Gen'ls To Bush: Soldiers Not Props

[Purveyor]

Source: Chicago Tribune

A trio of retired generals concerned that President Bush might use his scheduled appearance this afternoon at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to try and score political points against Democrats, urged the president, via a teleconference with reporters, to focus strictly on the problems with military medical care.

The generals were spurred into action by news reports that suggested the president might use the event to take on Democrats as both sides clash over the Iraq and Afghanistan spending bills just passed by the Senate and House which include timelines Bush fiercely opposes for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

Some of the pointiest of comments came from retired Army Major Gen. Paul Eaton who seconded the comments made right before him by retired Army three-star, Lt. Gen. Robert Garde, who welcomed the president's visit to Walter Reed, especially if it meant a faster solution would be forthcoming to the problems there and at other facilities.

Eaton, incidentally, was known as the "father of the Iraqi Army" for his work in rebuilding the Iraqi army after the 2003 U.S. invasion.


Read more: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/03/general_to_bush.html

[lpbk2713]

1. Their Commander-in-Thief wouldn't do that.

No. He just wants to drop off some plastic turkey for their Easter dinner. :eyes:

[yurbud]

2. maybe generals could do Dems other job & start citing real goals of war

Controling iraq's oil and giving it to American big oil with a bow on top.

Dems seem loathe to touch this truth, central as it is to the war, but all along, generals have not been afraid to say what was wrong with the war, the way it was being fought and the likely outcome--a job normally performed by the opposition party. Instead, ours mostly just saluted and said "yes, sir" until very recently.

Now there at least up to, "may I please make a suggestion?"

[stillcool]

8. the real 'elephant' in the room...

it is mind-blowing how long they've held on...., but the real stunner for me is that the Iraqi government has STILL not forked over the oil contracts. Every once and a while a new article will come out proclaiming it's a done deal, but they're still holding out.

Analysis: Unions could sway Iraq oil law
By BEN LANDO
UPI Energy Correspondent

WASHINGTON, March 28 (UPI) -- Iraqi parliamentarians are set to debate a law governing oil and natural gas resources, though backroom negotiations on the measure haven't concluded yet. Both the deliberation and the deal may be futile, however, if Iraq's oil unions don't give their consent.

And the blessing of the more than 26,000-strong workers is far from guaranteed.

"We think that to reserve sovereignty of Iraq is to be able to control the oil wealth," Hassan Jumaa Awad, president of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, told United Press International.

The IFOU is an umbrella group of Iraq's oil sector workers who pump the nation's 2 million barrels per day, but, to Awad's dismay, was not party to negotiations over the law.
"Since we are working to make progress in production, we need a real participation in all the laws that are related to the oil policy," Awad said, speaking from his mobile phone in the south port city of Basra, where most of Iraq's 1.6 million bpd are sent to market. "We are the sons of this sector and we have the management and technical capability and we have the knowledge on all the oil fields. That is why we demand that our participation should be in such a level."

That "demand" is rhetorical now, hoping to influence the legislation before a final version is written. It could reach a point where the IFOU shuts down production. Oil sales fund 93 percent of Iraq's budget, giving the union's major bargaining power. If that doesn't work, violence could follow, though unions are likely not to join the ranks of insurgents.
http://www.upi.com/Energy/view.php?StoryID=20070328-011829-3353r

Some Democrats Oppose Forcing Iraq To Accept Foreign Investment in Oil
By: Ryan Grim
March 27, 2007 05:34 PM EST
Workers walk through Sheaiba oil refinery, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Basra, Iraq, Wednesday, March 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Nabil al-Jurani)


The wartime spending measure passed by the House last week and a related bill being taken up in the Senate put pressure on the Iraqi government to open its oil resources to foreign investment -- just what critics contend was the real purpose of the U.S. invasion.

The spending bill ties continued support for the war in Iraq to specific benchmarks that the Iraqi government must meet by certain dates.
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The language refers to a bill that the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent to the Iraqi Parliament on Feb. 26. The measure would open the country's fossil fuel resources to foreign oil companies. The bill faces steep opposition because it is seen as a radical departure from current Iraqi law and from the way other Middle Eastern nations have nationalized their vast oil resources.

The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Maliki fears the U.S. would withdraw support for him if he doesn't succeed in passing the current version of the bill. Democratic opponents of the oil benchmark in the House argued last week that Iraq should not be forced to pass an oil law favorable to foreign companies while the country remains under occupation
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3318.html

[yurbud]

15. I posted that politco story on my blog, and about the oil workers. Even Ted Kennedy

sidestepped this issue when asked about it on camera by an independent reporter. I'm not sure if the Democrats are on the side of the people or the oil companies on this, but it sure likes the oil companies are getting the wink.

[Babsbrain]

3. To the Demander-in-Chief:

Take a good hard look at those you sent into harm's way when you make your "too late, too little" visit to Walter Reed. Imagine that that could have happened to you had you not found a way to get out of Vietnam. Now get the hell out of Iraq!

[Straight Shooter]

4. Well said!

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Babsbrain]

5. Thanks

I am honored to be in the company of the 'wired warriors'!

[UpInArms]

6. Welcome to DU, Babsbrain!

Glad to have you here :hi:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

7. Welcome!

Yes, I find myself hoping that he slips in a moldy puddle, and gets bit by a rat.

He's got some nerve even showing his face there.

(Your username is hysterical, btw, presuming that it is a reference to Chimpy's mommy.)

[FightingIrish]

9. Can you imagine this idiot without props?

I don't recall any president in my lifetime that had to have props to get his message across. His entire presidency has been a series of charades. When he came to our town several years ago they had to create a fake forest for him to stand in front of when he talked about his "healthy forests" initiative. Lining up people in uniform is really cheap theater. If anyone still buys stagecraft as a substitute for statesmanship they deserve to be ruled by an idiot.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

11. Yeah, him and his "healthy forests".

Figures that they'd create a fake forest for him.

:puke:

[northofdenali]

10. What? Our Dear pResident POLITICIZE this visit?

Nah. Never happen. :sarcasm:

[Peace Patriot]

12. What bitter irony, that Bush would use the wounded as props, in order to create more...

...wounded.

[appleannie1]

13. One General's comment

I think to use it as a means to discuss the Iraqi supplemental is an insult to the soldiers and what they did. Because it's political exploitation as far as I feel. I think he ought to address the issues concerning their treatment, Walter Reed, etc, etc, etc.

But to take this captive audience that has no choice and use them as I mentioned to exploit and push this, his disdain of the Iraqi supplemental vote in the House and the Senate is completely without foundation. And I think he should know that and that it really doesn't sit well with the rest of us in the military.
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I applaud you sir.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. Looks like Chimpoleon didn't take them seriously.

Low life that he is.

[orpupilofnature57]

16. Generals must cringe ,when 'No Show' Condescends to them.

[symbolman]

17. I'll bet Bush

walked into the room full of wounded and said, "Bring 'Em On!" like Yosemite Sam..

I think this is a scam, they don't WANT Media there - they might Be AFRAID of some soldier at this point, on drugs maybe saying, "YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU left me laying in RATSHIT and MOLD with both my LEGS GONE over your PHONY ASS WAR! WHERE the FUCK WERE YOU DURING NAM ASSHOLE!!!!"

What the hell would YOU say if you'd been abandoned by this ASSHOLE all around, and a camera was RIGHT THERE?

Now, THAT would be PAY PER VIEW.. :)