Thursday announcement: A quick exit from Iraq?

[discopants]

Did the Gulf Coast catastrophe open the door for a quick exit, will Bush present to the nation an "America First" case for recovery now that we've given Iraq "freedom & democracy" ?

I saw him at the podium today with the Iraqi president as he made his claim of responsibility. I think the pieces have fallen into place. He's realized that America's security is tested and failed by Katrina. He knows we're more vulnerable now than ever before. He knows he's wasted all of our resources, both financial and military, and he can claim victory and bring our troops home. That move will boost his poll numbers, both the left and right will support it.

Do I get a medal? :)

[Blue_In_AK]

1. No, because he was just talking today

about how this country has the resources for both the war and Katrina recovery. What I want to know is where's he going to get all the money?

[discopants]

4. of course he'll say we have the resources

no matter how obvious it is to the whole world that we don't.

The economy cannot support a war in Iran and Iraq. The loss of the Gulf Coast is the final blow. The collapse of the housing bubble and the airline bankruptcies compound the problem.

I really think this is a good excuse for an exit strategy without him having to admit defeat.

[ingac70]

9. China, that's where....

I'm not into red-baiting, hating on "commies", if you will.

But I sure as the hell don't like being in hock to a country that Bushies claim are our "enemy". Doesn't make sense, does it?

[Maple]

2. More likely he'll bomb Iran

[benburch]

3. Nuclear bombs.

[RONSTOO]

5. I concur

he has to build up public opiniion before we can begin the airstrikes against Iran. I would bet everything on this scenario.

[discopants]

6. I don't think so

The propaganda hasn't reached that level yet, and his poll numbers won't justify it. I think he'd want our troops home first, anyway before anything that hysterically dramatic.

I'm not so pessimistic. I think his failure with Katrina changed his gameplan.

[TexasLawyer]

7. The neocons are hard-wired to

the concept of a permanent US presence in Iraq and other key places in the Middle East.

We've put up 14 permanent military bases in Iraq, increased troop presence, and according to Seymour Hersh and others we've got US commandos running around in Iran getting ready to do to Iran all the nice things we've done to Iraq.

No one in the administration is looking for an excuse to make a quick exit out of Iraq. I wish they were! If anything these guys are looking for ways to expand the conflict.

But you DO get a medal for your optimism!

[RONSTOO]

12. yup

just add up all the facts.

Geopolitics is a lot like a chess game. See the sequence of events.

Think of the end game and all the pieces fit nicely together...

A natural disaster is just a bump in the road.

[driver8]

16. You are so right...they are looking for ANY reason to bomb

Iran back to the stoneage.

These m-fers are absolutely crazy. That should be apparent to everyone by now.

[OKDem08]

8. presented to discopants...

the honorary Medal of Valor. :yourock:

[Speck Tater]

10. Leave Iraq? Bush Resigns? Well all I can say is...

... I want some of whatever you folks have been smoking. I can use a break from reality too.

[discopants]

11. a break from reality would be nice

Seems like The Kerry exit strategy was slowly being adopted. I think that troop withdrawls will begin much sooner now. Bush knows that the poll numbers side with Cindy :)

The impact on the economy from the Gulf disaster kills Bush's war chest. What's he going to do raise taxes? No. Not before the '06 elections.

Hey, for my medal, can I have Karl's kidney stone on a gold chain? I'll share with you guys. Ha!

[OneBlueSky]

13. leave Iraq? . . . and give up their base of operations in the region? . .

don't bet on it . . . more likely than "exit from Iraq" will be "engagement with Iran" . . .

[FrenchieCat]

14. Sorry.....

But Bush doesn't "know" shit,

Awright? :shrug:

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

15. D*ya says Yee-haw!!