Bush vs. Reality, Part LXII

The ongoing struggle between the World the way W wants it to be, and the world the way it actually is, goes on.

First, Bush, describing the world the way he wants it to be:

President Bush Discusses Progress in Iraq, July 23, 2003
“Our greatest ally in the vital work of stabilizing and rebuilding a democratic and prosperous Iraq is the Iraqi people, themselves. Our goal is to turn over authority to Iraqis as quickly as possible. Coalition authorities are training Iraqi police forces to help patrol Iraqi cities and villages. Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid are working to establish as quickly as possible a new Iraqi civilian defense force to help protect supply convoys and power plants and ammunition depots. Offices have been established in major Iraqi cities to recruit soldiers for a new Iraqi army that will defend the people of Iraq, instead of terrorizing them.”

President Bush and Prime Minister Allawi Press Conference, September 23, 2004
“We’re making steady progress in implementing our five-step plan toward the goal we all want, completing the mission so that Iraq is stable and self-governing, and American troops can come home with the honor they have earned.

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The second step is to help Iraq’s new government establish stability and security. Iraq must be able to defend itself. And Iraqi security forces are taking increasing responsibility for their country’s security. Nearly 100,000 fully trained and equipped Iraqi soldiers, police officers, and other security personnel are working today. And that total will rise to 125,000 by the end of this year. The Iraqi government is on track to build a force of over 200,000 security personnel by the end of next year [ed: 2005]. With the help of the American military, the training of the Iraqi army is almost halfway complete. And in Najaf and other important areas, Iraqi military forces have performed with skill and success.”

President’s Remarks on Homeland Security in New Jersey, October 18, 2004
“But every week, more and more Iraqis answer the call to arms. More than 100,000 soldiers, police and border guards are already trained, equipped and bravely serving their country. And well over 200,000 will be in place by the end of 2005.”

Setting the Record Straight
“Our military is helping to train Iraqi security forces so they can defend their people and take the fight to the enemy. And we’re making steady progress. With every passing month, more and more Iraqi forces are standing up, and the Iraqi military is gaining new capabilities and new confidence. . . . Today, there are nearly 90 Iraqi army battalions fighting the terrorists alongside our forces. American and Iraqi troops are conducting major assaults to clear out enemy fighters in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq. Iraqi police and security forces are helping clear the terrorists from their strongholds, hold on to the areas we’ve cleared, and prevent the enemy from returning. Our strategy can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.”
(President Bush, Remarks On The War On Terror, Anchorage, AK, 11/14/05)

Fact Sheet (ironic, I know) Progress and the Work Ahead in Iraq
“As Iraqis Stand Up, American Forces Will Stand Down. With more Iraqi Security Forces demonstrating the capabilities needed to achieve victory, American commanders have determined that combat forces can decrease from 17 to 15 brigades by the spring of 2006. This adjustment will result in a net decrease of several thousand troops below the pre-election baseline of 138,000. This comes in addition to the reduction of about 20,000 troops in Iraq largely to assist with election security. If Iraqis continue to make security and political progress, the United States expects to discuss with Iraq’s new government further possible adjustments. All the President’s decisions will be based upon conditions on the ground - not artificial timetables set by politicians in Washington.”

Radio Address March 11, 2006
“By their response over the past two weeks and their participation in three successful elections last year, the Iraqi people have made clear they will not let a violent minority take that future away by tearing the country apart. And the Iraqi security forces have shown that they are capable of rising above sectarian divisions to protect the unity of a free Iraq.

The effective performance of the Iraqi security forces during this crisis showed that our hard work to build up and train these forces is paying off. In the coming months, we will help prepare more Iraqi battalions to take the lead in battle, and Iraqi forces will assume responsibility over more territory. Our goal is to have the Iraqis control more territory than the Coalition forces by the end of this year.”

President Bush Discusses Iraq War Supplemental, War on Terror, April 10, 2007
Our troops are also training Iraqis. “In other words, part of the effort is not only to provide security to neighborhoods, but we’re constantly training Iraqis so that they can do this job. The leaders want to do the job. Prime Minister Maliki makes it clear he understands it’s his responsibility. We just want to make sure that when they do the job, they’ve got a force structure that’s capable of doing the job. So that’s why I rely upon our commanders, like General Petraeus, that let me know how well the Iraqis are doing.”

Got that? For four years, we’ve been making incredible progress training Iraqi Security forces so our troops can come home.

Okay. So now for the world as it actually is, away from the dazzling glare of the GW Bush world-the-way-I-want-it-to-be:

General: Iraqi Forces Far From Self-Sufficiency, Washington Post, June 26, 2007
Iraqi forces will not be ready to assume full responsibility for their nation’s security for years, and the U.S. military should be cautious in planning to reduce its 157,000-strong force in Iraq given past setbacks, the American general in charge of the teams that advise Iraqi forces warned yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard, commander of the Iraq Assistance Group, said “it’ll take years” for Iraqi security forces to become self-reliant in protecting the country from internal and foreign threats. He suggested that it will be at least two years before the forces, which number 348,000, can “fully take control” of the situation in Iraq.

And yet, somehow, if you accept President Bush’s narrative, we’re farther away from training sufficient forces than we were when we started. Amazing.