Advisers tell Bush to stand pat on Iraq

[FVZA_Colonel]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - President Bush's senior advisers on Iraq have recommended he stand by his current war strategy, and he is unlikely to order more than a symbolic cut in troops before the end of the year, administration officials told The Associated Press Tuesday.

The recommendations from the military commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker come despite independent government findings Tuesday that Baghdad has not met most of the political, military and economic markers set by Congress.

Bush appears set on maintaining the central elements of the policy he announced in January, one senior administration official said after discussions with participants in Bush's briefings during his surprise visit to an air base in Iraq on Monday.

Although the addition of 30,000 troops and the focus on increasing security in Baghdad would not be permanent, Bush is inclined to give it more time in hopes of extending military gains in Baghdad and the formerly restive Anbar province, officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe decisions coming as part of the White House report on Iraq due to Congress next week.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070904/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

[HughBeaumont]

1. Adjectives fail me.

At least ones that will allow me to remain on this site, that is.

:grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh: :grr: :grr: :nuke: :nuke: :argh: :argh:

[TwilightGardener]

2. So this is it--this is the "BushTraeus" Report. Crocker and General Overbite told

him he needs to stay in Iraq. It's already been decided--color me stunned! "Symbolic" troop reduction--the Warner 5000. I guess that's the cynical bone Chimpy might throw to those who oppose him, to shut them up. Why bother?

[JohnnyLib2]

3. Yeah, right

:sarcasm:

Enough said.

[Rick Myers]

4. They should be telling him:

"Pack for Iraq!"

[shanti]

5. with a little prodding

from the puppetmaster!

[truthisfreedom]

6. This is just another version of "sTAY tHE cOURSE!" It will harm the thugs next year

very very very badly. They're toast. He's going to take down the whole party. WOOHOO! GO bUSH!

What an idiot. He tells them what he wants to hear, then they tell him what he wanted to hear, and then he tells us what NOBODY wants to hear. Sheesh!

[Doctor_J]

7. All the hand-chosen sycophants are telling him he's doing great!

I'm really, really surprised :eyes:

[depakid]

8. Of course, anyone who doesn't is no longer an advisor....

[Thor_MN]

9. Just like when he was in college, 3 of 18 is a passing grade...

[Imagevision]

10. Stay the course?-->Halliburton, ka-ching $$$...

[grytpype]

11. That's fine, he's destroying the GOP.

Bush is going to keep the war raging all through 2008 and the Repukes will get annihilated in November.

Fine, if that's the way he wants it.

The Repuke idiots think if they win the argument in September, they are out of the woods. Shit, are they wrong. They are just getting deeper and deeper into the woods.

[defendandprotect]

12. Bush has been parading all around Iraq all over my TV so maybe it's working -- - -- - until . . .

the military falls apart -- !!!!

Like our economy and the Treasury, he's pretty much flailed our military like a horse -- !!!

All for the profit of warprofiteers and cronies --

Presumably soon making off for foreign corners with the loot --

Loot and run --