President Bush is going to admit mistakes in his speech ordering 21,500 more troops to Iraq tonight? The Associated Press says so .
Unveiling his retooled war strategy in a pivotal prime-time address from the White House, the president will acknowledge in unusually stark terms how dire the situation is - because of errors in U.S. assumptions and failures by the government in Iraq to follow through on promises.
The U.S. is changing its goals, switching from a focus on training Iraqi security forces to securing the battered population and decentralizing its reconstruction efforts and economic aid to the seats of the worst violence. Iraqis, meanwhile, will be expected to meet their responsibilities and take the lead in the fighting.
"The Iraqis have to step up," White House counselor Dan Bartlett said.
Bush admitting to mistakes? Mistakes by generals, sure. Mistakes by the United States, uh-huh. Mistakes by his dad? Bill Clinton? No problem. But his mistakes? Come on. George is going to say, "I made poor choices that killed American soldiers?" I failed to listen and hundreds of thousands are now dead and maimed because of my mistakes? I will be astonished if he manages even to squeeze out a royal "we," as in "we made mistakes in Iraq."
I read this story while drinking hot tea with my wife to remedy our worsening colds. It made me think of mcjoan’s comment last night seeking a bet on how many times George says "9/11" tonight. Reepicheep said this might make a good drinking game. Good idea.
I don’t drink, although God knows that George has provoked me often enough to start. However, alcohol isn’t necessary for this game to work. You can drink a sip of tea instead of a shot of whiskey. You can toke if you prefer. You can punch a pillow with George’s face taped to it. Whatever works for you.
What then are the stale words and phrases that will overwhelm any uses of "mistakes" or "errors" tonight? How many times will you have to swig, or sip, or inhale or punch? My choices:
I’ll put up $5 and give 10-1 odds to anyone who suggests the "pottery barn rule." George will never admit he broke anything.
9/11 obviously. Tried and true – Three times at least.
stand down as Iraqis stand up –Two times.
defeat the terrorists – Five times.
winning the war – Five times.
bipartisanship – 20 times.
Democrat in place of Democratic – Three times.
dead Iraqis – Zero times.
artificial timetables – Twice.
I am your commander in chief – Once, with about 50 blinks.
Freedom – Every third sentence.
democracy – Every fourth sentence.
Saddam gassed his own people – Once.
finish the job – Twice.
fight 'em over there so we don't have to fight 'em over here – Once.
Osama bin Laden – hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
If I'm even close to right, anybody who participates in this game is going to have to do tomorrow what my wife did today - call in sick. But every one of George's speeches makes her want to do that.