So much for listening to the generals

December 20, 2006

Yesterday we learned that the Joint Chiefs of Staff are unanimous in their opposition to the president’s apparent escalation plans for the war in Iraq. It puts Bush in a tough spot — he wants to show a change in course, but bucking the recommendations of the nation’s top uniformed leaders is a tough hurdle.

With this in mind, it was a key moment at this morning’s presidential press conference when a reporter asked Bush if he’s willing to reject the advice of the Joint Chiefs.

Q: If you conclude that a surge in troops levels in Iraq is needed, would you overrule your military commanders, if they thought it was not a good idea.

Bush: Uh, that’s a dangerous hypothetical question. I’m not condemning you; you’re allowed to ask anything you want. Let me wait, and gather all the recommendations from Bob Gates, from the military, from diplomats on the ground, I’m interested in the Iraqis’ point of view, and then I’ll report back to you as to whether or not I support a surge or not. Nice try.

I’m not at all sure what Bush means by “dangerous.” If the Joint Chiefs recommends the president follow a course of action, and the president decides to ignore them, what, exactly, does Bush believe will be “dangerous”? Will the president consider the disagreement insubordination? Indeed, the question is only vaguely hypothetical — is Bush willing to overrule the Joint Chiefs on Iraq or not?

As Michael Crowley put it, “Seems we’re flirting with some uncharted territory — and it’s all a bit chilling.”

And as long as we’re on the subject of today’s press conference, I also enjoyed hearing the president’s perspective on the economy.

Today, President Bush held a news conference where he discussed the “way forward” for the economy in 2007. Renowned Morgan Stanley economist Steven Roach says the “odds of the U.S. economy tipping into recession are about 40 to 45 per cent.” New York Times columnist Paul Krugman notes that “the odds are very good — maybe 2 to 1,” that the U.S. will teeter toward a recession in 2007.

Bush’s solution? “Go shopping more.”

Yes, that’s exactly what he said. Bush told reporters, “As we work with Congress in the coming year to chart a new course in Iraq and strengthen our military to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must also work together to achieve important goals for the American people here at home. This work begins with keeping our economy growing … And I encourage you all to go shopping more.”

It’s quite an economic policy.

Hey, it worked after 9-11, why not now.

‘ GO SHOP OR THE RECESSION WINS ‘

As for the dangerous part, that means it’s dangerous for him. Can’t afford to get pinned down on that one, might look bad.

  • I’ll adopt Bush’s economic policy just as soon as he makes getting me more money a part of it.

  • “Dangerous” means that a bunch of red lights just lit up next to your name over at the NSA. Go out and scortch that VISA and maybe I’ll reconsider.

  • As for not listening to the Chiefs of Staff. I’m sure there are generals on the ground in Iraq who would tell you right now they want more troops. There is always some general somewhere who wants more troops. BG2 has been saying all along he will listen to his generals (a big fat lie as far as I can tell). So now he just has to accept the requests from the field and ignore the Pentagon.

  • Since the WH seems to think we have no memory here outside the bubble, we may yet here:

    BUSH: “Well, I have heard from generals and they agree with me. In fact, there was one General, Shinsicky or some name I can’t pronounce, but I’m sure he’s here legally. He supports this ‘surge’ or troops. In fact, he said we’d need several hundred thousand troops for a period of time. Good man that General. And he and I are completely on the same page. So General, wherever you are, I listen to my generals.”

  • The inflation indicators worried me, because I don’t trust this Administration’s ability or will to solve ANY problem whatsoever.They don’t solve problems, they create them.

  • I’m really not sure as to why—it certainly doesn’t qualify as a seasonal kind of thing for this time of year (then again, neither does mowing the yard 5 days before Christmas in Northeast Ohio)—but the melody to “Deutschland Uber Alles” keep rolling around in my head. Dangerous, indeed….

  • How nice that Bush won’t “condemn” a journalist asking him a question. :-p

    Good grief, this man is delusional. How many days are left in his reign… er… presidency?

  • I’ll adopt Bush’s economic policy just as soon as he makes getting me more money a part of it.

    Hey, if going in debt up past your eyeballs is good enough for the U.S. government, then it ought to be good enough for YOU. Max those cards NOW! (And you call yourself a patriot.)

  • Maybe he senses the danger that generals can pose to presidents who are completely out of control?

    They wanted a banana republic, why not have a coup? Hypothetically speaking of course!

    I would only be mildly surprised if the Joint Chiefs tossed the war clowns in the brig. He’s killing our entire military in a war only Henry Kissinger thinks is a good idea, and now he wants more kids to kill. Putting Bush and Cheney under arrest would make a lot of sense, but I doubt the generals have the guts to pull it off.

  • What a stupid question. Bush is merely drawing on a reservoir of practical military experience far in excess of that available to his Generals. Remember, he used to fly fighters for a living. Misunderestimate his grasp of the tactical situation at your peril.

  • Bush’s detachment from the Iraq problem is amazing. He acts as if it’s a problem someone else created and in his Solomonic wisdom he will preside over the soution after he judiciously pores over the evidence. But then this is merely an extension of his multi-year denial that anything was going wrong in the first place. The media needs to focus on the fact that a military solution is not the only solution to this mess, despite the fact that it’s the only tool George has in his toolbox.

    By the way George, thanks for the Marie Antoinette moment on the economic picture. I suppose he wants us to buy more cake.

  • By dangerous he means it’s dangerous for him, politically, to answer the question. He knows he can’t come out and say he opposes the unanimity of the generals. And of course he has no intentions of supporting anything remotely similar to what the Democrats propose. Maybe he should fire the joint chiefs and replace them with sycophantic (and equally incompetent) hacks. But Bush realizes that option is no longer available either. So he’s stuck between the rather large rock and larger hard place that he built for himself by basing this war on tragically meaningless and wrongheaded sloganeering and politics.

  • I retired from the Air Force last year because I was embarrassed about my bosses (W & DR). Now there are vague references and dark mutterings. Maybe I should have stuck around for “7 days in January” and helped with the coup.

  • ” I’m not condemning you; you’re allowed to ask anything you want.”

    So, did he say that before or after he looked at his Secret Service agent and made a head jerk motion?

  • Given Mr. Bush’s intellectual and linguistic capabilities it’s difficult to tell what he really means at any given point. I sometimes suspect that his incoherence is a set up for an incompetence defense, should he ever face trial for his actions.

  • Given Mr. Bush’s intellectual and linguistic capabilities it’s difficult to tell what he really means at any given point. I sometimes suspect that his incoherence is a set up for an incompetence defense, should he ever face trial for his actions.
    Comment by Winkandanod

    Good point! I wouldn’t be surprised if his weasel words turn out to have exactly that purpose later.

    Sometimes I think he speaks in tics and gestulations in a langage of his own similar to Tierra del Fuegans or Vonnegut’s aliens who communicated in farts and tap dancing.

  • I wrote a brillant response to a military coup…but forgot I had to go offline to answer the phone( Damn dialup) so it’s gone…all I can say is we do not need a military coup!!! Generals are not at the top of the brain chain.Apologies to Jeff #18…I think military men are wonderful I was married to one for 49 years…but it’s at lower ranks where they know what is going on.

    The future doesn’t look great…neither economically nor militarily…Since I am the eternal optomist…lets hope and keep our fingers crossed.

  • when i heard King Bush say that i was sure he meant it was dangerous for the journalist (his statement right afterwards “I’m not condemning you; you’re allowed to ask anything you want” obviously meant the opposite)

  • This work begins with keeping our economy growing … And I encourage you all to go shopping more.” — Dumbya

    Reminds me of a lunch I once had with some childhood friends of my husband’s (who grew up in Norfolk, VA. How he managed to stay a Dem is beyond me ). One of the wives, seeing me light up said “filthy habit; unhealthy, too”. But half an hour later, when the conversation moved from general reminiscence to economy, she was complaining about her investments tanking, then turned to me and said “if people like you smoked more, my Philip Morris shares would be doing much better; I can get you on their list, so that they’ll send you coupons.” And she must have, because I suddenly started getting cents off coupons on all PM brands.

    Obviously, one has a different “take” on economy when one’s doing well enough to be an investor… And self-centerdness must be in ‘pubs genes.

    I wonder if Bush’s advice to the nation (go, and shop some more) didn’t come up straight from his subconscious. He seems to have been “shopping around”, for different opinions, ever since the ISG report came out.

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