"Return on Success" Added to Official GOP Iraq Talking Points
In his speech to the nation Thursday night, President Bush unveiled the latest official White House talking point on Iraq. Destined for regurgitation from reliable Republican mouthpieces is "Return on Success." That business sounding jargon from our first - and failed - MBA president is designed to reassure the American people that after our troops fight them there, they can come home here:
The principle guiding my decisions on troop levels in Iraq is "return on success." The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home.
Here, then, is the newly updated list of official GOP Iraq Talking Points.
Current GOP Talking Points
The following GOP Iraq talking points appear to still be in use:
- "Return on Success"
- "We're Making Progress"
- ""(Debate is a) Political Stunt"
- "(Even Discussing Withdrawal Contingency Plans) Reinforces Enemy Propaganda"
- "The Surge Has Just Started"
- "Precipitous Withdrawal"
- "Support Our Troops"
- "Surrender Date"
- "White Flag"
- "Micromanage the War"
- "Embolden the Enemy"
- "How Can Congress Confirm General Petraeus But Oppose His Mission?"
- "Don't Tell the Generals How to Run the War"
- "Handcuffing Our Generals"
- "Follow Us Home"
- "Islamofascists"
- "Mixed Messages (to Syria)"
- "Mixed Messages (to the Troops)"
- "Mixed Messages (to Iraq)"
- "Slow Bleed"
- "Surge"
- "The World is Safer Without Saddam"
- "Saddam Killed His Own People"
- "Pre-9/11 Worldview/Mindset"
- "Cut and Run"
- "As They Stand up, We'll Stand Down"
- "Govern Itself, Defend Itself and Sustain Itself"
- "Better to Fight Them There Than Here"
- "It's Hard Work"
- "Slam Dunk"
- Al Qaeda Link: "Al Qaeda was Present in Iraq"
- "Freedom is God's Gift to Humanity"
- "Iraq is the Central Front in the Global War on Terror"
No Longer in Use
Many other Iraq sound bites of yore, however, have mercifully ended up on the dustbin of history.
- "Augmentation"
- "Wait Til September"
- "New Way Forward"
- "Adapting to Win"
- "Stay the Course"
- "Turning the Corner"
- "Fresh Eyes"
- "Last Throes"
- "Purple Fingers"
- "Rewriting History (is Irresponsible)"
- "(Saddad Was) An Ally of Al Qaeda"
- 9/11 Link: "Pretty Well Confirmed (Atta Went to Prague)"
- "Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism"
- "Uranium in Africa"
- "Pay for Itself"
- "Mission Accomplished"
- "Imminent Threat"
- "Gathering Threat"
- "Greeted as Liberators"
- "Smoking Gun, Mushroom Cloud"
- "Weapons of Mass Destruction"
- "Axis of Evil"
For a look back at the changing Top 10 GOP sound bites over time, visit the archives here. And to access a repository of all the key Iraq war intelligence documents, commission reports, key memos, essential analyses and other required reading, visit the Perrspectives Iraq WMD and Intelligence Resource Center.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry...
"It's hard work." An oldie but a goodie.