memeorandum: Promising Troops Where They Aren't Really Wanted (New York Times)

10:05 AM ET, January 11, 2007

Top Items:

EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY: ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION — Good evening. Tonight in Iraq, the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in a struggle that will determine the direction of the global war on terror - and our safety here at home.

New York Times:

Promising Troops Where They Aren't Really Wanted — As President Bush challenges public opinion at home by committing more American troops, he is confronted by a paradox: an Iraqi government that does not really want them. — The Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Defense Tech, The News Blog, Brilliant at Breakfast, Outside The Beltway, Wonkette, The Heretik, TPMmuckraker, Daily Kos, Matthew Yglesias and The RBC

White House:

The President's New Iraq Strategy Is Rooted In Six Fundamental Elements: — Create space for political progress; — Diversify political and economic efforts; and — Iraq Could Not Be Graver - The War On Terror Cannot Be Won If We Fail In Iraq. Our enemies throughout the Middle East are trying to defeat us in Iraq.

Associated Press:

Iraq PM cracks down in Shiite militiamen — BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's prime minister has told Shiite militiamen to surrender their weapons or face an all-out assault, part of a commitment U.S. President George W. Bush outlined to bring violence under control with a more aggressive Iraqi Army and 21,500 additional American troops.

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Michelle Malkin, Right Wing Nut House, Riehl World View and The Jawa Report

Jonathan Karl / ABCNEWS:

Troop Surge Already Under Way — 90 Advance Troops from 82nd Airborne Arrive in Baghdad — President Bush's speech may be scheduled for tonight, but the troop surge in Iraq is already under way. — ABC News has learned that the "surge" Bush is expected to announce in a prime time speech tonight has already begun.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Taylor Marsh, Redstate, PBD, Hardblogger, Wake up America, The Democratic Daily, Sirotablog, TalkLeft, Outside The Beltway, Firedoglake, Wonkette, Tennessee Guerilla Women and Donklephant

David E. Sanger / New York Times:

Bush Adds Troops in Bid to Secure Iraq — President Bush embraced a major tactical shift on Wednesday evening in the war in Iraq when he declared that the only way to quell sectarian violence there was to send more than 20,000 additional American troops into combat.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, FP Passport and Jon Swift

Howard Fineman / Newsweek:

A Crisis of Confidence — Bush's way forward may be sensible. But his face showed fear—and that's no way to rally a war-weary nation. — George W. Bush spoke with all the confidence of a perp in a police lineup. I first interviewed the guy in 1987 and began covering his political rise in 1993 …

Discussion: CorrenteWire, PSoTD, Blue Crab Boulevard, Tennessee Guerilla Women and The RBC

Matt Stearns / Wichita Eagle:
Brownback opposes sending more troops to Iraq

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, Liberal Values and AMERICAblog

William M. Arkin / Early Warning:
War With Syria and Iran = Peace With Iraq?

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Unqualified Offerings, LiberalOasis and Brilliant at Breakfast

Washington Post:
Intensified Combat on Streets Likely

Discussion: The Heretik

John Amato / Crooks and Liars:
Olbermann: A Look Backward at the Commander's Credibility

Discussion: ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES

Terence Hunt / Associated Press:
Bush takes blame in Iraq, adds troops

Discussion: Shakespeare's Sister

Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
Bush's Strategy for Iraq Risks Confrontations

Discussion: USA Today, BAGnewsNotes and PoliPundit.com

Juan / Informed Comment:
Bush Sends GIs to his Private Fantasyland

Discussion: American Footprints

Dan Froomkin / Washington Post:
A Change in Tactics, Not Strategy

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Gun Toting Liberal ™, The Mahablog, Liberal Values, slacktivist, Citizens Blogging … and The Democratic Daily

Washington Post:
Bush to Add 20,000 Troops In an Effort to Stabilize Iraq

Discussion: Newsweek, Peaktalk and The Heretik

CNN:
Bush blames failure to secure Baghdad on lack of troops

Discussion: Dean's World, Hullabaloo, Big Brass Blog, Harry's Place, Blogs of War, the talking dog, Unclaimed Territory and The Reaction

Washington Post:

Democrats Aim to Block Funds for Plan — Senior House Democrats said yesterday that they will attempt to derail funding for President Bush's proposal to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq, setting up what could become the most significant confrontation between the White House and Congress …

Discussion: NY Daily News, The Strata-Sphere, MyDD, AMERICAblog, Think Progress, Sirotablog, Swampland and DownWithTyranny!

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Bush's surge speech; Update: Hillary opposes surge; Update …

Discussion: huffingtonpost.com

Bryan / Hot Air:

On Patrol in Baghdad; Update: Photos posted at Michelle's site — Michelle and I are embedded with a unit in Baghdad that's responsible for the "standing up" part of the US plan to get Iraq ready to become master of its own destiny. This unit trains Iraqi army and police …

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, Blogs of War and Gateway Pundit

Michelle Malkin:

In the slums of Baghdad — My Hot Air colleague Bryan Preston and I have been in Iraq, embedded with an incredibly dedicated Army unit in Baghdad tasked with training Iraqi security forces (both Shia and Sunni) conducting counterinsurgency operations, and carrying out civil affairs work.

Discussion: Sister Toldjah, Mensa Barbie Welcomes You and Don Surber

Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit.com:

The Glenn and Helen Show: Mitt Romney on the War, the Campaign and the Future — Mitt Romney has officially declared his interest in the 2008 Presidential election. In this interview, he responds to a controversial YouTube video about his positions on abortion and other social issues …

Discussion: Hot Air, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, ElephantBiz, Power Line, Ace of Spades HQ, BuzzMachine and Captain's Quarters

Rick Klein / Boston Globe: Old Romney debate clip is now a hit on the Web

Avi Issacharoff / Reuters:

Hamas denies Meshal said group would recognize Israel — Hamas denied Wednesday that its Damascus-based political leader Khaled Meshal told Reuters in an interview that his group would consider recognizing Israel once a Palestinian state is established. (Click here for the full interview)

Discussion: The RBC, Little Green Footballs and It Shines For All

Richard Beeston / Times of London:
Hamas leader accepts the 'reality' of Israel

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Tammy Bruce

Dennis Conrad / Associated Press:

Most in Democratic field want troop cuts — WASHINGTON - The growing field of Democratic presidential candidates is almost uniformly in favor of reducing the U.S. troop presence in Iraq — the reverse of President Bush's plan. Most Republicans stand behind Bush.

Janet Hook / Los Angeles Times: Throwing their stance in the ring

RADAR:

DLC TAPS HAROLD FORD AS NEXT CHAIR — Young, black, and good-looking, Harold Ford is the kind of comer that the Democratic Party latches onto. But last November, after losing the closest Senate race in Tennessee history to Republican Bob Corker, the 10-year congressman suddenly found himself out of a job.

Discussion: Daily Kos

Alan Sipress / Washington Post:

Too Casual To Sit on Press Row? — Bloggers' Credentials Boosted With Seats at the Libby Trial — When the trial of Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice opens next week, scores of journalists are expected to throng the federal courtroom …

Discussion: TalkLeft, Outside The Beltway, Blue Crab Boulevard and Romenesko