memeorandum: Matthews: Bush's claim of '36 countries' in Iraq is 'ludicrous.' (Think Progress)

3:25 AM ET, September 14, 2007

Top Items:

Text of the President's Address — Following is the prepared text of President Bush's address on Iraq, as provided by the White House: — THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. In the life of all free nations, there come moments that decide the direction of a country and reveal the character of its people.

Discussion: The Politico, The Moderate Voice, AlterNet.org, Associated Press, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Guardian, Yahoo! News, Los Angeles Times, Right Wing Nut House, Brilliant at Breakfast, Truthdig, Flopping Aces and PoliBlog (TM)

The Politico:

Bush speech to the nation: advance excerpts — Here are excerpts of the prepared text of President Bush's 9 p.m. Iraq address from the Oval Office, as released by the White House for use on dinnertime newscasts: — On keeping us safe here at home: — In Iraq, an ally of the United States is fighting for its survival.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, The Moderate Voice, Taylor Marsh, Think Progress, FP Passport, New York Times, AMERICAblog, Truthdig and Sister Toldjah

Marc Lynch / American Prospect:

Sunni World — The cheerleaders for the surge have constructed a Disney-esque fantasy of Iraq which might as well be in Orlando for all it has to do with the grim reality on the ground. And Abu Risha's assassination isn't likely to dim that fantasy. — During his visit to Iraq last week …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Donklephant, Think Progress, Abu Aardvark, Obsidian Wings, Daily Kos, Ezra Klein, TPMmuckraker, The Next Hurrah and American Footprints

Think Progress:

Matthews: Bush's claim of '36 countries' in Iraq is 'ludicrous.' — In his address to the nation tonight, President Bush said, "To the international community: The success of a free Iraq matters to every civilized nation. We thank the 36 nations who have troops on the ground in Iraq …

Discussion: Associated Press, Talking Points Memo, The Democratic Daily and Liberal Values

Fox News:

Bush to Order 5,700 Troops Home from Iraq by End of Year — WASHINGTON — President Bush plans to reduce troop levels in Iraq by 5,700 by the end of December, and wants to draw down from 20 combat brigades there now to 15 brigades there by next summer, Bush said in a preview of his speech with network anchors Thursday.

Washington Post:

Bush Tells Nation He Will Begin to Roll Back 'Surge' — Gen. Petraeus Says U.S. Is Projecting 'Sustainable Security' in Iraq in 2009 — President Bush tried to turn a corner in the fractious debate over Iraq last night by ordering the first limited troop withdrawals since voters elected an antiwar Congress last year.

Discussion: The Gun Toting Liberal™

ABCNEWS:
Bush Appeals to Nation on Iraq

Discussion: MSNBC, New York Times, Think Progress and On Deadline

Democrats.senate.gov:
Senator Jack Reed Responds To President Bush's Address On Iraq

Discussion: MyDD

Obama'08:
Obama Responds to President Bush's Address on Iraq

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, MyDD, Taylor Marsh and Gateway Pundit

Mark Silva / The Swamp:
Bush: 'Success' means some soldiers come home

Discussion: New York Times

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Open thread: Bush's speech on Iraq; Update: "An enduring relationship" …

Discussion: michellemalkin.com and Riehl World View

CNN:
'Come together' on Iraq war, Bush urges

Discussion: Think Progress, The Gavel and Firedoglake

The Corner:
Speech Excerpts

Discussion: Vox Popoli

Pundit Review Radio / BLACKFIVE:

COMPLAINT FILED WITH FEC OVER BETRAY US AD — Guess what I did at lunch? That's right, I petitioned my government for redress of grievances, specifically illegal political advertising practices by the New York Times and MoveOn.org. We are all well aware of the sorry political advertisement calling the General a traitor.

Sam Youngman / The Hill:
Giuliani demands MoveOn's New York Times ad rate

Discussion: New York Times, Gawker and Chronicle of the Conspiracy

Kathryn Jean Lopez / The Corner:
MoveOn Story Doesn't Pass the Smell Test

Discussion: BLACKFIVE, The Democratic Daily and Romenesko

Shannon McCaffrey / Associated Press:
Giuliani: Clinton smeared Gen. Petraeus

Discussion: Blue Crab Boulevard and National Review

Lindsay Renick Mayer / Capital Eye:

The Other Iraq Surge — A sharp increase in contributions from the military to Democrats suggests the Republican commander-in-chief and his party are losing the troops' support. — Assessed favorably this week by the war's lead general, the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq appears to be causing …

Discussion: Boston Globe, Comments From Left Field, The Caucus, The Carpetbagger Report, Weekly Standard, The New Republic, The Impolitic, Rook's Rant, TPM Election Central and Cliff Schecter

Brendan Farrington / Associated Press:

Thompson gives no opinion on Schiavo — THE VILLAGES, Fla. - Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson gave no opinion Thursday when asked about efforts by President Bush and Congress to keep Terri Schiavo alive, saying he does not remember details of the right-to-die case that stirred national debate.

Discussion: D-Day and BartBlog

George Bennett / Q: The Florida Politics Blog: FRED: NOT SURE ABOUT NATIONAL CAT FUND, SCHIAVO

John Bresnahan / The Politico:

Boehner hammered over Iraq 'small price' comment — Democrats, anti-war groups and liberal bloggers are pounding on House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) for saying U.S. military deaths in Iraq are "a small price" to pay to stop al Qaeda from carrying out more terrorist attacks and stabilizing the Middle East.

Discussion: Horses Mouth, The Caucus and Talking Points Memo

Matt / Think Progress:
Boehner misleadingly responds to 'small price' criticism.

Discussion: TPM Election Central and TIME: Swampland

Brian Ross Reports / The Blotter:

Clinton, Pelosi, Greenspan, Bloomberg, Gates, Annan Also Say Interviews 'Fakes' — Brian Ross Reports: — Former President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates …

Discussion: War and Piece, CANNONFIRE, On Deadline, NYT, Right Wing Nut House, The Newshoggers, TVNewser, Attytood, MoJoBlog and Romenesko

Hindrocket / Power Line:

WOULD-BE TERRORIST CAPTURED IN DEARBORN — In a story that has gotten amazingly little national publicity, a medical student at Wayne State University named Houssein Zorkot was arrested in Dearborn Saturday night, dressed for combat and armed with an AK-47: … This report by a local television station is also interesting:

Discussion: Atlas Shrugs, Homeland Security … and Little Green Footballs

The Atlantic Online:

A Tale of Two Maps — I've lifted both of the graphics you'll see below and the core of the argument from this Ilan Goldenberg post, so all credit for the work is due to him, I just don't think he made the point as clearly as he should have. To get to the heart of the matter …

Discussion: democracyarsenal.org, Los Angeles Times, Middle Earth Journal and Beautiful Horizons

RIA Novosti:

U.S. develops 14-ton super bomb, bigger than Russian vacuum bomb — The U.S. has a 14-ton super bomb more destructive than the vacuum bomb just tested by Russia, a U.S. general said Wednesday. — The statement was made by retired Lt. General McInerney, chairman of the Iran Policy Committee …

Discussion: Op For