Media ignored Bush's contradictory stance on "timetables" in Iraq
SUMMARY: In covering President's Bush's March 13 speech, the media reported that Bush effectively laid out a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq by setting a "goal of having the Iraqis control more territory than the coalition by the end of 2006" but completely ignored the numerous statements Bush and other administration officials have made denouncing timetables for withdrawal, and attacking those who propose them.
In covering President's Bush's March 13 speech at George Washington University, media outlets reported that Bush effectively laid out a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq by setting a "goal of having the Iraqis control more territory than the coalition by the end of 2006." These reports, however, completely ignored the numerous statements Bush and other administration officials have made denouncing timetables for withdrawal and attacking those -- such as decorated war veteran Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA) -- who proposed them.
In his speech, Bush set a goal of ceding control over most of the country to Iraqis by the end of the year and repeated his oft-used pledge: "As Iraqis stand up, America and our coalition will stand down." However, Bush then said that "decisions on troop levels" will not be set by "artificial timetables set by politicians here in Washington, D.C."
From Bush's March 13 speech:
BUSH: As more capable Iraqi police and soldiers come on line, they will assume responsibility for more territory -- with the goal of having the Iraqis control more territory than the coalition by the end of 2006. And as Iraqis take over more territory, this frees American and Coalition forces to concentrate on training and on hunting down high-value targets like the terrorist Zarqawi and his associates. As Iraqis stand up, America and our coalition will stand down. And my decisions on troop levels will be made based upon the conditions on the ground, and the recommendations of our military commanders -- not artificial timetables set by politicians here in Washington, D.C.
But while media reports characterized Bush's stated goal as a timetable -- with the Associated Press using the term explicitly -- they failed to report that Bush's March 13 remarks not only appeared inconsistent with other statements in Bush's speech but also appeared inconsistent with the entire stream of rhetoric the Bush administration has used to denounce war critics who advocate a timetable for troop withdrawal. From the March 14 AP article by Nedra Pickler:
Even on a particularly grim day, when four Iraqi bodies were found hanging from utility towers and Iraqis coped with the deaths of at least 58 people the day before when car bombings and mortar rounds plagued Baghdad's Sadr City slum, the president said progress was being made and he laid out a timetable.
The New York Times noted that Bush "set a loose goal of training enough Iraqi police and soldiers to control a majority of Iraq's territory by the end of this year," but made no mention of his prior rejection of "timetables." The Washington Post reported that Bush "has largely resisted concrete timelines as the Iraq war dragged on longer than he expected," while the Los Angeles Times reported that Bush's speech offered "a rare example of specificity from a president who has avoided setting timetables for U.S. actions"; neither paper noted the contradictions with Bush's statement rejecting "artificial timetables set by politicians here in Washington, D.C."
Any of these media outlets could have pointed to Bush's June 28, 2005, speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, in which he rejected "artificial timetables" because they would "send the wrong message" to the Iraqis, American troops, and "the enemy." Or they could have recalled the White House's attack on Murtha, who, on November 17, 2005, called for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq at "the earliest practicable date," and estimated that "you [could] get them out of there in six months." The next day, White House press secretary Scott McClellan attacked Murtha during a press briefing:
McCLELLAN: Congressman Murtha is a respected veteran and politician who has a record of supporting a strong America. So it is baffling that he is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party. The eve of an historic democratic election in Iraq is not the time to surrender to the terrorists. After seeing his statement, we remain baffled -- nowhere does he explain how retreating from Iraq makes America safer.
We (or as Bush says: "the coalition") control territory?
Where?
I guess it depends on what your definition of "territory under control" is.
Duhhbya's definition must be something like: "The area on the side a compound's walls where Americans die or are wounded less often."
The item concludes with a quote from the Press Secretary...
McCLELLAN: After seeing his (Congressman Murtha's) statement, we remain baffled -- nowhere does he explain how retreating from Iraq makes America safer.
The "we remain baffled" part of the quote I allow to pass unchallenged, for obvious reasons.
But as for the part where he said "nowhere does he explain how retreating from Iraq makes America safer", I would point out that nowhere has the Press Secretary or the President himself explained how the invasion and occupation of Iraq "makes America safer" either.
And without that explanation, I have been left to figure it out for myself.
And have found myself to be also one who remains baffled.
to, "go to your churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and pray." Recognize that quote. It's Bush's reply to 9-11. At the time when I heard it live I was surprised. Now I'm surprised he isn't saying it. When someone shoots at you the norman reflex is not to pray but shoot back, (FDR's response to Pearl Harbor for example). When you have your foot caught in a bear trap and your hands are tied behind your back praying is about all you have left along with some serious screaming.
Iraq gives the religious who obviously favor the Bush gang as great leaders an opportuinty to show their stuff. Let's see you pray his foot out of that bear trap. Perhaps the expression, "God helps those who help themselves" is more appropiate. Unfortunately they, the Bush gang have been helping themselves to the treasure of the country it seems. How much actually goes to fighting the war and how much is leaving the country seems to be radically different quantities.
Now with the grants of tax dollars to churches one might think that God would swoop right down and straighten the mess made by the Bush bunch out. Unfortunately they get their God from a hoax known as the Holy Bible. It is now a proved hoax and they know all about that at the white house. That knowledge will not go away. It's here to stay. Way too many now know how the hoax was constructed and quite a few are beginning to see WHY. You can see the proof at: [link to www.hoax-buster.org] a truly public service web site.
we'll see timetables big time. up until then, it will be you side with the enemy if you question the great leader. unfortunately his hard core base buys this garbage.
We all predicted timetables before the 2004 elections. Stop crying wolf. We're in Iraq until it runs out of oil.
"we all" are.
Murtha's timetable:
President Bush's timetable:Yep, there's a big difference between Murtha's withdrawal timetable and that of the President.and the other is the same old song and dance we've heard for three years and has been consistently wrong. other than that...
Bush refuses to set timetables but does set loose goals.
He has been anything but waffling on this war.
The quotes in this latest hit piece are ridiculous. Bush has always said there would be no timetables. So he sets a goal of trying to have the Iraqis control more of their own land by the end of the year and MMFA bitches this is some major change in timetables???? Since Murtha, Feingold and Move-on.org are going nowhere, the desperation is setting in.
the right wing answer to everything? you could be a little desperate because your hero's ratings are in free fall.
Keep your head buried in the sand like a good Rethug leatherhelmet.
Everything's JUST PEACHY 'cuz Bu$hCO says so. Yup.
Bush's statement about Standing Down When They Stand Up ring's as hollow as Walt Rostow's, (LBJ's national security adviser's) Light at the End of the Tunnel crap from 1967. He saw the that light but American's continued to die until 1975. In the years following Rostow's statement, more than 37,000 American's would die in Vietnam.
The Iraq war has been mismanaged from the start and our troops are now paying the price with their lives. How many more are we willing to loose?
Except you didn't quote Murtha, but provided your own twisted, spun version while pretty much quoting Bush.
By the way, we can't lose the Iraq war. It's already been won. Bush told us so almost three years ago. We did what we set out to do, punish Saddam Hussein for his disregard for UN sanctions and secured all the WMD in Iraq. Leaving now would be a recognition that the job is done.
- Iraq can not be won militarily...Our military has accomplished its mission and done its duty. - Murtha
How's that quote Spanky?
Murtha believes that we have lost. His over the horizon deployment is flawed as well. Since they can't win...why would he send them back in to the fight? Despite his patriotic blather...he's simply playing politics with our troops and national defense.
Murtha thinks our Marines can just relax under a shade tree and wait till all hell breaks loose and then throw them into the fray. He should try spending a few nights in a Holiday Inn Express.
Put your money where your VERY large mouth is. Sign up and go fight, chickenhawk.
See, MURTHA has. I very much doubt we can say the same for you. Dying is for the OTHER people, right?
A hell of a lot more about what a Marine does than you do, Wesley. Even your fearless leader, GWB has said that the war on terrorism isn't winnable. No country can win a war of occupation when the majority of the people want the occupying force out of the country. This war was begun as a PR piece with our troops rushing to Baghdad. The most important thing was for them to get there as soon as was humanly possible. On the way they failed to secure tons of munitions (which are killing Americans each week) and the Fedayeen they encountered were allowed to escape back into the population to form the beginnings of the insurgency. I can only repeat JBHFOUR's advice. Sign up now. All of the people who say they support this war would put their asses where their mouths are. If you're too old, talk your kids into signing up. This war is being waged by Chickenhawks who choose not to swerve when it was their turn. Don't set yourself up for a lot of guilt in your middle age years. Go Fight, NOW!
- For instance, water supply, the electricity supply, the oil supply. All those things are prewar level. - Murtha
The Iraq Project and Contracting Office states:
We're making progress and that progress will be hard for the Iraqis to sustain if we go over the hill...er...excuse me...redeploy over the horizon.about the oil production.
[link to seattlepi.nwsource.com] (3/14/2006: Increased hours of electricity measure is due to routing electricity to rural areas. Actual production is down to below pre war levels)
[link to www.knoxstudio.com] (3/13/2006: GAO cautions that the potable water measurements are unreliable because 65% of the water leaks as it's going through the antiquated distribution system. You have to look to see how many Iraqis are actually receiving the clean water.)
[link to scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com] (2/19/2006: Stuart Bowen, the US special inspector general for Iraq rebuilding told congress only 32% or Iraqis have clean drinking water opposed to 50% before March 2003. He stated that the share of Iraqis with access to sewer services had dropped from 20% from 24%. Oil production down to 1.7 million barrels a day down from 2.5 million barrels a day)
[link to www.uecrescent.org] (2/24/2006: A little more about Bowen's most recently released audit reports which have uncovered pervasive administrative problems and distressing levels of inefficiency and corruption that jeopardize not only U.S. goals but also its credibility.)
If you want to do more research. Search on Stewart Bowen's name, or just on "Iraq electrical power", "Iraq oil production", "Iraq potable water" etc.
[link to www.washingtonpost.com]
Oil production stands at roughly 2 million barrels a day, compared with 2.6 million before U.S. troops entered Iraq in March 2003, according to U.S. government statistics.
The national electrical grid has an average daily output of 4,000 megawatts, about 400 megawatts less than its prewar level.
Iraqis nationwide receive on average less than 12 hours of power a day. For residents of Baghdad, it was six hours a day last month, according to a U.S. count, though many residents say that figure is high
[link to riverbendblog.blogspot.com]
Electricity has been restored above pre-war levels..." Even E. had to laugh at that one. A few days ago, most of Baghdad was in the dark for over 24 hours and lately, on our better days, we get about 12 hours of electricity. Bush got it wrong (or Allawi explained it to incorrectly)- the electricity is drastically less than pre-war levels, but the electricity BILL is way above pre-war levels. Congratulations Iraqis on THAT!!
[link to www.newsday.com]
March 14, 2006, 6:35 PM EST
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Electricity output has dipped to its lowest point in three years in Iraq,
No one has effectively explained how STAYING in Iraq is making ANY Americans safer. Stay in Iraq- More soldiers and innocents die, More inflamed racial and ethnic discord, More chaos overall Leave Iraq- Less American (but maybe not innocent) deaths, and, well..., not much else. Maybe Bush could outsource the entire war to Halliburton!
What strikes me, with all this Robin Hood faux–righteousness, is the not–so–oblique similarity with “Mother Russia versus Osama’s ilk.” Of course the challenger was fortified with Yankee ingenuity & materiel. Yet, are we being led astray to also suffer also, a gradual bloodletting’s demise? For too long America has endured a defiant, “spitting into the wind” deception. And it’s been perpetrated under the guise of: Not taking a shot at Superman? Why…because, it’s a futile…useless attempt? Schmuck, it’s a kryptonite bullet! And so Robin Hood died, bled to death under the guise of “it’s the right thing to do…besides, it’s patriotic.”
Who so ever wraps themselves in Old Glory and swears, “My country, right or wrong” needs to be institutionalized! Oh, pardon me but that supposed communicator unleashed a hellacious torrent, by unlocking state hospitals and relinquishing responsibility! Thus giving back to the county and not the state, legal guardianship of—those who cannot. And state’s rights triumphed! And society became truly saddled with…homelessness—but only at a royally grander scale. Slavery, who spoke of slavery?
And so, the little people—those who pay their taxes—quietly trudge off, with a “hi–ho, hi–ho, it’s off to…we owe, we owe.” And the creeping, lurking exsanguination continues. So smirk all you want, until the eventual collapse. Then shed a tear for George, Abe & Teddy.
Oxygen is good for the brain.
You seem to take Bush's rhetoric as gospel. When he sets a "goal of having the Iraqis control more territory than the coalition by the end of 2006" is that not a "timetable"? I'm sure you'll parse the words to fit your arguement. Murtha's proposal was to draw back the troops to the perimeter of the region. Not a complete withdrawl. He was called a coward. Now, Bush gives a TIMETABLE of "the end of 2006" and you say that MMFA is "bitching"?
Taken from the same speech:
The mission of this Foundation is to defeat terror by promoting democracy -- and that is the mission of my administration. Our strategy to protect America is based on a clear premise: the security of our nation depends on the advance of liberty in other nations. On September the 11th, 2001, we saw that problems originating in a failed and oppressive state 7,000 miles away could bring murder and destruction to our country. We saw that dictatorships shelter terrorists, feed resentment and radicalism, and threaten the security of free nations. Democracies replace resentment with hope, democracies respect the rights of their citizens and their neighbors, democracies join the fight against terror. And so America is committed to an historic, long-term goal: To secure the peace of the world, we seek the end of tyranny in our world.
Still making his case for war.
Same Scheiße different day
The news media can write articles and voice opinions about how President George W. Bush has lied about this and that. (In fact, what took them so long to realize that.) But, this still means nothing. Such revelations of Truth have become the back and forth cackle of gossiping spin masters signifying nothing, as nothing has changed.
Although give credit to Democrats in Wisconsin for finally taking action by voting for "impeachment".
But no, the real deal is when one reporter, that first one, upon being chosen by President Bush to ask a question at one of his press opportunities, stands up and summons the Strength and Courage to ask, " Mr. President, when you lied about...!"
That's what it will take --- before the rest of them will do the same. It's time for someone to say that the Emperor has no clothes.
That's also when the evidence for impeachment will be brought forth before the American Public, and that's when it will mean something.
Just as Republicans constantly accused Clinton of lying, together with Clinton's defense of his "private life" lie brought the Public into play, so can the Press bring out the Truth. And let's put Bush and Cheney under oath as well. Only then, will the Wisdom of Truth find its place in our great land.
Until then, lying continues to be our government's national pastime. We have come to expect it. We take it for granted. We kill and die for it. And the shadows of sadness remain our constant companions..
the end