Bush Says U.S. Troops Out Only After "Victory" In Iraq

[Gold9472]

Bush says US troops out only after "victory" in Iraq

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsAr...-IRAQ-BUSH.xml

By Caren Bohan
Fri Jun 9, 2006 11:51am ET

CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Friday he would like to see U.S. troops out of Iraq as soon as possible but reiterated U.S. resolve to stay until the Iraqi government is able to secure the country on its own.

Seeking to quell speculation that the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Wednesday would open the way for U.S. troop reductions, Bush said the death of al Qaeda's leader in Iraq would "help a lot" but would not end the Iraq war.

"I do not want the American people to think that a war is won with the death of one person," Bush said at a joint news conference with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the presidential retreat at Camp David.

Zarqawi's killing gave Bush a desperately needed success in Iraq, the most significant since Saddam Hussein's capture in December 2003, as he tries to revive sagging American confidence in his handling of the war and lift his own low approval ratings.

Despite pressure from Democrats to redeploy U.S. forces by the end the year, Bush stood firm and offered no timetable for a withdrawal of the some 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

"I've told the American people I'd like to get our troops out as soon as possible. But the definition of 'as soon as possible,' is depending upon victory in Iraq ... and victory in Iraq is a country that can sustain itself, govern itself and defend itself."

Bush said he was sure al Qaeda, behind beheadings of foreigners and some of the bloodiest bombings since a U.S.-led invasion in 2003, would try to regroup after the death of the Jordanian-born militant and launch further attacks.

"Removing Zarqawi is a major blow to al Qaeda. It's not going to end the war, it's certainly not going to end the violence, but it's going to help a lot," Bush said.

mericans: "It requires a certain amount of patience to succeed."

Bush said on Thursday he would discuss next Tuesday with Iraqi leaders "how to best deploy America's resources in Iraq," but a senior White House official cautioned that Bush was not hinting at possible early reductions in U.S. troops there.

Bush planned to meet key members of his Cabinet and national security team at Camp David on Monday, then on Tuesday Iraq's new ambassador to the United States will join in a teleconference discussion with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and members of his Cabinet.

[Good Doctor HST]

Bush says US troops out only after "victory" in Iraq

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsAr...-IRAQ-BUSH.xml

By Caren Bohan
Fri Jun 9, 2006 11:51am ET

CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Friday he would like to see U.S. troops out of Iraq as soon as possible but reiterated U.S. resolve to stay until the Iraqi government is able to secure the country on its own.

Every time he makes this statement, which is in about every press conference since 2004, it makes less and less sense. A suicide bomber will take out a couple people one day, and Bush says, "Well, Iraq isn't secure yet, another bombing took place...." But people get murdered every day in our country too, cops doing their job get shot by gangbangers every once in a while; so is our country not secure then? Should we have a military force from a foreign land come into our country to help out?

By Bush's definition, Iraq will never be secure enough.

[Gold9472]

"Removing Zarqawi is a major blow to al Qaeda. It's not going to end the war, it's certainly not going to end the violence, but it's going to help a lot," Bush said.

It's not going to end the war, and it's certainly not going to end the violence. HOW IN THE HELL DOES IT HELP?

[PhilosophyGenius]

Whatever happend to "we stand down as the Iraqis stand up"? All that coke and booze must have really shortened his memory.