So why does bush keep stalling, per "announcing his *new* plans for Iraq?"

[salin]

Heard again at the top of the news on NPR that bush was still a few days away from announcing - had an audio clip of bush stating that he still had some more "consultations" before making his decision (as if he hasn't already made said decision).

Funny thing is that I think he is backtracking - and that in the end he will lose even more support among his diehards. I think he will push "surge" (to the consternation of nearly 80% of the population) - but that he will scale back the numbers of increased troops to be called for. The policy will fail - and in the end part of that 20% will turn on him - as they hate losing and will place the blame for NOT putting enough folks on the ground (as if that matters at this point in time where it didn't in the beginning of the war when it could have made a difference in 'stabilization' - but common sense often eludes these folks). In the end, one of the very things that seems to have motivated him in this adventure (on the surface "to finish the job mah daddy started", and deeper down to avoid the derision from the right that his dad took - for not doing the original job right and marching into the capitol back in 1002), will end up being the same thing that haunts him - but once again he will be perceived as a much bigger loser and bad president than his dad. Seems he has kept trying to outdo Dad - and he keeps living up to it - just not in the way he had planned.

[notadmblnd]

1. he's still looking up how to spell the big words in the dictionary?

:shrug:

[salin]

4. could be that the "three hours" of hard work

during the holidays, spent with his advisors on Iraq - just wasn't enough time for him to hook into dictionary.com ;-)

[lapfog_1]

2. There is already a rumor floating that the surge

will be about 8,000 additional troops AND that training Iraqi troops is NOT part of the plan. The troops are there to provide more "hunt and destroy" teams going after the militias and insurgents.

This has worked SO WELL for us in the past! :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

Apparently the about to be named new commander of Central command and the general that is likely to be named the new ground forces commander in Iraq have both signed on to this policy. The other feature is the removal of the "force protection" policy of Casey (the current CinC of Iraq forces) which some believe saves American lives but doesn't engage the insurgents enough. Expect far higher casualty rates in the near future.

[hippiechick]

6. I also read a rumor on another site (not political) that ...

... the "surge" troops are actually going to be prepping for Iran.
Sorta to get 'em on the ground and in the neighborhood.

:shrug: Don't know how credible that person is, though.

[salin]

8. daily I waiver on whether it is likely or not

that our idiots in charge would actually be foolish enough to try to take on Iran directly. Some items point in that direction - but often the sources go back to rw sources (making me think that they are trying to plant the idea that the support is there and it is inevitable to try to reshape reality) - and I think to myself there is no way they could think they could do this due to constraints (military, financial, etc.) - and then I remember that they do not act out of reality and do not recognize real constraints. I have NO idea whether it is a likely threat (that bushco will act against iran) - all I know is that these folks are dangerous as hell.

[salin]

7. wow

worse than I thought. Do something but on such a small (relatively speaking) that is almost certain to make things worse... and then increase the likelihood of direct confrontation/violence. Have we ever had a president with such serious crises who can't be bothered to really study policy, can't be bothered to consider REAL alternatives and overall just doesn't seem to give a damn about anything save "proving" (ineffectively) that he is RIGHT! grrrr.

[hippiechick]

3. Because the house of Saud and Halliburton can't agree ...

... on a profit-sharing margin. :mad:

[salin]

9. wait - you forgot one part of the triad... Carlyle.

ugh!

[soothsayer]

21. Actually it's a superfecta once you add Israel

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

5. Waiting for Congress to approve Halliburton's crayon sharpener bid

Seriously, if I could possibly think like W, I think we are waiting to position troops to go after Al Sadr and his militia. I am betting that we are using the 101st from Kuwait with air support from one of the carriers on station in the Gulf.

DBDB

[salin]

12. hate to admit it...

but the idea of trying to 'get in position' (as if noone would notice) and be ready to act after the announcement is made, does make sense. Then again - does anything this admin do really make sense?

[HereSince1628]

10. He's gotta stabilize his administration first.

Few people, even in the * admin, want an escalation. Consequently we're seeing firings and resignations of those pushed aside because their advise turned out to be on the wrong side.

[salin]

13. at some point in the near future... they are going to have

start recruiting admin folks from ... lucianne? As they will increasingly find fewer and fewer people who agree with them and are willing to play sycophant to the delusional.

[kentuck]

11. In my opinion...

The hanging of Saddam was the first step in the "plan"... That was Bush's idea. The second step is to guage how much violence will be created by that execution and that will determine how many more troops he will need. That is his "plan"...

[salin]

14. if that is the case... once again

he is foolish in his planning... doubt that he predicted the (predictable) backlash to the first step in the plan.

[kentuck]

17. and that is why he is so dangerous

to the entire world...

[salin]

18. I can't wait til he is out of power... and drags his

cronies and GOP enablers down with him. The only question is how much "future" damage can be mitigated by the newly sworn in Democratic congress.

[Wisconsin Larry]

15. I have also read that it will be a "bump" and not a "surge".

The plan is to increase the troops by about 8,000 - 10,000. But the bottom line is that the Bushies do not and never have intended to leave. Bush has consistently said that getting out is not up to him but his successors. Plus the neocons left running this operation (Cheney, et al) are not giving up their fantasy of having a permanent base in a country with a pliant government. Don't forget that the Bushies are not and will not be reality based.

So the bump or surge is a desperate attempt to buy time and hope for a miracle. As a fall back Bush may also be hoping that if the withdrawal can be put off another 2 years, the defeat will not have occurred on his watch. Note that he does not accept that the occupation has failed and that the rational military leaders left, those that escaped the purge, readily admit that at this time, there is no military solution for Iraq.

The question is how can we take control of this mess, say no to his fantasies, and start the withdrawal or redeployment, if you prefer.

[salin]

16. *That* is the key question.

and for the first time, in a long time, there seems to be a lot of talk and consideration of different paths to try to do exactly that - giving me hope that a way will be found. Not as quickly as we may like - but found and acted upon. I can hope, can't I?

[Wisconsin Larry]

19. We can certainly hope and in addition keep calling Senators

to remind those who are supporting some version of an escalation what the election was all about and support those like Russ Feingold who once again is introducing a resolution for redeployment with a Time Line!

[soothsayer]

22. nah, he's just doing personnel swaps (deck chairs on the titanic)

and stalling because he HAS no effing plan!

[LiberalEsto]

20. Gotta find those extra troops first

Suggestion for Dumbya - sign up George P. Bush, Jenna and Barbara.

[salin]

23. I also understand there are a few unemployed frmr GOP congressmen,

senators and staffers who need work...

[LiberalEsto]

24. AND K Street lobbyists

not to mention college Young Rethuglicans

Hey, I'll bet they can find 20,000 new troops from our list!

[salin]

25. Hey Agent Mike... pass this list along - might help your boss!

:D

[YvonneCa]

26. Because he doesn't have the skill to actually articulate a policy...

...even if he had one (which he doesn't). So he has to line up other people, like McCain, Lieberman, etc. to articulate it ahead of his speech. Otherwise, no one could figure out what he meant. :)