Surge

Having now read the speech, which I was not able to watch for a very good reason, I really think it did a good job of describing the situation and, more importantly, the consequences of failure. There were some bits I thought quite strong, others less so. Overall probably a B+. Things I thought were well put:

The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people — and it is unacceptable to me. Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me. ….

Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents. And there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have. Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes. They report that it does. They also report that this plan can work. …..

I've made it clear to the Prime Minister and Iraq's other leaders that America's commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people — and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people. Now is the time to act. The Prime Minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: "The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation." ……

As we make these changes, we will continue to pursue al Qaeda and foreign fighters. Al Qaeda is still active in Iraq. Its home base is Anbar Province. Al Qaeda has helped make Anbar the most violent area of Iraq outside the capital. A captured al Qaeda document describes the terrorists' plan to infiltrate and seize control of the province. This would bring al Qaeda closer to its goals of taking down Iraq's democracy, building a radical Islamic empire, and launching new attacks on the United States at home and abroad. ……

We're also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence-sharing and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region. …..

Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship. But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world — a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties, and answers to its people. A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them — and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and our grandchildren.

The President has acted in his capacity as Commander in Chief, one of his primary constitutional responsibilities. Frankly, he also short-circuited a vote by the opposition against the plan, here. They can vote against this and look like defeatists, even in a "symbolic" vote, or they can support the goal of American victory in this war we are all in. They cannot have it both ways with a vote this time. The last line is the most important, I think.

….it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and our grandchildren.

That is a very tough thing to vote against and the Democrats have got to consider that. Other than Teddy Kennedy, of course. He's got a history of leaving people to die. And getting away with it.

UPDATE: Nope, apparently not at all hard for more than Ted. Bad move politically, I think.

Asymptotic once again: STACLU, Strat-Sphere, Greg Tinti, Blackfive, Captain's Quarters, Don Surber, Gateway Pundit, Dan Riehl, Amboy Times, Sensible Mom, Sister Toldjah, Suitably Flip, A Blog for All, Anchoress, Webbloggin, Seven Stripes, TMV, Hot Air, Right Voices, Right Wing News, Democracy Project, Winds of Change,  QandO, Secular Blasphemy, Flopping Aces, Patrick Ruffini, Wizbang, One Hand Clapping, OTB,  Redstate, Doug Ross,  Daimnation, Daily Pundit, Instapundit.com, Right Wing Nut House, FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog, Wake up America, The Jawa Report, Dean's World, Blogs of War, Jules Crittenden,

Other Links to this Post

1. Flopping Aces — January 10, 2007 @ 11:35 pm

2. The Moderate Voice » Blog Archive » Bush Admits He Made Mistakes In Iraq War And Asks For New Support — January 11, 2007 @ 12:00 am

3. Blogs of War — January 11, 2007 @ 8:04 am

4. Wake up America> — January 11, 2007 @ 11:42 am

5. The Anchoress » Speech and reactions — January 11, 2007 @ 12:14 pm