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Did anyone watch the address to the nation last night? Bush boy is surging troops into Iraq, which is basically a helluva lot of troops all at once over a short period of time. He claimed responsibility for the freakups in the past, and says that he's only doing this due to growing disease in Baghdad and other areas. He says he just wants to help the Iraqis get the Democracy they voted towards getting when Sadaam was first captured.

Thoughts? It kinda scares me, knowing a few guys being sent to Iraq within a month. But hopefully this'll end the tension. Hopefully. Doubtful, but hopefully.

The only thing I can say right now is, hopefully; it shouldn't fail.

"Yeah I screwed up in Iraq... by not sending enough troops! So... let's fix my mistakes by sending more people to their death. Yay."

I think this is a bad idea.

It gives more targets to the iraqi bad guys there.


But then again, what else can we do?

I have heard that even if we do send more troops that it still will not be enough! and IsolatedPurity was right they are just going to there death. (p.s. my cousin is in iraq right now.)

Having more troops there is an ineffective way to determine which of their average looking citizens will explode.

I just want to know what Pakistan will do.

I think the surrounding nations will get a little uneasy with all those troops moving in...Not good..... A better plan would be to send secret agents to kill the terrorists since you don't know who is a terrorist. Fight secrecy with secrecy

If this plan fails, there could be revolts around the U.S.... Even the weather's foreshadowing future events...

what was the name of the other bush adress were he mentioned "You forgot poland!"

Isn't the death toll around 3,000. I bet you it would be higher if it wasn't for the medical advances we have now and how we can keep people alive with some of the injuries they have had.

Yeah, the idea is just stupid. However, am I the only one who heard him say something like if things don't get better there around November, troops will be pulled out? This is probably referring to 2008. I'm probably just going crazy again.

Two of my family members are going to Iraq in February. I'm just hoping that this idea doesn't get more of our troops killed, it probably will, I'm just hoping that the families that are having their kids sent there come back alive.

So, Bush weighed up the situation, which went something like this:

'The heavy presence of American troops in Iraq causes tension in the civilian population. Approximately 80% of Iraqis support attacks on occupying troops. The more troops in Iraq, the more insurgents seem to come out of the woodwork.'

Then came to a momentous decision:
'Send more troops!'

Pretty stupid if you ask me.

Would you suggest we pull out instead, Captain?

For the first year in awhile, I didn't watch the address. For some reason, I don't feel like I've missed out on something.

Yes, but obviously not all at once. I know it's not a simple issue, but a phased pull-out seems the best idea for a number of reasons, not least because fewer Americans will die in Iraq. The problem is getting Iraqi security forces strong enough to be effective against the insurgency... BUT evidence seems to suggest that the presence of American troops is causing the insurgency, so perhaps their removal would eliminate the need for indigenous forces being so strong.

or maybe their presence is satiating one side of the issue already there but not the other, and the minute we pull out terrorists will arise from both sides a helluva lot more than what's there. Its sucha tricky issue. But a pull out would be nice.

It sure as Hell would be cheaper...

This is such a quick fix it's disgusting. Bush is getting pretty desperate now - new advisers, a few more soldiers - he's not even aiming to please anyone anymore. The left's getting mad at him for sending even more troops, and the right's getting mad at him for not sending even more troops. Oh, what is Bush to do?

Did you also hear that Bush wants to cut off all diplomatic talks with Iran and Syria to Iraq, which constitutes a major reversal in diplomacy from just a few weeks ago. Thoughts?

What I can say is, Bush is in a tight corner right now.
One: He can't find a reason to pull off from Iraq. Or it will dis-stabilize America's position in international image.
Two: Without sending more troops, the problem wouldn't be solved. And solving a problem in Iraq means home to the troops.

He got the troops in there, it's his responsibility to get them out again.

I agree that the situation is difficult for him, but it's his own fault that he's in it. He has gambled with the lives of his own people for what cause? Oil? A moral crusade? I doubt that we'll ever really know. It's a question that historians will ponder in the future, I'm sure.

Only one brigade has been sent, and thats the 82nd Airborne. But more are to come in the following months...

These troops are bring sent to Baghdad to assist the Iraqi forces who are going to be in the lead in clearing out the city.

There are many more aspects to his plan, but the media is primarily concerned with the temporary troop build up part of the plan. One important aspect is that we are suppose to be able to go into Sadr city and capture key militia leaders with out having any inference from the Iraqi government. They only reason why they would stop us from doing this is because the current PM of Iraq's primary vote comes from the Shi'ite population and of course we wants to be reelected.

Example of us cracking down on the Shi'ite death squads:
News Story

We should ignore the Iraqi government, do what is necessary to secure the country, then give the government back to the Iraqis.

Bush is a war maniac, just trying to fix his own mistakes by repeating them. Anyways alot of people would concur that sending more troops would just complicate the problem more. Anways I dont live in the US so I dont follw this formula:


Pay Taxes----> Get more troopes in the military----> More people die.

Pakistan won't do anything for one there freindly to the USA. Iran make a few comments, but the USA will probably completly ignore them besides a threat for war.

I don't think more troops are going to die just because we send more in. The average person in Iraq probably wouldnt notice such a small increase in troops. For how big Iraq is 20,000 troops really arent going to make a big diffrence. I think its more of a statement of what he is planning on doing more than a big militaristic decision. Most of the Iraqis dont like us being there, but after we left there would probably be a civil war or just a complete quick takeover. Take out more troops, the Iraqi's see we are retreating, and more come and attack, they see we are sending more they might get slightly worried, but they will probably fight just as hard as they were before.

This is just a step so that we can pull out. If we pull out now, the Shi'ite militias and death squads can take over Iraq. I think we are sending in more troops so we can wipe them out and then leave with out worry... maybe, Im not sure that just makes sense to me.