Tony Snow, and others are saying, that we are only going stop people coming OVER the borders to harm us.
You mean that they have never done this before,PLEASE!! Also, If they denied any action towards Iran, then why did the President even mention it IN THE FIRST PLACE?! Then, there is the carrier groups and the patriot missles. Its not like the us does not have any planes in Iraq to stop people after they cross the borders. Seems like there all sitting around waiting for some kind of coup to take place somewhere. I guess we can only speculate.

We could remove our 20,000 troops from Bosnia, and save that money. We were only suppose to be there for a year anyway. REMEMBER? Let Europe worry about it. Oh wait they were unable, or unwilling to end it in the first place.

It is ine thing to listen to someone speak, but it is another thing to take to heart what is being said and this man knows nothing because it is not him or his fighting for this country over there. Now if i beleive correctly thry have been fighting over there for decades and no one interferred until this dim-wit came along to try and prove his point which is so what! I have no interest, it will not benefit anyone!! except of course the good old boys, oh! so sorry he got rid of the majority of them. If anyone cares about what to do with the troops, they should be bought home because they CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THINGS OVER THERE,EXCEPT GE THEMSELVES KILLED...

The increase in troop strength in Iraq is one number; the total increase for the remainder of the theater operations is another number. Are we including any increase in the number of troops in Saudi Arabia or the fleet of shore in the president’s numbers? In addition to the soldiers in uniform, will there be an increase in contract employees or CIA agents in the theater? With the total number of men and women who wear uniforms in this country at about 2 million, what is the concern about having less than 10 percent of that number in one theater of operations? Could the concern be that we are still a cold war force with all of the uniform soldiers assigned to duties that do not necessarily contribute to the war effort?

There was a time during the Vietnam War when the military started assigning some of the old homesteaders to the war effort, which resulted in that the number of officers and noncommissioned officers applying for retirement to increase dramatically. Restructuring the Army is something that is well beyond due. We are mobilizing members of the Reserve components of the Army without looking at active forces that could be reassigned. For example, the Army has about 250 captains’ assigned to the US Army Recruiting Command doing jobs at the local area that traditionally occupied by noncommissioned officers. I am talking about the Recruiting area commanders or what ever the position is titled today. Additionally we have officer and enlisted soldiers attending various leadership schools at Ft Leavenworth and other locations who could be assigned to troop units. The leadership training is essential however, the duration and frequency of the career course is daunting. At one time, the US Army was sending senior noncommissioned officers to a one year course to learn sufficient leadership and management training to perform duties as sergeant majors. Surely, the need for excessive career courses could be reevaluated in light of the manpower requirements of the war effort.

Another area where the US Army and other services need to take a closer look at the number of positions is in the Washington DC and Northern Virginia Area that are filled with deployable military personnel. We have a higher percentage of senior officers and noncommissioned officers in the active forces than any time in history. Economically we could replace 1 general officer with about 100 enlisted soldiers when you consider the total cost.

Another issue is the distribution of forces. The US Military could easily retire 150-250 jet fighters, 2-3 aircraft carries and 10-15 submarines and still have the largest military force in the world. We could use the money saved from this reduction and the personnel authorizations to supply 4-5 Light Divisions. Although I did not care for the out going Secretary of Defense, many people at the senior levels fought any attempt he made for modernization or reorganization of the military. It is that self-serving attitude that is affecting the well-being of the US Military and the economy of the United States. What happen to the Honor code? The two questions that come to mind is why we have not moved from partial mobilization to full mobilization and what happens if we need to open up?

Let me be VERY clear to an earlier poster concerning the United States Navy and the United States Air Force in this conflict-MY SON and only child has been there three times and trust you me he has been in harms way more than once. Remember "Shock and Awe"? Just where do you think those bombs were being fired from? Are you aware of the gasses and floating mines that our sailors are scrambling from while sitting ducks in the middle of that steaming pot called "The Gulf"? Or how about those marines start swimming to Iraq instead of being taken over on Navy TRANSPORT SHIPS and taken onto land in hovercrafts while they (including the sailors) are dodging bullets flying over their heads? Or what fun do you think they enjoyed while having missiles fired at their ship and barely escaping off of the coast of Jordan in August 2005? One of them flew right over my son's head. Did you catch the coverage on CNN of the ships leaving for the Gulf in January of 2003 right before the war began in March? MY SON'S ship was the lead ship out that day. He called us the day before to say goodbye and we watched this conflict start on TV with the rest of the world in March. Finally heard from our son that he was indeed ok in APRIL! My son has come home highly decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for boarding foreign ships and capturing known Aq Queda militants. And did you miss the reports that the Navy and Air Force ARE training at Army bases and serving on the ground and be killed right along with the soldiers and marines? And may I point out that THAT is not what THEY signed up for, but they've been asked to do so and are DOING IT! WHO do you think is on those ships that are being sent to sit off the coast of Iran? And WHO do you think is off the coast of Simalia RIGHT NOW? So don't you dare say that the Navy and the Air Force are sitting this one out. Get the facts before you dare to say such a thing!
PROUD MOTHER OF A UNITED STATES SAILOR

After Mr. Bush's speech last night they switched to Bagdad, and an Iraqi solder that showed a reporter that his qun was broken, and another that had no bullets. They also showed their barracks.(A WOODEN BOX)!! I believe they want to stand up for their government. but, "THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH OF AN INSENTIVE" All the money that is beeing poured into this conflict does not seem to be going to the right places. The Dems need to follow up on this fast!

I wonder what the president was thinking..we know that although Saddam was a horrible man he was not an immediate threat to America...yet he took soldiers from a known volatile area such as Korea and deploys them to Iraq from Korea...not long there after we see that North Korea conducts nuclear tests...although we have more of Al-Queda turning up across the globe we are continuing to focus our military forces on Iraq... while we met with some sucess in Afganistan, we continue to see their main export to be drugs...so my question is why can the president not focus on what is a threat to the U.S. "today"? I agree that if Iraq does not establish control of their country it will be a horrible place for the Iraqi people but I think that we need to get back to securing the areas that are a threat today and pray that there is a tomorrow to deal with Iraq.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." In case you don't remember, that is the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. That foundational piece of writing reflects something this country has either disregarded, or completely forgotten. It was written by a group of men who stood up for what they believed and did everything in their power to reach their goals. Every day, our men and women in uniform, our troops, fight. They don't just fight to protect the Iraqi government; they fight for you and for me. What we have forgotten is true Patriotism. We call ourselves Americans, but we spend most of our day criticizing our leader. Some say the world looks at the United States as internally weak, and we are, with our country being formed by the people, those who pass judgment on this country make it weak. We need to respect and trust President Bush as he seeks to do what is best for ALL OF US. And we need to cherish and respect our troops overseas and at home, who all fight to preserve and protect our freedoms and rights, even to openly criticize our Commander-in-Chief; a president, I might add, who is meeting the wishes of those troops. Our troops explained a great need for an increase and surge in our military. When you defy the President, you are defying those men and women who fight to protect you. May we remember what it means to live in the United States of America, and may we once again be a strong nation who seeks to trust those protecting us, consisting of both the political and militaristic fronts. May God bless America.

Gee I thank I have herd this before it was back 40 yrs ago about a little Country called Vietnam. Same old story Same old line. You know for many years it was never again. I gess we forget?

As a vet I hate to see this most dangerous course that this country has been forced into.Not only has our shoulders been fooled but when they come home tricks will be played on them about there care and there benifits.I pray for my country and my conrads AT arms,may they all return home with clear minds and a forgiving heart.

So far, this war has cost the equivalent of 700 new elementary schools in every state, 8 million teachers, or free gas for every american for a year - is it worth it? No, he's just protecting US oil interests. He knows that 20,000 is not enough.

President Bush is concerned about his personal legacy and how he will be remembered in the history books; he's willing to do whatever it takes to appear to have a victory on this. Remember that line in Shrek when the king sends out his men to retrieve Fiona: "Some of you may die, but it's a chance I'm willing to take." As a former member of the military, I had to resign from service since I was so ashamed of having such an incompetent and self-serving commander in chief. I love my country and will not be forced to appear or feel unAmerican by that jackass. (I swear he looks like the guy on "Mad" Magazine).

I give up. WHAT do we have to do to let this President know we want out? Quoting new generals he's put into Iraq because they already agree with his Iraq policy is insulting as best. Has no one sat down with the man and explained just what the last election said about the war? Everytime I think about what we could do with the money we are throwing away over a civil war that is insane for us to be there--or the lives we have lost--I'm ready to get a sign and start marching. I will vote for NO one who supports this war. I want our kids back home. I want to see good affordable health care and college educations offered to them instead. What can I do to stop this man from sending over MORE troops???

I'm a proud member of the 3rd Infantry Divison and have completed one tour of Iraq with my unit, specifically our sector was Airport road (Road between Baghdad Airport and the Green Zone) from 2005 to 2006. In that time we brought the number of casualities and deaths on that stretch of road from increasing daily, to not increasing for months at a time. I can't say I'm happy about going back, But I know that we need to maintain a presence there and that it does help. You don't see most of the good we do because it doesn't sell newspapers or get ratings like stories of bloodshed do. But I have personally experienced the increase in the quality of living for the avergae Iraqi citizen that came as a result of the Coalition. Especially in Baghdad.

Every time I hear that the president is going to give a speech, the first question that pops into my mind is: ''How many more people are going to die?'' and what the damage will be this time. This President doesn't have any leadership skils, (actually I was wondering if he has any skills,) and I think he should definitely be impeached--SOON!! I don't understand why in his opinion the US has to ''win'' this war! I mean Iraq isn't his country! Its a whole separate place that belongs to the Iraqi people! JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE and the the heck out of there!

The neocon's policy of hegeminic democrization of Iraq, as conceived and promulgated in the 90's by Cheney and his fellow conspirators from the Project for a New American Century, has failed, and it is time that this ideologic Administation acknowledge this fact. The "surge option" is nothing more than a euphemism for an escalation that will inevitably result in increased carnage and chaos. When will these demagogues lsiten to the will of the American people as clearly expressed in the November Congressional elections?

The President will prepare his plan for war tonight and it will not be a surprse. we all know that he will send more troops to Iraq, and he must be prepared to not see any of them coming back. it a shame, more families are being lost because of the War in Iraq. Why doesn't he leave the Iraqi people alone? they have suffered more than the Americans.

The only thing I can think of to protect America and and to excercise its gift of democracy, the American people must keep their distance from Mr. Bush. For me, the best way to do that is to impeach him. I truly think Mr. Bush has been waiting all this time for a dream from God to tell him what to do. I don't think that dream ever came. He is such a shell of a man/boy. His leadership instincts are non existent. He has single handedly turn this country into a land of shame. How does some one like that have the nerve to address a nation, show his face and call himself president. Well America, we are allowing it for some misguided respect for the office. That oxy-moronic view is killing us. If we really respected the office and its position, we should be working towards that whoever occupies it is worthy and works diligently to serve it. Mr. Bush is an absolute disgrace to the office.

In 2005 my husband and I were both in the Middle East. From what we saw over and what we see on TV, we only see and here what the government wants us to. So many families have gone through so much in the last four years. It is painful to see this country torn apart by something we have no control over. They have been fighting for centuries, lets just get out of there and let are men and women come home.
For those of you that say well, you signed up, yea we did, but many of us signed up when things were peaceful and the national guard and reserves as never been used to the capacity that it is now. Single parents are going over and leaving their kids behind in order to fight in a place where we aren't wanted anyway. What happened to looking out for the military families? Kids need to be with their parents not with appointed caregiver.

Will it take 200,000 Americans in the streets of D.C.
to make a point to this President.
Election results and polls make no difference.
He asks for other plans and is given other options and just ignores them .
How is it he feels the American public and the world public isn't capable to see the folly of this entire war effort.
Daily we creat more reasons for terrorists to hate our government and our way of life.
Please someone reach this man I pray.

Get the body bags ready. Everytime Bush "surges forward" so do the body bags containing our sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. Enough is enough. We did the same in Vietname where I had my boots on the ground and look what happened; over 50,0000 dead, And we were forced to defeat. Bush is like a baseball game, all fouls, strikes and back into the dugout to do the same thinl all over again. Simply put, time to pack-up and go home. Let Iragi take care of their problem and we can focus on rebuilding our borders to keep keep potential terroists ourt.

In answer to Cedric's question, you need to have a basic undertanding of the grandest and longest battle in the middle east. It doesn't matter what dictator did to what faction in what Arab country. The point is that if Isreal enters the war in Iraq in any shape or fashion, every Arab nation regardless of their individual current feeling toward each other, would rise up together to attack Isreal. If there is one thing a sunni hates worse than a shiite, and visa versa, it's the Jewish people.

BEING A MOTHER OF AN ARMY SOLDIER, NOW SERVING HIS SECOND TOUR IN BAGHDAD, I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT SENDING MORE TROOPS. ON ONE HAND I THINK MAYBE MY SON, AND OTHERS LIKE HIM, WILL GET SOME MUCH NEEDED DOWN TIME. HE AND HIS SQUAD HAVE BEEN PATROLLING FOR 16 HOURS STRAIGHT. HE SAYS TO ME "MOM I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE TIME TO READ A GREETING CARD FROM HOME, MUCH LESS A MAGAZINE." WHEN HE COMES BACK FROM PATROL THEY SHOWER AND THEN IT IS LIGHTS OUT. THEY THEN HAVE TO GET UP AT 12 MIDNIGHT AND GO BACK OUT ON PATROL. BUT THEN I THINK OF ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS WHO HAVE SONS AND DAUGHTERS THAT MAY HAVE TO PUT THEIR "BOOTS ON SAND", I SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM AND WISH THEY DID NOT HAVE TO GO ALSO.
MOST AMERICANS THAT HAVE NO CONNECTIONS TO THE MILITARY, DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE FEEL AND I HOPE THEY NEVER DO.

Why is it that Isreal doesn't send its troops into Iraq to help us fight along side Great Britain and our other allies. They seem to have a stake in the outcome of the conflict. They have a formitable army
and they should help us fight this war if they are our true allies. Think about it.

I see the democrats are planning on a "symbolic vote" on President Bush’s plan. They're going to take a "stand" to isolate the president politically.
They're so good at taking stands that don't mean anything. I remember Kerry taking a stand once. It was right before the last election in Iraq. After watching the troop increases, and reductions from the previous two elections he stood up on the senate floor and "demanded" the President withdraw something like 20,000 - 30,000 troops after the election. Well Duh dummy you come up with that ideaR all on your own?
This war is suffering from election fatigue 02, 04, 06, and now 08
I've got 3 friends who have served, or are serving in Iraq. What the media allows to pass as honest debate is disgusting. What the multi million dollar talking heads add to the debate is even more disgusting. If I see one more so called leader, CIA expert, or General say "I felt pressured" to do what I did, or didn't do I think I'm going to throw up.