We Need Straight Talk

[DrM]

The war is increasingly unpopular at home, so what is the Bush Administration's response? hold off on major attacks until after the election:
Quote:

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration will delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race.

Although American commanders in Iraq have been buoyed by recent successes in insurgent-held towns such as Samarra and Tall Afar, administration and Pentagon officials say they will not try to retake cities such as Fallujah and Ramadi, where insurgents' grip is strongest and U.S. military casualties could be greatest, until after Nov. 2.

"When this election's over, you'll see us move very vigorously," one senior administration official said on the condition of anonymity.

Any delay in pacifying Iraq's most troublesome cities, however, could alter the dynamics of a different election: the one in January, when Iraqis are to elect members of a national assembly. U.S. commanders are scrambling to enable voting in as many Iraqi cities as possible.

Supporters of President Bush like to talk about his character. What kind of character is this? If the war in Iraq was not a mistake, and no mistakes have been made in carrying out the war, then why not proceed as -- for lack of a better term -- planned? If you are truly confident in your position, and truly have the support of the American people, then why not get the job done BEFORE the election? Politics as usual.

 

[Pah]

The war is increasingly unpopular at home, so what is the Bush Administration's response? hold off on major attacks until after the election:
Quote:


Supporters of President Bush like to talk about his character. What kind of character is this? If the war in Iraq was not a mistake, and no mistakes have been made in carrying out the war, then why not proceed as -- for lack of a better term -- planned? If you are truly confident in your position, and truly have the support of the American people, then why not get the job done BEFORE the election? Politics as usual.

Do the unsavory and/or untue motives for the Iraq war ever cease?
-pah-

 

[Mr Spinkles]

I definitely think that this is an unwise and unethical thing for the Bush administration to do. However, I think it's worthy to point out, as my political science textbook did last year, that officials who criticize their own organization on condition of anonymity cannot always be trusted.

pah-- What do you think are the unsavory motives for the Iraq war?

 

[Pah]

I definitely think that this is an unwise and unethical thing for the Bush administration to do. However, I think it's worthy to point out, as my political science textbook did last year, that officials who criticize their own organization on condition of anonymity cannot always be trusted.

pah-- What do you think are the unsavory motives for the Iraq war?

Delaying the war for political purposes. Hiding the coffins coming home for political reasons. Intelligence at the cost of human values. Ignoring rights to pursue investigations. I'm sure there are others

Perhaps not motives for going to war but certainly motives to wage it.

-pah-

 

[Mr Spinkles]

pah-- I'm not sure how delaying the war is a motive for the war, nor how it is a motive to wage the war. Similarly, I do not see how ignoring rights to pursue investigations or hiding coffins are motives for going to war or for waging it. Could you please clarify?