From CNN.com:
I dunno, but it seems that if we were doing really well over there, Mr. Bush wouldn't have to keep sneaking in and out of the country the way he's been doing.AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (CNN) -- President Bush made a surprise visit to an Iraqi air base Monday, saying fewer U.S. forces may be able to maintain security at its current level.
"Gen. [David] Petraeus and Ambassador [Ryan] Crocker tell me if the kind of success we're now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces," Bush said during remarks at Al Asad Air Base in Anbar province.
But Bush later warned Washington war critics who are pushing for quick troop withdrawals to temper their expectations.
During a rally for troops at the base, Bush said any pullout would be made from a position of "strength and success."
The White House is due to deliver to Congress next week an assessment on Bush's increase of 30,000 troops to Iraq this year.
"People shouldn't jump to conclusions until the general and the ambassador report," Bush said.
During a rally later for more than 600 American troops at the base, Bush warned members of Congress who might be anticipating quick reductions in U.S. forces.
"Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground, not reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media," said Bush. "In other words, when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from the position of fear and failure."
And look, he's so brave he doesn't even need body armor!
Call me a cynic, but you'd think that he'd be able to do these things openly if there was any sort of stability over there. I'm all for victory in Iraq, and I'm definitely not part of the "cut and run" crowd.
It's just that George's handling of this doo-doo has been wrong from the get-go.
But just to be fair, here are some blogs that are all atwitter about the Bush Iraq visit:
Flopping Aces, StuckOnStupid, Hang Right Politics, and Captain's Quarters.
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