The Speech W Should Give Today (but Won't)

[Nbadan]

We saw a glimpse of W's talking points on the eroding support for the Iraq war yesterday from Rummy on Meet the Press, but here is the speech that John Kerry (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/opinion/28kerry.html?hp&oref=login) believes W should give to the American people tonight...


TONIGHT President Bush will discuss the situation in Iraq. It's long past time to get it right in Iraq. The Bush administration is courting disaster with its current course - a course with no realistic strategy for reducing the risks to our soldiers and increasing the odds for success.

The reality is that the Bush administration's choices have made Iraq into what it wasn't before the war - a breeding ground for jihadists. Today there are 16,000 to 20,000 jihadists and the number is growing. The administration has put itself - and, tragically, our troops, who pay the price every day - in a box of its own making. Getting out of this box won't be easy, but we owe it to our soldiers to make our best effort.

Our mission in Iraq is harder because the administration ignored the advice of others, went in largely alone, underestimated the likelihood and power of the insurgency, sent in too few troops to secure the country, destroyed the Iraqi army through de-Baathification, failed to secure ammunition dumps, refused to recognize the urgency of training Iraqi security forces and did no postwar planning. A little humility would go a long way - coupled with a strategy to succeed.

So what should the president say tonight? The first thing he should do is tell the truth to the American people. Happy talk about the insurgency being in "the last throes" leads to frustrated expectations at home. It also encourages reluctant, sidelined nations that know better to turn their backs on their common interest in keeping Iraq from becoming a failed state.

The president must also announce immediately that the United States will not have a permanent military presence in Iraq. Erasing suspicions that the occupation is indefinite is critical to eroding support for the insurgency.

He should also say that the United States will insist that the Iraqis establish a truly inclusive political process and meet the deadlines for finishing the Constitution and holding elections in December. We're doing our part: our huge military presence stands between the Iraqi people and chaos, and our special forces protect Iraqi leaders. The Iraqis must now do theirs.

He also needs to put the training of Iraqi troops on a true six-month wartime footing and ensure that the Iraqi government has the budget needed to deploy them. The administration and the Iraqi government must stop using the requirement that troops be trained in-country as an excuse for refusing offers made by Egypt, Jordan, France and Germany to do more.

The administration must immediately draw up a detailed plan with clear milestones and deadlines for the transfer of military and police responsibilities to Iraqis after the December elections. The plan should be shared with Congress. The guideposts should take into account political and security needs and objectives and be linked to specific tasks and accomplishments. If Iraqis adopt a constitution and hold elections as planned, support for the insurgency should fall and Iraqi security forces should be able to take on more responsibility. It will also set the stage for American forces to begin to come home.

Iraq, of course, badly needs a unified national army, but until it has one - something that our generals now say could take two more years - it should make use of its tribal, religious and ethnic militias like the Kurdish pesh merga and the Shiite Badr Brigade to provide protection and help with reconstruction. Instead of single-mindedly focusing on training a national army, the administration should prod the Iraqi government to fill the current security gap by integrating these militias into a National Guard-type force that can provide security in their own areas.

The administration must work with the Iraqi government to establish a multinational force to help protect its borders. Such a force, if sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council, could attract participation by Iraq's neighbors and countries like India.

The deployment of capable security forces is critical, but it alone will not end the insurgency, as the administration would have us believe. Hamstrung by its earlier lack of planning and overly optimistic predictions for rebuilding Iraq, the administration has failed to devote equal attention to working with the Iraqi government on the economic and political fronts. Consequently, reconstruction is lagging even in the relatively secure Shiite south and Kurdish north. If Iraqis, particularly Sunnis who fear being disenfranchised, see electricity flowing, jobs being created, roads and sewers being rebuilt and a democratic government being formed, the allure of the insurgency will decrease.

Iraq's Sunni neighbors, who complain they are left out, could do more to help. Even short-term improvements, like providing electricity and supplying diesel fuel - an offer that the Saudis have made but have yet to fulfill - will go a long way. But we need to give these nations a strategic plan for regional security, acknowledging their fears of an Iran-dominated crescent and their concerns about our fitful mediation between Israel and the Palestinians in return for their help in rebuilding Iraq, protecting its borders, and bringing its Sunnis into the political process.

The next months are critical to Iraq's future and our security. If Mr. Bush fails to take these steps, we will stumble along, our troops at greater risk, casualties rising, costs rising, the patience of the American people wearing thin, and the specter of quagmire staring us in the face. Our troops deserve better: they deserve leadership equal to their sacrifice.

[Nbadan]

Bit and pieces are coming out regarding W's speech tonight..


FORT BRAGG, N.C. - President Bush on Tuesday appealed for the nation's patience for "difficult and dangerous" work ahead in Iraq, hoping a backdrop of U.S. troops and a reminder of Iraq's revived sovereignty would help him reclaim control of an issue that has eroded his popularity.

In an evening address at an Army base that has 9,300 troops in Iraq, Bush was acknowledging the toll of the 27-month-old war. At the same time, he aimed to persuade skeptical Americans that his strategy for victory needed only time — not any changes — to be successful.

"Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed. Every picture is horrifying and the suffering is real," Bush said, according to excerpts released ahead of time by the White House. "It is worth it."

It was a tricky balancing act, believed necessary by White House advisers who have seen persistent insurgent attacks eat into Americans' support for the war — and for the president — and increase discomfort among even Republicans on Capitol Hill.

more:Yahoo News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050628/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush/nc:693)

and linking the Iraq war once again to September 11th...


Amid all this violence, I know Americans ask the question: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it, and it is vital to the future security of our country. And tonight I will explain the reasons why," he said.

"We have more work to do, and there will be tough moments that test America's resolve. We are fighting against men with blind hatred -- and armed with lethal weapons -- who are capable of any atrocity," he said.

"They are trying to shake our will in Iraq -- just as they tried to shake our will on September 11, 2001. They will fail. The terrorists do not understand America. The American people do not falter under threat -- and we will not allow our future to be determined by car bombers and assassins," he said.

Yahoo News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050628/wl_afp/usiraqbushtough_050628205235)

[Nbadan]

More quotes from CNN..


"The terrorists can kill the innocent, but they cannot stop the advance of freedom," Bush will say. "The only way our enemies can succeed is if we forget the lessons of September 11 ... if we abandon the Iraqi people to men like (Abu Musab al-) Zarqawi ... and if we yield the future of the Middle East to men like (Osama) bin Laden."

"We are fighting against men with blind hatred, and armed with lethal weapons, who are capable of any atrocity," Bush will say. "They wear no uniform. They respect no laws of warfare or morality. They are trying to shake our will in Iraq, just as they tried to shake our will on September 11, 2001. They will fail."

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/28/bush.speech/index.html)

Well, I think we can all see where W's speech tonight in going.

[JohnnyMarzetti]

Damn, same old BS again.
Pushing patriotic support but no new answers to the debacle that is Iraq.

[CaptainHook]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/choice2004/art/p_kerrymainp.jpg
OWNED by Dubya with the most popular votes in the history of the U.S.!!!!!!!!!!!

[GopherSA]

If the D-Day Invasion Were Reported by Today's Media

NORMANDY, FRANCE (June 6, 1944) Three hundred French civilians were killed and thousands more were wounded today in the first hours of America's invasion of continental Europe. Casualties were heaviest among women and children. Most of the French casualties were the result of artillery fire from American ships attempting to knock out German fortifications prior to the landing of hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops. Reports from a makeshift hospital in the French town of St. Mere Eglise said the carnage was far worse than the French had anticipated, and that reaction against the American invasion was running high. "We are dying for no reason, "said a Frenchman speaking on condition of anonymity. "Americans can't even shoot straight. I never thought I'd say this, but life was better under Adolph Hitler."

The invasion also caused severe environmental damage. American troops, tanks, trucks and machinery destroyed miles of pristine shoreline and thousands of acres of ecologically sensitive wetlands. It was believed that the habitat of the spineless French crab was completely wiped out, thus threatening the species with extinction. A representative of Greenpeace said his organization, which had tried to stall the invasion for over a year, was appalled at the destruction, but not surprised. "This is just another example of how the military destroys the environment without a second thought," said Christine Moanmore. "And it's all about corporate greed."

Contacted at his Manhattan condo, a member of the French government-in-exile who abandoned Paris when Hitler invaded, said the invasion was based solely on American financial interests. "Everyone knows that President Roosevelt has ties to 'big beer'," said Pierre LeWimp. "Once the German beer industry is conquered, Roosevelt's beer cronies will control the world market and make a fortune."

Administration supporters said America's aggressive actions were based in part on the assertions of controversial scientist Albert Einstein, who sent a letter to Roosevelt speculating that the Germans were developing a secret weapon -- a so-called "atomic bomb". Such a weapon could produce casualties on a scale never seen before, and cause environmental damage that could last for thousands of years. Hitler has denied having such a weapon and international inspectors were unable to locate such weapons even after spending two long weekends in Germany. Shortly after the invasion began, reports surfaced that German prisoners had been abused by American soldiers. Mistreatment of Jews by Germans at their so-called "concentration camps" has been rumored, but so far this remains unproven.

Several thousand Americans died during the first hours of the invasion, and French officials are concerned that the uncollected corpses will pose a public-health risk. "The Americans should have planned for this in advance," they said. "It's their mess, and we don't intend to help clean it up."

[mookie2001]

9/11 dhwdhgwro grhwrh0 rwh0r wr0r hrh rhr 9/11 fdhueggheg freedom ehbe ehe eub ghhgr0h rg0qe liberty rwghigh io oir 9/11 ghrg ege0 hieqgh h9ieg evil nbdv0 ige hfe 9/11

[xrayzebra]

Damn, same old BS again.
Pushing patriotic support but no new answers to the debacle that is Iraq.

Damn, what is our timetable for Germany, Japan, Korea, and of course
Kosovo. How did we hold so many prisoners during the second world war.
No lawyers nor did we try them.

Of course we must show our kindness to our enemy, they really didn't have
anything to do with WTC or Saudi barracks or killing of innocent Iraqs. Bush
is the main man to hate, he is only protecting your sorry butts. I think he
explained everything very well and only reinforced what he has told everyone
from the beginning, it is going to be a long, bloody fight. The sad thing about the whole thing is we have people like NBAdan and Mookie2001 and
others who just want the goodies offered and no responsibility in supporting
the country. But rest easy boys, we will take care of you, as always and
keep you safe.

Support Mr. Kennedy, who swam off and left a woman to drown, support
your Mr. Kerry, who is the Viet Nam hero, still carrying the metal to prove it.
Well he is must be great in bed as a Gigglo, he has the monied woman to
prove it. Support your Dim-o-craps, they promise you the world and give
you zip. :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

[bigzak25]

Good Evening America,

as you know, we still have a shitstorm in iraq we're dealing with. yeah, the weapons were bullshit, but we needed a stronghold in the middle east and they got a shitload of oil. We all know Saddam was a mutherfucker and a ruthless dictator...so when we got the oppotunity? Why not kill two birds with one stone. Hey, I don't want our Soldiers dying over there either, but it's for the greater good of this nation financially and security wise. We got alot of those American hating bastards running scared and the rest are dead or in Cuba. I think it will be a looong ass time before they even THINK about attacking us on our soil. They now realize that their attack gave us carte blanche with regard to invading and heh, heh, "liberating" the islamic country of our choosing.

So rest assured, the Libs will gawk and squawk, but the end justifies the means. And the end is approaching. We will ALWAYS have a military presence in Iraq. That was the whole point. But The majority of our soldiers will be coming home within the next couple years. Book it.

Thanks, and Goodnight.

[xrayzebra]

I want you all to read the following, it is from Rush, but gives all the
facts. You may not want to take a chance and read these links because
it proves again the link between all the parties involved.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/pdf/limlet1.pdf

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/pdf/limlet2.pdf

One other little article you need to read:

From Rush website:

The Occupation of Germany

June 2, 2004




Listen to Rush…
(…read from the brilliant Levin piece that gives historical perspective on Iraq)

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Mark Levin, affectionately known as F. Lee Levin, as the legal division head here at the EIB Limbaugh Institute, has a piece that points out just how ugly it got in postwar Germany, too.

"With all the nay saying about our presence in Iraq, it's worth noting that none of these difficulties are particularly new. No postwar occupation has been without serious challenges, including the occupation of Germany after World War II. The New York Times ran a series of news stories in late 1945 reporting, in part, the following:

"Headline: Germans Reveal Hate of Americans. Oct. 31, 1945. (Stories)
The German attitude toward the American occupation forces has swung from apathy and surface friendliness to active dislike. According to a military government official, this is finding expression in the organization of numerous local anti-American organizations throughout the zone and in a rapid increase in the number of attacks on American soldiers. There were more such attacks in the first week of October than in the preceding five months of the occupation, this source declared. This official views the situation as so serious that he and others are protesting the withdrawal of 1,600 experienced military-government officers from the German governments on township, county and regional levels between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15."

Sound familiar? You know, this is what I call -- I don't mean to be redundant -- but historical perspective. So many people think that we've never been through anything like this before. "Iraq is horrible and wrong." It's understandable when you look at the press coverage the Democrats are getting, talking about this "micromanaging" every little thing that goes wrong. How many news reports were there of World War II when one or two soldiers died? Zip. We didn't know until we went to the Movietone news on Saturday. We didn't really see any moving pictures, you know, we had newspapers in their daily accounts. Not being critical, I'm just saying it's different. The coverage is different, but the reality is not different. What happens in war happens in war, always has, always will.


Another headline, November 18th, 1945, from the New York Times: Loss of Victory in Germany Through U.S. Policy Feared. November 18th. They thought we were going to lose. Our occupation was going so bad, that we were going to lose the war! (Stories)

"Grave concern was expressed today by informed officials that the United States might soon lose the fruits of victory in Germany through the failure to prepare adequately for carrying out its long-term commitments under the Potsdam Declaration."

Why, where have I heard this before? I think it goes something like this. [Doing John Kerry impression] "Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz and thooose neocons, theeey didn't plan effectively for the aftermath! Whhhy, this is an abject failure. Whhhy, we're losing this war." Or losing the peace, whatever the hell they say we're losing. "They didn't plan for the aftermath. They had no idea what was going to happen." And look at this, 1945. This is almost 60 years ago, and it's the exact same thing.

"Might soon lose the fruits of victory in Germany through the failure to prepare adequately for carrying out its long-term commitments under the Potsdam Declaration."

"Germans Declare Americans Hated, December 3rd, 1945. (Stories)
An exhaustive compilation of opinions of Germans in all walks of life on their reaction to the United States occupation of their country was released this afternoon from the confidential status under which it was submitted to officials of the United States Forces in the European Theatre recently. Bitter resentment and deep disappointment was voiced over the Americans' first six months of occupation, though there was some praise for the improvements in transportation, health conditions, book publishing and entertainment."

The New York Times then, the New York Times today. Sixty years ago. Virtually identical. And one more, December 19th, 1945. "German Election Set In Towns of U.S. Zone. (Stories) "United States Seventh Army headquarters announced today that plans had been completed for initial German elections in January at Gemuende. A statement said that a vast majority of Germans remained passive in attitude toward politics and displayed no disposition to take over civic responsibilities."

Folks, just keep listening to this program. If you want to understand reality and truth and life and all these sorts of things. If you want to have an accurate portrayal of historical perspective, understand that what's happening in Iraq is quite normal, and, in fact, probably ahead of schedule, compared to Germany or Japan. Way ahead of schedule. It's good news. It's reason to be optimistic. They still got the same naysayers today as you had then, but what we have today is what we had then. We have committed leadership. What is so funny? [Talking to program observer] I'm not being funny right now, what are you laughing at in there?

I'll bet you we can find a German prison scandal. I betcha there were some scandals. I'll betcha there were. You think this is the first time we've had prison scandals? I'll betcha some people do. They try my patience in there. Here I am in the middle of being brilliant and they have to go off into jocularity, but I got the point out, folks, I was not distracted. I finished my point to you before I asked them what they were so rudely laughing at in there. We'll be back in -- I don't mind that you're laughing. I mean I love laughter. But now you got me -- I'm going to find a German prison scandal. I know there had to be one. Be back here in just a second. Probably Reagan was involved in it.

[JohnnyMarzetti]

Damn, what is our timetable for Germany, Japan, Korea, and of course
Kosovo. How did we hold so many prisoners during the second world war.
No lawyers nor did we try them.

Of course we must show our kindness to our enemy, they really didn't have
anything to do with WTC or Saudi barracks or killing of innocent Iraqs. Bush
is the main man to hate, he is only protecting your sorry butts. I think he
explained everything very well and only reinforced what he has told everyone
from the beginning, it is going to be a long, bloody fight. The sad thing about the whole thing is we have people like NBAdan and Mookie2001 and
others who just want the goodies offered and no responsibility in supporting
the country. But rest easy boys, we will take care of you, as always and
keep you safe.

Support Mr. Kennedy, who swam off and left a woman to drown, support
your Mr. Kerry, who is the Viet Nam hero, still carrying the metal to prove it.
Well he is must be great in bed as a Gigglo, he has the monied woman to
prove it. Support your Dim-o-craps, they promise you the world and give
you zip. :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

Funny how your beloved Dubya has flipped-flopped on why we went to war. Notice the lack of reference to "WMD's"?..or that now we are trying to stop Iraq from becoming a haven for terrorists? Wasn't it before?
Still trying to tie 9/11 to Iraq.. :rolleyes
Mission accomplished my ass!!!!

[Vashner]

Damn, same old BS again.
Pushing patriotic support but no new answers to the debacle that is Iraq.

We are not going to give the enemy the full battle plan on national TV. AS MUCH AS LIBERALS would like to.. give them the battle plans..

Fact is we are KICKING THERE FUCKING ASS bad... they can only do these
piss ant coward suicide bombings.. that's fucking pussy ass fighting.

Killing hospital and children ? get the fuck out of here....

Last time I checked we have SPANKED there ass in battles.

They got FUCKING OWNED like no enemy has been FUCKING OWNED..
in the history of modern battle.

FUCK THE ENEMY they fight like pussies cause they are pussies. They treat women and people like shit.. they dont' want freedom.. theyjust want power.

FUCK THEM...

[Ocotillo]

Logic like Vashner's plays right into the insurgents hands. They know they can't prevail on the battlefield against the Americans.

They feel they are being occupied. They have a dog in the fight. Our guys are over there following orders. Our guys think the place is a shithole and are counting the days until they can come home. Our guys want to do what is right and complete the mission but Dear Leader is giving them fuzzy goals and no clear mission.

The time has come for a timetable to get out of there and force the hand of the Iraqis to become self sustaining. The current Iraqi government has no incentive to get their act together because the Americans are there to cover up for them. If we wet a timetable for troop withdrawal, they will be forced to get their act together and prepare to fend for themselves.

We should also be using the offer from other countries (France and Egypt among them) to train the Iraqi forces on their soil to make it harder for the insurgents to strike them while they are still being trained.

Time is on the insurgents side. They live there. As occupiers, we don't and eventually we want to come home.

[mookie2001]

vashner too bad war isnt decided by cursing and bad grammer

[GoldToe]

Dubya should just put a sock in it and stop the BS.

Tell it like it really is. Nation Building at its best.

We are there for the strategic military base that we'll have to protect OUR oil after the war is over. Just stop the freakin' lying already!!!

Surely he doesn't believe we are all that stupid does he?

[JoePublic]

Dubya should just put a sock in it and stop the BS.

Tell it like it really is. Nation Building at its best.

We are there for the strategic military base that we'll have to protect OUR oil after the war is over. Just stop the freakin' lying already!!!

Surely he doesn't believe we are all that stupid does he?

Word, my brother.

[Nbadan]

Check out the sublimital 911 hidden in W's speech yesterday..

http://www.michaelmoore.com/_images/splash/ninestripes.jpg


Do You see it?








http://img296.echo.cx/img296/6961/copyofninestripes9lw.jpg

There it is!


If the flag were hanging naturally, the blue would be at bottom LH corner.
or it would properly be in the upper RH corner. This is a deliberate manipulative use of the flag. Isn't that desecration?

[The Ressurrected One]

Man, do you ever sleep? Do you just lay awake thinking this crap up?

Proper display of the American Flag (http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html#1)

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/images/f_etiq08.gif


8. When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out. When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window it should be displayed in the same way, that is with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. When festoons, rosettes or drapings are desired, bunting of blue, white and red should be used, but never the flag.

[exstatic]

Arrest His Ass For Desacration Of The Flag!!!

[exstatic]

Isn't reversing the field of blue a signal of distress? The Bush administration sure is in that state. No support for the war. A bunch of cotton tops with walkers walked all over his privatized SS plan. He's not just a lame duck, he's a double amputee duck.