The Daily Background
| Iraq: countdown to Bush’s escalation plan announcement
by Arlen Parsa
Several items are in the news today, as we countdown to President Bush’s escalation announcement to take place tomorrow (Wednesday) night.
Escalation opposition
As Senator Kennedy announced his “surge protection” anti-escalation plan today, to be introduced in the Senate in the next 48 hours with an equivalent version to be introduced in the House as well, he’s already getting tepid support from…. a Republican Senator?
Says Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, who recently met with the President and 30 other lawmakers to discuss the President’s new Iraq plan (during which time the President did not offer any details to the members of his own party), “The more the Congress can be involved in the decision making, the better — and that is what the American people are asking for; they are going to hold us accountable then let’s have the tools of accountability so we can be held responsible.”
According to CNN, that’s supportive of Kennedy’s anti-escalation bill. Smith says he hasn’t yet decided what he thinks about Bush’s escalation plan, mainly because the Commander-in-Chief wouldn’t tell him (or anyone else) any details yet. He’ll have to wait until Wednesday at 9pM EST, like the rest of us, for the President’s 25 minute televised Address.
Bush’s Iraq plan TBA tomorrow: “Not all new”
The Associated Press has an analysis piece out, in time to appear in newspapers tomorrow titled “Analysis: Bush’s new plan not all new.” The lede: “President Bush’s new plan for Iraq sounds a lot like his old one. Send in more troops, set goals for the Iraqi government and assure Americans it’s better to wage war there than here.” There’s certainly a “been-there, done-that feel to Bush’s new plan,” writes AP veteran Tom Raun.
Escalation opposition, take 2
Oliver North, former Colonel-turned Fox News analyst and conservative columnist, said in his latest appearance on the cable network that: “None of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and marines that I interviewed in my eighth trip told me they wanted more US boots on the ground. Nearly all expressed just the opposite. ‘We don’t need more American troops; we need more Iraqi troops’ was a common refrain.”
North, like Kennedy earlier today in his Iraq speech at the National Press Club, compared President Bush’s escalation plan to Lyndon Johnson’s disastrous Vietnam escalation four decades ago. Said North: “My concern is that incremental increase in US troop strength…sounds eerily like Lyndon Johnson’s plan to save Vietnam in the 60s by gradual escalation as a way not to lose.”
Both North and Kennedy are on our ever-expanding “Who’s against troop surges” list.
Mr. Raun,
Good day. While I agree with you that more U.S. troops are not the answer for Iraq. But a stronger, more confident Iraqi troop presence. Though, this will take more time. A country ruled by tyranny for as long as Iraq can’t “Fix” or “Right things” quickly.
My gripe is your throwing in a quote by Senator Clinton! Yeah, her word goes far… If you want to add validity to your column that piece of work should never be associated.