(un)Curious George

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told the White House before he resigned last month the Bush administration's strategy in Iraq was not working and he proposed changes, including possible troop reductions, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

"In my view it is time for a major adjustment. Clearly, what U.S. forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough," Rumsfeld said in the classified memo, dated November 6. The Times posted a copy of the memo along with an article about it on its Web site.

The Pentagon confirmed the memo's authenticity but declined further comment.

***

Rumsfeld's language was echoed in remarks Bush made on November 8 when he announced the defense secretary's resignation. Bush said it was time for a change in Iraq and Iraq policy was "not working well enough, fast enough." Rumsfeld remains in office pending Senate confirmation of former CIA Director Robert Gates, nominated by Bush to succeed him.

The study group, co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker, is expected to urge a gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat troops when it makes its report on Wednesday.

There are about 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and more than 2,800 have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Alas, the Decider is apparently way beyond the ability to understand anything about the situation which he (and his) have caused in Iraq. He seems to be completely stuck on his own archaically limited and oppressive definition of "Victory."

If Rummy actually came forward like this, and dude's two earlier attempts at a resignation - cosmetic though they likely were - indicate that he probably did make similar suggestions to the Chimperor before, then I may have to swallow a wee bit more bile and admit that the shrub is just as unlikely to pay any heed at all to the Baker Group's recommendations.

Couple that apparent liklihood with this story from Sunday's LA Times, one which echos news of Middle Easterner's opinions of which I've become aware via der Spiegle, and Impeachment really is starting to look, not just laudable and justified, but a down right urgent requirement if we're to avoid an extended blood bath due to our nation's presence in Iraq.

WASHINGTON — President Bush and his top advisors fanned out across the troubled Middle East over the last week to showcase their diplomatic initiatives to restore strained relationships with traditional allies and forge new ones with leaders in Iraq.

But instead of flaunting stronger ties and steadfast American influence, the president's journey found friends both old and new near a state of panic. Mideast leaders expressed soaring concern over upheavals across the region that the United States helped ignite through its invasion of Iraq and push for democracy — and fear that the Bush administration may make things worse.

President Bush's summit in Jordan with the Iraqi prime minister proved an awkward encounter that deepened doubts about the relationship. Vice President Dick Cheney's stop in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, yielded a blunt warning from the kingdom's leaders. And Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's swing through the West Bank and Israel, intended to build Arab support by showing a new U.S. push for peace, found little to work with.

Well, no Duh! Three of the world's most notorious Liars*, Cheats** and Thieves*** are having trouble finding anything to work with in order to consolidate their dreams of Hegemony over foreign lands?

Who'd a thunk it?!

"Success in Iraq will require leaders in Washington -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- to come together and find greater consensus on the best path forward. So I will work with leaders in both parties to achieve this goal," (the President) said (in his weekly Radio address.)

He'll work with his lawyers, the way things are going.

For America's sake, and that of the entirety of the population of planet Earth, I certainly hope that those attorneys are of equal caliber to the rest of his criminally incompetent Administration.


* "We have never been 'stay the course'." "Saddam is training terrorists to attack America." Etc, etc, etc, etc . . .

** Condi has pulled every dirty trick in the political book to rise through the ranks of power at Georgie boy's side. It's about time she learns that Diplomacy is NOT the same thing as propaganda. Ms. Rice, despite your vaunted and well-acknowledged intellectual capacity, your reputation has doomed your political aspirations going forward. RAmen!

*** Billions of dollars have disappeared into the coffers of the company which is still paying Shooter hefty "Retirement Benefits". The enormity of this injustice alone, makes Watergate look like a blowjob in the Oval Office, by comparison.