Bush touts surge success

President Bush said Saturday the surge of U.S. troops in Iraq, which he set in motion at the beginning of the year, is showing successes and proves that “conditions on the ground can change.”

With just three weeks to go until General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will brief the White House and Congress on the situation in Iraq, this is a crucial time for Bush as he tries to maintain support for his war policies.

{mosads}Congressional Democrats have vowed to make another attempt to force a course change and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. They will likely argue that the surge has failed to meet the administration’s stated goal of helping to bring about national reconciliation in Iraq.

But Bush said Saturday that reconciliation is taking place at the local level.

“In communities across Iraq, citizens are seeing their local and provincial governments return to operation,” Bush said. “Despite continuing violence, leaders in places like Anbar, Najaf, and Ninewah are now working through local provincial councils to approve funds to finance the rebuilding of homes and neighborhoods, to fight corruption, and to create new jobs.”

Former Sen. Max Cleland (Ga.), a Vietnam War veteran, provided the Democratic response. He criticized Bush for comparing the conflicts in Vietnam and Iraq at an address to veterans earlier in the week. The president had argued that the U.S. decision to leave Vietnam had caused millions to suffer and should serve as an example as to why the country should not do the same in Iraq.

“I know something about the Vietnam War,” Cleland, who lost three limbs in the war, said. “I know something about the price that was paid for continuing that war long after it was clear we could not succeed. I know something about years of war failing to produce Cleland said one fitting comparison between the two conflicts is that Bush has “a credibility gap.” The former senator said the same was true during the Vietnam War.

“But like political leaders during the Vietnam era, this President has a “credibility gap.”  The majority of Americans see a profound difference between President Bush’s optimistic rhetoric and the grim reality which lies beneath,” Cleland stated. “Our history in Vietnam and the facts on the ground in Iraq today prove the American people are right.

“How do I know?  Because I’ve seen this movie before,” he added. “I know how it ends.  I know that all the PR in the world didn’t change the truth on the ground in Vietnam and won’t change the truth on the ground today in Iraq.”