Administration Official: Troop Escalation ‘More Of A Political Decision Than A Military One’

[underpants]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/03/escalation-political-decision/

MIKLASZEWSKI: Good evening, Brian. Administration officials told us today that President Bush has now all but decided to surge those additional troops into Baghdad to try to control over the violence there and only then could they accelerate the turnover of territory to Iraqi security forces. Fact is they’re not up to the task yet. The plan would also throw more U.S. money at Iraq for reconstruction and a jobs program. Interestingly enough, one administration official admitted to us today that this surge option is more of a political decision than a military one because the American people have run out of patience and President Bush is running out of time to achieve some kind of success in Iraq. While this plan will clearly draw some stiff opposition on Capitol Hill, the president is expected to announce it a week from today.

[babylonsister]

1. So the only 'political' decision they can make risks the lives of

thousands more? Aren't there any thinking caps at the wh? There's no way for the decider to decide on a different course of action that doesn't draw blood?

[KKKarl is an idiot]

2. The good old way of

fighting fire with fire always works. :sarcasm:
Whatever happened to all that money from the oil that was going to make this war pay for itself. Can we recover some of that from Halliburton so we can pay for a jobs program for the Iraqi's. Oh!! well even if we did we will still get Halliburton to manage the program for us.

[Lasher]

3. What's news here is that an administration official admitted it.

It's pretty clear Junior is doing this in a desperate attempt to show he was right all along. He's willing to throw more of other peoples' lives and other peoples' money at this nightmare and hope it might work. And if Congress blocks this surge maneuver as they should, well then I guess the Iraq disaster was not his fault. See, he could have 'won' if those America-hating liberals in Congress would have let him execute his brilliant strategy. Turd Blossom is deeply involved in this for sure.

[riderinthestorm]

8. How does Congress "block" the escalation?

I'm not sure how Congress has any power at the moment to block a military maneuver. When a funding bill comes up the Dems could conceivably act then but Bu$h has all the authority he needs at the moment to send the troops and get money later as I see it. The "brilliant strategy" is going to happen regardless, my only concern is what manufactured incident he will use to ensure his escalation becomes permanent.

and an FYI, Dems have also vowed not to de-fund the military as a means of ending the debacle in Iraq. They've already taken that off the table (along with impeachment).

[Lasher]

9. He doesn't need an incident to make the escallation permanent.

If you don't agree to a timetable, then 'never' is part of the scenario for withdrawal of the troops who are there now. Same thing for the 'surge' troops. That's the way Junior's been playing it so far. The neocons have a deliberate intention that no significant troop withdrawals will occur.

[AndyA]

4. George Bush is a murderer. Putting political motives ahead of the safety

of our troops and the security of our country.

He should be removed from office ASAP! And that can start TOMORROW!!

[partylessinOhio]

5. Are Americans going to stand for this?

Sending troops to die for BushPolitics?

[subterranean]

6. I've thought it was a purely political decision all along...

For different reasons, though -- I think Bush is doing it to create a dilemma for the Democrats in the next election. If they support it, they will be going against the wishes of the voters -- people voted for the Democrats because they want to stop the war, not escalate it. On the other hand, if they oppose the "troop surge" and withhold funding for it, the Republicons can criticize them for not supporting our troops, and will try to pin the failure of Iraq on the Democrats because they opposed Bush's "plan for victory."

[underpants]

7. They all are

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