Bush told our troops they could "return on success"

Unfortunately for our troops, the Great Terrorist Killer and Commander-Decider-In-Chief™ hasn't figured out, in five long years of war, how to "win":

Was Bush honest about saying US troops would "return on success"?

The withdrawals Bush claimed credit for Thursday (which must continue through July) are mathematically dictated by the end of 15-month tours (shorter for Marines) and the fact the US cannot replace them without significantly reducing commitments in other theaters (e.g., Afghanistan, which Adm. Mullen says is in trouble). "Success" had nothing to do with these withdrawals, a deception some in the media usually fail to mention.

Petraeus would surely ask for extra troops to make the surge gains less "fragile and reversible" if there were any troops to send. But he hasn't. General Cody and Colin Powell explain why. The Pentagon is already breaking its promise not to overuse the National Guard.

Bush also said he was "reducing the number of combat brigades by 25 percent" -- but without noting that in 2007 he increased the number by 33 percent. The President thinks Americans can't count or remember.

And here's a response to this idiocy by our newest member of Congress, and my new fave who has guts to say it - Jackie Speier:

“History will not judge us kindly if we sacrifice four generations of Americans because of the folly of one,” she said.

Some Republicans booed. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, walked out of the chamber. Speier, an 18-year state legislator known for taking on tough issues and interests, was nonplussed at the mini-controversy.

“The truth is, I think it was a minority of Republicans that were booing - and they represent a minority of Americans who still support the war,” Speier said by phone Thursday.