(2007-01-06) — President George Bush, in a speech to the nation next week, will announce he’s sending up to 20,000 new U.S. combat troops into Iraq with orders to “go door to door, if necessary, to find a mission that everybody can agree on,” according to unnamed White House sources.
The troop surge would seem to place the president at odds with leaders of the new Democrat Congressional majority who yesterday called for an immediate and rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
The president will reportedly tell the American people that “the U.S. military is the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen, and therefore I have confidence in their ability to discover a political solution.”
The anonymous White House source said the president is optimistic about uniting American behind a common vision, since the White House and Congressional leaders already share the belief, in principle, that troop movements are a good substitute for a victory strategy.
51 responses so far ↓
1 gafisher // Jan 6, 2007 at 8:10 am
Pulloutski & Co. will insist on a Troop Purge.
God Save America.
2 SeaDog // Jan 6, 2007 at 8:11 am
War by concensus - what a way to go. We’ve been doing this since Korea, and nobody in Washington has figured out yet that it doesn’t work.
3 Harry Daschle // Jan 6, 2007 at 8:57 am
I am calling for a complete withdrawal from Congress by the dimocrats! If I had the money to go to Washington, I would go to a dimocrat press conference and “shout it out” to them, ala Sheehag!
Surely they would let me get away with it too, —-wouldn’t they?
4 RedPepper // Jan 6, 2007 at 9:01 am
The U.S. military is indeed the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen.
However. That is no substitute for the will to achieve victory - or the willingness to do whatever is necessary to defeat your enemy.
5 Harry Daschle // Jan 6, 2007 at 9:04 am
I know it’s early to be off topic but———The story about the Muslim cabbies that won’t pick up people with booze or dogs got me to thinking, why not open the cab door and say, “Oh—-I’m sorry, you’re Muslim aren’t you?
My religion will not let me ride with you!”
I’m thinking this would not be tolerated too well by them.
The other thought is when the cabbie says he/she cannot transport your dog, tell them it only looks like a dog, that it is really a pig.
6 Maggie // Jan 6, 2007 at 9:36 am
Operation surge is already in progress.Thousands of recall letters were sent to those already already dead or wounded.Just makes you shake head in disbelief……I dunno.
7 onlineanalyst // Jan 6, 2007 at 10:49 am
We all have an opinion (including moi, but I have an inkling that there are bigger plans on the table with all of the shakeups in the Iraq command. Placing a Navy man in charge of Central Command, Adm. Fallon, and Gen. Petraeus in Baghdad, more may be afoot than just a boots-on-the-ground beefing up.
Ralph Peters weighs in on the possibilities here, and they appear to make a lot of sense. Iran’s role in fomenting ME unrest must be contained. The Straits of Hormuz are part of the equation, which also affects China’s honeymoon with Iran. On the ground, Petraeous has earned his recognition as an “incisive strategic thinker”.
More is going on behind the scenes, I think, and the ankle biters in Congress, looking for a sound bite from the fawning Lamestream Media, are missing a much bigger picture— because they are truly clueless about having a plan.
8 Ms RightWing, Ink // Jan 6, 2007 at 10:58 am
A belated good morning. Hoping for a better day than what I started with. Darn, so much spit and fire to expel toward the new administration, but no gumption to do it.
Someone send me a bottle of kickem juice
9 onlineanalyst // Jan 6, 2007 at 11:06 am
Up and at ‘em, chick! There is a new day a-dawning.
More on Gen. Petraeus here. (I especially liked the commenter who opined that these very real plans may be obstructed by Gen. Pelosi and Gen. Reid. I don’t want to hear any second guessing from two dhimmiwits who are playing power politics in a time of serious consequences to our troops and the outcome of the situation in Iraq.)
10 onlineanalyst // Jan 6, 2007 at 11:31 am
(Sorry to dominate the thread, BUT…)
I cross-posted this observation at DrSanity’s blog.
Madame Pelosi thought that she had pierced the marble ceiling with that crown which she donned. Bereft of solid understanding of international relations, she personifies a party of no substantive ideas or plans.
Before the trolls dominate this thread with shopworn talking points, may I direct you all to a terrific column that defeats the Leftist chestnut about hegemony: http://www.americanthinker.com/ 2…hegemonism.html
This article is a keeper.
When the Lefties get their panties in a twist over the real imperialistic aims of Iran, China, and Russia, esp. as regards the ME, then I will believe in their patriotism.
11 onlineanalyst // Jan 6, 2007 at 11:33 am
Here is the appropriate link: http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/01/hegemonism.html
12 Anonymous // Jan 6, 2007 at 11:54 am
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Yep, still out there, waiting, watching, lurking in the wings.
For those that could ever stand me, even a little, you can find me at my new work e-mail address…
rmarcy@mccollisters.com
So much has happened, little of it good (politically, not personally, personally things are quite satisfactory) that it would be impossible to comment and I’m certain that makes most of you very glad indeed. I’ll be brief and on topic….more troops??? Just when you think there might be a glimmer of hope for the man (George) he proves once more that the “little voices in his head” are really all that matter.
It’s all good!
13 Darthmeister // Jan 6, 2007 at 11:54 am
I wonder if our troops will also be tasked with helping little old ladies cross the street?
But then that might get them in trouble with liberals and the ACLU since that would be too much like that fascist brownshirt youth organization, the Boy Scouts.
14 Tinman // Jan 6, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Ms. RightWing. Do you mean Kickapoo Joy Juice?
15 Jersey Guy // Jan 6, 2007 at 12:18 pm
When they were the minority party in Congress the Demmies entire platform regarding the war was to attack everything the Bush administration said or did. They had no concrete answers for anything, no strategy for winning, no long-term vision for the possibility of peace in the Middle East. Nothing. Nada. Now that they are the majority party in Congress what do you think their “new” platform will be? Nothing too different from the old platform, one would think, but with two add-ons. First, with control of the key financial committees in the House and Senate they will be able to block additional funding for the troops far more effectively. Second, with control of both chambers they have greater latitude to step up the verbal assaults on the President, something which they consider key to placing Madame Hillary in the White House in 2008. So what will be different? Nothing much.
16 Anonymous // Jan 6, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Hey Hank, don’t know why it’s posting me as “anonymous” but it’s your troll from Christmas past
Boberin!
How’s it hanging?
17 JamesonLewis3rd // Jan 6, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I’ve been following that Islamofascist cabbies story since before the “Flying Islamofascist imams” farce because I think it is indicative of the overall Islamofascist problem in the USA. I hope and pray that the Minneapolis airport authorities stick to their guns and refuse to knuckle under to Islamofascist tyranny.
I saw an Islamofascist spokesman for the Islamofascist cabbies on FOX News yesterday continually assert that their Islamofascist discriminatory practices were simply part of their Islamofascist “culture.”
I say, they left that Islamofascist “culture” of hate-filled, self-righteous, works-based religion behind when they came here and they need to embrace our “culture” of tolerance or go back.
18 JamesonLewis3rd // Jan 6, 2007 at 12:58 pm
RE: #17~~
This is what I do not want to happen to the United States of America.
I will never, ever “venerate” Muhammed (I will, however, tolerate those who wish to do so) and I will fight to the death anyone who tries to make me.
19 Fred Sinclair // Jan 6, 2007 at 1:05 pm
WoW!!! Best to date 1180
http://www.hurtwood.demon.co.uk/Fun/copter.swf
Heirborn Ranger
20 JamesonLewis3rd // Jan 6, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Hmm…..Maybe Bush laid an ultimatum on al-Maliki last Thursday? Is it possible that al-Maliki has decided to be a man?
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq’s prime minister said Saturday that Iraqi forces would launch a new effort — with U.S. troops in a supporting role — to wrest control of Baghdad’s neighborhoods from militias and other sectarian killers.
Iraqi forces were to begin a neighborhood-by-neighborhood assault on militants in the capital this weekend, even before the White House announced a long-awaited new strategy to contain Sunni insurgents and Shiite death squads.
“The Baghdad security plan will not offer a safe shelter for outlaws regardless of their ethnic and political affiliations, and we will punish anyone who hesitates to implement orders because of his ethnic and political background,” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in a speech…..
Al-Maliki is uneasy about the possible introduction of more U.S. troops, aides said, and he has repeatedly refused U.S. demands to crush the militia of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, one of the prime minister’s most powerful backers.
Personally, I could care less about al-Maliki’s “uneasiness.” All US troops in the vicinity should go after al-Sadr with guns blazing. We should never have acquiesced to al-Maliki’s self-serving political cowardice by not doing so in the first place (yes, I realize this “acquiescence” was the result of our own self-serving politically correct, political cowardice).
21 Ms RightWing, Ink // Jan 6, 2007 at 3:27 pm
re:14 Tinman
I am not certain of this product called Kickapoo Joy Juice but at this juncture of space and time I am game for anything
Is it like Baraboo Circus Water
www.wisconsinhistory.org/circusworld/
This will teach the ilegies a thing ar two even if the baby was made in China
http://www.newsnet5.com/money/10684666/detail.html
22 camojack // Jan 6, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Consensus? Sounds like socialism to me…
23 Tinman // Jan 6, 2007 at 3:51 pm
re: Ms RW.
KICKAPOO JOY JUICE is a liquor of such stupefying potency that even the hardiest citizens of Dogpatch, after a first burning sip, rise into the air, stiff as frozen codfish. Concocted in a large wooden vat by the inseparable cave-dwelling buddies Lonesome Polecat and Hairless Joe, the ingredients are both mysterious and all-encompassing. When the brew needs a little more body, the pair throws one in. An officially licensed KJJ is still produced by Monarch Beverage of Atlanta, Inc.
24 RedPepper // Jan 6, 2007 at 4:17 pm
JL3 #18: Now, now, Jameson ! We can’t expect the French to concern themselves with small matters such as free speech rights ! Or death threats ! They are far too busy with more important issues - such as defending the needy from the Soup Nazis !
I say , let them eat cheese !
25 nylecoj // Jan 6, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Ms RW, they used to sell (they may still) a high energy drink here out west called Whoop A**. Maybe that is what you are needing.
I thought it was pretty clever as it was sold in the can.
26 GnuCarSmell // Jan 6, 2007 at 5:05 pm
The urge
To surge
Should merge
With a surgical purge
Of the bad guys.
27 Beerme // Jan 6, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Boberin,
Nice to hear from you!
Hope all is well?
28 Godfrey // Jan 6, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Drudge just had an interesting newsflash. What do y’all think: is WWIII in the offing?
I’m reminded of Hitler crossing the Rhine. There are striking parallels between the remilitarization of the Rhineland and the nuclearization of Iran.
The French (and others) made the wrong decision then: not to confront the “gathering threat” of Hitler, even though he was weak and it would have been fairly easy to topple him. This is completely understandable: the world at the time was weary of conflict.
This time around the decision is up to the Israelis and to the United States. The world grows weary of conflict once again. I wonder what the decision will be?
29 Fred Sinclair // Jan 6, 2007 at 8:18 pm
ScrappleFace is free for the asking, but as most folks know, “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch - TANSTAAFL”
I pointed out in comments awhile back that $25. a month isn’t much, but if everybody……….? It amounts to less than a dollar a day and Denny’s charges more for coffee. I get a lot more from Scott’s work than I could get anywhere else for so little. 83 1/3 cents to be exact. No coffee anymore at that price + the tip.
If I can click that little PayPal button, then anybody can.
Heirborn Ranger
30 Fred Sinclair // Jan 6, 2007 at 8:32 pm
RE: #28 Godfrey, sometimes I wonder. At times you sound like a troll and then you turn around and sound like a conservative pretending to be a troll, just to get topics moving??? #28 is really good stuff! Thanks, I wonder what the decision will be too.
Heirborn Ranger
31 JamesonLewis3rd // Jan 6, 2007 at 8:44 pm
While the alleged “leak” only reveals a plan and does not signal an imminent tactical nuclear attack-see the “if” toward the end of the 7th paragraph-it was definitely made by someone who is no friend of Israel, that’s for sure. Israel will now be condemned worldwide for even thinking such thoughts.
Someone somewhere is trying to force someone’s hand. One of the two parties (Israel or Iran) may now feel compelled to act immediately.
32 JamesonLewis3rd // Jan 6, 2007 at 8:49 pm
I meant to add that I don’t think anything but an ICBM (as opposed to tactical weapons) would penetrate deep enough to actually destroy (rather than merely cripple) Iran’s nuclear facilities that are very deep underground and shrouded with something like 70 feet of reinforced concrete.
33 GnuCarSmell // Jan 6, 2007 at 9:58 pm
JL3 #32 - You seem to have knowledge of military matters. I have an idea and wonder if it’s feasible. My idea is to use a GPS precision guided bunker-buster, then follow that up with another precisely in the first hole — penetrating another 50 feet. Rinse and repeat as necessary until sufficient depth is achieved. Finish with a tactical atomic device. It seems that the coup de grace would neutralize the facility with certainty, yet leave a small “footprint” with near-zero collateral damage.
The question is really how pinpoint accurate the bombs are. Are they accurate enough to go exactly into the previous bomb’s hole?
34 Darthmeister // Jan 6, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Godfrey,
If it does play out that way, the non-Islamic world will probably heave a huge sigh of relief and then immediately condemn Israel for such “pre-emptive provocation”.
GCS, I believe the JDAMs and other GPS guided munitions have the requisite accuracy to do exactly as you propose. Might have to use ten in order to hit the ever deepening hole at least four or five times but I think it can be done with groups of four F-16Cs with F-15s flying CAP and F-16Ds flying Wild Weasel SAM suppression.
They’re using old artillery barrels to get the necessary penetration. Of course, digging a big hole with three our four 2,000 lb JDAMS followed up by a GPS guided 10,000 lb MOAB would probably provide the same punch as a nuclear tipped penetrator, but it would be a lot messier. Israel will get condemned either means it uses - conventional or nuclear - so it may as well be a small nuclear penetrator reducing the number of and risks to Israeli pilots.
35 Fred Sinclair // Jan 6, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran
Uzi Mahnaimi, New York and Sarah Baxter, Washington
ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons.
Revealed? This is one thing that did
not need to be revealed. Anyone that
claims to not have known - #1 Knows
nothing about Iran & their “suicide by
cop” complex - #2 Knows nothing about
Israel and how seriously they revere
their Battle Cry: “Never Again”. When
what it really means is NEVER again.
Iran continues on it’s suicide path,
blindly stumbling it’s way. Well aware
of what Israel is going to do. Actively
encouraging Israel’s pre-emptive strike
with the threat of wiping Israel off of
the map.
Now of course that makes no sense at
all to us westerners, but it makes
perfect sense to them. They are well
aware that Israel used such strikes in
1981. And they will not hesitate to do
so again, since it’s much easier to seek
forgiveness than to ask permission.
The only thing Iran does not know is
exactly when these strikes are coming.
They do know that through all of history
going all the way back to the Pharaoh
of Egypt, there is not even one instance
of somebody messing with the Jews but
that they rued their actions.
After they are done, America, with tounge
in cheek will do the tut-tut, naughty, naughty
thing and about then Jesus may return and
it’ll all be academic anyway.
Heirborn Ranger
36 Godfrey // Jan 7, 2007 at 12:30 am
Fred: At times you sound like a troll and then you turn around and sound like a conservative pretending to be a troll…
I think some people around here (he-HEM!) need to rethink their definition of the word “troll”. If a troll is just someone who says something that is unpopular then we’ve all probably qualified at one time or another. But if, as is commonly accepted, a troll is a puerile troublemaker who tries to agitate people in a forum merely for the sake of hijacking a thread, well, the list here at Scrappleface gets considerably shorter…and it’s a list I’ve never been on.
Iran continues on it’s suicide path…
and
…and about then Jesus may return and it’ll all be academic anyway.
It’s interesting that you put it that way, since the Iranian government “suicide path” is reportedly based on a hope that the demolition of Israel will usher in the return of the “Hidden Imam”… Islam’s own Second Coming.
I think war is a very good thing to view in secular terms…
JL3: Israel will now be condemned worldwide for even thinking such thoughts. and Hank: the non-Islamic world will probably heave a huge sigh of relief and then immediately condemn Israel for such “pre-emptive provocation”.
You’re probably right, but only by people who fail to understand that any military worth it’s salt has contingency plans for everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pentagon had some “plans” buried somewhere for how to handle a Canadian military attack. Imagine a headline that said “American plans to invade Canada”.
If the Israeli pre-emptive attack with tactical nukes actually happens, I have mixed feelings: I definitely don’t like the idea of opening Pandora’s Nuclear Box again but have to admit that if Israel use nukes in the short term Iran will probably do it in the long term. In which case it comes down to the question of who we want to deal with for the next hundred years: a nuclear Israel or a nuclear Iran.
Not a difficult choice.
37 JamesonLewis3rd // Jan 7, 2007 at 12:40 am
RE: #33~~
Godfrey~~
No, my knowledge is rudimentary at best.
I’ll defer to you and Darthmeister on the practical details. That’s why I so often think out loud and thanks to you both.
I think I’d rather see us (the USA) take them (the Iranian nuclear facilities) out, rather than Israel. Maybe we have a submarine or two in the Mediterranean Sea or Indian Ocean that could do the job? Maybe this “leak” is a red herring, misdirection, sleight-of-hand? They did, after all, put an Admiral in charge of CENTCOM.
I don’t know why but, for some reason, I would like to see the job done with an awe-inspiring, bone-chilling, goose-pimple-producing display of superior technological prowess resulting in mass-Islamo-hysteria, apocalyptic obliteration, utter decimation-a great big hole, even. I mean, like, send them back to the stone age.
38 Fred Sinclair // Jan 7, 2007 at 1:43 am
JL3rd: Amen and again I say amen.
Godfrey: troll - abreviation for Trollope, author of the six political “Palliser” novels.
or: 3 [ trans. ] informal Computing send (an e-mail message or posting on the Internet) intended to provoke an indignant response from the reader by containing errors in judgement and or facts.
Heirborn Ranger
39 Godfrey // Jan 7, 2007 at 3:17 am
Fred: “…intended to provoke an indignant response from the reader by containing errors in judgement and or facts.”
Well, there again, we’ve all been guilty at one time or another of provoking indignance and I daresay of being flat out wrong about a fact or two.
Why as recently as the late eighties I confused “indigo” with “azure”.
Ah, human frailty.
40 MargeinMI // Jan 7, 2007 at 5:06 am
Good morning all. Thanks for all the reading material!
41 MargeinMI // Jan 7, 2007 at 5:08 am
Boberin, Happy New Year! I was just thinking of giving you a shout out yesterday. Glad things are well with you.
42 MargeinMI // Jan 7, 2007 at 6:59 am
Alrighty then, my mind has been successfully Krelled for this morning:
ola, #s 7 & 10: Excellent.
JL3, #18: Frightening!
Ms. RW, #21b: sigh.
Godfrey, #28a: It’s sure looking that way.
JL3, #31: It’s ok, those dern Joooooos will take the blame, if it allows them to survive!
Fred, Headed there now for some mind relaxation. ;o)
Wake Up Everyone!!!!!!!!!
(push)
43 gafisher // Jan 7, 2007 at 8:29 am
Godfrey #39: “Why as recently as the late eighties I confused “indigo” with “azure”.”
A stunning admission, to be sure, but perhaps unwise; it’s been revealed lately that things said on the internet could someday come back to haunt us . . .
Shabbat tov, all!
44 Darthmeister // Jan 7, 2007 at 9:59 am
Godfrey has never been a troll, just a spirited debater. We’ve all been spirited debaters at one point or another.
The same cannot be said of trolls like Bravo 39/neverthink/laughing gasbag who has pretty much made it known he’s more interested in merely provoking people and hijacking threads with the same old spew one can get from the lamestream media than to give honest and respectful consideration to the conservative perspective. I mean, that’s what this whole site is about, mocking the unspoken liberal insanity but the trolls want to turn Scrappleface into moveon.org or demoncraticunderground.com.
So it irks him to no end that there are people who have the gall to reject the liberal media narrative and the failed policies of liberalism yet, ironically enough, he probably considers himself mainstream or maybe an old guard conservative - the latter being a total myth based on some blighted idea that Barry Goldwater was the gold standard for true conservatism and traditional Americanism.
Godfrey,
Liberals have long confused “black” with “brown”. And so have colored/negro/Afro/black/African-Americans. I’ve always wondered if the NAACP, the United Negro Fund and the Black Caucus would ever update their organization’s name given their tiresome adherence to the white liberals’ PC agenda.
45 Ms RightWing, Ink // Jan 7, 2007 at 11:41 am
I hope it is not to late to say good morning. I wish not that the family would think me lazy, but on this frosty Sunday morning I see no reason that I should do more than gaze upon the pallet of white frost our Creator has bestowed upon my neighborhood-which from the 7th floor of the Plaza is rather large area.
Yes, today I think the Bunker should be renamed the The Plaza Hotel & Bunker, after all some scrumptious food and delicious coffee is served from time to time, though I must admit room service leaves something to be desired.
Oft on winters night I can sit on my davenport and see the antique style street lights from the medical center, the dim lights from another nearby high rise along the local hospital down the boulevard and with a bit of a squint of the eye, I can almost imagine myself sitting in a rather unique neighborhood of New York City. Then the sun rises and back we are to the Dirty Old Factory Town.
God has bestowed many on this page with the unique gift of being who we are par excellence, though we have a rather rough time with aging pains, disability problems or certain antagonizing ways about us-or perhaps we may be lucky enough to be near perfect. All in all on the gleaming pages of Scrapple we all look rather good, still in the midst of our flower garden we have a weed or two.
Remember savory herbs are nothing but a tamed weed so maybe laughing @ and others maybe someday become useful.
46 Maggie // Jan 7, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Hello everybody!
Great Scrappling on this thread.
Ms Righty,
I like the name Plaza Hotel for the bunker and hope you will continue to “keep the light on” for us.
47 Anonymous // Jan 7, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Hey beerme and marge (and the rest)
Happy to stop by, new job going well, family happy and healthy enough.
Nice to see many still defending the regime despite overwhelming evidence that the course taken so far has been (charitably) unproductive. It’s comforting to know that some minds never change. Sad, but comforting.
It’s all good….
Boberin
48 Maggie // Jan 7, 2007 at 12:40 pm
boberin,
Great to see you post and glad all is going well.
Send an email to Scott and ask how to reinstate your posting name.
49 Fred Sinclair // Jan 7, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Can I begin insisti-er-demanding that I be categorized as a Scottish/American even though I’m only 1/16th Scottish? I do have a Scottish name. But my mother, a Sneed was 100% English while my father was a blend of Scott/Irish/Dutch/German/Swede.
Italian/Americans are born in Italy to Italian parents, immigrated to America (legally), becamed naturalized citizens. Their children, born in America would of course be Americans and certainly not Italan/Americans.
Heirborn Ranger
50 kuesterj // Jan 8, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I’ve been reading ScrappleFace for probably 4-5 years now and have never commented on any blogging. I’d just like to let Scott know that this post was spot-on and one of the most articulate and foresightful things I’ve read in a long time.
Thank you for your tireless work that never ceases to entertain and inform!
51 everthink // Jan 12, 2007 at 12:45 am
You must log in to post a comment.