OFFMEN International

Bush stands alone with 'new way forward'advertisement

President George W. Bush on Thursday cut an increasingly lonely and embattled figure as opposition Democrats and fellow Republicans greeted his "new way forward" in Iraq with a barrage of denunciation.

Although Tony Blair, the UK prime minister, said that Mr Bush's plan to send a further 21,500 troops to Iraq "made sense", the US president appeared more isolated than ever before. Republicans pointed to the fact that Mr Bush's address came as the UK plans to announce by the end of next month the withdrawal of about 2,600 troops from Iraq.


"Why is it just the United States that is shouldering this?" said Lisa Murkowski, a Republican senator. "Why is Great Britain withdrawing? Why are we the only ones that are moving forward with this new plan?"

Republican senators who publicly opposed Mr Bush's plan included Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Sam Brownback – both of whom have traditionally backed the White House – in addition to a growing list of Republicans facing 2008 election campaigns.

I find it interesting that England is planning to withdraw troops after Blair was quoted as saying that this "makes sense". I say screw the Brits and Blair!