Comments on: Rice Says Bush Won’t Accept Benchmarks In Iraq War Funding Bill (UPDATED) http://themoderatevoice.com/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:51:43 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kritter http://themoderatevoice.com/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-78415 kritter Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:58:12 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/#comment-78415 When Bush brought up the surge, it was a given that the Iraqi government would have to meet certain benchmarks , that our support was no longer going to be open-ended. Congress is trying to make him stick to his word. Now of course he has gone back to "letting the conditions on the ground determine policy", because the Iraqis have not, so far, met any of them. When he says he wants to allow for flexibility and creativity that means he wants our presence to be open-ended. When Bush brought up the surge, it was a given that the Iraqi government would have to meet certain benchmarks , that our support was no longer going to be open-ended. Congress is trying to make him stick to his word. Now of course he has gone back to “letting the conditions on the ground determine policy”, because the Iraqis have not, so far, met any of them. When he says he wants to allow for flexibility and creativity that means he wants our presence to be open-ended.

]]> By: DLS http://themoderatevoice.com/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-78409 DLS Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:08:38 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/#comment-78409 It wouldn't occur to the many liberals on this "moderate" Web site that Congress is playing chicken with Bush, instead. ... > And his cabinet blindly follows along ... or that his Cabinet is often leading Bush instead, when not simply resisting a pushy Congress all on its own. It wouldn’t occur to the many liberals on this “moderate” Web site that Congress is playing chicken with Bush, instead. …

> And his cabinet blindly follows along

… or that his Cabinet is often leading Bush instead, when not simply resisting a pushy Congress all on its own.

]]> By: kritter http://themoderatevoice.com/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-78366 kritter Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:21:43 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/#comment-78366 Well he's also flip-flopped when he talks about listening to his commanders on the ground. Casey, Abizaid and the JCS disapproved of the surge, so he got new commanders. Now he says he listens to the commanders on the ground. If tomorrow, Gen Petraeus told him the surge was a flop would Bush pull the troops out? Tomorrow is the 4th anniversary of Mission Accomplished- they've had 4 years of flexibility and creativity without producing solid results. And no one disagrees that bogging down most of our forces in the middle of a civil war that they cannot influence has decreased America's ability to respond to other trouble spots. Al queda is spread out worldwide- they are not just in Iraq. It would be better to leave some forces to protect the Kurds (who do seem to get democracy) and some to keep fighting in Anbar province. But Iraq is not doing their part, the government resents the pressure to meet any of the benchmarks. So, the surge is a waste of resources. Well he’s also flip-flopped when he talks about listening to his commanders on the ground. Casey, Abizaid and the JCS disapproved of the surge, so he got new commanders. Now he says he listens to the commanders on the ground. If tomorrow, Gen Petraeus told him the surge was a flop would Bush pull the troops out?

Tomorrow is the 4th anniversary of Mission Accomplished- they’ve had 4 years of flexibility and creativity without producing solid results. And no one disagrees that bogging down most of our forces in the middle of a civil war that they cannot influence has decreased America’s ability to respond to other trouble spots. Al queda is spread out worldwide- they are not just in Iraq. It would be better to leave some forces to protect the Kurds (who do seem to get democracy) and some to keep fighting in Anbar province. But Iraq is not doing their part, the government resents the pressure to meet any of the benchmarks. So, the surge is a waste of resources.

]]> By: hanginjohnny http://themoderatevoice.com/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-78364 hanginjohnny Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:10:59 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/#comment-78364 so this runs counter to what Bush said about an "open-ended" policy. First he talks about benchmarks, then flip-flops.More doublespeak. He really has no freakin' clue. And his cabinet blindly follows along so this runs counter to what Bush said about an “open-ended” policy.
First he talks about benchmarks, then flip-flops.More doublespeak.
He really has no freakin’ clue. And his cabinet blindly follows along

]]> By: superdestroyer http://themoderatevoice.com/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/comment-page-1/#comment-78361 superdestroyer Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:30:04 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/12537/rice-says-bush-wont-accept-benchmarks-in-iraq-war-funding-bill/#comment-78361 The constant use of poll numbers demonstrates the total lack of leadership with the Democrats (with a few exceptions). All Congress has to do is to refuse to fund the 2007 DoD supplement and to zero out funding in the FY 2008 DoD budget. Congress can force a removable of all U.S. forces by September 30, 2007 by just doing nothing. However the Democrat's heding on Iraq of wanting to maintain trainers, an embassay, and support operations is really a huge sign of weakness. Only a few have shown the courage to demand a complete withdrawal no matter the consequences. The constant use of poll numbers demonstrates the total lack of leadership with the Democrats (with a few exceptions). All Congress has to do is to refuse to fund the 2007 DoD supplement and to zero out funding in the FY 2008 DoD budget. Congress can force a removable of all U.S. forces by September 30, 2007 by just doing nothing.

However the Democrat’s heding on Iraq of wanting to maintain trainers, an embassay, and support operations is really a huge sign of weakness. Only a few have shown the courage to demand a complete withdrawal no matter the consequences.

]]>