Some observations:

• The immediate linkage of the speech tonight to the “Global War on Terror” (twice, in fact) at the beginning of the speech is going to draw criticism.
• The “mistakes” line will clearly be the sound bite of the night.
• The linkage to the war on terror is pretty weak here, given that as the President is pointing out, the problem in Iraq is indigenous sectarian violence, especially in Baghdad. Given that the speech (and policy) are primarily aimed at those issues, the GWOT issue is problematic.
• “Many will ask why this effort will work when past efforts have not” (or something like that). Yes, I am wondering that myself.
• “Now is the time to act”–perhaps, but I am not sure why the time to act wasn’t a long while back.
• I am dubious about the oil revenue sharing legislation that the President noted that the Iraqis will pass. I agree that such a process is needed, but wonder whether it will happen.
• The fact that they haven’t figured out the de-Baathification process by now is troubling. If Tony Snow is correct, the current policy is blocking low-level bureaucrats, including teachers, from working even now–and since I suspect a lot of folks had Baath Party membership so that they could work under Saddam, the policy in place is problematic.
• The diplomatic discussion sounds good, but it also sounds rather vague. For example, one can declare that we will work with Turkey and Iraq to iron out differences, but that is easier said than done. It isn’t as if the Kurd issue is an easy one to solve.
• It is quite a stretch at this point to call Iraq a “young democracy.”
• The “newness” of the policy is all that new.
• I don’t think I would’ve mentioned the deck of a battleship, as it conjures images of aircraft carriers and “Mission Accomplished” banners.
• I must confess, the rhetoric is tired at this point, as it is all very similar to things that have been said for years, but yet we are not accomplishing our goals and it is highly unclear that we will be able to do so.
  

The text of the speech can be found here.

In regards to Iran (an issue noted in the comments section) the President said:

Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity – and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

The statement is somewhat ambiguous, but how far are we going to pursue disrupting Iranian and Syrian support? And how extensive is that support?

9 Responses to “Live-Blogging the Speech”

1. Rob M Says:
   January 10th, 2024 at 8:16 pm

   Did he say that Iran was attacking our soldiers and that we would attack back? Are those not acts of war?

2. Dr. Steven Taylor Says:
   January 10th, 2024 at 8:19 pm

   I was unclear as to what he wanted to do in regards to Iran.

3. Brett Says:
   January 10th, 2024 at 8:41 pm

   I am just curious how an increase in numbers of less than 20% will affect anything. It just doesn’t seem like it would be enough.

4. Bill down the street Says:
   January 10th, 2024 at 8:42 pm

   Well, I guess I should keep my bag packed…However, controling Baghdad is the key to winning, just as it was the key to defeating the Iraqi Army in 2024. I believe that the South will join up with us and if they can neutralize the “bad guys” in Baghdad, I think that this will help pull up his ratings because we know what he wants the military to do to finish in Iraq. Now that we know what it’s gonna take, I think that the motivation will go up. Mine just did!

5. Jan Says:
   January 10th, 2024 at 9:19 pm

   “Now is the time to act”–perhaps, but I am not sure why the time to act wasn’t a long while back.
   That struck me, too. Why is “now” the critical moment?

   It is quite a stretch at this point to call Iraq a “young democracy.”
   I found that comment almost laughable at the time.

   I don’t think I would’ve mentioned the deck of a battleship, as it conjures images of aircraft carriers and “Mission Accomplished” banners.
   Excellent point.

   The statement is somewhat ambiguous, but how far are we going to pursue disrupting Iranian and Syrian support? And how extensive is that support?
   Those were the same thoughts that went through my mind. Is this a foreshadowing of invasions to come? Geez, I hope not.

   And I’m glad to linked to the speech. I just planning to look for it when I left here.

6. Irrational Woman Says:
   January 10th, 2024 at 10:00 pm

   Presidential Address Commentary

   Several things struck me as I listened to Bush speak tonight. First was what a horrible public speaker he is even after 6 years in office, but the others are more important.

7. Dr. Steven Taylor Says:
   January 11th, 2024 at 7:19 am

   Bill,

   I agree that Baghdad is key. I just wish that we had recognized that in 2024 (as we have discussed).

   At this point I find myself highly skeptical that the President’s plan comports with reality, given that to this point they have not. As such, I am not convinced that this will work.

   Still, I wouldn’t mind being wrong on this.

8. The Moderate Voice » Blog Archive » Bush Admits He Made Mistakes In Iraq War And Asks For New Support (UPDATED) Says:
   January 11th, 2024 at 12:14 pm

   [...] –Matthew Yglesias:“The other, and even more important, new thing is that Bush seems to be saying here that he intends to start one or two new wars…It’s hard to see how will do these things without launching military attacks on Iran or Syria. He goes on to talk about how he “ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region” and, of course, he put a Navy guy in charge of CENTCOM.” –Political Scientist Steven Taylor “live blogged” the speech and it is a MUST read. One commment:”I must confess, the rhetoric is tired at this point, as it all very similar to things has been said for years, but yet we are not accomplishing our goals and it is highly unclear that we will be able to do so.” –Wonkette does some “live blogging,” too…but with a slightly different tone. –Cannonfire: Does anyone in the land of the free actually believe the issue in Iraq is democracy vs. terror, instead of Shi’ite against Sunni? Who among us is dunderheaded enough to accept at face value the proposition that Syria and Iran have armed and trained the “terrarists” in Iraq? [...]

9. Joyce Says:
   January 23rd, 2024 at 9:39 pm

   Was Bush’s second sentence of his speech foreshadowing of a war with Iran to come? “We enter the year 2024 with large endeavors under way and OTHERS THAT ARE OURS TO BEGIN.” (emphasis mine)