Democrats, Republicans question Bush's statement on troop levels

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.onnnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=3535036

Democrats, Republicans question Bush's statement on troop levels

WASHINGTON Senators from both sides of the aisle are taking issue with some of what President Bush had to say last night.

During a prime-time address, Bush said he does not believe it's necessary to send more troops to Iraq.

Arizona Senator John McCain tells C-B-S that deploying too few troops was "one of the very big mistakes early on" in the war. The Republican says there were too few troops in Iraq "after the initial victory, and that's still the case."

And Senator John Kerry said on N-B-C that "we don't have enough troops" there.

It's a sentiment Joseph Biden echoed on A-B-C.

The Senate Democrat said he was going to give Bush "the phone numbers of the very generals and flag officers" he met on Memorial Day in Iraq.

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[Mari333]

1. Its time for those young republicans to enlist

there arent enough troops, and the ones there are keep getting sent back..time to bring them all home.

[napi21]

2. WOW, what are those speech writers going to do next?

I'd bet, behind the scenes, Rove and the speech writers are taking a hit this morning! This prime time speech was supposed to have a positive effect for Shrub, and it didn't!

Geesh, I wish I was a fly on the wall!

[against all enemies]

3. Great, the Democrats are complaining there aren't enough

troops over there. So Bush can now say we need a draft because the Democrats say we need more troops. Can we please stop playing into his hands.

[rodeodance]

4. so--will Bush call the generals-from the numbers Biden gives him?

It's a sentiment Joseph Biden echoed on A-B-C.

The Senate Democrat said he was going to give Bush "the phone numbers of the very generals and flag officers" he met on Memorial Day in Iraq.

[Stuckinthebush]

6. The Dems know he can't call for a draft

They also know that he is lying about the troop levels. It is a win-win for the Dems to call him out on this.

They are saying, "You started this mess with too few troops on the ground. We could have put them there in the beginning and the escalation may not have been as steep. You choose not to, so now we are in the unenviable position of needing even more troops to get this botched job done. So, why are you lying about troop strength and how do you plan on fixing this mess?"

It is a great strategy.

[against all enemies]

7. I have three sons, I hope you're right. Bush is never wrong -

just ask the dumb asshole. Not one wrong decision in 5 years.

[Stuckinthebush]

8. Being a sheltered, narcissistic, fool

means never having to say "sorry".

[VegasWolf]

15. I agree. Well said. nt

[bribri16]

5. To send more troops means we are in trouble. We will send private

contractors to do our fighting. We have no moral authority to complain about 'outsiders' as insurgents fueling the fighting in Iraq. We have enough of our own 'outsiders' fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. When will the American people wake up? Are they so blinded by their religious and racial intolerance and hate that they will never see?

[ihelpu2see]

9. I was astonished, He said, "if the Generals ask for more troops I will

send more troops." then he added the bazaar statement about... if the US adds more troops that would not provide an incentive for the Iraqis to help protect their new nation. In a way, the usual neocon social welfare argument re-worked for foreign policy.... you know, why give hand outs to the poor, they need to pull themselves up by the bootstraps BS...

[wicket]

10. Bush Critics Call for More Troops in Iraq

Bush Critics Call for More Troops in Iraq

-snip-

He offered no shift in course in Iraq and said he did not believe it necessary to send more troops. U.S. forces in Iraq total just under about 140,000 and they constitute the bulk of the coalition fighting force. Appearing on television news shows Wednesday, some key lawmakers took issue with that position.

Sen. John McCain, interviewed on CBS's "The Early Show," maintained that "one of the very big mistakes early on was that he didn't have enough troops on the ground, particularly after the initial victory, and that's still the case."

Sen. John Kerry, Bush's Democratic opponent in last year's presidential election, told NBC's "Today" show that the borders of Iraq "are porous" and said "we don't have enough troops" there.

Sen. Joseph Biden Jr., appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," disputed Bush's notion that sufficient troops are in place. "I'm going to send him the phone numbers of the very generals and flag officers that I met on Memorial Day when I was in Iraq," the Delaware Democrat said. "There's not enough force on the ground now to mount a real counterinsurgency." Biden argued, "The course that we are on now is not a course of success. He (Bush) has to get more folks involved. He has to stand up that army more quickly."


more at link

[still_one]

11. where do they think we are going to get the troops?

McCain, Kerry, and Biden all gave bush the authority to go into Iraq

The gave up their constitutional obligation which said only Congress can declare war

Iraq had no WMDs, was not linked to 9/11

we are in the middle of a civil war, and these idiots who didn't have the courage do to their jobs as Senators now want more American life blood

SCREW THEM

[Barrett808]

12. I'm assuming this is a Democratic tactic

Wrapping themselves in the flag and assuming the tougher "get tough" stance.

[Dhalgren]

13. I am sick to death of political tactics!

This is fucking murder we're talking about. If the Democrats are in favor, as a party, of continuing the murder then neither "major" party is worth supporting! We can't talk about our security or our prestige or our standing in the world while we are committing murder on an immense scale. Unless the Democratic Party comes out with a strong STOP THE WAR message, I, for one, will cease my support and financial contributions. It makes me sick to see and hear all of these Democrats speaking about "winning" the war and "getting the job done" and other such euphemisms - euphemisms for murder. If this invasion and occupation is wrong, then we should stop it and get out, now. If the Democrats believe we must continue, then they have no better standing than their Republican twins...


(This is not directed at you Barrett, just an overflowing of contempt for all of our "government" - Dhalgren)

[bemildred]

14. You would be wrong (IMHO).

They cannot (or don't want to) leave, and the only alternative is to wade in deeper. The Democratic leadership is every bit as much part of the "War Party" as the Bushites. They just object to the Bushites "incompetence"; they are completely unwilling (so far) to consider the idea that the Iraq War was a stupid idea as such.

[Supersedeas]

16. meanwhile Bush insulates himself from criticism by blaming the Generals

is that supporting the troops too?