The Joint Chiefs of Staff are UNANIMOUSLY opposed to a near-term buildup of U.S. troops in Iraq, but the White House keeps pushing.
Coming from WaPo (story not online yet at http://www.washingtonpost.com ):
The Joint Chiefs think the White House, after a month of talks, still does not have a defined mission and is latching on to the surge idea in part because of limited alternatives, despite warnings about the potential disadvantages for the military, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the White House review is not public.
Like a gambling addict, doubling down.
Another intervention attempt, but will it succeed?
The Joint Chiefs appear to have had enough of this.
Of course, so have the American people. A poll last week showed only 12 percent favor sending more troops to Iraq.
http://www.latimes.com/...
For the White House to be pushing the surge idea in the face of that OVERWHELMING opposition from the American public and the Pentagon is freaking crazy!
More from WaPo:
The chiefs have taken a firm stand, the sources say, because they believe the strategy review will be the most important decision on Iraq to be made since the March 2003 invasion.
This would be rather stunning if Bush went against the UNANIMOUS advice of the Joint Chiefs.
I think the Joint Chiefs can sense that Bush wants a build up primarily for political cover, with no coherent mission. They aren't biting.
And let me see ...
Gee,guess who THIS is:
A senior administration official said it is ``too simplistic'' to say the surge question has broken down into a fight between the White House and the Pentagon, but the official acknowledged that the military has questioned the option. ``Of course, military leadership is going to be focused on the mission--what you're trying to accomplish, the ramifications it would have on broader issues in terms of manpower and strength and all that,'' the official said.
Thank you, Tony Snow.
A little good news:
The idea of a much larger military deployment for a longer mission is virtually off the table, at least so far, mainly for logistics reasons, say officials familiar with the debate. Any deployment of 40,000 to 50,000 would force the Pentagon to redeploy troops who were scheduled to go home.
Well isn't that a relief ... so far.
U.S. Constitution, Amendment 25, section 4:
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
It is time for the Cabinet to declare that BOTH Bush and Cheney are unable to discharge the powers and duties of their office. They are out of touch with reality.