Novak, Sept. 20, 2004: “Inside the Bush administration policymaking apparatus, there is strong feeling that U.S. troops must leave Iraq next year. This determination is not predicated on success in implanting Iraqi democracy and internal stability. Rather, the officials are saying: ready or not, here we go … Well-placed sources in the administration are confident Bush’s decision will be to get out. They believe that is the recommendation of his present national security team and would be the recommendation of second-term officials. An informed guess might have Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state, Paul Wolfowitz as defense secretary and Stephen Hadley as national security adviser. According to my sources, all would opt for a withdrawal.”
TPM Reader PT …
In your blog today… “More evidence that the administration has no plan in Iraq.”
I disagree. I thought months ago, and wrote you, that they plan to begin a significant drawdown before the election this fall. Their strategy is to attempt to demonize any Democrat who calls for withdrawal so that Democrats will not end up with a unified, strong stance. If Republicans can say in Sept through Nov., “See, we’ve taken the lead on withdrawing the troops” this will help burnish their (false) image of strength, control etc., and will gather them credit. But, if it looks like Democrats forced the issue, it would be an admission that the whole Iraq enterprise was FUBAR and the administration has had to alter course, making them look weak.
The public has already decided the war was a mistake. The Republicans are trying prevent the public from giving credit for the planned withdrawal to Democrats, and unfortunately many Democrats appear too craven to position themselves squarely in the line of fire. Unless they do I predict the withdrawal of significant numbers of troops at summer’s end will redound to Bush’s credit. Democrats are playing this very unwisely.
Swift-boating the swift boaters? Liberal blog readers ambush the latest right-wing attempt to smear a Dem. That and more of the day’s news in the Daily Muck.
Congressional GOP: Troops in Iraq Today, Troops in Iraq Tomorrah, Troops in Iraq Forevah.
Okay, we’ve been trying to figure out what the deal is with the “Seas of David” cult down in Miami that got busted last week for a plot to blow up the Sears Tower and a number of federal buildings. As I wrote a couple days ago, not only was their terror planning apparently more “aspirational” than “operational”, as a federal law enforcement official put it. They apparently weren’t even Muslims.
The best information, beside the indictment, we’ve been able to find is the interview with “Brother Corey”, an alleged member of the group who walked up to CNN’s John Zarrella while he was broadcasting from the scene of the raid and announced that he was “a representative [and] authorized to speak on behalf of our organization.”
The Hill, May 3rd, 2006: “The withdrawal of 20,000-40,000 U.S. troops from Iraq this fall would greatly help Republican chances in the November election, Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) said at a fundraiser Thursday at the National Rifle Association. Souder acknowledged in his remarks that the war in Iraq has dampened support for Republican candidates but added that withdrawing 30,000 troops could have a big impact, said Martin Green, Souderâs spokesman.”
CBS West Palm Beach: “Sources have confirmed to CBS4 News that conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been detained at Palm Beach International Airport for the possible possession of illegal prescription drugs Monday evening. Limbaugh was returning on a flight from the Dominican Republic when officials found the drugs, among them Viagra.”
Who is Jack Abramoff calling a “monkey coloney”? That and more of the day’s news in today’s Daily Muck.