# Bush: Don't fight terrorists until after the election! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 12, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907 "2004-10-12T23:56:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/1 "2004-10-12T23:56:51Z")
From the October 11th edition of the _Los Angeles Times:_ > [@](#): > > [**Major Assaults on Hold Until After U.S. Vote**](http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-strategy11oct11,1,3426607.story?coll=la-headlines-world) > > WASHINGTON — The Bush administration plans to delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race. > > Although American commanders in Iraq have been buoyed by recent successes in insurgent-held towns such as Samarra and Tall Afar, administration and Pentagon officials say they will not try to retake cities such as Fallouja and Ramadi — where the insurgents’ grip is strongest and U.S. military casualties could be the highest — until after Americans vote in what is likely to be an extremely close election. > > “When this election’s over, you’ll see us move very vigorously,” said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity. > > “Once you’re past the election, it changes the political ramifications” of a large-scale offensive, the official said. “We’re not on hold right now. We’re just not as aggressive.” Does this prove that Bush is lying like a dog when he talks about being a stronge leader in the War on Terror™? Is giving preference to his own re-election chances over fighting insurgents and stabilizing Iraq a smart move, or just a self-serving one? Is Bush ultimately endangering the troops by giving the enemy what’s essentially a three-week break to rest and recuperate? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/2 "2004-10-13T01:22:23Z")
Holy hell. Is that really true? Since when does any sane commander give the enemy time to rest? And he is doing this to help his re-election bid? Damn right he is endangering the troops. They can resupply, get more ammo and take more territory while GW is out stumping. Is he that blind and incompetent? ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/3 "2004-10-13T02:34:34Z")
You know, I guess it is a statement of how low my opinion of this Administration is that I can’t even get particularly worked up about this. I mean, is it really a surprise? Did you expect better from them? God, I hate to have become so cynical…But, let’s face it, I haven’t yet been burned by underestimating the veracity and morality of this administration. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/4 "2004-10-13T02:35:14Z")
I just read in today’s paper (no cite) that our troops are **stepping up** the fight right now in anticipation of Ramadan (which starts Friday, 10/15). That made me wonder – I mean, do they actually think they can put the hostilities on hold during Ramadan? The insurgents won’t! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/5 "2004-10-13T02:38:48Z")
> [@](#): > > “When this election’s over, you’ll see us move very vigorously,” said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity. Regardless of who wins the election, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/6 "2004-10-13T02:39:30Z")
Registration required for the cite. Anyone have a free cite for this so I can check it out before commenting? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/7 "2004-10-13T02:52:11Z")
[This](http://www.dailypress.com/news/la-fg-strategy11oct11,0,165484.story?coll=dp-breaking-news) appears to be the same story, available without registration. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/8 "2004-10-13T02:56:30Z")
Surprising? Not at all. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/9 "2004-10-13T02:58:11Z")
Wouldn’t it make more sense, electorally, to go full-bore with the war effort, crush the resistance, and present the American people with a total victory before the election? Or has even the Administration decided that’s impossible? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/10 "2004-10-13T03:36:13Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Holy hell. Is that really true? Since when does any sane commander give the enemy time to rest? And he is doing this to help his re-election bid? Damn right he is endangering the troops. They can resupply, get more ammo and take more territory while GW is out stumping. Is he that blind and incompetent? I don’t understand how people believe the US Army, etc. really have the best interests of the troops in their hearts? When they refer to you as GI (government issue), they mean you’re expendible! Even the Pres will do whatever it takes with no compassion for the men on the front lines. Hasn’t the history of recent wars proven this to you? The Gulf War syndrome? There’s no Gulf War syndrome! Agent Orange? Neah…coudn’t be! But, don’t you know? The ends justify the means, so it’s ok, right? That’s leadership. Do you really expect to hear the truth from the Top Dogs? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/11 "2004-10-13T03:44:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Wouldn’t it make more sense, electorally, to go full-bore with the war effort, crush the resistance, and present the American people with a total victory before the election? > > Or has even the Administration decided that’s impossible? My guess is that they don’t want to see the casualty count spike. Bush blinked last spring in Falloujah. He’s already demonstrated that he doesn’t have the belly for this fight … . ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/12 "2004-10-13T03:48:44Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Wouldn’t it make more sense, electorally, to go full-bore with the war effort, crush the resistance, and present the American people with a total victory before the election? > > Or has even the Administration decided that’s impossible? Pfft. No matter how well it goes, there will be more casualties during an all-out assault than there will be during “peace” time. Can’t have that. We want people to forget that things aren’t going well…until the election is over with. -Joe, expects this election to be horrid ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/13 "2004-10-13T03:51:22Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > I don’t understand how people believe the US Army, etc. really have the best interests of the troops in their hearts? When they refer to you as GI (government issue), they mean you’re expendible! GI doesn’t come from the army or officers, it comes from slang by enlisted personnel. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/14 "2004-10-13T03:59:12Z")
[So this isn’t happening?](http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/latest/story/0,4390,277786,00.html) > [@](#): > > BAGHDAD - US troops went on the offensive from the gates of Baghdad to the Syrian border on Tuesday, pounding Sunni insurgent positions from the air and supporting Iraqi soldiers in raids on mosques suspected of harbouring extremists. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/15 "2004-10-13T04:17:06Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > [So this isn’t happening?](http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/latest/story/0,4390,277786,00.html) The story says there are air attacks and unspecified “support” of Iraqi government troops. Nothing that would lead to an increase in the US body count ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/16 "2004-10-13T05:22:35Z")
> [@China Guy](#): > > The story says there are air attacks and unspecified “support” of Iraqi government troops. Nothing that would lead to an increase in the US body count OK. And that is a problem because…? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/17 "2004-10-13T05:41:22Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > OK. And that is a problem because…? Because the decision to deply/not deploy our forces in that way apparently was governed by considerations of electoral rather than military strategy; and said decision is, therefore, unlikely to be the optimal approach to achieve the forces’ presumed military objectives, and might even make things worse in the long run in terms of U.S. body count, dollar costs, etc. Any more questions? ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/18 "2004-10-13T05:46:37Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > > [@China Guy](#): > > > > The story says there are air attacks and unspecified “support” of Iraqi government troops. Nothing that would lead to an increase in the US body count. > > OK. And that is a problem because…? … Because it’s not like the rise in our casualties _is not_ going to happen at all, but that the rise in our casualties is just going to be waiting until “after the election”. This is a repulsive thing for the administration to do. I really do expect to wake up one morning, to find CNN airing footage of Bush and Cheney punching babies, and eating kittens. LilShieste ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/19 "2004-10-13T06:05:16Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > I really do expect to wake up one morning, to find CNN airing footage of Bush and Cheney punching babies, and eating kittens. Thus proving yourself to be the very model of reasonableness! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907/20 "2004-10-13T06:28:26Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Thus proving yourself to be the very model of reasonableness! Isn’t it a sad and pitiful sight? Won’t you give to Caring Fund for the Hyperbole Impaired? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-dont-fight-terrorists-until-after-the-election/268907.md?page=2)