Bush says troops will come home soon

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/nation/10661011.htm

WASHINGTON - President Bush says the U.S. military will pull out of Iraq "as quickly as possible," but he is not endorsing Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement that troops could begin returning home this year.

"The way I would put it is, American troops will be leaving as quickly as possible, but they won't be leaving until we have completed our mission," Bush said in a Washington Post story published Sunday.

"And part of the mission is to train Iraqis so they can fight the terrorists. And the sooner the Iraqis are prepared - better prepared, better equipped to fight - the sooner our troops will start coming home," Bush said.

Powell told National Public Radio last week that he believes Americans could begin leaving Iraq this year as the Iraqis take on a larger security role. Powell, in his final days as the government's chief diplomat, said he could not give a timeline when all the troops will be home.

Bush said the U.S. military is "constantly assessing" if Iraqi security forces are up to the job, allowing the United States to begin pulling out. The president would not commit to significantly reduce troops by the end of his second term in 2009.

<SNIP>

[Skittles]

1. Bush Inc doesn't have a f***ing clue what they are doing

probably still thinking of ways to blame the entire fiasco on Clinton

[Just Me]

26. Ummmm *LOL* didn't he also say NO TROOP WITHDRAWAL,...

,...NO PLANS TO WITHDRAW TROOPS just yesterday? *LOL*

The neoCONimperialists PLAN a permanent military presence in the Middle East.

EVERYONE but the Americans knows this to be true.

These deceptive butt-holes aggravate me to no end because they get away with breaching their sworn oathes to the American people: manipulating minds and funnelling public lives and national wealth into a plan which leads to mass destruction.

I swear to GOD I will live to witness the neoCONimperialists FACE JUSTICE!!!!

[Julius Civitatus]

28. This is an admission of FAILURE

They misled us to war, they lied about their reasons and lied about the potential outcome of this war. Now the mission is a mess, Iraq has become a powder-keg about to explode in a Balkan-style civil war, and we have destroyed our reputation as the Democratic nation on earth with the moral upper hand. After the crimes in Falluja, the torture in Abu Grahib, and the lack of any WMD, we leave Iraq WORSE than we were in the way in. And we have left that country in absolute chaos.

Yeah, nice fucking job, Dumbya!

Now in the midst of the mess, he wants to pack up and leave the mess for someone else to clean. Horrible. Absolutely horrible.

[cyclezealot]

34. How willl Bush react if our slow defeat expels the US forces

the way the uprising kicked out the British in the 1920's ? Will he allow a slow burning VietNam to bleed his Administration dry..
How can Dubya build an Iraqi army if the insurrection kills the new Iraqi army faster than Bush trains them...?
And how will the American people react should Bush face facts and cut and runs with a hostile Iraqi government in place?? Will the American people praise Dictator Bush for his vision??

[Straight Shooter]

2. Oh, I see. If the Iraqis can't get their sh*t together, it's their fault

See how simple it is? Our troops would come home sooner, except those ignorant Iraqis just can't get their act together. It's all their fault. Never our fault. Never, ever, ever our fault. We are the administration of no-blame, nonaccountability. Not. Our. Fault.

[MichiganVote]

3. Translation? Sorry folks, we have to wait for the civil war to start,

fight that for, oh say 10 years or so, and then skeddadle.

[dflprincess]

4. The "Vietnamization" of Iraq

"And part of the mission is to train Iraqis so they can fight the terrorists. And the sooner the Iraqis are prepared - better prepared, better equipped to fight - the sooner our troops will start coming home," Bush said.

I've heard these songs before. Soon they'll be telling us there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[Cooley Hurd]

22. It's called the "FUBAR-Exit-Strategy..."

...the key is to get the eff out with their tail high, and not in-between their legs. AKA "Peace With Honor...":eyes::puke:

[oneighty]

51. Or the new friendly

Iraqi army uses US training and weapons to kick us out.

180

[annabanana]

55. "winning hearts and minds"...n/t

[pinto]

5. ahhh, unfortunately the Duluth News is putting words in * mouth, he didn't

say "soon"......(pet peeve - headline writers with an agenda)

[Newsjock]

6. Misleading headline

Not you; the headline writer in Duluth.

"soon" is not equal to "as quickly as possible."

[Cocoa]

13. I was going to say "creative"

exactly right. Bush didn't say what the headline says he said, not even close.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. I thought so as well.

From the land of journalistic illusion.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

36. Headline has been revised: "Bush: U.S. Not Rushing to Leave Iraq"

n/t

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

48. The exact opposite of the original headline...

[Bo]

7. * crack head

to dimson the fool this is a no win no win situation.

[ladjf]

8. Translation: Some will come home. Most, as well as new troops

will be there for a long time.

[noamnety]

9. Article is mistitled

Bush says "as soon as possible" once the mission is completed.

Reporter spins this as "soon."

(edit, I see others beat me to it)

Also, the article ignores that the mission was announced as completed last year, and neglects to state what the full mission currently is.

[wildwww2]

62. In May it will be 2 years since the war criminal said Mission Accomplished

with his stupid photo op on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Bu$h makes my dogs droppings look Presidential. Yet the media whores still tout this lunatic a some kind of leader. My son is not yet 5 and he can read aloud better than the AWOL chimp. And I am not lying. That is just scary as hell.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[warrens]

69. The mission WAS accomplished

If by mission, you mean lying the American people into a stupid war to appease some airhead antagonistic world-conquering freaks. That he did just great.

And over 100,000 people have died as a result. The Mideast, like almost the entire world, despises us, we're flat broke, and this prissy little scumbag is going to waltz back to Texas in four years convinced that he's right, the entire world is wrong.

[saigon68]

10. They "WILL COME HOME IN THE DARK" in bodybags

[barb162]

11. he's saying this so the chances are lessened he won't get a pie

thrown in his face on Inauguration Day. He doesn't mean a word of this. Also "as soon as possible" can mean 50 years, right?

[tuvor]

12. Poorly written headline.

I don't see anything about them coming home "soon". Just "sooner rather than later".

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. Yeah, he's eager to send troops into Syria, Iran, ...

But now he'll be strutting around saying in effect that the "elections" in Iraq have made him the Abraham Lincoln of that country. He'll proclaim victory in Iraq against all those who "fear freedom" there and move on to the next war. Will Congress stop him this time?

[guajira]

16. Does that Mean Halliburton will also come home??

And will we give up the oil wells? What about the world's largest embassy we have there in Saddam's palace? And those 14 bases we're planning to have there?

These are questions the media should be asking -- but won't!

[tlcandie]

17. Soon as in his next vacation or soon as in when he will tell the truth?

n/t

[ckramer]

18. Two soldiers a day, George. Stay in Iraq as long as you want.

"Bring'em on!"

[NYC]

19. Soon, but not this year? It's January. That's at least a year before

they will leave.

Also, what is our mission? Bush said: ...they won't be leaving until we have completed our mission... Is our mission to find WMD? I think we gave up on that one. Is our mission to depose Saddam Hussein? We did that. I can't remember what our mission is supposed to be anymore.

And what is this? ...The president would not commit to significantly reduce troops by the end of his second term in 2009... Where is the soon in 2009?

[rockedthevoteinMA]

20. Wasn't there an article just YESTERDAY of * saying they wouldn't

be coming home soon? :wtf:

[Minstrel Boy]

21. Incredible! He said no such thing.

It's always been "as soon as possible."

In a war that "may not end in our lifetime," what hope does that offer?

[followthemoney]

23. Bush tells only half of the story.

The rest of the story is that more troops will be sent in to replace the ones leaving.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. But I thought they already ARE coming home.

[vixengrl]

25. "they won't be leaving until we have completed our mission".

Well, the reason for going changed around a bit, so I suppose what constitutes a completed mission is also subject to change.

[Canuckistanian]

27. Ah, so these colors DO run....

Whatever happened to stay the course? This seems like a major course correction to me.

[Massachusetts]

29. FUBAR

"The way I would put it is, American troops will be leaving as quickly as possible, but they won't be leaving until we have completed our mission," Bush said in a Washington Post story published Sunday.

Its been one hell of a mission so far. stay tuned.

[progressivebydesign]

30. That headline is plastered EVERYWHERE and it's bullshit!

He did not say they're coming home soon.. he said as soon as possible.

[mahina]

31. "Just as soon as the bombs start dropping on Iran,

you see, our troops will be leaving Iraq" Bush sniffed and spat. "Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq- what am I forgetting again....oh yeah, uh- Saudi Arabia- I always fergit that one. Our troops'll be out of Iraq soon enough, don't you worry. We got lots more stuff for those fellas to do".

"Don't worry, we got a plan. It's clearly a plan. It's got maps and stuff on it".

[True_Blue]

32. "until we have completed our mission"

In other words...Never!

[paineinthearse]

33. Light at the end of the tunnel

I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it is a freight train.

So if Bush withdraws the US troops, who is going to staff the 14+ permanent bases, contractors and mercinaries?

[leesa]

35. So now the mission is fighting terrorism?? I thought we went there for

to "liberate" the Iraqis to death.

[Mad_Dem_X]

37. Well, first it was the WMD's,

then it was to "liberate" them...now it's to fight terrorism - which has been increasing since we got there.

[Emillereid]

38. When they dismantle the 14 permanent bases I'll believe the troops

are leaving. Fast chance they'll give up their forward bases until the mission of complete control over the oil spigot is complete -- and everyone every where is doing what we say in exchange for some energy to run their economies. Wonder what the purchase orders for Iraq say -- that's usually the best way to gauge what the real plans are.

Of course, the resistance fighters in Iraq appear to have other plans!

[africangreys5]

39. it won't be

for a year or two, I bet.

[mahina]

43. Honey, there is a reason there was no exit strategy.

They never planned to leave. That is why we built permanent bases.
When did we leave Germany? When did we leave Japan?

[clem_c_rock]

61. Thanks - Exactly

[Historic NY]

40. Sound like double (W) speak to me......

The president would not commit to significantly reduce troops by the end of his second term in 2009. So what was the purpose of the article.......

[porkrind]

41. * will be sending them to Iran this summer.

According to Seymore Hersch, * is gearing up to move against Iran this summer, so I guess if "home" is Iran, then he might be right.

[hadrons]

42. Yahoo! has this: Bush says U.S. not rushing to leave Iraq

http://www.yahoo.com/_ylh=X3oDMTB2MXQ5MTU3BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEdGVzdAMwBHRtcGwDaW5kZXgtaWU-/s/226991

[Malva Zebrina]

50. I saw that too

they are not going to leave until the mission is accomplished.

Excuse me? What was the mission anyhow. Wasn't it regime change and to take Saddam out? Well you got him and Iraq is in the worst condition ever it has been, and tens of thousands have been murdered by you, a war criminal and an evil man. Didn't you announce, you little prick, that the "mission" was accomplished last May aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln?


No , you took that back and now you will claim that elections, a bogus lie, will take place bringing the Iraqi people, democracy and freedom just like we have, only you had to murder tens of thousands of them to do so and you had to lie to your own people to do so and you continue to lie, every single day of your miserable life.

No, after these "elections' and you have installed y9our puppet, you will claim that everything thereafter that is misery and suffering is the fault of the Iraqi people. You will proceed to blame them, those poor suffering souls who have been your victims.

What the hell is the mission? Does this jerk even know? Is it to bomb villages to ground, and kill as many inncent Iraqi children and women and old men as you can?

This man is insane. Please somebody come along and take him out of our house. Somebody please tell it to the American people the way it is.

He is INSANE.

[llmart]

44. Well, if you're going to put it that way.....

some have come home already, albeit in body bags.

[Dr Fate]

45. Suuure. And Saddam had WMDs. And he caused 9/11...

..and the tax cuts will go to the bottom percent...and you never said you were not worried about Bin Laden...

Wanna buy some wood?

[clem_c_rock]

46. How then, does he esplain this: http://www.nysun.com/article/7680

and 14 permanent bases?

[arwalden]

47. And Hitler Promised He'd Stop With Czechoslovakia!!

[Bouncy Ball]

49. So where's this training of Iraqi troops?

Doesn't there have to be some sort of stability before they can start training troops?

And how does that stability come about if the Iraqis want us out and keep fighting (and who can blame them)?

So no stability equals no training of troops. No training of Iraqi troops equal no US troops coming home. No US troops coming home means permanent presence in Iraq.

Which means this is all a big show to the bush administration. Just keep the people strung along---drop whispers and hints of when the troops MIGHT come home to keep the families and anti-war folks wondering.....

It's a game. It's nothing but a dirty game.

[Supersedeas]

52. "THEY won't be leaving until WE have complete OUR mission"

* got they right. Them that die.

* ain't too clear about we...and our. Rovian Chickenhawks haven't fought for a silverspoon in their lives...and the pResident wants to problem they won't leave until the NeoCon mission is complete.

Funny how it works that way...hard werk that it 'tis.

[goddess40]

53. Bush lives everyday like it's opposite day

What ever he says is the exact opposite of the truth. Unfortunately that means a lot more are going to die for a lie.

[despairing optimist]

54. Then why are the rules for reservists' duty extension being rewritten?

Something's not smelling like roses here. I'm shocked, shocked.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

56. they just have to finish the mission.

which is. . . um. . . let me see here. :shrug:

[zann725]

57. Is that "Yossarian"...as in "Catch 22?" Or just coincidence?

One of my favorite anti-war books.

[manly]

58. premature withdrawal from Iraq

And what happens if, after we leave the war to the well-trained Iraqi army, they get their ass handed to them by the terrorists, as I expect will happen? (After all, they're doing it to us.)
Do we go back in, claiming a case of coitus interruptus?
Do we say, once we've pulled out, we're staying out?
Do we just bomb the shit out of everybody?
Have you thought ahead that far, george, you shithead? Well, you'd better start planning now 'cause it sure as hell is going to happen, you morron.

[Deja Q]

59. Here today, they ran tomorrow. They ran to Iran, that is... and believe *

are you kidding?

* knows that when the troopie-dupedees leave Iraq, the "insurgents" will happily tapdance over to the remaining oil wells and destroy them.

* dug this country into a hole. There is no way out. Lord knows he will try, but in doing so he'll dig the hole beyond the barrier of infinity.

In other words, to borrow a phrase from a cool robot, "We're boned."

[chicagojoe]

60. More Lies !!!!!

Someone, please, DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!!

[Jamastiene]

63. What a liar...

Does anyone here watch "Six Feet Under"? Remember when Nate was looking at the morning paper with Bush on the cover and said "he just lies and lies and nobody says a thing"? I just remembered that and thought it would fit right now. I can't believe all these idiots who voted that sorry excuse into office.

He'll blame anything bad that happens on us, the lowly Dems who have no power. Somehow it'll always be our fault.

[LynnTheDem]

64. And Gen Franks says it'll take TEN YEARS (10) to train Iraqis

So "coming home soon" = in about a DECADE.

And after the DRAFT is reinstated.

[Ms_Mary]

65. ASAP but he can't garuntee the number of troops will be reduced by the

end of his term. How's that for doublespeak?

[DFWJock]

66. cut n' run

CUT N'RUN!!!!!

[BikeWriter]

67. He's lying and doesn't have a clue what to do! n/t

[ernstbass]

68. Liar liar pants on fire

[DS1]

70. Yeah, the ever undefinable "soon"

Too bad people keep buying this shit.

[54anickel]

71. Setting the stage for more $$$ and blaming Dems for a prolonged

engagement if they don't approve more spending? Perhaps he has 2006 elections on his mind. The "unpatriotic" label worked last time around. :shrug:

"And part of the mission is to train Iraqis so they can fight the terrorists. And the sooner the Iraqis are prepared - better prepared, better equipped to fight - the sooner our troops will start coming home," Bush said.

[Algorem]

72. Major combat ops have been over since Stuffed Flight Suit Day,seems

like most would be back by now.