by Mark Silva
President Bush heads today for Ohio, where he will deliver his newest message about the war in Iraq -- which may sound much like the old message about the war in Iraq.
“There is nothing new,’’ Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, said today of the president’s widely anticipated speech, which will underscore his commitment to a ‘surge’ of U.S. troops in Iraq now fully deployed and aimed at helping Iraqi forces “stand up’’ for themselves.
“Don’t be expecting changes in direction today,’’ Snow told the Tribune here in Washington as the president flew out to Cleveland.
Bush, pressing for patience with the escalation of U.S. forces, is holding out hope of a future in which the U.S. military deployment will look far different from the way it looks today. Yet this picture -- one of U.S. forces providing more support for Iraqi forces and less direct involvement in conflict there, with a smaller deployment as well -- is the same one which the president has painted since his January announcement of a troop "surge.''
Now Bush faces increasing pressure from Congress, where several members of his own party are joining Democratic leaders in calling for a phased withdrawal of troops from Iraq. But, nothing in the president’s address today is aimed at quelling any of that discontent, Snow says.
Even as he speaks about the future in Iraq, the president is resisting any call for timelines. Indeed, the only timeline the White House is talking about today is the "starting line'' for the surge.
"We're at the starting line right now,'' Snow said today, making the morning rounds of televsion news shows. The surge, which started as 21,500 new forces and has grown to 30,000 -- boosting the U.S. deployment in Iraq to 160,000 -- has only recently reached its full deployment, Snow notes.
“In terms of overall goals… the whole purpose of the surge has been to get us into a position where eventually we are going to be able to cut back,’’ Snow told the Tribune.
There is good cause for the stage Bush has chosen today: The bellwether state of Ohio. The president managed to carry the state in a hard-fought reelection contest, but voters have turned toward Democrats in more recent congressional and Senate elections. And Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio is among a handful of Republicans now peeling from Bush's war camp.
But the message he delivers may have a familiar ring, six months to the day that he announced an escalation of forces with a televised address from the White House: Bush will press for patience with a troop surge aimed at securing Baghdad and other violent regions of Iraq, to enable Iraqi forces time to train and "stand up'' for their own country.
"We need to give our forces time,'' Snow said on NBC's Today Show this morning. "We are at the very beginning stages'' of the full new troop deployment, which is designed, he noted, to enable the Iraqis to stand up for themselves.
The first progress report which the Congress has required of the president -- a requirement of the reluctant new war funding bill approved recently -- is due at week's end. Snow downplays reports that it will be "all doom and gloom,'' suggesting that it will show that Iraqi and U.S. forces have met some benchmarks but not others -- and that more time is required.
“It’s not dire,’’ Snow told the Tribune of a report which the White House is presenting as “a snapshot’’ of the way things stand in July, early into the surge, with hope that there will be more progress to report in September at the next report. There will be some areas in which benchmarks have been met already, he said, and others where they have not.
As for discontent among Republicans in Congress, he said, “We are having continuing conversations with them…’’
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Comments
This lame brain we have for a president has had over FOUR YEARS to get it right in Iraq and it hasn't happened and it's not going to happen.
WHERE'S THE POLITICAL SOLUTION!
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 10, 2007 9:57 AM
Doug,
Gen. Patreuas has asked to give him until September with "the surge." Do you think that is possible to do?
As far as politically, that is being worked on and may be the more difficult of the two.
But I also ask you, what are the alternatives? What happens if we were to leave in the next few months? What happens to Iraq? What happens to the people? What happens to Al Qaeda? And what about Iran?
I fully understand people's patience for Iraq is just about gone and I can understand why the patience is gone. But what are the alternatives and what do we do about Islamic extremism?
Posted by: John D | July 10, 2007 10:29 AM
Bizarro White House Adventures
Scene: An early morning White House news conference two months from now. Tony Snow, Senior White House spokesperson, has just finished his preliminary statement, which dealt exclusively with the contents of President Bush's late morning speech to the Daughters of the American Revolution convention: a patriotic thank-you for their sponsorship of the Send A Soldier A Dr. Scholls Foot Spa Kit program, also unofficially dubbed "Sweet Feet for Dead Meat" by some members of the press.
Snow: I'll now open the floor for questions. (Points to a reporter in the front row.) Yes, Sam, go ahead.
Reporter: You spoke two months ago about being "at the starting line" of The Surge. The Iraq progress report is due just three days from now. How far from the starting line do you anticipate the report will say our troops have progressed?
Snow: I think the report will show that our troops have made significant progress toward what I'll now call "the finish line." You, see, we need to stop looking at the starting point, and start focusing on the eventual goal. (Pointing to a lady to his right). Elaine?
Reporter: Thank-you Tony. Does this mean that the Administration is finally ready to discuss what it's exit strategy actually is?
Snow: Not exactly. You see, "the finish line" and an "exit strategy" aren't necessarily the same thing. An "exit strategy" is a military concept that deals with military goals and what to do after they've been either attained or deemed unfeasible or too costly. On the other hand, "the finish line" is more of a political construct, nebulous, not set in space or time, sometimes more of a gut feel, sometimes a slave to expediency. Frankly, it can be anything you want it to be. (Spotting a man seated in the back.) Your question, Tom?
Reporter: Well, let me see if I get this. We're now saying that our progress isn't predicated on how far we've traveled from the starting line, right?
Snow: That's correct
Reporter: Rather, we now measure our progress by how close we are to the finish line.
Snow: Yes, you have it.
Reporter: But the finish line isn't actually like a real line, like, drawn across the sand, or something, right? It's really just... anywhere at all?
Snow: You've said it even better than I could. (Glances at his watch.) Well, that's all we have time for today. Thank-you for coming.
Posted by: Dan M | July 10, 2007 10:57 AM
Everybody have patience,no Bush or Cheney kin are getting killed.
Can't we just talk about tax cuts for wealthy?
Posted by: Raving Loon | July 10, 2007 11:20 AM
Now it's clear why Bush failed in every business venture his father set him up with before entering politics: in the business world, projects that cost money (not to mention LIVES), need a plan and a timetable to be successful. Bush knows the meaning of neither. Enough said.
Posted by: Dan | July 10, 2007 11:48 AM
Tony Snowjob says we are at the starting line and we need to give our troops more time. What is this ignorant buffoon talking about?? The American people were told by July significant progress will be made in Iraq. Hmmm.
Over the weekend over 200 Iraqi's and 15 U.S. soldiers were killed and/ or blown-up. Many more were injured. Iraq is in chaos and it has become a diaster. It has become a civil war with no military solution or end in sight.
Posted by: Doug R. | July 10, 2007 11:50 AM
I ran out of patience with this clown a long time ago. When are we going to impeach the lot of them?
Posted by: Cheryl | July 10, 2007 12:01 PM
John D.,
After four plus years, where is the political solution?
Where is the evidence it's even moving in the right direction?
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 10, 2007 12:23 PM
Patience?!?!?! How many freaking times is Dubya going to ask Americans for patience?
Posted by: Janstress | July 10, 2007 12:44 PM
I guess they think the "right direction" is moving the line forward again and again so you never reach it. First it was June, then it was July, now it is September. At this rate, by the end of August they'll be saying November is when we will see progress.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | July 10, 2007 12:51 PM
Yale Cheerleader - "More Patience"
Tell that to the family members that have lost loved ones in your uncalled for civil war in Iraq, Chimpy.
Posted by: John E | July 10, 2007 12:51 PM
Still, no answers from you folks, just the same old drivel.
Come on Doug, you keep trying to pass yourself off as a smart guy. Rather than ask where is the political solution, which I grant has not gone anywheere near as well as the Iraqis need to be, but offer some possible solutions.
Tell you folks what. I am out of town on business for the next 18 hours. You folks have 18 hours to offer something other than the usual nonsense. OK?
Posted by: John D | July 10, 2007 1:06 PM
Check that, I am gone for 30 hours, not 18. Gives you more time to come up with something.
Posted by: John D | July 10, 2007 1:07 PM
Little Johnny D,
Goodluck selling Electrical Supply Products out of your trunk.
The economy is good according to W. so that should at least be of some comfort to you.
Posted by: John E | July 10, 2007 1:32 PM
John D.,
On your trip, will you be coming back from around the bend?
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 10, 2007 1:42 PM
Johnny D,
Why do you think we have to occupy a country in order to fight terror? Why do you deadenders think by calling for strategic withdrawel, 70% of Americans are giving up combating terror?
Posted by: jethro | July 10, 2007 2:15 PM
John D. asks a very important question: what will happen in Iraq if we pull out in the next few months. John, the answer is that it DOES NOT MATTER when / how we pull out of Iraq. The Middle East is stuffed full of fanatics that have hated each other since they evolved out of the goo. No matter which century you pick, you will find wars of agression or wars of intolerance and hatred. Always. There in NO WAY TO WIN in the Middle East. The best, and only, reasonable course is to cut our losses and get out. Whether this year, next year or 10 years from now, it will make NO DIFFERENCE. Intolerance, bigotry, religious fanaticism, lack of an educated population and the psychology of multiple generations of war all combine to perpetuate the warring. It's time for us to get out of there. Cheneybush and the Neocons - especially guilty is Paul Wolfowitz - are to blame for every single death, dismemberment, wound and fear that exists in Iraq today. It used to be Saddam, now it's Cheneybush.
Posted by: snalg | July 10, 2007 2:21 PM
what about the draf, if a small surge of 30,000 soldiers is working, maybe we need around 80,000 more soldiers and around 25,000 more iraqui police people, so Iraq police will work on the big cities and US military work on training, intelligence to capture and destroy guerrilla cells, and border patrol so no weapons and smuglers come into Iraq.
Maybe US need to move personel from Europe, Japan and Latin America to the middle east and Africa, where this war (war on terror) is forming.
Posted by: dav | July 10, 2007 2:29 PM
Still, no answers from you folks, just the same old drivel.
Come on Doug, you keep trying to pass yourself off as a smart guy. Rather than ask where is the political solution, which I grant has not gone anywheere near as well as the Iraqis need to be, but offer some possible solutions.
Tell you folks what. I am out of town on business for the next 18 hours. You folks have 18 hours to offer something other than the usual nonsense. OK?
Posted by: John D
John D,
How about you use that 18 to 30 hours to seriously ponder how the lives lost and the money spent have accomplished anything tangibly measurable that benifits the good old U S of A. We have more expensive oil, we have ports that are not measuably more secure than prior to 9/11. We have less world prestige. All at the cost of thousands upon thousands of American lives and billions of dollars that could have actually been used to make our homeland more secure.
Seriously, give us the facts as you see it, because 70% of us dimwit americans just can't understand how you believe we are "winning" at anything these days. And remember, that 70% that can't see it as you see it includes more than just the looney left.If 30% who still believe are the neocon nuts that your type is called, than, all extremes being equal, 30% are the looney left you call out on a regular basis. As they will never convince you, and you will never convince them, why don't you try convincing the 40% of the middle of the road, conservative and liberal alike, how more of the same is a workable option. Seems to me the looney left has been doing a much better job of convincing them than your stay the course, have patience neocons have. And don't fall back on the "nobody said it was going to be easy" and "things worth doing are worth sacrifice" dogma. The days of waving that flag are long past. And don't try the old chestnut, "there hasn't been another attack since we've been at war". Unless you can prove plausible, provable acts of potential terrorism have been foiled, that agrument doesn't exist. You've got 30 hours. Good luck.
Posted by: kg123 | July 10, 2007 3:06 PM
Johnny Torture-
A little reading for your trip.
http://bakerinstitute.org/Pubs/iraqstudygroup_findings.pdf
Too bad Bush decided to completely ignore them the first time.
Posted by: tony | July 10, 2007 3:13 PM
"Leaving Streamwood"
(forgive me Sheryl)
Life springs eternal
On a sleepy suburban street
Not that I care at all
I spent the best part of my losing streak
In my mother's Jeep
For what I can't recall
Oh I'm banging on my TV set
And I check for Fox
And I eat my Ding Dongs
I pour some Koolaid
And I pull the blind
And I wonder what I'll find
[Chorus]
I'm Leaving Streamwood
I'm not so bright
Bill O'Reilly, Faux News
On a Saturday night
Leaving Streamwood
Leaving for good, for good
I'm leaving for good
I'm leaving for good
Used to be I could drive up to
Chicago for the night
Find some crossroad trucker
To demonstrate his might
But these days it seems
Nowhere is far enough away
So I'm leaving Streamwood today
[Chorus]
I'm standing in the middle of the 'burbs
Waiting for my ship to come in
But now no Rove, no Dick, no Dubya
Can take this loser hand
And make it win
[Chorus]
I quit my job as an HVAC hack
At the RSES
pushing propane until one or two
Such a muddy line between
The things you want
And the things you have to do
[Chorus]
I'm leaving Streamwood
And I won't be back
No I won't be back
Not this time
Posted by: dt | July 10, 2007 3:31 PM
dt,
That was hilarious!
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 10, 2007 5:45 PM
JohnDunce: You pose so many lovely 'what ifs' instead of facing reality, so here's one for you: What if Chimpy didn't have a hard on for Momm-oops-Sadaam and didn't invade Oilraq and instead went after Osama? What if this! Come on...
Posted by: A N Other | July 10, 2007 11:04 PM