Kerry aides expect Bush exit plan on Iraq

[ze_dscherman]

As President George W. Bush's approval ratings for his handling of Iraq have plunged, Democrats say they are preparing for a shift in White House strategy to start bringing the troops home.

Aides to John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate,said on Thursday they expected that before the November election Mr Bush would lay out a plan for a gradual withdrawal.

"I am sure he is going to have a plan to get us out of Iraq," Tad Devine, a senior adviser to Mr Kerry, said. His colleague, Michael Donilon, also speaking at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast, said that he expected the president "to come forward with some plan" for an exit.

"Bush has got to go for a troop pullout before the election," James Carville, the former Clinton administration strategist, said on Wednesday. "You could knock me over with a feather if he doesn't do that."

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1084907716994&p=1012571727102

[maddezmom]

1. Ann Richards was saying the same thing on Larry King last night n/t

[Disturbed]

3. Whatever it takes

Bushco will do whatever it takes to be elected. I wouldn't be surprised if their are terrorist attacks in the US if his stats get into mid 30s.

[Gman]

10. We WILL have terrorist attacks before the election

even if he's in the mid-40's. Bet on it then take it to the bank. These people have no limits.

[Skip Intro]

15. I've become convinced of that as well. Faux is prepping the infected

as we speak.

I don't have cable, but visited my mom recently and caught a few minutes of Faux news. They had some "expert" on who was talking about what kind of chemical it would be.

And you KNOW the endless chant from the regime and the media whores will be, "we can't be like Spain. We must vote bush back in, or the terrorists win."

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. Maybe I'm as thick as a brick but.......

How does terra ists attacks in this Country help *? Even a morAn should be able to figure out that any attacks this long after 9/11/01 and this close to bush's re-sElection, (especially now that he is trying to say that Kerry is soft on terrorism and only he is capable of preventing future attacks blah blah blah), would show that in fact * not only isn't protecting us but he might even be inviting them for political reasons. Oh yeah , well that would just be one too many concidences for me, like I already don't believe they are capable of doing whatever it takes to remain in power! Oh yes I do. . Like I said, maybe I'm as thick as a brick. :silly: Nothing like a 3+ year long nightmare!

[Spinzonner]

2. Maybe so, but what will he do if his own Generals

or their out-of-service surrogates start wandering off the reservation with contrary opinions. Especially if the political-military situation deteriates and those troops - or more - are needed.

If he just 'lays out a plan' for the future, will it be credible in view of the failure of all past projections and promises.

[dbt]

4. Yeah, and then he'll anounce a plan to take care of the troops!

I can just see it now: the best of medical and psychological care for the wounds our troops suffered in the War To Make Dick Cheney Rich. Hell, he'll probably propose an expanded GI Bill to make sure they all get training for a high-paying job in the Robust Economy. And you know every soldier will get a Tax Cut, too.

And it shall be Morning In Murka!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[OKNancy]

5. Sounds like Nixon

Make a plan and then it takes four or five more years and many dead bodies before it is really over.

[murielm99]

6. I am not so sure.

I wonder what verbal juggling they are planning for the June 30 deadline. You KNOW we are not really turning anything over to the Iraqis.

I think if they see they are going to lose the election anyway, they will leave the biggest mess possible, so they can accuse the Democrats of the incompetence that is actually their own hallmark.

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. Just like his daddy did to Clinton

only times a hundred.

[rfranklin]

7. Bush cuts and runs?

You mean, Bush is not going to "stay the course?"

What happened to his "bold initiatives?"

What happened to his "strong leadership?"

[Malva Zebrina]

8. He will declare he won, brought freedom to the Iraqi people

and declare himself a great war President, and few will challenge him, or call him on the lies, the deceit, the barbarism, the horror and the slaughter he caused at least ten thousand innocent people in his drive toward spreading Christianity (as commanded by the god who spoke to him) and coveting the goods (oil and geographic position) of the Iraqi people. Saddam will go on trial or die in custody, whichever is the most favorable to the great codpiece war president. He will withdraw the troops, and if any parent has any sense they will forbid their children to join the military--because it is certain, if he is elected, he has his evil eyes centered on other small , defenseless countries whose leaders need to be changed so we can grab their goods.

He got what he sacrificed more than seven huindred of our young for--big contracts to his and his daddy's business buddies. By the time he cuts and runs, they will be firmly settled in all the oil producing areas of Iraq, as well as in all the support businesses. We will have built the largest embassy ever--George got what he invaded and slaughtered those innocents for, so what does he care if we call him stupid and incompetent? If he is elected, he probably figures he can go on to fight the war on terror in another place--if not, he probably figures he did good in Iraq and Afganistan--and he can go back to the dry gulch ranch and enjoy a permanent vacation

The horrors of Abu Ghraib will be swept under the rug. We will have spent billions and billions and billions of dollars on slaughter and killing, all so this stupid man can carry on the great Bush family , so called, dynasty. It is a dynasty of despicable women, one more stupid than the other, and stupid men who are opportunists seeking fortunes and have no concern at all for this country and it's people. That is above them, so well placed, connected and sophisticated in this world are they.

[AlinPA]

9. I am afraid you are correct. n/t

[kentuck]

13. ..and then will say he will withdraw the troops in two years...

That's two times faster than John Kerry! And that is important to the people. John Kerry made his first big boo-boo by announcing his "four-year" plan....Big Boo-Boo!

[Gasolinedream]

16. I am really pissed...

about him doing that. What the hell is he thinking?

[Gman]

11. Iraq will then descend into total and complete anarchy

There will be wide-spread bloodshed. It will be on the news for days and weeks. Bush will be solely responsible.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

12. Bet me. Come on, BET ME!

The campaign will have a weekly photo ops showing Bush welcoming home our brave troops -- when all the while he refused to appear in the same time zone with a single coffin.

Quisling Bastard!

[Bridget Burke]

17. But only a "plan"

Check out the thread on the 14 bases we're building in Iraq right now.

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x571561

[bemildred]

18. This is another stalling tactic.

Like Kerry's "within four years" promise yesterday.
The key word is "gradual". That means whetever the hell
the government wants it to mean. This is all sooooo VietNam.
We need to hold their feet to the fire NOW, before the election,
until the bring them all home immediately. After the election
they will put us all back on ignore.

[yellowcanine]

19. After the "turnover" debacle on June 30, Bush will have zero credibility

left on any pullout plans. Also, the Chalabi debacle should be the final tipping point that rids us of Wolfowitz and Rumsfield, splitting the neocon/oldcon alliance and depressing Pubbie turnout. 1992 redux, with some disgruntled Pubbie voters staying home or voting Kerry or Nader.

[struggle4progress]

20. I think they have too much invested ...

to really pull out. A bogus pull-out, with lots of hoopla: wild coverage of a few troops getting off airplanes back in the states and hugging their families -- that I believe.

But a real pull-out: no way! They have to admit that their plans were all wrong. There's no evidence that these folk have the intellectual integrity to admit that to themselves.

[wabeewoman]

22. Agreed.

With bush you gotta follow the money and the money isn't at home. He will say we are pulling out (remember we are going to Mars which was just a scam to pull money from studying global warming) and think the public will buy it. Luckily, they are so arrogant they believe we will believe whatever they say(hey, its worked for so long for so many). The soldiers will be ordered to stay on base to minimize casualities until after the election.

[BabsSong]

23. That's why a "stay back and let Bush destroy himself" strategy is a

stupid strategy. This dog is far from dead...very far from dead. This is the regieme that convinced about 70% of Americans that Saddam was part of 9/11 and half those still believe he was. Therefore, just like carrying around a plastic turkey, Bush can spew some plan at them and a bunch of them will believe. He can always laugh in their faces after the election. Don't underestimate what all this free coverage of his speeches outline his "policy" are going to net him. He will rise a few points, Kerry will decline and it will be tied race. That's why we need to stop relying on him destroying himself. Our silence could end up destroying us eventually. Now it's time to actually launch a campaign while Bush is down. As he rises back up, and he will, is too late to shout over the noise.

[killbotfactory]

24. "We will stay the course..."

"Until it is politically unpopular..."

Dignity restored!