BUSH: "I'M THE DECISION MAKER"

President Bush, on a collision course with Congress over Iraq, said Friday "I'm the decision-maker" about sending more troops to the war. He challenged skeptical lawmakers not to prematurely condemn his buildup.


I gather, President Bush didn't get the memo? The citizens of the United States made a decision in this past election. WE DON'T LIKE WHERE YOU ARE GOING MR. PRESIDENT WHEN IT COMES TO IRAQ! Is this President so deluded that he refuses to listen to the American people, or does he believe we just don't count. That our opinions, our wishes, our votes, have no bearing on his actions? I am tired of this President IGNORING the citizens of the United States and doing as he so pleases.

It will certainly be interesting when some "truth" comes out in the Scooter Libby trial when Vice-President Cheney is forced to testify about the now known, LIES, told by the President and Vice-President in order to obtain a congressional vote to invade Iraq in the first place, making the case that Iraq had WEAPONS OF MASS DISTRUCTION, when in fact, they did NOT. Though Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator, there are other brutal dictators in this world, are we to attack them all?

No my friends, the word of the day is OIL. I could make the case that the President's true motive was to gain control of the vast oil reserves that Iraq has. Instead of attacking the source of the terrorists who attacked the US on Sept 11 in Aphganistan, where Bin Ladin who has been proven to be behind the attack hides, and shoring up the troop force there and now, due to the complete lack of logistics by our President, the fertile ground in areas of Iraq that are now being used as training grounds for terrorists, he prefers to concentrate the "surge" of troops in Baghdad where he will never ever be able to understand the underlying religious conflict in that city, laying our troops open to further fatalities and injury. On the very first day the first contingent of the 82nd Airborne arrived in Iraq, 7 of the soldiers were killed on the VERY FIRST DAY they were there.

Trying to fix a problem that has existed for thousands of years can not be done and what it DOES do is present a poor reflection on the United States with other countries, emboldens those countries who have posed no threat to us at all to step up their challenge of the US, for instance Iran.

I have always believed, no matter what country, friend or foe, that talking about what we HAVE IN COMMON and building on that interaction to further talks is the better way rather than using troops. President Bush seems to think our American soldiers are his to play around with. Well Mr. President, our soldiers are not a bunch of "beans" you can sit and count and play around with. You have put us in a position of appearing "weak" by withdrawing, and by staying furthering the deaths of our troops.

I appeal to Congress to investigate what was behind the justification of sending in troops to Iraq and if found that the President lied to Congress, he should be held accountable for it.

You took on Impeachment when President Clinton lied about a "sexual dalliance" , yet you allow our current President to lie to the American people and Congress about something much more grave and of greater consequence to our country. It is time to hold him accountable for his actions.

BUZZ WORDS FOR BUSH'S AGENDA?

I read this article today and it further enforces my fears over President Bush's agenda regarding Iran. Lately, I have been hearing references by not only the President but also his Press Secretary and others in the Bush "cadre" which should worry all of us. Not only does Bush seek to further engulf us in Iraq's civil war, he is now making threatening gestures towards Iran. Just when will the President stop his push to further blemish the reputation of the United States with his "folly"?

Here is part of the AP article:

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI - Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran(AP) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed back over the U.S. military buildup in the Gulf, saying Thursday that Iran is ready for any possibility in its standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

The president made clear he was not backing down in his tough rhetoric toward the United States, despite criticism at home. At the same time, his top national security official, Ali Larijani, sharply denounced U.S. policy in Iraq, accusing Washington of fueling Shiite-Sunni hatreds.

Washington has accused Iran of backing militants fueling Iraq's violence and has tried to rally its Arab allies in isolating Tehran. The Iraq crisis has increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran amid the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, which Washington says aims to produce nuclear weapons.

The United States sent an aircraft carrier, the USS Stennis, to the Gulf this week _ the second to deploy in the region _ a buildup that Defense Secretary Robert Gates said was intended to impress on Iran that the four-year war in Iraq has not made America vulnerable.

In an apparent reaction to the deployment, Ahmadinejad vowed Thursday that Iran would not back down over its nuclear program, which Tehran says is being developed only to produce energy.

Comment: I am truly beginning to worry over this buildup of forces in the Gulf which is antagonizing Iran and pushing them to harden their stance. Instead of using diplomacy, yes, we can talk with our enemies to find "some" common interests which would build on itself to enhance relations with other countries, yet this President seems to feel that "military force" is the only answer to any problem. He refuses to engage in talks to help diffuse the Iran influence in Iraq, refuses to discuss anything at all with Iran. When a country feels threatened, you can bet they will fight back and it appears our President is fully aware of this and is hoping for just that. Congress should get into action and prevent President Bush from further destruction and unrest in the region. Preventing President Bush from escalating things in the region should be at the forefront of Congress's agenda.

PRESIDENT'S BUSH'S CHALLENGE

By DEB RIECHMANN - Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON(AP) President Bush on Saturday challenged lawmakers skeptical of his new Iraq plan to propose their own strategy for stopping the violence in Baghdad.

Editorial comment:

Well Mr. President, prior to your announced new startegy, you had a multitude of people who had advised you and you ignored them. The generals on the ground that disagreed with your plan, you fired and you hired new generals who agreed with you. You failed to even consider the report submitted which you and congress commissioned regarding the Iraq status and NOW you demand those that critize you come up with their own plan? And if they did, would you back down and heed their recommendations and implement their plans? I doubt it sir. You have shown time and time again that you will listen to no one. Your stubborn "folly" that you know what is best to do has only brought ruin on the country of Iraq, killed sons and daughters of US citizens, and left us in the middle of a civil war in Iraq which is between RELIGIOUS SECTS and is centuries old and yet you feel YOU sir are the one to fix the problem? We are sick and tired of you forcing the citizens of the United States to follow you into a no win situation.

What a rediculous statement you made today on the radio. Before we even invaded Iraq you were warned by very experienced generals and those with knowledge of the issues, that this invasion would lock our country into a war that would have no end, yet you orchestrate your "photo op" on the carrier with you in your flight suit, over 3 years ago, stating, We Have Won!.
Sir, we have won nothing but more death and turmoil. Deterioration of a country filled with citizens who have the right to live even a poor decent life, but a right to live, yet can't even go to school without some death squad dressed up as Iraqi police officers shooting them if their papers indicate they are of a different religion then they are. It is madness over there and you dare to state that those that disagree with you should come up with a better plan. Sure, like you would say, okay, let's go with that plan. You have shown over and over and over that you will listen to no one. You call yourself the DECIDER and STAY THE COURSE and continue on sending our troops into Baghdad to be killed so you can stay there in the White House and look like you are working hard to fix the problem. WE DON'T BELIEVE A WORD YOU SAY ANYMORE, Mr. President. Get It?

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BABYSIT A CIVIL WAR STATES BARACK OBAMA

"We're not going to baby sit a civil war," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told NBC's "Today" Show. He said the Democratic-controlled Congress would not undercut troops already in Iraq but would explore ways to restrict the president from expanding the mission.

Senator Obama also appeared on Larry King after the President's speech last night and with deliberate and measured words disagreed with the President's proposal.

Interesting to note: Hillary Clinton has yet to be seen or heard on the subject. Perhaps her "handlers" don't wish for her to go on the record with any statements so she can't be questioned about them during her campaign for President, but as a sitting US Senator, she is wise to take a stand and make a statement. Failure to respond to a major issue such as Iraq, and failure to commit any words or comments regarding it is telling. Being from New York, I am truly disappointed in her inability to take a stand one way or the other on this major issue. Time will tell if she will take a stand, but her failure to take a stand makes it look like she is waiting to see which way "the wind blows" before making any statements of note.

If this is indicative of the way she would run a campaign or a Presidency, her hesitant or NON response is telling. She voted FOR the war in Iraq, which is surprising given her nature to "investigate" things before taking any action, it appears she did not investigate the President's motives for the war in Iraq before voting for it and gave in to pressure from a severely hurt and depressed state of citizens who were most affected by 9/11. She now is back peddling on her initial vote, but it is interesting to note not much has been heard from her of late.

MR. PRESIDENT - NO MORE TROOPS!

Here is a reminder Mr. President of the cost of your "folly"

I'll Do What I Want, When I want, Let the next guy fix it

"By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON(AP) A first wave of additional U.S. troops will go into Iraq before the end of the month under President Bush's new war plan, a senior defense official said Tuesday. Congressional Democrats kept up their criticism of plans to add soldiers in the unpopular conflict.
Up to 20,000 troops will be put on alert and be prepared to deploy under the president's plan, but the increase in forces on the ground will be gradual, said the official, who requested anonymity because the plans have not yet been announced.
Details were emerging a day before Bush was to address the nation on his broad initiative to shore up the fragile country after nearly four years of bloodshed. Bush is expected to link the troop increase to moves by the Iraqi government to ease the country's murderous sectarian tensions, and to increased U.S. economic aid.
Moving first into Iraq would be the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which is in Kuwait and poised to move quickly into the country, the defense official said.
Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he expects Bush to announce that up to 20,000 additional troops will be sent to Iraq but not to say how long the extra forces will be there.
Levin, who spoke to reporters a day after meeting with White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley, said he believes Bush will signal that the overall U.S. commitment in Iraq is not open-ended.
Bush is expected to link the troop increase to promised moves by the Iraqi government such as curbing Shiite militias that have terrorized the Sunni minority, enacting a plan to distribute oil revenue to the country's sects and easing government restrictions on members of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's Baath Party."

It appears President Bush just does not get it! It is hoped that Congress puts a stop to this "folly" of the President's. Mr. President, a reminder, only 12% of the country are behind you and no speech is going to change our minds. Ignoring the citizens of this country shows your true arrogance in your astounding ability to ignore the wishes of the people. A reminder: YOU WORK FOR US!