Bush Grabs the Qualifier
The trouble with compromise language in commission reports is that those who don’t like your recommendations can quote your words right back at you and then ignore what you say. That's exactly what George Bush did yesterday:
... as the report said -- I don't -- got the exact words, but it was along the lines of depending upon conditions, I believe is what the qualifier was. And I thought that made a lot of sense. I've always said we'd like our troops out as fast as possible. I think that's an important goal.
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Comments (2)
Ivo
Do you have any sense that if Bush has his way and we stay there through the end of his administration what will be the condition inside Iraq?
In a related matter. A friend, Richard who has his PhD in military history is convinced that Bush is going to launch an attack on Iran both to stymie their nuclear program and to "make things better in Iraq." What do you think of the likelihood of this?
Daniel A. Greenbaum
December 8, 2006 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Daniel -- While it is dangerous to make straight-line projections, my strong feeling is that another 2 years of "stay the course" or whatever other euphemism Bush comes up with will further escalate the violence throughout the country, further encourages those who can to leave, and further solidify the extremist hold over parts of the country. If you want a sense of the country looks like in 2 years, conside what Afghanistan looked like in the first part of the 1990s, or Sarajevo in 1993-4.
As for Iran, I said a long time ago that I didn't think Bush would attack Iran and everything that has happened since strengthens my belief I was right and others (here and elsewhere, some of whom not only predicted but insisted Bush would attack before Nov elections) are wrong.
Ivo Daalder
December 8, 2006 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink