Gold9472
09-06-2007, 06:51 AM
Bolten: Iraq mission will continue after Bush term
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-09-05-Bolten_N.htm
(Gold9472: What is the mission?)
By David Jackson, USA TODAY
9/6/2007
President Bush will address the nation next week about Iraq and U.S. efforts to get that country "well on the path" to stability by the end of his term, White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten said Wednesday.
Bolten, who predicted a sizable presence of U.S. troops would remain in Iraq after Bush leaves office, spoke days before the administration delivers a crucial progress report Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to testify on Monday and Tuesday.
In an interview with the USA TODAY editorial board, Bolten said the president plans to talk later next week about what his aides recommend and how he plans to proceed.
Bush wants to make "it possible for his successor — whichever party that successor is from — to have a sustained presence in the Middle East," Bolten said. "And have America continue to be a respected and influential power in the Middle East."
That will likely require some kind of U.S. presence in Iraq beyond Jan. 20, 2009, Bolten said. But no one knows how many troops and how they might be deployed, he said.
Bolten declined to say whether Bush would discuss any troop withdrawals next week. On a visit to Iraq this week, Bush said Petraeus and Crocker told him that if progress continues, the United States can maintain stability in Iraq with fewer U.S. troops.
While there have been "unexpected developments on the negative side" in Iraq over the years, Bolten said there are now "unexpected developments on the positive side." Those include tribal resistance to al-Qaeda in western Anbar province, he said, as well as the beginnings of political reconciliation among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
Looking forward, Bolten said he doesn't think any "realistic observer" can believe that "all or even most of the American troop presence" will be out of Iraq by the end of Bush's presidency. The questions will be what level of presence will be required, and how much danger troops will be in.
Jim Manley, a top aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Bush needs to change course. "Every objective assessment has shown that the president's flawed Iraq strategy is failing to deliver what it needs to: a political solution for Iraq," he said.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-09-05-Bolten_N.htm
(Gold9472: What is the mission?)
By David Jackson, USA TODAY
9/6/2007
President Bush will address the nation next week about Iraq and U.S. efforts to get that country "well on the path" to stability by the end of his term, White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten said Wednesday.
Bolten, who predicted a sizable presence of U.S. troops would remain in Iraq after Bush leaves office, spoke days before the administration delivers a crucial progress report Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to testify on Monday and Tuesday.
In an interview with the USA TODAY editorial board, Bolten said the president plans to talk later next week about what his aides recommend and how he plans to proceed.
Bush wants to make "it possible for his successor — whichever party that successor is from — to have a sustained presence in the Middle East," Bolten said. "And have America continue to be a respected and influential power in the Middle East."
That will likely require some kind of U.S. presence in Iraq beyond Jan. 20, 2009, Bolten said. But no one knows how many troops and how they might be deployed, he said.
Bolten declined to say whether Bush would discuss any troop withdrawals next week. On a visit to Iraq this week, Bush said Petraeus and Crocker told him that if progress continues, the United States can maintain stability in Iraq with fewer U.S. troops.
While there have been "unexpected developments on the negative side" in Iraq over the years, Bolten said there are now "unexpected developments on the positive side." Those include tribal resistance to al-Qaeda in western Anbar province, he said, as well as the beginnings of political reconciliation among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
Looking forward, Bolten said he doesn't think any "realistic observer" can believe that "all or even most of the American troop presence" will be out of Iraq by the end of Bush's presidency. The questions will be what level of presence will be required, and how much danger troops will be in.
Jim Manley, a top aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Bush needs to change course. "Every objective assessment has shown that the president's flawed Iraq strategy is failing to deliver what it needs to: a political solution for Iraq," he said.