Bush is coming around to Murtha's plan...

If you listen closely, you will hear that he plans on pulling back the troops and will keep a quick strike force and then he will add on some talking points about "democracy" and "freedom" and the usual bullcrap he has been spewing all along. However, bottom line will be that he is more or less agreeing with John Murtha...

:sarcasm:

I think what Bush is doing is sometimes taking the "words" used in popular ideas and declaring them his - saying that's what he's always been doing or that it was in his plan.

A few days ago, McClennan did this with some of the ideas expressed by Biden, claiming that Biden in effect was endorsing Bush's plan - which was clearly not the case. In 2004, Kerry came out with 4 fairly concrete things he would do, the Bush people declared that was there plan and said Kerry had no ideas. (What is clear is Bush did not DO the 4 things Kerry recommended.)

There are so many alternative pieces that could be done. Murtha calls for getting the troops out of Iraq, Bush suggests they will be pulled to the rear. Kerry had proposed pulling the troops to the rear (in garrisons) too, but as part of a very clear signal that we weren't occupiers. Bush is not doing the other parts; stating clearly no permanent bases, no US soldiers in policing and search & destroy and a sector by sector pull out as the Iraqis, through a political solution of THEIR making, take over.

It is in Bush's interest to co-opt the Democrats or at least make people think he is saying the same thing - so why are they complaining. Murtha because he can't be painted as a liberal or a
dove is the one Bush most wants (and needs) to do this to now.

But note that Murtha sees us as out when redeployed Bush has us still in. Major difference. (The question is whether he will also take the common sense, intuitively appealing part of Kerry's proposal to get us out of the confontations in S&D and policing. KTaking this without Kerry's intent of withdrawing, it could decrease the death count but not end the war.)

He called for troops to be redeployed with a quick strike force if needed, was my understanding?