ECW
01-28-2007, 05:55 AM
(CBS/AP) Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday an effort in Congress to pass a resolution opposing President Bush's troop buildup undercuts U.S. commanders in Iraq and "emboldens the enemy."
At the same time, he said the Pentagon is hoping to speed the deployment of five additional Army brigades to Baghdad to bolster security in the capital. They had been scheduled to arrive a brigade per month through May, each containing roughly 3,500 troops.
Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair also said Friday he was optimistic about Mr. Bush's strategy but called Iraq a tremendous challenge.
"I've picked the plan that I think is most likely to succeed," Mr. Bush said in an Oval Office meeting with senior military advisers.
Gates' strong language, along with Mr. Bush's own forceful comments, underscored the high stakes in a congressional battle expected to start next week over proposals from both parties criticizing the president's war strategy.
At the White House on Friday, the president challenged lawmakers not to prematurely condemn his buildup, saying, "I'm the decision maker" on troop levels. Vice President Dick Cheney said earlier this week that the buildup would proceed even if a nonbinding resolution supported by some Republicans as well as Democrats wins Senate approval.
Mr. Bush spoke to reporters in the Oval Office after meeting with Gates and Lt. Gen. David Petraeus. Petraeus won Senate confirmation Friday to replace Gen. George Casey as the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
Stepping up what has become a war of nerves with Iran, the White House also said Mr. Bush had authorized U.S. forces in Iraq to take whatever actions might be necessary to counter Iranian agents who are deemed a threat.
"It makes sense that if somebody's trying to harm our troops or stop us from achieving our goal or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them," Mr. Bush said. "It's an obligation we all have ... to protect our folks and achieve our goal."
Senate Democrats have set debate on one measure opposing the planned troop increase for early next week. The non-binding resolution passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on a near party-line vote earlier this week.
more... ~link~ (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/26/politics/main2403209.shtml)
Well, it sure didn't take Dick Cheney long to put the old Vulcan mind meld on poor old Bobby Gates and bring him from the position that "we are losing the war" that he so smoothly admitted during his confirmation hearings to now parroting the famous Bushie Doctrine of "You're either with us or with the terrorists" mantra. Seems like anything that does not march in lockstep with the escalation scheme advanced by this White House is fodder for the Terrorists. I guess that freedom of speech is valued by this neocon crowd when you repeat word-for-word what they believe in or else you are an anti-American, terrorist sympathizing, traitor to America. Have I missed anything here? Probably not.
At the same time, he said the Pentagon is hoping to speed the deployment of five additional Army brigades to Baghdad to bolster security in the capital. They had been scheduled to arrive a brigade per month through May, each containing roughly 3,500 troops.
Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair also said Friday he was optimistic about Mr. Bush's strategy but called Iraq a tremendous challenge.
"I've picked the plan that I think is most likely to succeed," Mr. Bush said in an Oval Office meeting with senior military advisers.
Gates' strong language, along with Mr. Bush's own forceful comments, underscored the high stakes in a congressional battle expected to start next week over proposals from both parties criticizing the president's war strategy.
At the White House on Friday, the president challenged lawmakers not to prematurely condemn his buildup, saying, "I'm the decision maker" on troop levels. Vice President Dick Cheney said earlier this week that the buildup would proceed even if a nonbinding resolution supported by some Republicans as well as Democrats wins Senate approval.
Mr. Bush spoke to reporters in the Oval Office after meeting with Gates and Lt. Gen. David Petraeus. Petraeus won Senate confirmation Friday to replace Gen. George Casey as the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
Stepping up what has become a war of nerves with Iran, the White House also said Mr. Bush had authorized U.S. forces in Iraq to take whatever actions might be necessary to counter Iranian agents who are deemed a threat.
"It makes sense that if somebody's trying to harm our troops or stop us from achieving our goal or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them," Mr. Bush said. "It's an obligation we all have ... to protect our folks and achieve our goal."
Senate Democrats have set debate on one measure opposing the planned troop increase for early next week. The non-binding resolution passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on a near party-line vote earlier this week.
more... ~link~ (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/26/politics/main2403209.shtml)
Well, it sure didn't take Dick Cheney long to put the old Vulcan mind meld on poor old Bobby Gates and bring him from the position that "we are losing the war" that he so smoothly admitted during his confirmation hearings to now parroting the famous Bushie Doctrine of "You're either with us or with the terrorists" mantra. Seems like anything that does not march in lockstep with the escalation scheme advanced by this White House is fodder for the Terrorists. I guess that freedom of speech is valued by this neocon crowd when you repeat word-for-word what they believe in or else you are an anti-American, terrorist sympathizing, traitor to America. Have I missed anything here? Probably not.