DNC Research: Bush's Lack of a Plan Stands in Contrast to Roosevelt's ...

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
December 7, 2005
Contact: Karen Finney - 202-863-8148

Bush's Lack of a Plan Stands in Contrast to Roosevelt's Strategy for Victory

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney issued the following statement on President Bush's speech today and his commitment to a failed policy in Iraq:

"Today marks the 64th anniversary of the tragic attack on Pearl Harbor, a terrible day that compelled our nation to a war in the service of our greatest calling: the triumph of democracy over tyranny. Because President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented a clear plan for success to the American people, our troops and our allies, the United States was the decisive force in one of history's most important struggles.

"Today, as we reflect on that victory, it is hard to ignore the stark contrast between President Roosevelt's leadership of the Second World War and President Bush's failed leadership on Iraq. Even today, President Bush delivered yet another speech in which he failed to present a clear plan for victory in Iraq. Americans understand that the President's current strategy has made us less safe, and that we need to change course. We need a plan for victory that includes clear benchmarks for success.

"Together, America can do better than an open-ended commitment to the White House's failed strategy. Staying the course is not a strategy, but a sad excuse for not having a plan. We can only win this war if the Iraqi people are able to play a greater role in peacekeeping and if the president gives an honest assessment of what's really happening on the ground in Iraq. Republicans in Washington should join Democrats in honoring the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform by fighting for a real plan for victory in Iraq."

See below for a new document from DNC Research:

BUSH CONTINUES TO SUGAR COAT "PROGRESS" IN IRAQ
President Bush spoke to a friendly audience at the Naval Academy in Annapolis recently where he touted the "progress" in Iraq while ignoring the miscalculations, missteps, and harsh realities on the ground. Today, President Bush spoke again on the reconstruction of Iraq, the area most neglected by this Administration. Will Bush acknowledge his Administration's failure to plan for and lack of progress in rebuilding Iraq?

"THE FUTURE IS MURKY"

"For Every Step Forward... At Least One Step Back." After President Bush's speech last week in Annapolis, MD on Iraq, Knight-Ridder reported, "How's it going over there? The short answer: It's a mess.... for every step forward, there seems at least one step back, and the future is murky."

Only 1 out of 120 Army and Police Battalions Can Fight On Their Own. "Iraqis are far from ready to take over. Their performance is uneven; their loyalties are questionable, and they remain heavily dependent on American troops.... Of the 120 army and police battalions that have undergone training, 40 are good enough to take the lead in joint operations with U.S. troops. One is considered good enough to operate with complete independence."

Bush's Speech "Dismissed" Reports of Problems in Iraq. "Bush dismissed the significance of a report by U.S. commanders earlier this year that only one Iraqi battalion - down from three - was at 'Level One' capability, meaning it could operate entirely on its own. 'Level One' is a military readiness measure requiring independent transport, logistics, intelligence and other functions that even some units in the militaries of NATO allies lack, he said."

Militias Are Being Given Control And Settling Old Scores. "Bush pointed out that Iraqis have taken over security in some parts of country. What he didn't say is that some cities, including Najaf and Karbala, have been turned over to Shiite militias. 'Under the guise of providing general security for various areas of Iraq, they are, in fact, settling old scores,' said Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind....Insurgents are killing Iraqi security forces at a rate of 214 a month, up from 160 a month in the last half of last year."

General McCaffrey: Ministries of Defense Corrupt; Iraqi Forces A "Mixed Bag." "'The ministries of defense are corrupt and incompetent, and that's a challenge to us,' General McCaffrey said. Iraqi forces are 'a mixed bag,' he added. 'They're infiltrated by the insurgents. They've got no armor. They're not a force that's ready to conduct their own, unilateral stability operations.'"

INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMY REMAIN IN SHAMBLES

Oil Production In Iraq Is Lower Than Before the War; Unemployment High. "Despite improvements, Iraq's economy and its infrastructure remain in shambles. Oil production, the most important source of income, has decreased from a high of 2.5 million barrels a day in September 2004 to less than 2 million barrels a day, primarily because of terrorist attacks and deteriorating infrastructure. That's less than before the war... Security problems have hamstrung efforts to rebuild the electrical system, oil industry and other infrastructure. About $3 billion of the $13.5 billion in foreign pledges to Iraq has been spent. In any case, the pledged amount is far short of the $27 billion that the World Bank says Iraq needs for infrastructure. ...Unemployment estimates range from 27 percent to 40 percent... Economic growth is projected at 3.7 percent this year, which isn't good enough in a poor country with high unemployment."

Bush's "Strategy" For Iraq Rolls Back Expectations. "On Iraq's economic future," the public document that the White House released last week, "says reconstruction of a country battered by war and starved by a dictatorship and international economic sanctions is key to winning over Iraq's 25 million people to the U.S. vision of a new Iraq. But in a striking rollback from an earlier, more optimistic position, the administration says Iraq has the 'potential' to become prosperous and self-sustaining -- without specifying a time frame..."

ADMINISTRATION'S MISMANAGEMENT PAINFULLY EVIDENT

Pentagon Admitted Military Is Not Prepared For Reconstruction Work Needed In Iraq. "A Pentagon directive issued this week orders the military to be sure, next time it goes to war, to prepare more thoroughly for picking up the pieces afterward... The policy follows criticism that the Pentagon neglected to plan sufficiently for the aftermath of the 2003 Iraq invasion. Not only did conditions in the country turn out worse than anticipated, but early hopes of being able to hand off a large share of responsibility to civilian organizations and to Iraqis proved overly optimistic. As a result, the U.S. military in Iraq has been badly stressed to come up with the skills, equipment and troops to ensure security and begin rebuilding the country."

USAID Director Who Predicted Cheap Rebuilding In Iraq Quit. "The head of the government's overseas relief agency , the U.S. Agency for International Development, is leaving his job... 'Secretary Rice asked him to stay but he felt it was time for new challenges,' Rice senior adviser Jim Wilkinson said. In 2003 Natsios confidently predicted that U.S. taxpayers would not have to pay more than $1.7 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq, a job that is now expected to cost tens of billions of dollars. The Washington Post later reported that a transcript of Natsios' remark on ABC's Nightline was removed from the agency's Web site. 'The rest of the rebuilding of Iraq will be done by other countries who have already made pledges,' Natsios said on the television program. 'The American part of this will be $1.7 billion. We have no plans for any further-on funding for this.'"

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.