White House rules out proposals to end Iraq war

Mephisto · 20th October 2006, 06:54 AM

Not that we're surprised, or anything.

White House rules out proposals to end Iraq war

POSTED: 2:16 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Awaiting the recommendations of a commission exploring U.S. options in Iraq, the White House on Thursday emphatically ruled out some proposals to end the long and unpopular war.

Presidential spokesman Tony Snow said a suggestion to divide Iraq into Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions, each with high degrees of autonomy, was a "nonstarter." Similarly, he said a phased withdrawal of American troops -- perhaps by 5 percent every two months -- also was a "nonstarter."

"You withdraw when you win," Snow said. "Phased withdrawal is a way of saying, 'Regardless of what the conditions are on the ground, we're going to get out of Dodge.'"

The notions of partitioning Iraq and withdrawing troops have been floated recently as a blue-ribbon commission headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III searches for a bipartisan approach. Baker has said there are alternatives other than "stay the course and cut and run."

Among other ideas, the panel is considering whether to set a timetable for withdrawal and whether to solicit help from Iran and Syria to stop the fighting, according to Leon Panetta, a member of the advisory group and one-time chief of staff for former President Clinton. Panetta says no decisions have been made.

The commission's work has been portrayed by some as a way of providing political cover for Bush to change course and scale down the U.S. role, which has cost the lives of at least 2,785 members of the U.S. military since the beginning of the war in March 2003. In October alone, more than 70 American troops have been killed, putting the month on course to be the bloodiest for U.S. forces in nearly two years.

Snow said Bush would take the commission's recommendations seriously but that they were simply advisory suggestions. The White House has said Bush would not feel bound by the group's proposals, which are not due to be released until after the November elections.

White House clarifies 'Tet' comment

The White House also tried to clarify Bush's remarks Wednesday when he said the surge of violence in Iraq "could be" comparable to the 1968 Tet offensive that prompted Americans to lose support for the Vietnam War.

"The president was making a point that he's made before, which is that terrorists try to exploit pictures and try to use the media as conduits for influencing public opinion in the United States," Snow said.

Acknowledging that the Tet offensive "was successful from a propaganda point of view," Snow said the violence in Iraq would not have the same result.

"The important thing to remember is, the president's determined it's not going to happen with Iraq because you have a president who is determined to win," he said. "And the strategy is a threefold strategy that involves security, economics and political reconciliation, working with the Iraqis. And we'll continue to make adjustments as necessary to pursue victory."

"But the one thing that nobody should have any doubt about is that we're going win," Snow said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/....ap/index.html
_____________

I wonder if Tony Snow would still be so sure if he were, "on the ground," in Iraq.

Darth Rotor · 20th October 2006, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by Mephisto

[QUOTE-Tony Snowjob]"But the one thing that nobody should have any doubt about is that we're going win," Snow said.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/....ap/index.html
_____________
I wonder if Tony Snow would still be so sure if he were, "on the ground," in Iraq.[/quote]
What does "we win" look like? That's my question. I have a good idea what it doesn't look like, the daily IED lottery, but what does it look like? I know what SASO is supposed to achieve based on the campaign plan. It is to set the conditions for a government to function in our absence.

DR

Crossbow · 20th October 2006, 08:36 AM

Well, I cannot blame the Administration for not wanting to divide Iraq into three pieces, and then leave. While that would be an easy thing to do, it would be most destructive for Iraq.

Also, I am not surprised that the Administration nearly broke the land-speed record in clarifying those oblique Bush remarks about Vietnam. I (and I expect that many, many, others) had figured as much as soon as he had conceded to validity of comparing Iraq to Vietnam.

What I do think that is significant to is that the report written by the group which was headed by James A. Baker, III will not be made public after the elections. While there has been a bit of leaking and tipping about this report, it seems to me that the Administration is now starting to lay some groundwork for changing (yet again) their Iraq strategy as based from the advice for someone that George W. does not care very much for.

20th October 2006, 06:54 AM	#1
Mephisto Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: in a state of disbelief Posts: 6,065	White House rules out proposals to end Iraq war Not that we're surprised, or anything. White House rules out proposals to end Iraq war POSTED: 2:16 p.m. EDT, October 19, 2006 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Awaiting the recommendations of a commission exploring U.S. options in Iraq, the White House on Thursday emphatically ruled out some proposals to end the long and unpopular war. Presidential spokesman Tony Snow said a suggestion to divide Iraq into Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions, each with high degrees of autonomy, was a "nonstarter." Similarly, he said a phased withdrawal of American troops -- perhaps by 5 percent every two months -- also was a "nonstarter." "You withdraw when you win," Snow said. "Phased withdrawal is a way of saying, 'Regardless of what the conditions are on the ground, we're going to get out of Dodge.'" The notions of partitioning Iraq and withdrawing troops have been floated recently as a blue-ribbon commission headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III searches for a bipartisan approach. Baker has said there are alternatives other than "stay the course and cut and run." Among other ideas, the panel is considering whether to set a timetable for withdrawal and whether to solicit help from Iran and Syria to stop the fighting, according to Leon Panetta, a member of the advisory group and one-time chief of staff for former President Clinton. Panetta says no decisions have been made. The commission's work has been portrayed by some as a way of providing political cover for Bush to change course and scale down the U.S. role, which has cost the lives of at least 2,785 members of the U.S. military since the beginning of the war in March 2003. In October alone, more than 70 American troops have been killed, putting the month on course to be the bloodiest for U.S. forces in nearly two years. Snow said Bush would take the commission's recommendations seriously but that they were simply advisory suggestions. The White House has said Bush would not feel bound by the group's proposals, which are not due to be released until after the November elections. White House clarifies 'Tet' comment The White House also tried to clarify Bush's remarks Wednesday when he said the surge of violence in Iraq "could be" comparable to the 1968 Tet offensive that prompted Americans to lose support for the Vietnam War. "The president was making a point that he's made before, which is that terrorists try to exploit pictures and try to use the media as conduits for influencing public opinion in the United States," Snow said. Acknowledging that the Tet offensive "was successful from a propaganda point of view," Snow said the violence in Iraq would not have the same result. "The important thing to remember is, the president's determined it's not going to happen with Iraq because you have a president who is determined to win," he said. "And the strategy is a threefold strategy that involves security, economics and political reconciliation, working with the Iraqis. And we'll continue to make adjustments as necessary to pursue victory." "But the one thing that nobody should have any doubt about is that we're going win," Snow said. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/....ap/index.html _____________ I wonder if Tony Snow would still be so sure if he were, "on the ground," in Iraq.
	__________________ "What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?" Mahatma Gandhi

20th October 2006, 07:40 AM	#2
Darth Rotor Salted Sith Cynic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rat cheer Posts: 34,279	Originally Posted by Mephisto [QUOTE-Tony Snowjob]"But the one thing that nobody should have any doubt about is that we're going win," Snow said. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/....ap/index.html _____________ I wonder if Tony Snow would still be so sure if he were, "on the ground," in Iraq.[/quote] What does "we win" look like? That's my question. I have a good idea what it doesn't look like, the daily IED lottery, but what does it look like? I know what SASO is supposed to achieve based on the campaign plan. It is to set the conditions for a government to function in our absence. DR
	__________________ Helicopters don't so much fly as beat the air into submission. "Jesus wept, but did He laugh?"--F.H. Buckley____"There is one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth ... His mirth." --Chesterton__"If the barbarian in us is excised, so is our humanity."--D'rok__ "I only use my gun whenever kindness fails."-- Robert Earl Keen__"Sturgeon spares none.". -- The Marquis

20th October 2006, 08:36 AM	#3
Crossbow Seeking Honesty and Sanity Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,294	Well, I cannot blame the Administration for not wanting to divide Iraq into three pieces, and then leave. While that would be an easy thing to do, it would be most destructive for Iraq. Also, I am not surprised that the Administration nearly broke the land-speed record in clarifying those oblique Bush remarks about Vietnam. I (and I expect that many, many, others) had figured as much as soon as he had conceded to validity of comparing Iraq to Vietnam. What I do think that is significant to is that the report written by the group which was headed by James A. Baker, III will not be made public after the elections. While there has been a bit of leaking and tipping about this report, it seems to me that the Administration is now starting to lay some groundwork for changing (yet again) their Iraq strategy as based from the advice for someone that George W. does not care very much for.
	__________________ A man's best friend is his dogma.