Just for those on the left gloating in their win of the House and Senate, and for all others who thought Senator Reid and Rep. Pelosi somehow magically became president, President Bush reminded them and us that he is still the Commander and Chief.

“President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make “a last big push” to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to 20,000 soldiers, according to sources familiar with the administration’s internal deliberations.

Mr Bush’s refusal to give ground, coming in the teeth of growing calls in the US and Britain for a radical rethink or a swift exit, is having a decisive impact on the policy review being conducted by the Iraq Study Group chaired by Bush family loyalist James Baker, the sources said.

Although the panel’s work is not complete, its recommendations are expected to be built around a four-point “victory strategy” developed by Pentagon officials advising the group. The strategy, along with other related proposals, is being circulated in draft form and has been discussed in separate closed sessions with Mr Baker and the vice-president Dick Cheney, an Iraq war hawk.”

Got to love that “hit and run” reporting. “Refusal to give ground”, “Family loyalist Baker”, “Cheney ‘war hawk’”. Who wrote this Kos? Talk about agenda reporting.

Nevertheless, the President – that’s President Bush for those at the DU, is still the Commander and Chief of the armed forces and still calls the shots. Contrary to opinion, Congress may hold the purse strings, but the President calls the shots.

Further….:

“WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 ‚Äî The top American military commander for the Middle East said Wednesday that to begin a significant troop withdrawal from Iraq over the next six months would lead to an increase in sectarian killings and hamper efforts to persuade the Iraqi government to make the difficult decisions needed to secure the country.

The commander, Gen. John P. Abizaid, made clear that he did not endorse the phased troop withdrawals being proposed by Democratic lawmakers. Instead, he said that the number of troops in Iraq may be increased by a small amount as part of new plans by American commanders to improve the training of the Iraqi Army.

General Abizaid did not rule out a larger troop increase, but he said that the American military was stretched too thin to make such a step possible over the long term. And he said that such an expansion might dissuade the Iraqis from making more of an effort to provide for their own security.

“We can put in 20,000 more Americans tomorrow and achieve a temporary effect,” he said. “But when you look at the overall American force pool that’s available out there, the ability to sustain that commitment is simply not something that we have right now with the size of the Army and the Marine Corps.”

General Abizaid also publicly said for the first time that the American position in Iraq had been undermined by the Bush administration‚Äôs decision not to deploy a larger force to stabilize the country in 2003. That decision came after Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, the Army chief of staff at the time, told Congress that several hundred thousand troops would be needed. His testimony was derided by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, and the general was ostracized at the Pentagon before his retirement a few months later.”

The Traitor Times can’t stop with the Rumsfeld swipes, and a little blantently false lie to boot. But again, NOT what the Chicken Little Party wanted to hear with it’s “The sky is falling, Iraq is doomed!” parade this last week.

I agree with the General that more troops would hinder more than conquerer. We need to reestablish order on the ground with what we have and that requires a new strategy. We’ll see what comes out of the ISG.