More on Bush's speech: "a huge gamble"

[mdlbear]

Bush Takes Blame for Mistakes in Iraq - washingtonpost.com

Usually loath to admit error, Bush said it also was a mistake to have allowed American forces to be restricted by the Iraqi government, which tried to prevent U.S. military operations against fighters controlled by the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, a powerful political ally of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The president said al-Maliki had assured him that "political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated."

After nearly four years of bloody combat, the speech was perhaps Bush's last credible chance to try to present a winning strategy in Iraq and persuade Americans to change their minds about the unpopular war, which has cost the lives of more than 3,000 members of the U.S. military as well as more than $400 billion.

Bush's approach amounts to a huge gamble on al-Maliki's willingness _ and ability _ to deliver on promises he has consistently failed to keep: to disband Shiite militias, pursue national reconciliation and make good on commitments for Iraqi forces to handle security operations in Baghdad.

Comments

[elimloth.livejournal.com]

It certainly sounded like a "stay the course, add 20K troups" speech. I think the 'W' forgot we had an election in we we ousted his guys.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Sigh. I have a bad feeling about this.

[jilara.livejournal.com]

I loved when one of the political analysts read some stuff from LBJ, in a speech on how he was escalating the troop strength for 'Nam, and it sounded almost identical.

Dickwad in Chief

[harmonyheifer.livejournal.com]

I would not give the keys to my car to a three year old and let him drive it. Nor would I hand them over to someone who had spent all evening drinking. Neither would any sane individual, so why are we letting someone who is batshit crazy drive our country? Yes, I know he is the president, but he is also an out-of-control, attacking-others-like-a-rabid-animal sociopath. If he were an animal we would have euthanized him already. I don't care if we have the votes to impeach this madman or not, something needs to be done. Dubyah is a war criminal, a terrorist! He has surpassed Saddam, and they hung his ass. Am I the only one, or is Bush starting to make Hitler look sane?

Re: Dickwad in Chief

[mdlbear]

You're not the only one. There will be plenty of hearings, but I doubt the invertebrates in Congress will actually vote to impeach.