Bush got his photo op but we all know he has no intention of doing anything to make sure the process goes forward. He's lazy.
Talks (if they start at all) will break off sometime around President's day.
Posted by Daryl at November 27, 2007 04:58 PMIf Bush is involved, it's all B.S. Everyone knows it. When the president of the U.S. calls you and says come to a meeting...you go to the meeting. Then you go home and it's over. The entire problem with Mid-East relations during the Bush Admin is the notion held by Bush that he's smart and they wear dresses. These guys have been perfecting the "deal" for centuries...George is no match for them and they know it. And further, they know that he'd really rather ride his bicycle than be president. And they know the public over here hates him. They get the Internets too.
Posted by T2 at November 27, 2007 06:03 PMIt's all a farce, just like Bush.
Posted by Judith at November 27, 2007 06:43 PMWhile I couldn't agree more about how awful Bush has been to the "Peace Process," the truth is the Saudi proposal wasn't much of a contribution, either. And the Saudis have been playing both sides -- hell, ALL sides -- for so long, the rulers of Saudi Arabia deserve no sympathy, none at all. Shucks, the Bushes have been their best buddies for decades. They deserve each other.
Posted by Brian Bell at November 27, 2007 07:32 PMWith the eyes of the world focused on the Middle East peace talks in Annapolis, Md., President Bush's war tsar, Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, quietly announced that the American and Iraqi governments will start talks early next year to bring about an end to the allied occupation by the close of Mr. Bush's presidency.
The negotiations will bring to a formal conclusion the U.N. Chapter 7 Security Council involvement in the occupation and administration of Iraq, and are expected to reduce the number of American troops to about 50,000 troops permanently stationed there but largely confined to barracks, from the current 164,000 forces on active duty.
"The basic message here should be clear. Iraq is increasingly able to stand on its own. That's very good news. But it won't have to stand alone," General Lute yesterday told reporters in the White House.
See folks, no Democratic interference needed. General Petraeus will take care of the trust this Congress provided him with his 81 to 0 approval. As Steve noted a few weeks ago. Changes are in the works for our victory in Iraq and the return of our victorious troops back to their home bases stateside. How hallow many Democrats comments will be after they wanted to surrender to ADI. Next year will see trrops coming home each month and our President welcoming them home. Some cities may even have parades welcoming them hone, honoring them for their service and thanking them for a job well done.
Link Iraq with other foreign policy successes and we'll see a rising approval rating and an increase in the direction the country is heading. Y'all better hope HC gets your nomination, otherwise your candidate is going to get lost in the shuffle. A non toxic President Bush will have a large microphone, much larger than the 24% one he's been using to beat down this Congress so far. Better get the funding bills ready, quickly or your friends in Congress are going to get whipped.
Posted by peter at November 27, 2007 09:37 PMNext year will see trrops coming home each month and our President welcoming them home.
I'm sure bu$h will be first in line to help all those returning soldiers with their Veteran benefits, right peter?
I don't think you're dealing with reality peter, al Maliki does not have the support of the Iraqi people. He does not have a grasp of his government. He's as inept as bu$h is.
And watch for the defecation to hit the rotating device when Sadr stops his truce.
Shorter Peter:
"With this much sh!t, there's gotta be a pony here!"
Posted by Repack Rider at November 27, 2007 10:52 PMGive Peter a break, he is living in that new reality Bush is creating for us.
Posted by Judith at November 27, 2007 11:39 PMIt took Conartista 8 months to get these guys to come to Annapolis. They finally did, but only out of morbid curiosity to see where the great Senator McCain graduated 5th from the bottom of his class.
Posted by TIKI AL at November 28, 2007 04:27 AMI'm curious why Brian Bell was so unimpressed with the saudi peace plan. If you have a moment, write some more please. I had thought it something that we could have picked up, if we didn't have to seek Israeli pre-approval for every (doomed to fail) step.
peter has vomited out his RNC email blasts from HQ. If that's the GOoP PR "plan", you might want to look at the rotation schedules---the only 2008 drawdowns are the "surge" troops, I think.
So the 50,000 permanent base-boys are sometime off in the future, not 2008. Leave aside the fact that as far as I can tell, no group in Iraq desires this Koraq "solution".
The cancer of Bushism will never be excised from America as long as we maintain tens of thousands of soldiers in Iraq after our war of oil aggression against that country. There will be no rest, no succor, no rehabilitation for America, its finances or its world standing, only more death and violence.
Posted by euzoius at November 28, 2007 06:28 AMGreat photo of Pr. al-Faisal, BTW.
He looks rather angry and contemptous, no? Bush must have been "speechifying" to the humble delegates.
Posted by euzoius at November 28, 2007 06:31 AMYou are right oozo. Didn't OBL give that "troops in Saudi Arabia" excuse for 9-11?
And how are they going to solve this one:
Godbot Group A insists on Jerusalem as their capitol no ifs ands or buts.
Godbot Group B ditto.
Maybe Bush can get them to flip a coin, or accept Jerusalem as the Methodist Capitol of the world.
Posted by TIKI AL at November 28, 2007 06:41 AMeuzoius, why was the Saudi plan unimpressive? The refugee issue mainly, but also the take-it-or-leave-it-we're-not-negotiating-it attitude of the Saudis. Note, too, when the Saudis are not helping out Hamas, they're supporting Israel's air war against Lebanon and Hezbollah. As I said, the Saudi rulers have been playing ALL sides, for as long as they've been in power. The Saudis deserve no sympathy. The Palestinians might deserve a measure of sympathy, and even the Israelis, too, but the Saudis sure as heck don't.
Posted by Brian Bell at November 28, 2007 08:15 AMI'm sure peter still thinks he can walk safely, calmly sightseeing in Baghdad !
Posted by Seven of Six at November 28, 2007 08:54 AMBrian B, thanks for your thoughts, I always appreciate your observations.
The Arabs, I think, saw their new "refugee" stance as a modification of a prior harder line, because they agreed that something other than "right of return" could be acceptable (compensation, I suppose). And I thought the Saudis presented it as a "framework" to begin talks. (I'm not trying to embrace those lovable Saudis, just stating my remembrance)
But it went nowhere and looks like it won't now.
Posted by euzoius at November 28, 2007 10:20 AMpants pissing peter: "Changes are in the works for our victory in Iraq and the return of our victorious troops back to their home bases stateside."
god, the stoopid, it BURNS! Dear Leader is withdrawing the troops because there are NO troops to replace them. And "our" victory? What did you contribute? Besides increasing the sales of Cheetoes?
"Link Iraq with other foreign policy successes and we'll see a rising approval rating and an increase in the direction the country is heading."
Foreign policy successes? Like Russia? Remember how Dear Leader looked into Pootie Poot's eyes? Putin plays chess, Bush plays checkers.
AGAIN the overwhelming majority of Americans believe the country is on the WRONG track. And now the economy is going down the toilet.
Bush will rank down there with Hoover as worst president evah!
Posted by at November 28, 2007 12:20 PMHey anon (your gayness) from PEW
Military effort is going -
Very Well, Fairly Well:
Nov 07: 48%
Sep 07: 41%
Jun 07: 34%
Feb 07: 30%
Not To/At All Well:
Nov 07: 48%
Sep 07: 54%
Jun 07: 61 %
Feb 07: 67%
Seems to me the American people are rediscovering what they believed before. If this continues, boy the egg on so many Democrats faces will be very slimey, declaring Iraq a loss before the general's done. Steve's already seen the posibilities, he knows what's about to happen, or what may happen next year.
Putin is tangling with the past World Chess Champ. Garry's not done yet and neither is W.
As far as contributing, I'm an Airport Ambassador. We greet those soldiers returning with hugs, handshakes, pats on the back, and a care package to send them on their way home. There's GI's returning every day, you ought to try it.
Posted by peter at November 28, 2007 02:10 PMbetter trolls, PLEASE!
AGAIN the overwhelming majority of Americans believe the country is on the WRONG track [I did not limit this to Iraq]. And now the economy is going down the toilet.
"Putin is tangling with the past World Chess Champ. Garry's not done yet and neither is W."
wow, pants pissing peter is really aiming for a record of most STOOPID thing ever posted on this site
Actually, we'd prefer no trolls, but as long as someone keeps responding to him, ol' petey's gonna keep coming back.
Posted by iamcoyote at November 29, 2007 10:08 AM