Bush Locked Out Military Chiefs Over Surge, Right-Wing "Think Tank" Had More Access, Woodward Claims

At the Joint Chiefs of Staff in late November 2006, Gen. Peter Pace was facing every chairman's nightmare: a potential revolt of the other chiefs. Two months earlier, the JCS had convened a special team of colonels to recommend options for reversing the deteriorating situation in Iraq. Now, it appeared that the chiefs' and colonels' advice was being marginalized, if not ignored, by the White House.

During a JCS meeting with the colonels Nov. 20, Chairman Pace dropped a bomb: The White House was considering a "surge" of additional troops to quell the violence in Iraq. "Would it be a good idea?" Pace asked the group. "If so, what would you do with five more brigades?" That amounted to 20,000 to 30,000 more troops, depending on the number of support personnel.

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Comments

[VivaZapata]

Let's not quibble about the merits of taking out Sadam. Let's say regime change was a good thing. Let's not argue whether bombed buildings and broken families was worth that exchange. Let's say it was. Was all of it worth the havoc that this war has caused our own economy? If the corporations, not the working folk had to shoulder the cost of wars on their own, I'm sure there would be far fewer.

[VivaZapata]

from The Folk Brothers new CD, "Partners In Crime:"
Stuck in traffic at stop and go speed I like to entertain myself
With all of the bumper stickers I can read, humor's hidden wealth
There's "nuke the gay whales" and "whirled peas" but by far the one most clever
Gave no name, laid no blame, just said THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER

Black is white, white is black, there's yellowcake in Iraq
Weapons of mass destruction, reconstruction still on track
When the wall street journal and fox news endorse our "president-for-life-forever"
Their polls will attest he's still the best WORST PRESIDENT EVER

(chorus 1:)
THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER, THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER
Don't forget you bumbling fools you're the ones who pulled the lever
If you just can't wait till 2008 to say NO, NAY, NEVER
It ain't a reach, we can still impeach THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER

He sold our soul to the corporate goals, the Enron hangover still hurts
It'll take years to calm our fears from color code alerts
If we ever survive his supreme court there are a few things we'll have to sever
Like "church and state" and "the fourth estate" and THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER

[paixa3]

Shame on the USA for ever putting such a wanker in the white house, TWICE.

I do not think the world has any inclination to follow you again.

[ajax2]

Bob Woodward spent many days at a Bush WH that was committing a crime a day, and reported nothing. In fact Woodward may have been part of the Libby criminal cover-up. Now Mr. Woodward describes GW Bush leadership qualities that no one else sees, not even Rove and Cheney, who constantly muzzled the buffoon. I have a gut feeling that Woodward has an agenda that's self serving. It's in his body language.

[dgscol]

I know what I meant to say - that Saddam invaded because the oil prices were too low and kuwait was blamed for "over-pumping". This led to a revenue shortfall in Iraq.

The conditions that led to Saddam's invasion, are the conditions we deem favorable to us, and hence, our cheap gas causes fighting in the middle east. The war between oil rich and oil poor countries, shall continue, and that includes Iraq with countries to its south.

[dgscol]

There is no doubt about the decrease in violence in Iraq, but what was the source?

Was it the surge and its consequences?

Possibly in part, but Woodward ignores the incredible increase in oil prices, which were the reason Saddam invaded Kuwait to begin with. With enough revenue, there was little reason to fight. They were essentially bought off. Why did Woodward ignore this?

Now, it is in our long term interests to pump more and charge less, and so when this happens, the violence will inevitably increase again, and the southern oil lands will become a more attractive place to live for many Moslems. Why do not the Arabs allow them to migrate? This might solve lots of problems in Iraq.

[research]

Iraqi deaths UP.

Violence UP.

This is no doubt, that violence in Iraq

IS UP.

[Grannysue]

So when John McSame says the surge was his idea, does he mean he went to the Right Wing Neocon think tank and met with them and they all decided to do the surge, because as I recall, Bushy boy said in his little speech that the "Generals on the ground asked for the surge" and he was "following what te Generals requested". Apparently the only general that made this decision was General Bullshit! And if you'll notice when told in what bad shape our military was they said the only solution was to go to conscription! Boys and Girls if they were to reinstiage the draft, the GOPERS would be out screaming to the top of their lungs now way are you sending our kids into this mess, especially the ones in office. It doesn't affect them so they don't care.
Not only is Bush the biggest screw up we've ever had as Prez, he's also one big time LIAR.
I suppose the kool aid drinkers will all support him as usual. If he said we needed to drop a nuclear bomb on England tomorrow they'd say how soon can we load the plane!

[flymic]

HuffPost's Pick

Saying the Iraq "Surge" worked is like saying Thelma & Louise had a flying car.

[nastyvirus]

In their own minds they did. And look where it got them.

[1forthetruth]

You better dash off a email to your candidate:


Oba ma said the surge of U.S. troops has "succeeded beyond our wildest dreams."

[research]

so? as a gop marketing lie, it has.

[geneven]

Funny:

"Part of the chiefs' job was to figure out how to accelerate the military's overall global readiness and capacity, Schoomaker said. "I sometimes feel like it is hope against hope," he said. "I feel like Nero did when Rome was burning. It just worries the hell out of me."

Actually, Nero wasn't worried. He was.gleeful.

[petey64]

It's interesting to read that a general was disagreeing with the President and he didn't use his advice, poor baby here's a clue for you, you are not the President, he makes those decisions you as a general in the army, marines, etc. work at the pleasure of the President, "it's called a chain of command" and Woodruff knows better, he just wants to sell books and he's using a general who had no clue as how to turn that thing around and did not have the power to make that decision and now his name is general sour grapes.

[ajax2]

Bush actually said he does what his commanders in the field tell him. Did he lie to you again?

[luvienne]

The Republicans answer to everything is the surge. This is Sep.2008, what are the answer to the problems of the economy, healthcare? Republican Mccain thinks the economy is fine. How do you think the economy is doing? It's common sense time. The elite Republican Mccain(who can't count how many houses he has) is now taking Obama's message of change. One of his top surrogates says this campaign is not about issues. They are making this a personality contest. America when are we going to wake up. Mccain's campaign had no life in it until he pandered for women's votes and chose Palin. Now she won't be allowed to do interviews. As if she's some choice bone being dangled in the face of voters. She is also suppose to be ready from day one. Common sense time.

[SecondBase]

And they're all gonna walk, scot-free.

"God bless America" is in fact a eulogy, for a country that died some time ago.

[Heavy]

Now United Airlines is talking bankruptcy, shares plunge. More good news every day eh pugs?

[abouttime]

The "surge" is pure propagana designed to divert attention from the reality that the days of US occupation in Iraq immoral and wrong. The Iraqi people will never allow the US to stay without reprisal. Cholorea is braeking out. Iraq is segregated by walls. Millions of Iraqis displaced. They wwant us OUT. Any talk about more troops (or less troops) is BS. Look at the numbers over the years of suffering of the Iraqis in relation to troop levels and you will see no correlation in deaths to UIS troops and Iraqi civilians.
The "surge" is make believe. What is real is that we loose no matter what. Trillions of dollars and wasted blood will never justify the theft of resources from another country.
US out of Iraq - NOW!

[research]

Actually, there is a correlation:

The more troops in Iraq,

The more Iraqis Die.

[DemocracyRules]

Given all the challenges we have both internally (economy, jobs, etc) and externally (Putin, Ahmedijan, etc) I do not feel that Obama, with his lack of experience, will be able to deal with all the issues facing this nation today. His poor debates against Hilary (and McCain) has proved lack of substance, conviction and knowledge. Eloquence is not substitute for substance, Running on platform of Hope and Change has been done before (by Communists in Russia in 1917 and Hitler in 1930s), Flip Floping is not the right strategy and yes Integrity and Character still counts.