Lautenberg Blasts Bush’s Latest Misleading Iraq Speech

Always blunt and unafraid to challenge the White House, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) didn’t waste much time in blasting President Bush for his speech yesterday at George Washington University, in which, for the umpteenth time, he lied to the American people about the degree of readiness and independence of Iraq’s newly-trained troops.

"I don't see how the President can call the Iraqi security forces a success with a straight face when the Pentagon itself has admitted that there is not even one Iraqi battalion ready to operate independently of U.S. troops,” said Lautenberg in a written statement. “It is time for President Bush to stop the spin and start telling the truth about the harsh realities we are confronting in Iraq."

Lautenberg also made it clear that this is not just one Senator’s opinion.

“Top military brass have in recent weeks disclosed that Iraqi troop levels are not up to speed, contradicting comments by the Bush administration that Iraqi security forces are taking over major operations from American forces.”

Bush has begun another spin-and-deceive speaking tour similar to what he did in December and it appears certain that his March speeches will be as stale and dishonest as his pre-holiday talks were.

And let's hope Democrats like Lautenberg keep calling him on it.