Report on Iraq Sees Progress; Bush Rejects Troop Pullout
Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times
“I believe we can succeed,” President Bush said at a news conference at the White House today.
By DAVID STOUT and CHRISTINE HAUSER
Published: July 12, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/world/middleeast/12cnd-surge.html?bl&ex=1184385600&en=fa06790756cc33ea&ei=5087%0AWASHINGTON, July 12 — With the release of a White House report finding some progress on political and security goals in Iraq, President Bush said today that it was premature to be talking now about a withdrawal of American troops.
The report, which was released this morning and sparked immediate reaction from Mr. Bush’s critics, said the Iraqi government had shown satisfactory performance so far on 8 of the 18 benchmarks, including providing brigades of troops to support security operations in Baghdad. But more work was needed on eight others, it said, including preparations for local elections. And in two areas, it was not yet possible to judge how things are going.
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But he(Bush) said, “I don’t think Congress ought to be running the war; I think they ought to be funding our troops.” Running a war from Capitol Hill, he said, “is a prescription for failure.”
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While the White House report noted progress in the military realm, with an overall decrease in the numbers of Iraqi civilians killed in sectarian violence and in casualties from car and truck bomb blasts, some of the benchmarks have not been met in that section, such as improving the capability and impartiality of the Iraqi security forces and government ministries.
The report said that the government has made satisfactory progress in ensuring that the Baghdad security plan does not create safe havens for violent groups, but not in increasing the number of Iraq security units that are capable of operating independently.Mr. Bush said that support for the Iraqi government and sustained military pressure must be increased at this “crucial moment,” as troops work to defeat Al Qaeda and other extremists; and thereby create the conditions allowing American forces to return home.
Transcript: President Bush on Iraq (July 12, 2007):
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/washington/12bush_transcript.html-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, what happened to the true report? Which devious minds in the admimistration "fixed" it? All we heard leading up to the report was that it was bad news for Bush. He was even talking about a drawdown of troops for Christ's sake. Now everything is hunky dory, back to "stay the course".
The White House report noted progress in the military realm, with an overall decrease in the numbers of Iraqi civilians killed in sectarian violence and in casualties from car and truck bomb blasts. If you believe that I have a bridge for sale. The months since the so called "surge" have been the bloodiest in the war. And the other thing that gets me is they keep saying "wait until the 'surge' is fully complete". What the hell does that mean? If its not complete by now it, never will be. Am I wrong here or does something stink? If I am wrong please tell me.