International:
More 'Democracy' In Mid-East
According to a classified two-page document, the Bush administration "has been quietly nurturing individuals and parties opposed to the Syrian government in an effort to undermine the regime of President Bashar Assad." The document notes that the United States is already "supporting regular meetings of internal and diaspora Syrian activists" in Europe" and hopes that "these meetings will facilitate a more coherent strategy and plan of actions for all anti-Assad activists." In preparation for Syria's March 2007 legislative elections, the Bush administration is preparing a secret "election monitoring" scheme, which would entail providing activists with "internet accessible materials" and "surreptitiously giving money to at least one Syrian politician." One democracy promotion expert observed that it would be "unwise" for the Bush administration "to give financial support to a specific candidate in the election, because of the perceived conflict of interest." Edward P. Djerejian, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria who worked on the Iraq Study Group (ISG) report, said that this plan by the Bush administration will "only impede the better option of engaging Syria on much more important, fundamental issues like Iraq, peace with Israel, and the dangerous situation in Lebanon."
President Bush has opposed opening dialogue with Iran and Syria, despite the recommendations of the ISG. Americans overwhelmingly support dialogue with Syria and Iran, according to recent polls. U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and James Baker have also criticized the White House's unwillingness to engage in such talks.
CIA exercise reveals consequences of defeat
The CIA this month conducted a simulation of how the Iraq war affects the global jihadist movement, and one conclusion was that a U.S. loss would embolden al Qaeda to expand its ranks of terrorists as well as pick new strategic targets, according to sources familiar with the two-day exercise. Read all about it here
National:
Bush 'Strategery'
In 1991, then-Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Colin Powell, a Vietnam veteran, outlined what became known as the "Powell Doctrine": "military action should be used only as a last resort and only if there is a clear risk to national security by the intended target; the force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force used by the enemy; there must be strong support for the campaign by the general public; and there must be a clear exit strategy from the conflict in which the military is engaged." (President Bush reiterated these points in 2000: "Whenever America uses forces in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear and the victory must be overwhelming.")
Years later, the military is bogged down in Iraq in what Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has called "an absolute replay of Vietnam." Public opinion has shifted against the war, and rather than outline an exit strategy, the White House is pushing a plan to "surge" in 15,000 to 30,000 more troops to Iraq -- over the objections of the Joint Chiefs and the vast majority of Americans. Rather than learn the lessons of Vietnam laid out by the Powell Doctrine, Bush is taking his advice from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who believes the "overriding lesson of Vietnam is to stick it out." At a time when attacks against American and Iraqi targets are at their highest levels, the nation can ill-afford to follow Kissinger's advice.
President Bush: Increase Needed in Size of Army, Marines
"I'm inclined to believe that we need to increase in — the permanent size of both the United States Army and the United States Marines. I've asked Secretary Gates to determine how such an increase could take place and report back to me as quickly as possible," Bush said in an opening statement during his year-end news conference with White House reporters.
But the president would not respond to questions about whether he plans to up the number of U.S. forces in Iraq, where approximately 140,000 U.S. troops are deployed. The administration has said previously that he plans to announce an updated strategy for Iraq in January. Read It here.
Another 'Flip-Flop'...
On June 3, 2004, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) — campaigning for the presidency — proposed expanding the Army by 40,000 troops. Bush quickly slammed the proposal as unnecessary and counter-productive.
More 'Democracy' In Mid-East
According to a classified two-page document, the Bush administration "has been quietly nurturing individuals and parties opposed to the Syrian government in an effort to undermine the regime of President Bashar Assad." The document notes that the United States is already "supporting regular meetings of internal and diaspora Syrian activists" in Europe" and hopes that "these meetings will facilitate a more coherent strategy and plan of actions for all anti-Assad activists." In preparation for Syria's March 2007 legislative elections, the Bush administration is preparing a secret "election monitoring" scheme, which would entail providing activists with "internet accessible materials" and "surreptitiously giving money to at least one Syrian politician." One democracy promotion expert observed that it would be "unwise" for the Bush administration "to give financial support to a specific candidate in the election, because of the perceived conflict of interest." Edward P. Djerejian, a former U.S. ambassador to Syria who worked on the Iraq Study Group (ISG) report, said that this plan by the Bush administration will "only impede the better option of engaging Syria on much more important, fundamental issues like Iraq, peace with Israel, and the dangerous situation in Lebanon."
President Bush has opposed opening dialogue with Iran and Syria, despite the recommendations of the ISG. Americans overwhelmingly support dialogue with Syria and Iran, according to recent polls. U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Secretaries of State Colin Powell and James Baker have also criticized the White House's unwillingness to engage in such talks.
CIA exercise reveals consequences of defeat
The CIA this month conducted a simulation of how the Iraq war affects the global jihadist movement, and one conclusion was that a U.S. loss would embolden al Qaeda to expand its ranks of terrorists as well as pick new strategic targets, according to sources familiar with the two-day exercise. Read all about it here
National:
Bush 'Strategery'
In 1991, then-Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Colin Powell, a Vietnam veteran, outlined what became known as the "Powell Doctrine": "military action should be used only as a last resort and only if there is a clear risk to national security by the intended target; the force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force used by the enemy; there must be strong support for the campaign by the general public; and there must be a clear exit strategy from the conflict in which the military is engaged." (President Bush reiterated these points in 2000: "Whenever America uses forces in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear and the victory must be overwhelming.")
Years later, the military is bogged down in Iraq in what Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has called "an absolute replay of Vietnam." Public opinion has shifted against the war, and rather than outline an exit strategy, the White House is pushing a plan to "surge" in 15,000 to 30,000 more troops to Iraq -- over the objections of the Joint Chiefs and the vast majority of Americans. Rather than learn the lessons of Vietnam laid out by the Powell Doctrine, Bush is taking his advice from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who believes the "overriding lesson of Vietnam is to stick it out." At a time when attacks against American and Iraqi targets are at their highest levels, the nation can ill-afford to follow Kissinger's advice.
President Bush: Increase Needed in Size of Army, Marines
"I'm inclined to believe that we need to increase in — the permanent size of both the United States Army and the United States Marines. I've asked Secretary Gates to determine how such an increase could take place and report back to me as quickly as possible," Bush said in an opening statement during his year-end news conference with White House reporters.
But the president would not respond to questions about whether he plans to up the number of U.S. forces in Iraq, where approximately 140,000 U.S. troops are deployed. The administration has said previously that he plans to announce an updated strategy for Iraq in January. Read It here.
Another 'Flip-Flop'...
On June 3, 2004, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) — campaigning for the presidency — proposed expanding the Army by 40,000 troops. Bush quickly slammed the proposal as unnecessary and counter-productive.
AP: Pentagon Wants $99.7B More for Wars
The Pentagon wants the White House to seek an additional $99.7 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to information provided to The Associated Press. More here
In Other News:
The 2006 bonus for Goldman Sachs chairman and CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein was $53.4 million. The bonus is the highest ever paid to a Wall Street executive and comes on top of his $600,000 salary.
Robert Gates arrived in Baghdad today on his first trip to Iraq as defense secretary. He said he plans to "listen to the commanders, talk to the Iraqis, and see what I can learn."
Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, has submitted plans to retire and will leave his post in March.
The Pentagon's inability to manage contractors in the nation's wars "has hurt military operations and unit morale" and cost the nation millions of dollars, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
From The Right: Linda Chavez: Finally, A plan for Iraq
When it comes to Iraq, there may be no good options. But at least one man believes that we still have a chance to make matters better in Iraq
In Other News:
The 2006 bonus for Goldman Sachs chairman and CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein was $53.4 million. The bonus is the highest ever paid to a Wall Street executive and comes on top of his $600,000 salary.
Robert Gates arrived in Baghdad today on his first trip to Iraq as defense secretary. He said he plans to "listen to the commanders, talk to the Iraqis, and see what I can learn."
Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, has submitted plans to retire and will leave his post in March.
The Pentagon's inability to manage contractors in the nation's wars "has hurt military operations and unit morale" and cost the nation millions of dollars, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
From The Right: Linda Chavez: Finally, A plan for Iraq
When it comes to Iraq, there may be no good options. But at least one man believes that we still have a chance to make matters better in Iraq
From The Left: Peter Baker (WP): Bush Admits US Is Losing War
President Bush acknowledged for the first time yesterday that the United States is not winning the war in Iraq and said he plans to expand the overall size of the "stressed" US armed forces to meet the challenges of a long-term global struggle against terrorists.
(Sources: PBS, FOXNews, CNN, DrudgeReport, EditorAndPublisher, WashingtonTimes, ThinkProgress, Time, ChristianScienceMonitor, NYT, WSJ, LATimes, SeattlePost-Intelligencer, USAToday, WashingtonPost, TownHall, TruthOut, PoliticalCartoons.com, AP)
President Bush acknowledged for the first time yesterday that the United States is not winning the war in Iraq and said he plans to expand the overall size of the "stressed" US armed forces to meet the challenges of a long-term global struggle against terrorists.
(Sources: PBS, FOXNews, CNN, DrudgeReport, EditorAndPublisher, WashingtonTimes, ThinkProgress, Time, ChristianScienceMonitor, NYT, WSJ, LATimes, SeattlePost-Intelligencer, USAToday, WashingtonPost, TownHall, TruthOut, PoliticalCartoons.com, AP)
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