"The last time President Bush delivered a prime-time address from the Oval Office was the night he launched the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, back when he expected a decisive victory and gratitude from a liberated people. Thirty-three months and more than 2,100 U.S. fatalities later, Bush last night was still predicting victory -- but sounding a more subdued note.
As he stared again into the cameras from behind the 125-year-old presidential desk named Resolute, Bush this time found himself arguing with those who "conclude that the war is lost." The president who enjoyed strong public support as he fired the first missiles at Baghdad was by last night chastened by the subsequent travails on the battlefield abroad and the political freefall at home".
So begins an interesting analysis [in the Washington Post here]of George Bushs' talk to the nation from the Oval Office.
Whether it is a true shift in Bushs' views is questionable. It all smacks too much of spin in the way the speech has been delivered. Bear in mind that Bush needs to recapture some credibility if his presidency isn't to sink like a stone. Meanwhile, of course, good ol' Dick Cheney is in Iraq geeing up the troops - and the Administation still insists that George can break the law by eavesdropping on people.
The Americans are now even being told [conned more likely!] that had the US been able to listen in on people 9/11 would have been avoided. That sits rather oddly with such reports as have come out how poorly the intelligence network in the US was operating. Even things that blind-freddy ought to have picked up on were simply either overlooked, ignored or not even on the radar of the CIA or FBI.
As he stared again into the cameras from behind the 125-year-old presidential desk named Resolute, Bush this time found himself arguing with those who "conclude that the war is lost." The president who enjoyed strong public support as he fired the first missiles at Baghdad was by last night chastened by the subsequent travails on the battlefield abroad and the political freefall at home".
So begins an interesting analysis [in the Washington Post here]of George Bushs' talk to the nation from the Oval Office.
Whether it is a true shift in Bushs' views is questionable. It all smacks too much of spin in the way the speech has been delivered. Bear in mind that Bush needs to recapture some credibility if his presidency isn't to sink like a stone. Meanwhile, of course, good ol' Dick Cheney is in Iraq geeing up the troops - and the Administation still insists that George can break the law by eavesdropping on people.
The Americans are now even being told [conned more likely!] that had the US been able to listen in on people 9/11 would have been avoided. That sits rather oddly with such reports as have come out how poorly the intelligence network in the US was operating. Even things that blind-freddy ought to have picked up on were simply either overlooked, ignored or not even on the radar of the CIA or FBI.
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