Bush seeks an exit strategy as war threatens his career

[T_i_B]

I should bloody well hope is he in trouble for this mess.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1037015,00.html

George Bush will attempt tonight to convince the American people that he has a workable 'exit strategy' to free his forces from the rapidly souring conflict in Iraq, as Britain prepares to send in thousands more troops to reinforce the faltering coalition effort.

Frantic negotiations continued this weekend in New York to secure a United Nations resolution that would open the way for other countries to deploy peacekeeping troops to help after Bush - with one eye on next year's presidential election - signalled a change of heart on America's refusal to allow any but coalition forces into Iraq.

The President has been left with little practical choice. Concern among the American public has reached such a pitch that, with his approval ratings plummeting, he will deliver a televised address to the nation tonight to reassure them that they do not face another Vietnam. With their sons and daughters dying daily in guerrilla attacks, Americans may now be becoming more frightened of being bogged down in a hostile country than of the terrorist threat against which Bush has pledged to defend them.

A classified report drawn up by the US US Joint Chiefs of Staff and leaked last week blamed hurried and inadequate planning for the crisis, with too great a focus on an invasion and not enough on organising the peace. As the leading dove, Powell's stock is now rising in the White House, while that of the President's hawkish National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, is judged to be falling. 'Condi Rice is in trouble,' said one Whitehall source. 'She has been consistently wrong since this thing started, wrong about what would happen, and Colin Powell has been consistently right.' The Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's insistence during a trip to Iraq last week that the situation was 'getting better every day' is also ringing increasingly hollow.

[Best_man23]

1. Hmmm...Retired Four Star General who fought in Vietnam

You would think that would give Powell a trump card over Rice, whose experience is mostly academic.

But wait, this is BFEE, where down is up and black is white.

[underpants]

2. Not only academic but irrelevant

She study and trained as a Sovietologist. There is about as much demand for that is there is for typewriter repairs. She is bright no doubt but she is just a mouthpiece, her failure re: 9-11 should have sent her out the door immediately but then she really does do the job of a chief National Security adviser anyway.

[rock]

4. BFEE - where done is up

and black is for show.

on edit: spelling

[DemonFighterLives]

9. They're all whistle-asses

I wonder what whistlers mother thinks of whistle boy now. If I was the UN, I would put the US on the do not call list.

[pinniped]

3. Here's an exit strategy, RESIGN you @#$!

You already carved your name in history by killing people.

I nominate Bushvan the Terrible to star in the next "Madmen of History" special. He'll be in good company with fellow co-stars such as Joseph Stalin and Idi Amin.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi sfg25!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. So will W allow the UN

to send back their weapons inspectors?

And if he continues to refuse, isn't he putting himself in the same boat has Saddam?


BTW Thankfully_in_Britain:

How are things going for Blair? Do you think he will survive this mess and if he doesn't, will he try to take W down with him? Could this be another reason Bu$hCo is starting to get very nervous?

[T_i_B]

12. How are things for B:liar?

He is in the shit to a much greater degree than Bush. However, he does have a ultra-sycophantic landslide majority and as such he is still safe in power, even if he is damaged goods. Nobody in "new" labour has the balls to stand up to Blair.

P.S I saw Bush's address and I thought it was an attempt to save face and look dignified whilst climbing down from his previous anti-UN position. The BBC and ITN both seemed to attribute Bush's U-turn to the democrats fighting back by the way. Make of that what you will.

[Lefty48197]

6. Exit strategy? Why didn't I think of that?

And why didn't every single Republican in America think of it BEFORE the troops went off to this war? After all, every single one of them thought of it BEFORE Pres. Clinton sent troops to liberate Kosova. I was beginning to think that they didn't think 'exit strategies' were important anymore.

[LizW]

7. I'll believe it when I see it

I'm shocked, really. I think the arrogance of this administration cannot be underestimated, and I will be amazed to see Bush* even come close to admitting he was wrong. I expect to see Condi thrown to the wolves first.

[Tripper11]

8. Whoah here....

career???? What kind of career does one have when everything they have done is a complete and utter FAILURE and they have to have their daddy bail them out????

[wryter2000]

10. Why

Why does all the good reporting come from the UK? When are we going to get some?

[emad]

13. Exit strategy? Howabout doing a Dr Kelly?

I'm sure someone would even sponsor this with some painkillers and a boyscout knife.....