Bush says arbitrary deadline is bad
"The House bill would impose restrictions on our commanders in Iraq, as well as rigid conditions and arbitrary deadlines on the Iraqi government. It would mandate a precipitous withdrawal of American forces, if every one of these conditions is not met by a date certain. Even if they are met, the bill would still require that most American forces begin retreating from Iraq by March 1st of next year, regardless of conditions on the ground.
It's unclear what the military significance of this date is. What is clear is that the consequences of imposing such a specific and random date for withdrawal would be disastrous. If the House bill becomes law, our enemies in Iraq would simply have to mark their calendars. They'd spend the months ahead picking how to use their new -- plotting how to use their new safe havens once we were to leave. It makes no sense for politicians in Washington, D.C. to be dictating arbitrary time lines for our military commanders in a war zone 6,000 miles away.
. . . You know, following World War II, after we fought bitter enemies, we lifted up the defeated nations of Japan and Germany and stood with them as they built their representative governments. We committed years and resources to this cause. And the effort has been repaid many times over in three generations of friendship and peace. After the Korean War, had you predicted that Korea would have been a major trading partner in the world, or Japan would have been a major trading partner and vibrant economy, or China would be developing an open market, and the Far East would be relatively peaceful, they'd have called you a hopeless idealist. And yet, because of America's presence and influence, the Far East has emerged as I've described it.
The stakes are high in the efforts we're undertaking in Iraq. It's a part of a long ideological struggle against those who spread hatred, and lack of hope, and lack of opportunity. But I believe, with patience and resolve we will succeed. The efforts we're undertaking today will affect a generation of Americans who are coming up in our society.
. . . If we stand by the Iraqi people today and help them develop their young Iraqi-style democracy, they're going to be able to take responsibility for their own security. And when that day comes, our forces can come home. *
. . . It's tough work, but it's necessary work -- work the United States has done before, and work the United States will complete now."
footnote
* President Bush also said that after Iraq is able to handle its own security it can "be an ally in this global struggle against those who would do us harm." I would add that Iraq should voluntarily choose to be this ally and not feel pressured to make this choice.
source
Bush, George. (The White House). President Bush Discusses Economy, War on Terror During Remarks to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. March 28, 2007.
posted: saturday, march 31, 2007, 7:40 PM ET
update: wednesday, april 4, 2007, 4:38 PM ET
tags: iraq bush national cattlemen's beef association
It's unclear what the military significance of this date is. What is clear is that the consequences of imposing such a specific and random date for withdrawal would be disastrous. If the House bill becomes law, our enemies in Iraq would simply have to mark their calendars. They'd spend the months ahead picking how to use their new -- plotting how to use their new safe havens once we were to leave. It makes no sense for politicians in Washington, D.C. to be dictating arbitrary time lines for our military commanders in a war zone 6,000 miles away.
. . . You know, following World War II, after we fought bitter enemies, we lifted up the defeated nations of Japan and Germany and stood with them as they built their representative governments. We committed years and resources to this cause. And the effort has been repaid many times over in three generations of friendship and peace. After the Korean War, had you predicted that Korea would have been a major trading partner in the world, or Japan would have been a major trading partner and vibrant economy, or China would be developing an open market, and the Far East would be relatively peaceful, they'd have called you a hopeless idealist. And yet, because of America's presence and influence, the Far East has emerged as I've described it.
The stakes are high in the efforts we're undertaking in Iraq. It's a part of a long ideological struggle against those who spread hatred, and lack of hope, and lack of opportunity. But I believe, with patience and resolve we will succeed. The efforts we're undertaking today will affect a generation of Americans who are coming up in our society.
. . . If we stand by the Iraqi people today and help them develop their young Iraqi-style democracy, they're going to be able to take responsibility for their own security. And when that day comes, our forces can come home. *
. . . It's tough work, but it's necessary work -- work the United States has done before, and work the United States will complete now."
footnote
* President Bush also said that after Iraq is able to handle its own security it can "be an ally in this global struggle against those who would do us harm." I would add that Iraq should voluntarily choose to be this ally and not feel pressured to make this choice.
source
Bush, George. (The White House). President Bush Discusses Economy, War on Terror During Remarks to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. March 28, 2007.
posted: saturday, march 31, 2007, 7:40 PM ET
update: wednesday, april 4, 2007, 4:38 PM ET
tags: iraq bush national cattlemen's beef association
Labels: george bush, iraq
posted by eric at 6:17 PM
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