Bush had a press conference today? First I've heard about it. So, Bush goes for three months without having a press conference, and then he has one in the middle of the day on a Tuesday? Jeez, why not just have it at 3am on Saturday morning, to make extra sure that no one's watching. Nevermind. Let's get to the substance:
Despite Attacks, Bush Sees No Need for More Troops in Iraq by David Stout, New York Times, 10/28/03.
President Bush signaled today that he saw no need for additional United States troops in Iraq, despite the escalating violence there. But he declined to say whether he thought there might be fewer American troops in Iraq a year from now.
"Our purpose is clear and certain," Mr. Bush said at a Rose Garden news conference. "Iraq and Afghanistan will be stable, independent nations, and their people will live in freedom."
I think we can all agree that those are noble and worthy goals. But, as always, the question is how do we achieve them. Here, I think Bush has made some serious mis-steps, and his pathological inability to admit any mistake, despite mountains of evidence, has prevented any substantive shift in policy or strategy.
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