Bush: 'The way I'm going to play it as commander-in-chief': The Swamp
The Swamp
Posted July 10, 2007 2:33 PM
The Swamp

by Mark Silva

President Bush, demanding that Congress give his commanding general in Iraq time to see if the “surge’’ of U.S. forces in Iraq will have its intended effect, called for patience with the controversial mission during a free-flowing, town hall-styled address in Cleveland today.

Bush, noting that he will deliver a preliminary report demanded by Congress on the achievement of several benchmarks in Iraq at the end of this week, insisted that the more telling report will come from Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general, in September.

He voiced hope that the U.S. will “prevail’’ in Iraq, but offered no commitment about any alteration of the U.S. military deployment there – saying he believes that “we can be in a different position in – in a while.’’

“I believe it’s in this nation’s interests to give the commander a chance to fully implement his operations,’’ Bush said. “That’s the way I’m going to play it as commander-in-chief…’’

“Now, I call upon the United States Congress to give Gen. David Petraeus a chance to come back and tell us if his plan is working,’’ the president said. “And then we can work together on a way forward.’’

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) offered this counterpoint to Bush's address:

"The president seriously underestimates Ohioans if he thinks they’ll be wowed by his rhetoric. He’s changed the rationale for the Iraq war repeatedly, and now he wants to change the benchmarks for success as well..... The president shouldn’t be touting his policies; he should be apologizing for them.”

The president, acknowledging that he hoped the U.S. would find its mission in a different position after Iraqis voted for a new government at the end of 2005, blamed sectarian violence incited by a mosque bombing early last year for destabilizing the situation in Iraq. He said he determined that, rather than pulling back, the situation called for an escalation in force – which he first announced in January and which has recently become fully deployed.

He also acknowledged, as he has before, the American public’s growing disillusionment with the war. “I fully understand how tough it is on our pscyhe,’’ said Bush, allowing that people watch “the violence’’ on television and “people ask, ‘is it worth it?’’

But he made no commitment to any scaling back of forces.

“I believe we can be in a different position in – in a while,’’ Bush said, “and that would be to have enough troops there to guarantee the integrity’’ of the Iraqi government. The president has maintained from the start that the purpose of the surge is to secure the nation so that Iraqi forces can “stand up’’ and U.S. forces can eventually “stand down.’’

“I looked at the consequences of stepping back,’’ Bush said. “What would the Iranians think about America if we stepped back in the fact of this extremist challenge… What would Al Qaeda think…. And so I made the decision, rather than pulling out of the capital, to send more troops into the capital, all aimed at providing security’’ for the Iraqi government.

“I strongly believe we will prevail,’’ Bush said, pacing with a hand-held microphone before an audience in Cleveland. “That’s what I believe.’’

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Comments

Yeah and I bet Dubya believes in the tooth fairy, too.


So the commander in goof puts it on his fall guy.

What a surprise.


Every time the knucklehead in chief opens his yap, i cringe.


And so I made the decision, rather than pulling out of the capital, to send more troops into the capital, all aimed at providing security’’ for the Iranian government.

Did he really say this? That's a misprint, right?

Swamp editor's note: Right you are, a misprint it was, for which we apologize. He said, Iraqi, and we've fixed that.


It is because of people like you why the terrorists are winning, our children are learning the homosexual lifestyle, and Christianity is under attack.

Now, if you excuse me, I've got to return to my "God, not Gravity" campaign.


I guess someone forgot to remind the Preznit that Commander in Chief applies to the Armed Forces, not the American Public. What a maroon.


"I believe we can be in a different position in – in a while,’’ Bush said, “and that would be to have enough troops there to guarantee the integrity’’ of the Iraqi government"

When is he going to get it? As long as it is propped up by US force of arms, the Iraqi government will never have integrity.

Governments with integrity do not rely on outside powers to maintain their internal security.

The only way the Iraqi government can possibly stand up is if the US stands down.


Playing is right!!! Playing at being the commander-in-chief…

Bruce were are you??? John D??? Paula???


Message to to Goldwater: you are a nut case. Most of our children are not learning the homosexual lifestyle. No one is attacking Christianity. Iraq has no effect on whether the terrorists are winning or losing anywhere but in Iraq.


As the US places a third battleship in the region, close enough to strike Iran. What is this guy thinking???


This is NOT about "winning" in Iraq. There will be no winning in a civil war that isn't our own, nor in an ever-changing battle against terrorism. The terrorists will always be around--we must be vigilant, but that does not justify invasions, torture, lying to the American people and bankrupting their government. People DO need to ask questions, and challenge the status quo. That's what makes this country strong, not the lock-step idealogues who, as in Hitler's day, allowed millions of innocent people to be uprooted from homes and family, incarcerated, maimed and killed while those not wanting to buck the system sat inert, listening to their radios and sipping their tea. The track record of our own government includes well-documented lying, obstruction of justice, initiating a first-ever pre-emptive war for reasons that later were disproved, and poor military strategy at the expense of our military personnel, their families and our economic well being. Not to mention good will overseas. Instead of shouting ditto-head drivel, read, get out and talk to people and learn what is really happening.


Is this guy serious? I can't believe he still thinks we can win. His belief is based on on the wrong. Oh wait...so is his religion. Idiot.


Les...do you understand sarcasm?


Where was the USAF on September 11, 2001? How come the Department of Defense could not defend its own headquarters on September 11, 2001? Why were the many warnings ignored by the White House? Who was commander-in-chief on September 11, 2001? Bush didn't defend you then ... he's not defending you now. Also, Bush's milirary "record" is ... as they say in Texas ... "all hat and no cattle."


Why isn't Bush answering the question of WHY the Iraqis are not able to take over their own security already?

WHAT is/was the problem and HOW has it / will it be solved?

Drop the rhetoric and answer the questions.


Logic Prisoner,

RNC talking points' stand down?


Lil george was not allowed to play with toy soldiers when he was small, so this should explain why we have 130 + thousand troops over there. Personally, i would feel much safer if they were in america, protecting AMERICANS !!!!!!!


I'm Glad Bush is more concerned with how he's going to look to the Iranan president and Al Qaeda if we pull out. If he had just focused his errorts in Afganistan and Bin Laden maybe the American People would be behind him. He lied to us and now want's to sacrafice more American lives to save face. He's a joke.


How come we never hear from the supposed silent minority of Bush's policy supporters? Will they sound as nuts as him? Come on, its only words, say something that is convincing...I encourage you. Please make us understand the need for all the deaths and destruction, the lying, the corporate greed, the trampling on our constitution, the culture war you are really waging.


Impeach. Imprison. Impale. This man is responsible - quite literally - for tens of thousands (if not more) of innocent lives lost. I cannot believe we, as a people, have let this go on as long as we have. Just as the Germans allowed Hitler to go on for so long. WHEN will we finally awaken from our fitful sleep and stand up and DO something? As we type and read, more are dying. And his list of offenses is so long and of such great gravity that it astounds one to contemplate it. Future historians will look back on this time with the same incredulousness as they do with Hitler and other infamous characters of history. Great change is rapidly approaching and it is not going to be pretty. The enemy truly is within and the battle will ultimately be fought here. I cannot see this man leaving power when his term expires. He and his cronies have invested far too much into securing the power structure for a long time to come to give it up simply because of the inconvenience of an 'election'. A stacked Supreme Court and powerful allies in Congress, the Senate, the media, the Corporacracy, assumed control over the military, a staged event and declaration of martial law in the interests of 'national security' of course, and we are on our way. "There's somethin' happenin' here...what it is ain't exactly clear...there's a man with a gun over there...a tellin' me I got to beware...I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound? Ev'rybody look what's goin' down..." - Buffalo Springfield. "They say it can't happen here...I'm telling you my dear...that it can't happen here..." - Frank Zappa.

Stop. Look. Listen.


Swamp editor's note: Right you are, a misprint it was, for which we apologize. He said, Iraqi, and we've fixed that.

No apologies necessary, it happens. What's sad is that I had to ask. This President has made so many fou-pauxs over the years, one always assumes the worst.

e.g.

The point now is how do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is a democracy in Germany." --George W. Bush, D.C., May 5, 2006


I think Bush and Cheney should be impeached ASAP for starting this illegal war on false grounds and misleading representations and continuing to cause irrepairable damage to another nation. They can also be charged with inciting genocide. The American Public better act fast to put a stop to this carnage.

The Democrats have enough majority in the Capitol to bring about an end to Bush's presidency. Then whoever becomes the new President can apologise for USA's role and appeal to United Nations to bring together a peace-keeping army to Iraq, which can be supported by all of Iraq's neighbours. That will be the real "Coalition of the Willing"

With Iran and Saudi Arabia backing such a force, the Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq will see the advantage of stopping the sectarian strife. The USA, of course should pay massively for the re-construction of Iraq. The Oil production can be increased and the Iraqi citizens can benefit from the present high prices of Oil, which is their national resource.

Any takers?


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