Bush challenges Democrats to offer plan for

[__Kratos__]

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri (Reuters) - President George W. Bush challenged Democrats on Friday to offer their plan for winning in Iraq as he swept across Republican strongholds in the U.S. heartland to try to help his party's candidates survive on Election Day.

Encouraging audience participation from thousands of Republican loyalists at a rally, Bush said Democrats should be asked, "What's your plan?" for winning in Iraq and a host of other national security issues separating the parties.

"What's your plan?" the audience yelled back.

"Truth is the Democrats can't answer that question," he said. "Harsh criticism is not a plan for victory."

Democrats seeking to recapture Congress have sought to cast Tuesday's elections as a referendum on Bush's handling of the Iraq war, where another five American troops were reported killed.

Defending the Iraq war is a central theme for Bush on a final pre-election blitz in 10 states.

Reflective of the difficult political landscape for Republicans, they were all states Bush won in 2004: Montana, Nevada, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Florida and Texas.

His strategy is to appear in Republican strongholds, try to encourage as big a turnout as possible and hope that concern about Iraq and various Republican scandals do not depress the number of loyalists who turn out.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said it won't work. " President Bush's failed, 'stay the course' rhetoric is not only bad for America but has been a drag on Republicans on the ballot who have rubber-stamped the White House's failed agenda," Dean said in a party release.

Bush also crowed about a Labor Department report showing the U.S. unemployment rate dropped in October to 4.4 percent from 4.6 percent, its lowest in 5 1/2 years. He called it proof that tax cuts he engineered are working, a claim disputed by Democrats who say the cuts have increased the U.S. budget deficit.

Bush said Democratic claims that the tax cuts would hurt the economy were wrong.

"Well, if their election forecasts are as good as their economic forecasts, we're going to have a great day on November 7," he said to cheers.

Bush said Democrats are taking a "calculated gamble" by attacking him on Iraq without offering their own plan for what they would do if they win control of either the House of Representatives or the Senate or both.

"They believe the only way they can win this election is to criticize us and offer no specific plan of their own," Bush said.

He said Democrats still have four more days to do so and urged Republicans to ask them to.

Bush campaigned in Springfield, and later in Joplin, for Republican Sen. Jim Talent (news, bio, voting record), who is in a neck-and-neck race with Democrat Claire McCaskill. Later he was to appear in Iowa for Republican Rep. Jim Nussle (news, bio, voting record)'s race to become state governor.

Source

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A good question... What the hell is the Democrat plan for Iraq?

[Reincarnated]

A good question... What the hell is the Democrat plan for Iraq?

Don't worry, the Democrats always seem to find a way to clean up the Republicans messes.

[__Kratos__]

Don't worry, the Democrats always seem to find a way to clean up the Republicans messes.

Don't worry? That's comforting. At least the generals are poking at Bush and the tactics are changing now. I don't agree with Bush's "stay the course" but now seemly that's changing with the pressure on the Iraqi government recently added.

[Cinders]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A good question... What the hell is the Democrat plan for Iraq?

Kratos.. some of the Dems I was hearing.. like Barak Obama on LKL a week or so ago, was sounding a bit like a few Republicans.. All in favor of the "Baker Panel" suggestion, which was also mentioned last Wednesday in the Presidents News Conference speech last week.

But since then.... other things have come out regarding the issue with Syria, Iran, Hezbollah and Lebannon -- so the Baker Panel plan may no longer be an option to consider.

I was watching some recent uploaded videos on Youtube.. - mostly doing searches on Ramadi (because DJ is there) I was so mad at the one comment there on one video I saw - which to me is pretty upsetting.. I commented back to the to guy --- "Yea! We should just kill two birds with one stone: Give Iraq back to Saddam! "

I know that is not a solution but I am so ticked off with all this in the first place (as you well know) . And I see and read and hear how MANY of our men & women over there are trying so hard - they really want to fix Iraq.

I know they are doing the best they can under the circumstances. Bush has the greatest military in the world but HE DOES NOT KNOW how to be effective with it- and that's been clearly shown.

But the sad part is, the Dems probably would do no better.. *sigh*

[Thanato]

A good question... What the hell is the Democrat plan for Iraq?

Another good question is 'What the hell is your Republicans plan for Iraq?'

~Thanato

[Cinders]

Kratos...

You've got to read this---

Wednesday, November 1st, 2006

Iraq sinks deeper into chaos as our `friend’ turns the other way

It's yet another reason why I get so frustrated and think my rediculous suggestion of handing back Iraq to Saddam is not so rediculous.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Cinders

[__Kratos__]

Another good question is 'What the hell is your Republicans plan for Iraq?'

There has been a sort of "timetable" set up in steps for goals in Iraq for the Iraqi government and multi-national forces to achieve.

Kratos...

You've got to read this---

Wednesday, November 1st, 2006

Iraq sinks deeper into chaos as our `friend’ turns the other way

It's yet another reason why I get so frustrated and think my rediculous suggestion of handing back Iraq to Saddam is not so rediculous.

I read something like that earlier. He said earlier this week that he's not America's man. I mean, I'm glad to see Iraq standing up... Though, if his political woes are going to allow death squads to run free, then well... There's going to be a big problem. Even Iraq though was surprised at his order to US troops earlier this week, and are somewhat divided on the issue. If he doesn't turn that wolf into a sheep soon...

Edited November 3, 2006 by __Kratos__

[Avinash_Tyagi]

My plan is partition of the country into three "spheres", either semi or fully autonomous

Edited November 4, 2006 by Avinash_Tyagi

[__Kratos__]

My plan is partition of the country into three "spheres", either semi or fully autonomous

As good as that sounds, it would more then likely incite ethic cleansing and then how would you securely make sure all the sections get their fair share of the oil money?

[Cinders]

My plan is partition of the country into three "spheres", either semi or fully autonomous

There are many in favor of that idea.... but it's already been slammed down by the White House..(as also recently heard from Tony Snow), Iraq, Turkey, and Iran..

*sigh*

[Avinash_Tyagi]

As good as that sounds, it would more then likely incite ethic cleansing and then how would you securely make sure all the sections get their fair share of the oil money?

Well the troops would remain long enough for the regions to be stabilized and allow people time to move their families into regions where they feel safer. As to the oil there would need to be some form of partition or international oversight of the oilfields and refineries themselves, something that would require a much smaller force to oversee.

[thecreeper]

three words

iraq not savable

Edited November 4, 2006 by thecreeper

[__Kratos__]

three words

iraq not savable

Two words:

Why not?

Edited November 4, 2006 by __Kratos__

[thecreeper]

Two words:

Why not?

umm verge of civil war, dozens getting killed weekly, a lot of suicude bombers, iraqis hate us being there, need I go on?

[__Kratos__]

umm verge of civil war, dozens getting killed weekly, a lot of suicude bombers, iraqis hate us being there, need I go on?

It's not getting towards civil war yet. Nearly all those killings and suicide bombings are happening right around Baghdad, not the entire country.

U.S. troops should stay longer in Iraq: Talabani

PARIS (Reuters) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Thursday U.S. troops should remain in Iraq for up to three more years to give Iraqi authorities more time to build up their own security forces.

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At the start of a week-long visit to France, Talabani rejected suggestions Iraq had descended into civil war and accused the media of focusing exclusively on negative stories.

However, he said "international terrorists" were still concentrating all their efforts in Iraq which meant the country needed outside help to defeat them.

"We need time. Not 20 years, but time. I personally can say that two to three years will be enough to build up our forces and say to our American friends 'Bye bye with thanks'," Talabani told a conference organized by the IFRI think-tank.

General George Casey, who commands the 140,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq, forecast last week that Iraqis would be able to handle most tasks within 12 to 18 months.

Public pressure is building in both the United States and Britain to bring back troops from Iraq.

U.S. President George W. Bush's Republicans face possible loss of control of Congress in November 7 elections, with dismay over his Iraq policy a critical factor in voter intentions.

However, Talabani gave an upbeat assessment of the situation in Iraq, saying life was relatively normal beyond Baghdad.

"There is no civil war. The media is focusing only on the negative side of Iraq. ... We need to give the real picture. It's not just car bombs. Visit Iraq from the north to the south. Never mind Baghdad," he told reporters.

DEATHS

Very few French journalists venture into Iraq nowadays after three French reporters were kidnapped between 2004-2005 and held for months before eventually being allowed home.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry said more than 40 civilians died each day last month as a result of the political violence and the New York Times this week quoted the U.S. military as saying Iraq was descending into chaos.

Talabani angrily shrugged off the suggestion. "The Pentagon can say what it likes," he said, cutting short the questioner.

Prior to the meeting, Talabani said he would ask France for help with the rebuilding effort.

"I will ask (French President Jacques Chirac) to continue his support and extend the relation both politically and for trade. I will ask him to help us train some Iraqi police forces for use against terrorism," the Iraqi leader said.

Chirac told Talabani during their talks that Paris believed "it was important to fix the prospect of a withdrawal" of the international force in Iraq, the French leader's spokesman Jerome Bonnafont told reporters.

Chirac opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein but France has since patched up relations with Washington and promised to help the Iraqi government.

Talabani, who criticized Chirac in 2003 for not joining forces with the United States, said it was time to move forward and suggested big contracts might be open for French firms.

"Your oil companies can come to Iraq ... Americans didn't interfere (in our oil) and don't have any right to interfere."

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[thecreeper]

there not at civil war yet, but any nonpartaisan person who knows anything about whats going on there says it will be soon, and when it does become a civil war in iraq, we will need to get out of there asap

[__Kratos__]

there not at civil war yet, but any nonpartaisan person who knows anything about whats going on there says it will be soon, and when it does become a civil war in iraq, we will need to get out of there asap

Strong Differences Over The War In Iraq

That's one race. I guess you think Democrats are nonpartisan?

[thecreeper]

no, CNN is nonpartasian

[SnakeProphet]

Win the war? What war? I thought the war is won. Where's supercar?

[girty1600]

Don't worry, the Democrats always seem to find a way to clean up the Republicans messes.

And how is that? It seems every time there is a regime party change in the US the current admin supporters bashes the previous and those up for election bash the current often with no valid points.

You might as well wear a tee-shirt that quotes "the athletic organization in my area is superior to that in your area".

Many messes have been "cleaned up" by incumbent administrations in the past according to said admin, liberal and conservative.

My plan is partition of the country into three "spheres", either semi or fully autonomous

This is a plan that's been discussed at length in the White House. The problem is that the mass relocation of hundreds of thousands of residents will cause yet another uproar. Also, who would institute this type of restructure? The US occupation of Iraq is already viewed as more criminal that Hilter's assault on Europe so can we just expect all these people to leave their homes peacefully?

I also think its a good plan but its not your's.

Well the troops would remain long enough for the regions to be stabilized and allow people time to move their families into regions where they feel safer. As to the oil there would need to be some form of partition or international oversight of the oilfields and refineries themselves, something that would require a much smaller force to oversee.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't you view Bush's war in Iraq cruel and murderous? Wouldn't this type of campaign keep our fighting men and women in the region for years?

[thecreeper]

Win the war? What war? I thought the war is won. Where's supercar?

the iraq war where we fought saddam, yes that was won long ago quite easly , its the oucpation thats killing us and driving iraq towards civil

[__Kratos__]

no, CNN is nonpartasian

They've reported civil war fears from other people. There is a risk of civil war, but right now it is not a civil war.

Win the war? What war? I thought the war is won. Where's supercar?

The war was won... The one by toppling Saddam and taking out the Iraqi military.

Edited November 4, 2006 by __Kratos__

[Avinash_Tyagi]

I also think its a good plan but its not your's.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but don't you view Bush's war in Iraq cruel and murderous? Wouldn't this type of campaign keep our fighting men and women in the region for years?

Actually I've had this idea for years now

I think its the wrong war yes, but I also think us leaving immediately is a bad Idea, we need to arrange it so we can withdraw most of our troops, but we may need to leave some forces for a time there as well.

[Atheist God]

I say that shiite people blowing up Sunni people on a daily basis as well as executing them and fighting one another with AK-47's and stolen American weaponry is civil war.

[__Kratos__]

I say that shiite people blowing up Sunni people on a daily basis as well as executing them and fighting one another with AK-47's and stolen American weaponry is civil war.

You do know that means that you would also consider the Hispanic and Black gang wars in L.A. a civil war? People are dying almost every day over the "American civil war".