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| In his address Thursday, President Bush described the troop withdrawals as a compromise on which war supporters and opponents could agree.
(J. Scott Applewhite | AP) |
By Terence Hunt
Associated Press
WASHINGTON
President Bush, defending an unpopular war, ordered gradual reductions in U.S. forces in Iraq on Thursday night and said, “The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home.”
Still, Bush firmly rejected calls to end the war, saying the insurgents who threaten Iraq’s future are a danger to U.S. national security. American troops must stay in the battle, Bush said, and more than 130,000 will remain after the newly ordered withdrawals are completed in July.
“The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is: Return on success,” the president said.
Bush said 5,700 U.S. troops would be home by Christmas and that four brigades – at least 21,500 troops – would return by July, along with an undetermined number of support troop s.
Now at its highest level of the war, U.S. troop strength stands at 168,000.
With no dramatic change in course, Bush’s decision sets the stage for a fiery political debate in Congress and on the 2008 presidential campaign trail. Democrats said Bush’s modest approach was unacceptable.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a former Army Ranger who delivered the Democratic response, said that “once again, the president failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it.”
Reed said Democrats would work to “profoundly change our military involvement in Iraq.”
The reductions announced by Bush represented only a slight hastening of the originally scheduled end of the troop increase that Bush announced in January. When the cutbacks are complete, about 132,000 U.S. troops will be in Iraq.
Bush’s speech was the latest juncture in a 4½-year-old war .
Almost since the fall of Baghdad, in April 2003, U.S. commanders and administration officials in Washington believed they were on track to winding down U.S. involvement and handing off to the Iraqis. Instead, the insurgency intervened and the U.S. commitment deepened.
Bush said the U.S. engagement in Iraq will stretch beyond his presidency, requiring military, financial and political support from Washington.
He said Iraqi leaders “have asked for an enduring relationship with America.”
“And we are ready to begin building that relationship in a way that protects our interests in the region and requires many fewer American troops,” he said.
Bush described the withdrawals, and the U.S. forces still fighting in Iraq, as a compromise on which war supporters and opponents could agree.
“The way forward I have described tonight makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together,” Bush said.
That appeared unlikely, however, based on the reaction of Democratic leaders who want deadlines for withdrawals.
“The American people long ago lost faith in the president’s leadership of the war in Iraq because his rhetoric has never matched the reality on the ground,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “The choice is between a Democratic plan for responsible redeployment and the president’s plan for an endless war in Iraq.”
Majority Democrats in Congress are unable to muster enough votes to force an end to the war, s o they are hoping to win Republican support with legislation to limit the mission of U.S. forces to training Iraq’s military and police, protecting U.S. assets and fighting terrorists.
Addressing America’s frustration with the protracted war, the president said, “Some say the gains we are making in Iraq come too late. They are mistaken.
“It is never too late to deal a blow to al-Qaida. It is never too late to advance freedom. And it is never too late to support our troops in a fight they can win.”
Bush acknowledged that Iraq’s government has failed to meet goals for political reconciliation and security.
“In my meetings with Iraqi leaders,” he said, “I have made it clear that they must.”
A White House report, to be released today, will document the failures of the Iraqi government.
The latest conclusions largely track a comparable assessment in July, the White House said. The earlier report said the Iraqi government had made satisfactory gains toward eight benchmarks, unsatisfactory marks on eight and mixed results on the rest.
A senior administration official said Thursday that only one of the benchmarks – enacting and implementing legislation to allow former lower-ranking members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party to hold government positions – has moved from unsatisfactory to satisfactory.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the report had not been made public, pointed to the tentative Aug. 26 power-sharing agreement among leading Iraqi politicians that outlined major terms on several issues, including changing the law preventing many former Baath Party members from holding government jobs and elected office.
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History will judge the Prez to be bold and correct in this war on terror. The Democrats and the weak-knee Repubs will be seen as silly little players who weren't up to the task of defending this country. I think the President has done a wonderful job. We haven't been attacked have we???? That's the real measurement
Leads by conviction???? Part that makes our country Great??
Conviction is one thing being a fool is quite something else. George Bush is in no strech of the imiginationm what makes this country great, he makes us a laughing stock. I pity those of you who continue to support his war of lies because you are just as ill informed as he is. We are not safer because of Bush and certainly not because of his "stay the course" in Iraq. Bin Laden is still lirking around the corner, terrorist are already here, and you want to praise Bush. For God's sake what are "the few" of you thinking? The Iraqi Government can't get it's act together, and probably never will, but for some reason you think we can "change" them. That isn't going to happen. Did you think you could change your spouse? How is that working?
Some Choice....
Some choice, how do we justify the chaos and mayhem that may follow if we leave? Or how do we justify asking one more, or 1000, or 5000 more Americans to die, for what, a mistake? Osama and his dyed beard are back in the news, al-Qaida appears to be rejuvenating and our forces are mired down refereeing a civil war in Iraq. It's time to bring our people, all of them, home. It'll never happen, but it might be a good idea also to hire an impartial group of accountants and follow the money trail. Might be surprising to see where a lot of it ended up.
Endless War
How many ways can you say "stay the course"? Compare the accomplishments of WW2 and Bush's Iraq War. Iraq has taken longer! How much more blood and dollars are to be sacrificed for a "victory"?
The voting public has blood on it's hands if it does not vote out all the Republican politicians that block an immediate phased withdrawal.
This is embarrassing...
Fellow Americans, the shortsightedness that most of you exhibit on this forum is both embarassing and disheartening. We need to look long term. Do you really think anyone, the President included, enjoy us being over there? Think logically, not with your irrational emotions on this. The bottom line is this, will the situation improve if we leave? Will the sectarian violence increase or decrease? Will Iran and Saudi Arabia become involved? If so, will this de-stabilize the entire region? Before you spout off, think about what will happen to the Iraqi's and the region if we pull out. Think about how it will be 10 years from now. Hindsight is always 20/20, but we have made a mess and the U.S. and the world need to clean it up.
Thank God for George Bush
Thank God for George Bush and our troops. It's nice to have a leader that leads by self-convictions and not opinion polls. To the Retreat and Defeat crowd, what's your plan? Do you really understand the dangers of not succeeding in Iraq? How will you keep America safe? Do you really believe leaving the Middle East and Iraq will solve the problem? Wake up America….
Do We Know What Is Best
Mr President, I would not want your job. I thank you for our freedom. Countinue to keep our freedom, our Country was founded on. I pray for you and keep knowing I am an American an proud and able to sleep at night because You are only one man that is a part that makes our country great. I know September 11 could happen again. God Bless
Don't Threaten Bush's Daddy!
Saddam threatened Bush's daddy. Now 20 billion dollars and 3500 plus American lives later we are stuck in Iraq. Unfortunately it seems that all of our brave soldiers are coming home wounded or worse. And for what?
What a Surprize !!!
Did anyone think he would say anything other than we will stay the course? He will just do what he wants as he always has an just keep on Lying like always... That our Government for us as if they really wanted him out there is this thing called impeachment. Bring the troops home to defend our own country instead of some other country that really does not want to elp themselves.
History repeats itself
I think we have reached the "Peace is at hand" stage of Mr. bush's Vietnam. This will be followed, as the slaughter continues to spread outside the Green Zone, with a "Peace with Honor" speech". That will be followed by a less than heroic withdrawal. Mr. bush's handpicked general - let's not forget how many generals turned the job down - has been tasked with defending a blunder of enormous proportion. The democrats waited for the general's testimony as a courtesy, but no one expected Mr. Bush's sock puppet to say, "Hey George, you screwed up big time." So take your stupid, chickenhawk slogans and shove em where the sun don't shine. Brave men and women are dying to save king george's tattered legacy. That's not worth dying for.
The President's speech
We are held hostage to this man's personal views and now he wants to pass the problem off to his successor. We all love America and our patriotic men and women but for God's sake this man must go! He has no vision for this country but fear and persecution. How is Mr. Bush different from any other dictator, Saddam included? It's his way or no way; he knows the Dems will not defund the war; yes this is his private war but it is taking us all through personal hell.
God! Hold your Head in Shame America
This is really our President. My God America! This man has lied and lied and lied, and he is still in office? What is wrong with the people in America? He has treated this personal war as war like a cheap advertising campaign. Cheap political slogans, bs, and more bs. For Christ sake the other day, he was flapping his jaws about how much loot he was going to make after office. This was right after he visited the troops. Can you imagine George Washington bragging how much loot he was going to make? Men are coming home in coffins and this jerk is bragging about how much money he will make. Shame on you America. Shame on you for letting him get away with these bloody atrocities! How much money will the troops get Mr. President? Mr. Decider?
A Private's View
Not to make too fine a point, but the President is supposed to pursue our national interest and to leave war to the professionals. Instead, he has intentionally dismantled the normal institutions that work to put policy into effect. He has ignored Central Command, he has made an end run around the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he has created a war czar in the White House, all of whom will parrot his party line, and he has a direct line to a general on the ground making tactical decisions and pronouncements when any political scientist with a iota of knowledge would say that Iraq is an issue with economic, political, and cultural issues not susceptible to simply tactics by soldiers on the ground. Bush's trillion dollar debacle; we all pay.
when it starts out wrong it will end up wrong!
George Bush has taken the blood and treasure of this country and invested it into a war where victory will always be illusive. Behind all the smoke and mirrors lies the simple fact that whenever you start out wrong, it will always end up wrong. We have been lied to and misled through out this whole affair; the standards for victory have been steadily changed through out this quagmire of a war, from finding WMD's to now unification of warring Sunni's and Shi'ites. Our men and women in uniform have served bravely and performed valiantly but sadly, they will continue to die in Iraq for the same reasons they died in Vietnam, because our government, our president keeps changing the rules of the game.
Disgusted
I am disgusted by the comments posted here and by the majority of the media coverage on the President's Speech. I wonder how many of you actually watched, and understood it. Further, it is clear that those of you who want to retreat in defeat do not understand the real threat posed by extreme Islam and their terrorist branch, Al Qaeda. Iraq is the front line in this war on terror. We need to support our President and do what is right and necessary to ensure the safety of our Country. If you honestly think that Iraq was just about Saddam Hussien or WMD you are naive. God Bless our Military men and women!
impeached, imprisoned
The project for a new American century (PNAC) planned the regime change in Iraq pre-9/11. They used 9/11 as an excuse to execute this plan. It is well documented. Bush should be impeached. They lied to the American public.
God bless Bush.
Until the public and the Democrats can come up with a better plan and reason to withdraw, then George W. is doing great. All I hear everyone doing, including the Democrats, is complain and whine about it with no logical plan to a solution.
Dear George Bush
Over the years of war in Iraq, you & all politicians have said that the military did a excellent job in Iraq. Now your saying that if the military have success then they can return home. They've done their job now do your. Its all political now.
Your strategy, Mr. President...
Is to leave the bloody mess for the new tenants to clean up, and then blame your failure on them.
Worst. President. Ever.
The President dont make sence
I hate to say I voted for him , but I did and seem to be stuck with him till his term runs out. He just wont give up on a lost cause . Its a nation of crazy people that wants to kill us and their own people. There is no hope over there and we are losing alot of our people for nothing. If they want to try to come over here and kill us , I will be waiting for them!Our president is supposed to be so much smarter then the rest us , but he dont act like it.
Congressional Oversight
Once again our fearless leaders in Congress are trying to run a war on another continent from Washignton, D.C. The President is right, we must support the Iragi Government if we want to win the war on terrorism. We just honored the 9/11 victums 3 days ago. Are we going to forget who caused their deaths?
Passing the buck or in this case the war of lies
The buck never stopped with George Bush and even this war will be passed to the next President. It will take years to bring our troops out of Iraq, and our troops will continue to pay the price for this war of continued lies. Bush isn't interested in troop withdrawal all he is interested in is politics guided by his sick personality. Yes, we need Mark Warner and every other Democrat we can get in office to clean up the mess Republicans have put this country and the world in. There has never been a president as disgusting as Bush and please God, never again!