fontman
06-15-06, 08:35 AM
Bush issues his strongest statement yet to defend staying in Iraq
NewsDayDotCom
June 15, 2006
President George W. Bush, clearly buoyed by positive developments in Iraq and his lightning-fast trip to Baghdad, gave an impassioned defense of his policy to stay the course there in his Rose Garden press conference yesterday. It was one of his most articulate, rational arguments for not withdrawing troops from Iraq at this point.
There is good reason for Bush to feel better about what is happening after months of unrelenting bad news. The formation of a full government following months of infighting, indicating that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is tougher than many had believed, and the elimination of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are all positive developments.
No doubt Bush and his political advisers are tying to reverse his political fortunes with the trip, the weekend Camp David retreat on future Iraq policy and now this upbeat press conference. The political picture for Bush and the Republicans has been bleak heading into November's mid-term elections, and Iraq was the force driving down his and the party's poll numbers.
But there is more to Bush's performance yesterday than party politics. His presidency, his place in history and the role of the United States in the world are riding on how Iraq turns out. The Democrats can bash Bush all they want, but a positive - or less than disastrous - outcome in Iraq is still very much in this nation's interest.
What was important about yesterday's press conference is that Bush gave the best argument to date for not giving up the battle to turn Iraq into a relatively stable, possibly even democratic nation. There are enough signs of progress that it's too soon to throw in the towel.
"I understand how tough it is for the American people to reconcile death on their TV screens when the president's saying we're making incremental progress. ... But what I hope they understand is how important it is we succeed in Iraq, that the country is more dangerous - the world is more dangerous - if we don't succeed," he said.
While Bush's critics, including this page, have repeatedly pointed out the colossal mistakes his administration has made in Iraq, the issue now is whether there's still a chance to achieve the goals Bush talked about yesterday: a nation that can provide security and the other fundamentals of a civilized life for its citizens. Clearly, the administration has learned from its early errors, even if the president has been loath to admit mistakes. Military tactics have evolved. And there is now a fully elected government with a constitution in place.
Bush is right. It is not time to give up.
NewsDayDotCom
June 15, 2006
President George W. Bush, clearly buoyed by positive developments in Iraq and his lightning-fast trip to Baghdad, gave an impassioned defense of his policy to stay the course there in his Rose Garden press conference yesterday. It was one of his most articulate, rational arguments for not withdrawing troops from Iraq at this point.
There is good reason for Bush to feel better about what is happening after months of unrelenting bad news. The formation of a full government following months of infighting, indicating that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is tougher than many had believed, and the elimination of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are all positive developments.
No doubt Bush and his political advisers are tying to reverse his political fortunes with the trip, the weekend Camp David retreat on future Iraq policy and now this upbeat press conference. The political picture for Bush and the Republicans has been bleak heading into November's mid-term elections, and Iraq was the force driving down his and the party's poll numbers.
But there is more to Bush's performance yesterday than party politics. His presidency, his place in history and the role of the United States in the world are riding on how Iraq turns out. The Democrats can bash Bush all they want, but a positive - or less than disastrous - outcome in Iraq is still very much in this nation's interest.
What was important about yesterday's press conference is that Bush gave the best argument to date for not giving up the battle to turn Iraq into a relatively stable, possibly even democratic nation. There are enough signs of progress that it's too soon to throw in the towel.
"I understand how tough it is for the American people to reconcile death on their TV screens when the president's saying we're making incremental progress. ... But what I hope they understand is how important it is we succeed in Iraq, that the country is more dangerous - the world is more dangerous - if we don't succeed," he said.
While Bush's critics, including this page, have repeatedly pointed out the colossal mistakes his administration has made in Iraq, the issue now is whether there's still a chance to achieve the goals Bush talked about yesterday: a nation that can provide security and the other fundamentals of a civilized life for its citizens. Clearly, the administration has learned from its early errors, even if the president has been loath to admit mistakes. Military tactics have evolved. And there is now a fully elected government with a constitution in place.
Bush is right. It is not time to give up.