BUSH
I didn't see the speech last night. I was too busy watching the Bears dismantle their opponent, in glee I might add. But I've read about it and the reaction to it and cannot be anything other than pleased.
So many right things were said by Bush. The most striking part of the speech is how clearly and understandably he explained the philosophical position supporting our decision to stay in Iraq and finish the job there. He effectively tied the war to our national security in a way he hasn't done before, and in a way that anyone capable of persuasion on the issue will understand and possibly be in concurrence.
Also, I love that he acknolwedged the position of the other side - those who disagree with the war decision. His most powerful words, or at least the more resonant, were that his decisions have led to terrible loss. But he showed no regret or intention to capitulate.
He even acknowledged the no-WMD, one of the primary bases for the war, and indicated he was wrong on that one. Yet he didn't just stop at saying, "well, we're still better off." No, he explained why we had basis to believe that Saddam had WMD, that the rest of the world believed it, and reminded us that Saddam was in position to stop himself from being invaded.
Bush is never going to finish with a Reaganesque popularity rating. Not in these divisive times in which all kinds of anti-Americanism and dispatriotism are en vouge. Not when there's no longer a baseline for conduct advocating their position and detrimental to America beneath which the mainstream Left will not go.
Still, GWB went a long way toward cementing himself as a stong leader who is willing to make difficult decisions and see them through despite his positions' divisiveness. More importantly, he also sent a message to the terrorists that we have no intention of giving up and that their friends on the Left in America and Europe who want to undermine the war effort by turning public sentiment against the war will not bear on our resolve to finish the job.
In other words, Bush's words were an important triumph in the war in Iraq and larger WOT. Also, they were just as important of a battle win as the 10 million Iraqis risking their lives last week going to the polls and the message the U.S. sent by reducing the certain attempts to thrwart that effort through violence to a mere whimper, demonstrating that we can now control the insurgency when we truly need to.
Dare I say it, but the president certainly saved some lives last night. How many is largely up to us to determine.
So many right things were said by Bush. The most striking part of the speech is how clearly and understandably he explained the philosophical position supporting our decision to stay in Iraq and finish the job there. He effectively tied the war to our national security in a way he hasn't done before, and in a way that anyone capable of persuasion on the issue will understand and possibly be in concurrence.
Also, I love that he acknolwedged the position of the other side - those who disagree with the war decision. His most powerful words, or at least the more resonant, were that his decisions have led to terrible loss. But he showed no regret or intention to capitulate.
He even acknowledged the no-WMD, one of the primary bases for the war, and indicated he was wrong on that one. Yet he didn't just stop at saying, "well, we're still better off." No, he explained why we had basis to believe that Saddam had WMD, that the rest of the world believed it, and reminded us that Saddam was in position to stop himself from being invaded.
Bush is never going to finish with a Reaganesque popularity rating. Not in these divisive times in which all kinds of anti-Americanism and dispatriotism are en vouge. Not when there's no longer a baseline for conduct advocating their position and detrimental to America beneath which the mainstream Left will not go.
Still, GWB went a long way toward cementing himself as a stong leader who is willing to make difficult decisions and see them through despite his positions' divisiveness. More importantly, he also sent a message to the terrorists that we have no intention of giving up and that their friends on the Left in America and Europe who want to undermine the war effort by turning public sentiment against the war will not bear on our resolve to finish the job.
In other words, Bush's words were an important triumph in the war in Iraq and larger WOT. Also, they were just as important of a battle win as the 10 million Iraqis risking their lives last week going to the polls and the message the U.S. sent by reducing the certain attempts to thrwart that effort through violence to a mere whimper, demonstrating that we can now control the insurgency when we truly need to.
Dare I say it, but the president certainly saved some lives last night. How many is largely up to us to determine.
posted by MJS at 10:36 AM
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