Early withdrawal would be ‘disaster,’ Bush says

Analysis:

This story is a “summary” of the speech that President Bush gave in East Grand Rapids. The story cites primarily President Bush, but also has comments from Congressman Hoekstra and Lt. General Robert Gard, who is sourced as a critic of the President’s policy. The story begins with a reference to the 2003 speech that Bush gave in Grand Rapids, but the reference made by the reporter has more to do with the audience than what Bush said. No where does the story mention that many of the claims made by Bush in 2003 have since been found to be false.

In regards to the April 20 speech, Bush is cited making numerous claims – “a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops will lead to bloody chaos across the Middle East,” “Iraqi and American forces are making incremental gains in Baghdad,” “U.S. efforts in Anbar province are beginning to convince Sunnis to resist the efforts of al-Quadi insurgents,” and that “Withdrawal would do nothing to prevent al-Qaida from using Iraq as a base to overthrow other moderate countries.” However, none of the claims made by the President are substantiated or investigated by the Press. The only critic that was cited is retired General Robert Gard, but the only comment attributed to Gard was “There is no military solution to the insurgency.” Again, this claim was not substantiated or verified by the Press. The Press reporter also said at one point that Bush “tries to face down rising doubts about the war and a Democratic Congress pressing for troop withdrawal.” Is it true that the Democratic Congress is pressing for troop withdrawal? The Press offers no information to substantiate such a claim.

Story:

The contrast between the two speeches could not be more striking.

President Bush roused a partisan crowd in Grand Rapids on the eve of war in 2003, drawing several standing ovations as he made the case for invasion. He spoke in January of that year at DeVos Performance Hall, a day after making his State of the Union speech.

He spoke again of war Friday, this time before a less partisan crowd at East Grand Rapids High School.

And it was a much more sober and serious Bush who spoke to an audience of about 500 assembled by the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan.

But it clearly was a message aimed for a broader audience, as Bush laid out in detail the tactics behind the “surge” of added troops he asserts will turn things around in Iraq after more than four years of war.

He delivered what amounted to a significant policy speech as he tries to face down rising doubts about the war and a Democratic Congress pressing for troop withdrawal.

Critics cite recent bombings across Iraq — killing more than 230 in just one day this week — as evidence the strategy is failing.

Bush said it will work, given time. And he repeated past warnings that a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops will lead to bloody chaos across the Middle East.

“It’s natural to wish there was an easy way out — that we could just pack up and bring our troops home and be safe,” Bush said. “Yet in Iraq, the easy road would be a disaster.”

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, arrived on Air Force One with Bush, along with U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids.

Hoekstra called it a “major policy speech,” contrasting it with a speech Bush gave Thursday in Ohio.

“He was very serious today on the plane,” the congressman said Friday. “Today, he wanted to be very clear. He has not gone into this kind of detail since the surge efforts began.”

In his speech of about 40 minutes, Bush explained the strategy behind his decision to add more than 20,000 combat troops to Iraq, the bulk of them in Baghdad.

“The nature of a strategy aimed at securing the population is that the most important gains are often the least dramatic. Day by day, block by block, Iraqi and American forces are making incremental gains in Baghdad,” Bush said.

Referring to a projected image of Baghdad, Bush noted U.S. troops now are stationed at more than two dozen security stations throughout the city. Troops live and work beside the Iraqi troops, he said, in contrast to past operations where they retreated to bases at night.

Bush asserted that U.S. efforts in Anbar province are beginning to convince Sunnis to resist the efforts of al-Quadi insurgents.

Critics of Bush’s strategy see little or no hope it will work.

Lt. General Robert Gard called the surge strategy “too little” and “too late,” maintaining the majority of Iraqis have hardened against the presence of U.S. troops.

In comments from a conference call arranged by the Democratic National Committee, Gard called for a phased troop withdrawal.

“There is no military solution to the insurgency,” said Gard, who retired from the U.S. Army in 1981 after 31 years of service.

But in his speech, Bush warned of the consequences of withdrawal, saying it would embolden the extremists.

“Withdrawal would do nothing to prevent al-Qaida from using Iraq as a base to overthrow other moderate countries,” he said.