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Home Front: Politix

WaPo: Stubborn or Stalwart, Bush Is Loath to Budge

2006-12-17

They say it like it's a Bad Thing.

In the late 19th century, the queen of England sent the president of the United States a desk made from the timbers of a decommissioned ship, the HMS Resolute. Almost every occupant of the White House since then has made the Resolute his desk. Perhaps more than most, President Bush has taken its name to heart.

But now, as Bush rethinks his strategy in Iraq and approaches one of the most fateful moments of his presidency, he confronts difficult questions: At what point does determination to a cause become self-defeating folly? Can he change direction in a meaningful way without sacrificing principle?

For Bush, this is a tension that goes to the heart of his political identity and governing style. He captured and retained the presidency in part by portraying two successive Democratic opponents as finger-in-the-wind politicians without a core set of beliefs. The notion of bending to critics or even popular will cuts against his grain. Yet it is also true that at key moments in his career, Bush has been willing to abandon his position and shift gears dramatically.

Posted by:.com

#4 The longer the USA stays in IRAQ-AFGHANISTAN, the more fighters Radical Islam will lose. Dubya will not leave the WH until mid-January 2009 - by that time, most of Radics' best men could be old men + tweens, no match for US/Brit-led/trained units. IMO the Radics =Iran can't afford to pull-back becuz that means leaving the area to both local Govt forces + Sunnis. Iff the USA raises the levels of troops in Iraq, I believe Radical Islam must do the same no matter the casualties or other internal damage to itself, and espec iff Dubya announces a FORTRESS IRAQ change in policy. ONCE THE BORDER AREAS WID IRAN ARE CLOSED OFF, NUTHIN EXCEPT US GOP-DEM POLITIX CAN SAVE THE LOCAL ANTi-US SHIA OR OTHER ISLAMIST INSURGENTS. Radical Iran will have to either cease support of regional factions, or else launch/initiate kinds of "last resort/ditch" intensive new Terror attacks outside of the ME which will directly influence Washington to get out of Iraq=ME once and for all. THE RADICS WANT AN ISOLATIONIST GLOBALIST DEM IN THE WH FOR 2008, SO THE HIGHER US CASUALTIES ARE THE BETTER. THEY WANT THEIR NUKES WHILE GETTING THE USA TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-12-17 23:05

#3 Don't know accuracy Verlaine, but this was a Bloomburg poll from last week. Now, admittedly, Bloomburg is about as friendly to GW as the NY Slimes, but my point was the Demos are feeling their oats due to shift in public opinion. And I was reading earlier today that Levin is going to convene hearings in his committee (Senate Armed Services) as soon as he's seated. Just trying to say this will become their tactic.

Posted by: SpecOp35 2006-12-17 22:10

#2 Admit I'm too lazy to go look it up, but I think you're public opinion data are wrong, SpecOp. I believe around 60% have said they believe the US can be successful in Iraq, going back many months. Unpublished in-depth Pentagon survey data (at least as of a few months back) showed much the same thing. There's never been a "withdraw now" bloc larger than the 30-something hard-core who opposed the war, oppose just about everything and anything done by the administration.

Posted by: Verlaine 2006-12-17 21:57

#1 I think GW has made the decision to press on. However, the Congressional complexion has changed. When he announces his decision, you'll hear radically different tunes from the Dems. Ted Kennedy, our favorite, is on full attck today on the talk shows. Remember, it was this very same Teddy, who started the call for cutting funds for troops in VietNam in 1971-2. He led the charge and got it done. These radicals who head some of the committees in this new Congress will require a lot less persuasion. They not only will call for funding cuts, you'll soon start hearing grumblings about impeachment again. They have not forgotten Bill's impeachment and would like nothing better that to go after GW. They won't get him convicted, but they will tie up the situation and bring support for Iraq operations to a standstill. They feel invigorated, because the latest polls show only 12% support for continued Iraq engagement by US citizens. The voices here in this forum are now a distinct minority. We need to understand that.

Posted by: SpecOp35 2006-12-17 12:38

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