Bush Baselessly Asserts That Troops Want To Stay In Iraq

[CatWoman]

President Bush just finished up his speech today ratcheting up the pressure on Congress to do what he wants them to do (give him a war funding bill with no withdrawal timeline), rather than what the Antiwar Majority of Americans wants him to do (give him a funding bill with such a timeline).

Here's one of Bush's key quotes: "Families gathered here understand that our troops want to finish the job."

But is there a single scrap of evidence that this is true? Is there a single scrap of evidence that says that a majority of the troops want to stay in Iraq until the job is "finished," whatever that means? The only poll that I've seen that comes close to a real and comprehensive effort to measure troops' attitudes on such questions was the annual Army Times poll, which was released last December. While for various reasons it's an imperfect guide to what the troops in Iraq want, it's certainly closer to a real and scientific effort to measure it than I've seen elsewhere.

It suggests that the troops are ambiguous on this question, finding that only half thought the U.S. can succeed -- meaning that only half thought the job could be finished, let alone that they want to finish it. The other half, meanwhile, didn't think the "job" could be finished or didn't have an opinion on whether it could.

Meanwhile, the poll also found pessimism among the troops about Bush's leadership. It found that only 38% thought that there should be more troops in Iraq -- in other words, that a minority supported the President's "surge" policy. And it found that for the first time, more troops disapproved of Bush's Iraq performance than approved of it. The poll is here -- and keep in mind that these numbers reflect where the troops' attitudes were four months ago.

So how the heck do we know that the troops want to stay as long as it takes to "finish the job"? Does anyone know if there are any better numbers out there than this poll? I haven't seen anything.


http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/apr/16/bush_baselessly_asserts_that_troops_want_to_stay_in_iraq

[BOSSHOG]

1. It wasn't political theatre was it?

bush didn't surround himself with troops and/or their families. He's fucking smoking crack if he things the troops want to finish the job because they don't know what the job is because the commander in chief lacks leadership and any other kind of skill and he doesn't know what the job is.

I was in Saudi Arabia on deployment in the 90's under the leadership of CINC Clinton. We knew what the mission was. Keep Saddam's air force on the ground while the weapons inspectors did their jobs. And we, in cooperation with the Brits, French and Saudis did a damn fine job and while that was safe relative to Iraq today each servicemember had their own countdown calendar marking off the days till we got on that C-130 to get the fuck out of there and go home where our families were also waiting for us to come home. Something bush and his enablers know nothing about. (Course no one would be waiting for limbaugh.)

One could say Iraq didn't have WMD in 2001 because President Clinton did a great job as CINC.

[Karenina]

2. WHAT will it take for these families

to realize they've been HAD in the MOST ATROCIOUS WAY POSSIBLE??? :freak::freak::freak:

[MessiahRp]

3. RWers don't care about kids they sent off to die in war...

They only care about the ones that die via abortions. Even when it is their own kids. They're more than happy to be used in a photo op with their great leader even if his plan condemns their children to death.

Rp

[ClintonTyree]

9. Nobody wants to think that their son or daughter died in vain.

Many justify it that way because if they were to submit to the truth that their offspring died for George Bush's lies it would be too much to bear. I can understand it. Those fighting there desperately want to believe in what they're doing, they want to believe that the cause is just and noble. Many could never admit to themselves that they're just pawns in George Bush's oil grab. They still believe in honor and duty to country: they've never even thought that there could be a man so evil and corrupt as President, their Commander in Chief.

It's tough. Many people still believe that America is the greatest country on earth and that our government is ALWAYS right, ALWAYS truthful. They never bargained for the Bush bunch.

[blondeatlast]

4. He can JOIN them over there! Not a bad idea, come to think of it....

I'm sure they would just love to have him on the front lines. :sarcasm:

[EnviroBat]

5. Is that similar to the Cheny BS that was being spewed on Sunday?

"I think the majority of Americans want victory in Iraq" That's their canned answer every time somebody reminds them that the majority of Americans want the troops OUT OF IRAQ!

[gatorboy]

6. The ones that mocked Kerry months ago probably do.

[Benhurst]

7. Yeah, I've heard that countless troops have refused to get on a plane to come home.

Yeah, countless because you can't count zero.

[dysfunctional press]

8. i never realized how committed the troops are to enriching bush's oil buddies...

but, if they want to finish the job, who are we to stand in their way, i guess...:eyes:

[uppityperson]

10. I thought he didn't listen to others opinions.