighting Marine in a lie of a war THEY championed.
The neocon rats are jumping the warship so fast it has blurred Bush's vision, and yet not one of them accepts accountability for crewing this miserable voyage all along, right behind their beloved captain.
(See TIME Magazine, November 20, 2006, "When Oops Isn't Enough; Would It Really Kill the Neocons to Apologize for the Iraq War?")
They squirm around and say that the war was a good idea but was mismanaged. Bullshit. A bad idea is a bad idea. You can't hit a hornet's nest with a baseball bat and then fix the nest and put the hornets back in, no matter how much you interchange the words "tactic" and "strategy."
Unless they're willing to deploy to the middle of this savage civil war themselves or send their own loved ones to do it then I have no use for anything that comes out of their mealy mouths. Not now. Not ever. They HAD their say.
BTW, did you know that Bill O'Reilly's ratings are DOWN 30% while Keith Olberman's are UP 30%?
I think most people are sick of listening to them.
Thanks for having my back, buddy. (Again.) Oh, sorry for getting worked up. Occupational hazard ha ha.
Love and Semper fi,
Deanie
Post a Comment
<< Home