Bush's speech...comments from the heartland

[almaty 19]

CARBONDALE - President George W. Bush's Thursday night speech was essentially old news filled with smoke and mirrors, according to local political science professors.

During a near 20-minute speech, Bush outlined his strategy for the Iraq War and boosted the successes, which he said will allow the government to withdraw more than 5,000 troops by Christmas.

But, Bush's news of a troop reduction is an illusion, said John Jackson, an emeritus political science professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a visiting professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

"It's important to note, his plan will leave 137,000 troops in Iraq next year, which will actually be 7,000 troops more than a year ago," Jackson said after Thursday night's speech. "The reductions taking place are a result of not having enough troops to sustain military presence."

Perry Knop, a political science professor at John A. Logan College, said while the plan for troop reductions was the speech's main topic, he questioned the president's comment regarding an "enduring" relationship with Iraq.

"The question is: what does that mean?" Knop asked. "When the gradual reduction ends, we'll still have 130,000 troops in Iraq. An enduring relationship, does that mean we are going to have 130,000 for next 20 years?"

Congressman John Shimkus, a Republican who represents the 19th District which includes Southern Illinois, said the government's focus should be on ensuring that the War in Iraq does not hinder the United States' interests.

"I can guarantee that if we leave, that's not going to strengthen the political reconciliation," Shimkus said shortly before the speech. "In fact, it will probably disrupt any hope we have for it."

Democratic Congressman Jerry F. Costello, however, said in a Monday news release that "there is no correlation between improvements in security and political profess in Iraq." Costello stated that "political progress will not occur, if it ever does, until our troops are gone."

Knop said the timing of Bush's "enduring" comment, which was about the 14th minute of the 18-minute long speech, intrigued him. He wondered how many people had already switched the television channel by that point.

Both Knop and Jackson said while the speech may not have delivered any new news, it was consistent with Bush's presidency.

"His policy is the same. He is basically saying, "As long as I'm in the white house, this is how it's going to be," Jackson said of Bush's foreign policy. "It is the next president and the next Congress that will have to deal with this because it's going to be on their plate when Bush moves back to Texas."

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Heartland?

Assland.

[almaty 19]

well, it is from the heartland..and this was a take of some folks...who viewed the Bush speech....and what their views were on it...

[Jenn! 918]

Heartland?

Yeah, you know, where the *real* Americans live.

[The_dip_sticks 0]

We have a brainless monkey for a president. His whole presidency was joke, it does not matter what he says now, its hard to believe someone who has failed the American people time and time again. I dont see this as a decmocracy. We claim to have a goverment for the people by the people but even when the american people want to put an end to this sharade, the president still does not listen. Some democracy we have then. Its hard to belive some one who has taken the US on a train wreck ride.

[Heracles 417]

We have a brainless monkey for a president. His whole presidency was joke, it does not matter what he says now, its hard to believe someone who has failed the American people time and time again. I dont see this as a decmocracy. We claim to have a goverment for the people by the people but even when the american people want to put an end to this sharade, the president still does not listen. Some democracy we have then. Its hard to belive some one who has taken the US on a train wreck ride.

So are you suggesting we pack up and leave Iraq???

Out of curiosity. Which country do you believe is the ideal democracy to follow? After all the US is only a few hundred years old..

Edited September 14, 2007 by Boo-Yah!

[no name 1]

Heartland?

Yeah, you know, where the *real* Americans live.

That's what Gary says too...

"His policy is the same. He is basically saying, "As long as I'm in the white house, this is how it's going to be," Jackson said of Bush's foreign policy.

Duh. He's been like that for 7 years. God forbid anything bad happen before 1/09 as his brain (& several of it's friends) have left.

[Deputy Uling 0]

We have a brainless monkey for a president...

Funny that you mentioned monkey...

[Sheriff Uling 3]

We have a brainless monkey for a president...

Funny that you mentioned monkey...

I posted this using my wifes account, but I love this picture. Hehehehe!!!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

well, it is from the heartland..and this was a take of some folks...who viewed the Bush speech....and what their views were on it...

Sorry - a bad joke on my part

I notice that while the General's testimony the other day spoke of the achievements made by the US military, he did state how the political developments outside of the US deployment had been somewhat lacklustre.

This was in the news today - a day after the (withdrawal that isn't withdrawal) announcement, suggesting that Iraq still only meets barely half of the benchmarks for progress.

Iraqi Benchmarks Report

Given the above it seems unlikely that we will be able to secure a long-lasting stable government without these improvements that are really outside of the US military's remit to deliver. All the military can really do is set the conditions - but the longer this goes on the more difficult it will get.

Its just unfortunate that the people in charge chose to ignore criticism and have maneuvered this country into a very tricky situation with no clear means of extricating ourselves. Its not like this was unpredictable either... This was the reason the US and Coalition chose not to remove Saddam from power - because the resulting power vaccuum with entangle the US for years.

[Mags 112]

There was a presidential address? Oh, missed that. Shame.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There was a presidential address? Oh, missed that. Shame.

Its a waste of time listening to Bush's speeches - more efficient use of time to read the 'highlights' in the news.

[mawilson 2,133]

There was a presidential address? Oh, missed that. Shame.

Its a waste of time listening to Bush's speeches - more efficient use of time to read the 'highlights' in the news.

Are you kidding? He's the #1 comedian in the country!

[Jasman0717 9]

We have a brainless monkey for a president.

You made me laugh out loud Thanks

[The_dip_sticks 0]

Curious Bush

Funny link

http://www.funnyjunk.com/pages/monkey.htm