How many people feel like Bush's surge is part of a political strategy - not a military one?

[mzmolly]

After watching 60 minutes tonight, I felt like his motivation may be political? He had a Freudian slip tonight about how Democrats "WILL" cut funds, and he didn't seem to have a rationale for this "surge." Granted, he never has a rational rationale ;) but, he generally has some cooked up reason for things?

Also, he clarified that he would engage Iranian's provided they "crossed over the Iraqi border." He didn't push his "bomb Iran agenda" tonight?

I'm still mulling this over, but wanted to know if anyone else is pondering this?

On edit here's a quote from McCain that makes my head spin even more:

GOP Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona, a potential 2008 presidential contender who endorses Bush's call for more troops, said votes to express disapproval were pointless.

"If they're dead serious then we should have a motion to cut off funding," he said of those fighting Bush's strategy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070115/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq

I think their plan will backfire, of course if it IS political.

[w4rma]

1. It sure isn't good war tactics, so it must be political. (nt)

[babylonsister]

2. Hadley admitted on MTP it was political, so yes, I believe it is. nt

[mzmolly]

4. Really?

I wasn't aware of that?

[babylonsister]

9. Yes and here's a thread from this a.m.:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=3118168

[leftofthedial]

3. 100%

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Of course it's political. That's all he knows.

With Bush everything is political; it's all about power and control and image. He doesn't give a rat's patoot about the real consequences to real people as long as he can establish that he has the power to do what he wants and make it look like he did the right thing (or at least, leave the mess for his successor to clean up and get blamed for).

[Jim Warren]

6. I'd call it a business decision. nt

[mzmolly]

7. Could be

indeed.

[frogcycle]

8. it was never anything but

[halobeam]

10. yeah and didn't Hadley say they have the money to send the troops there

and congress supports troops with funding once they are there. They always have.. (I'm paraphrasing at this point).

[babylonsister]

11. The money was approved before the Nov. election; I hope the

current situation will make our reps. think twice about the next financial request.

[halobeam]

17. I hope so too.

[mmonk]

12. It's a neocon strategy just as its always been.

[whistle]

13. It is a wag the dog move

[mzmolly]

14. Or a spank the dog move.

Revenge against Merikunz for electing democrat leadersh.

[eagler]

15. i think we're finally catching on

Impeachment is the only direction to go.

[mzmolly]

16. Seems that way. Dennis Kucinich fears that impeachment will bring further

escalation in Iraq - however, he said if Iran is on the table impeachment is as well.