Good news!
President Bush has just announced the United States’ new Iraq strategy. It looks very promising.
Click here to read the transcript of Mr Bush’s speech
Click here to read “Highlights of Iraq Strategy Review” (PDF)
- Over 20,000 additional troops will be sent in.
- Since 80% of the sectarian violence in Iraq is occuring within a 30 mile radius of Bagdhad (did you know that?) that area will get special attention.
- Iran and to a lesser extent, Syria have been singled out as fueling the violence: “Iran has been cultivating influence in Iraq through all means atits disposal.”
- The aim will beto “achieve a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties, and answers to its people,”
- The plan identifies that, due to insufficient security Iraqis have been turning to “self-help” – which I presume includes local militias.
- The new plan is also looking at improving the Iraqi economy and providing jobs for the citizens. I’d like to see more details about this. It would be a bad move to foster a “hand-out” mentality, but I have no evidence at this stage that this would happen.
Thanks goodness the idiotic Iraq Study Group proposal has been completely side-stepped.
Once again Mr Bushdemonstrates his fundamentalhonesty -looking at the facts and acting on them. And his commitment to American securityand worldwide freedom.
He’s a good man and an excellent President.