In a forthcoming major speech, President Bush will outline a plan for "Iraqization" of the war and a complete withdraw of American forces, according to anonymous Administration sources.
In a draft of the speech, leaked to CounterLunch.com, extensive excerpts of which are given below, Bush explains his plan. The speech closes with Bush saying, "Let us be united for peace. Let us also be united against defeat. Because let us understand: Iraq cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that."
The speech does not outline the specifics of Bush's planned "Iraqization" of the war, but sources explain that a U.S. Army colonel who has previously been critical of the conduct of the war will be appointed a Major General in the Iraqi Army, to command Iraqi forces which will replace withdrawn American soldiers.
A draft of a major and course-changing speech by President Bush on Iraq policy has been leaked. In the speech, President Bush will explain his new and ground-breaking for peace in Iraq.
First, Bush calls for the complete withdraw of American forces from Iraq:
Good evening, my fellow Americans: - Tonight I want to talk to you on a subject of deep concern to all Americans and to many people in all parts of the world - the war in Iraq.
I believe that one of the reasons for the deep division about Iraq is that many Americans have lost confidence in what their Government has told them about our policy. The American people cannot and should not be asked to support a policy which involves the overriding issues of war and peace unless they know the truth about that policy.
[. . . .]
Let me now turn to our program for the future.
We have adopted a plan which we have worked out in cooperation with the Iraqis for the complete withdrawal of all U.S. combat ground forces, and their replacement by Iraqi forces on an orderly scheduled timetable. This withdrawal will be made from strength and not from weakness. As Iraqi forces become stronger, the rate of American withdrawal can become greater.
I have not and do not intend to announce the timetable for our program. And there are obvious reasons for this decision which I am sure you will understand. As I have indicated on several occasions, the rate of withdrawal will depend on developments on three fronts.
One of these is the progress which can be or might be made in the Baghdad talks. An announcement of a fixed timetable for our withdrawal would completely remove any incentive for the enemy to negotiate an agreement. They would simply wait until our forces had withdrawn and then move in.
The other two factors on which we will base our withdrawal decisions are the level of enemy activity and the progress of the training programs of the Iraqi forces. And I am glad to be able to report tonight progress on both of these fronts has been greater than we anticipated when we started the program in June for withdrawal. As a result, our timetable for withdrawal is more optimistic now than when we made our first estimates in June. Now, this clearly demonstrates why it is not wise to be frozen in on a fixed timetable.
We must retain the flexibility to base each withdrawal decision on the situation as it is at that time rather than on estimates that are no longer valid. Along with this optimistic estimate, I must - in all candor - leave one note of caution.
If the level of enemy activity significantly increases we might have to adjust our timetable accordingly.
Bush explains that we have only two choice: immediate withdraw, or his new plan, called "Iraqization":
My fellow Americans, I am sure you can recognize from what I have said that we really only have two choices open to us if we want to end this war.
-I can order an immediate, precipitate withdrawal of all Americans from Iraq without regard to the effects of that action.
-Or we can persist in our search for a just peace through a negotiated settlement if possible, or through continued implementation of our plan for Iraqization if necessary - a plan in which we will withdraw all of our forces from Iraq on a schedule in accordance with our program, as the Iraqis become strong enough to defend their own freedom.
I have chosen this second course.
It is not the easy way.
It is the right way.
It is a plan which will end the war and serve the cause of peace - not just in Iraq but in the Middle East and in the world.
Finally, Bush warns against defeatism. He admits that critics of the war can be patriots. He explains that he will cooperate with Congress, and asks for the support of the American people:
I recognize that some of my fellow citizens disagree with the plan for peace I have chosen. Honest and patriotic Americans have reached different conclusions as to how peace should be achieved.
In San Francisco a few weeks ago, I saw demonstrators carrying signs reading: "Lose in Iraq, bring the boys home."
Well, one of the strengths of our free society is that any American has a right to reach that conclusion and to advocate that point of view. But as President of the United States, I would be untrue to my oath of office if I allowed the policy of this Nation to be dictated by the minority who hold that point of view and who try to impose it on the Nation by mounting demonstrations in the street.
For more than 200 years, the policy of this Nation has been made under our Constitution by those leaders in the Congress and the White House elected by all of the people. If a vocal minority, however fervent its cause, prevails over reason and the will of the majority, this Nation has no future as a free society.
[. . . .]
And so tonight - to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans - l ask for your support.
[. . . .]
Let us be united for peace. Let us also be united against defeat. Because let us understand: Iraq cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.
The speech does not outline the specifics of Bush's planned "Iraqization" of the war, but the same sources that leaked the speech explain that a U.S. Army colonel who has been previously critical of the conduct of the war will be appointed a Major General in the Iraqi Army. As U.S. forces withdraw, this man, Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann, will lead the Iraqi Army in its fight against the Communist North insurgents.