Bush: "I want the Iraqis to succeed for our own sake."

[ProSense]

Snip..

Failure vs. success in Iraq

MR. LEHRER: Mr. President, do you have a feeling of personal failure about Iraq right now?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm frustrated at times about Iraq because I understand the consequences of failure. I want the Iraqis to succeed for our own sake. This is a war; part of a broader war, and that if we fail in Iraq, there is a better likelihood that the enemy comes and hurts us here. And so, I am frustrated with the progress. If you were to take it and put me in an opinion poll and said do I approve of Iraq, I'd be one of those that said, no, I don't approve of what's taking place in Iraq. On the other hand, I do believe we can succeed. Look, I had a choice to make, Jim, and that is - one - do what we're doing. And one could define that maybe a slow failure. Secondly, withdraw out of Baghdad and hope for the best. I would think that would be expedited failure. And thirdly is to help this Iraqi government with additional forces - help them do what they need to do, which is to provide security in Baghdad.

I chose the latter because I think it's going to more likely be successful. Failure - and this is what is hard, I think, for the American people to understand and one of the reasons why I appreciate talking to you is that people have got to understand that if we fail in Iraq, it is likely there will be safe haven from which people will be able to launch attacks from America. It is likely there would be enormous clashes between radical Shia and radical Sunnis. It is likely that moderate governments could be toppled, in which case, people could get a hold of oil resources. You mix all that with an Iran with a nuclear weapon and we're looking at a generation of Americans threatened. And so therefore, we've got to get it - we've got to succeed. And that is why I put out the plan I put, because I think it's one that has got a better chance of any one I've seen around here that will succeed.

more...

What was "firstly"? Polling?

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. He is always so insulting and condescending to "the American People"

don't you think. Like we just don't understand! And if only we were smarter we would see how brilliant and well thought out his plan is.

Takes a lot of ego to be him.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. When Bush talked about the opinion polls I wondered if he was

deliberately misunderstanding that the polls were about approval of his handling of Iraq and not the situation there or if he really doesn't consider that the low numbers reflect on him. I think he must live in an alternate universe.

[LynnTheDem]

3. "Iraq a safe haven..to launch attacks from America"

The man is an ignoramous.

[nebenaube]

4. did you see his eyes?

Classic shift of gaze to the left... The asshole is a lousy liar.

[LynnTheDem]

5. "people could get a hold of oil resources"

Yes, we must die so "people" don't "get hold of oil resources"


How deeply sick, shameful & disgusting.

[Tellurian]

6. Bush fears Hillary's negative report on Iraq..

Her report is being supressed this morning on the news..
She reports the way it is...ALL BAD!

[Virginia Dare]

7. If he doesn't approve of what's taking place in Iraq...

then why did he spend all those months saying "stay the course"? Oh, that's right he never said that did he? :crazy:

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. That's the thing. Up until October he was saying everything was

peachy. Which of course it wasn't and hadn't been for two years.

And besides - these are the guys that made mistake after mistake after mistake. Why on earth would anyone listen to them now?

And he played that old al quaeda card again - did you hear that one? They might get a foothold in Iraq? The same guys as did 9/11? Still singing that same ole song.

[NastyRiffraff]

9. STOP TELLING ME WHAT I'VE "GOT TO UNDERSTAND"!!!

I am so sick of that idiot saying the American people have "got to understand"....

To use one of his speech patterns: See, we DO understand, all too well, what you've done to our country, Dumbass.

We understand that you have grossly abused power, ignored the many warnings about 9/11, lied about going to war, destroyed many of our Constitutional liberties...and did all that after you stole the White House itself.

See, YOU'VE "got to understand" that Karma happens. I don't know how, or when, it will happen to you, but when it does, I'll be cheering.