The Discerning Texan
All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.
-- Edmund Burke
-- Edmund Burke
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
President Bush comes out swinging
Put simply the President was magnificent today in his Press Conference to discuss the Iraq War and other topics. Not only was the President direct and forceful with his answers, he did not back down to mainstream media anachronisms like Helen Thomas.
Today I found myself saying: "Now THAT is my President. From Cybercast News Service:
"We're making progress [in Iraq], and that's important for the American people to understand," President Bush told a news conference on Tuesday. Bush said he called the press conference to tell the American people what's on his mind -- and "what's on my mind is winning the war on terror." But one reporter suggested that the president has been lying all along about his "real reason" for going to war.
"Why did you really want war"
"Why did you really want to go to war, from the moment you stepped into the White House... what was your real reason?" longtime Washington reporter Helen Thomas asked the president at the news conference.
"To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen," Bush responded. "No president wants war." "My attitude about this country changed on Sept. 11," Bush said. After the terror attacks on U.S. soil, Bush said he vowed to use "every asset at my disposal to protect the American people."
Helen Thomas repeatedly interrupted the president as he tried to explain that the Taliban plotted with al Qaeda, and that's why he sent troops to Afghanistan; and that he tried to solve the Iraq problem diplomatically before going to war in that country.President Bush said Americans must understand that Iraq is part of a wider global war on terror: "If I didn't believe we had a plan for victory, I wouldn't leave our troops in harm's way."
No civil war
President Bush said he understands that the Iraq war has produced concern and uncertainty among Americans.
"I'm going to say it again: If I didn't believe we could succeed, we wouldn't be there -- I wouldn't put those kids there. I meet with too many families who have lost a loved one to not be able to look them in the eye and say, 'We're doing the right thing.'
"A democracy in Iraq is going to affect the neighborhood. A democracy in Iraq is going to inspire reformers in a part of the world that is desperate for reformation," Bush said.
He said he would continue to "speak as clearly as I possibly can about the "consequences of success and the consequences of failure -- and why I believe we can succeed."The president said he does not agree with assessments that Iraq has fallen into civil war. The way he sees it, "Iraqis took a look and decided not to go to civil war.
He noted that the army has stayed united; and religious leaders have spoken out against the recent sectarian bloodshed. He said political leaders have committed themselves to move forward on a unity government.
He said the enemy is trying to spread sectarian violence, and it's "obviously something we're going to have to deal with. But I see progress," Bush added. "I believe we're going to succeed. And I understand how tough it is."
President Bush also said Iran must be dealt with "diplomatically, now" -- because if Iran develops a nuclear weapon they could "blackmail the world" -- and "proliferate."
No staff changes
President Bush, asked if he would benefit from changes to his staff, said he is surrounded by people who have placed their country above their self-interest.
"I appreciate their performance and their hard work and they've got my confidence," he said.He said his administration has been remarkably stable, and he said that's been good for the country.
Bush admitted to being dismayed by the government's apparent inability to get hurricane evacuees into thousands of trailers that sit idle. He said he's directed "Chertoff" to get to the bottom of that. (Michael Chertoff is the homeland security secretary.)
And in response to a reporter's question, the president defended Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: I don't believe he should resign. I think he's done a fine job of not only conducting two battles - Afghanistan and Iraq -- but also transforming our military."
What about censure and impeachment?
Asked about recent calls for his censure, President Bush said during these difficult times, the American people expect the debate to be honest and open - without "needless partisanship."
Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, introduced a resolution last week to censure President Bush for allegedly ignoring the Constitution and violating the law with his "domestic spying" program.
On Tuesday, President Bush noted that no one in the Democrat Party has stood up and called for an end to the "terrorist surveillance program." That's what Democrats ought to do, he said:
"They ought to stand up and say the tools we're using to protect the American people shouldn't be used. They ought to take their message to the people - and say 'Vote for me, I promise we're not going to have a terrorist surveillance program. That's what they ought to be doing. That's part of an open and honest debate."
And as far as staying the course in Iraq is concerned, it would be difficult to put it more succinctly than this, from My Spin Zone:
Where do you stand on the war in Iraq? Do you think we should count our losses and pull out? Is it unfair to put our boys and girls in the middle of a "civil war" like Richard Belzer says? Are you ready to give up?
"The terrorists haven't given up. They're tough-minded. They like to kill. There will be more tough fighting ahead."That's what the President says...
"I'm optimistic we'll succeed. If not, I'd pull our troops out."
"So failure in Iraq, which isn't going to happen, would send all kinds of terrible signals to an enemy that wants to hurt us and people who are desperate to change the condition in the broader Middle East."
How can anyone argue against this point? How can anyone deny that if we pull out, if we allow Iraq to fall apart and fall to those that would love to destroy us, that we would be worse off? How can anyone choose anything short of total victory in Iraq?
By total victory I mean a stable Iraq, able to serve as a strong and self sufficient ally in the war on terror, capable of maintaining it's sovereignty and keeping Al Qaeda and the like away.
My view is that our war on terror now has three main fronts; Iraq, Afghanistan, and here at home. The first two are obvious, but understand this war is being fought militarily in many places across the globe in quiet Jack Bauer-esque ways. But the third main front, the war at home maybe the most important part of this war. Since the war started, my friends on the left have called for a "healthy debate" on how the war is being prosecuted and why it happened in the first place. They stated that a "healthy debate" was healthy for the country and the war effort, and that to debate the issue did not make you less patriotic. Well now the President is acknowledging some short comings, admitting that he can see where the American people can be increasingly concerned.
"Listen, every war plan looks good on paper until you meet the enemy," Bush said, acknowledging mistakes as the United States was forced to switch tactics and change a reconstruction strategy that offered targets for insurgents.
"I understand war creates concerns," the president said. "Nobody likes war. It creates a sense of uncertainty in the country."
He is opening the door to "healthy debate" but he is standing firm to the overall goal in Iraq, VICTORY. Any arguement for anything less than victory makes no sense to me at all.
"Their objective for driving us out of Iraq is to have a place from which to launch their campaign to overthrow moderate governments in the Middle East, as well as to continue attacking places like the United States," Bush said.
How can you not see that as the truth? How can you not see that we must continue, and we must succeed? If he loses all support for this war, all the efforts of our troops and agents around the world will be for nothing.
"Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed." -- August 21, 1858 - Abraham Lincoln
Today I found myself saying: "Now THAT is my President. From Cybercast News Service:
"We're making progress [in Iraq], and that's important for the American people to understand," President Bush told a news conference on Tuesday. Bush said he called the press conference to tell the American people what's on his mind -- and "what's on my mind is winning the war on terror." But one reporter suggested that the president has been lying all along about his "real reason" for going to war.
"Why did you really want war"
"Why did you really want to go to war, from the moment you stepped into the White House... what was your real reason?" longtime Washington reporter Helen Thomas asked the president at the news conference.
"To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen," Bush responded. "No president wants war." "My attitude about this country changed on Sept. 11," Bush said. After the terror attacks on U.S. soil, Bush said he vowed to use "every asset at my disposal to protect the American people."
Helen Thomas repeatedly interrupted the president as he tried to explain that the Taliban plotted with al Qaeda, and that's why he sent troops to Afghanistan; and that he tried to solve the Iraq problem diplomatically before going to war in that country.President Bush said Americans must understand that Iraq is part of a wider global war on terror: "If I didn't believe we had a plan for victory, I wouldn't leave our troops in harm's way."
No civil war
President Bush said he understands that the Iraq war has produced concern and uncertainty among Americans.
"I'm going to say it again: If I didn't believe we could succeed, we wouldn't be there -- I wouldn't put those kids there. I meet with too many families who have lost a loved one to not be able to look them in the eye and say, 'We're doing the right thing.'
"A democracy in Iraq is going to affect the neighborhood. A democracy in Iraq is going to inspire reformers in a part of the world that is desperate for reformation," Bush said.
He said he would continue to "speak as clearly as I possibly can about the "consequences of success and the consequences of failure -- and why I believe we can succeed."The president said he does not agree with assessments that Iraq has fallen into civil war. The way he sees it, "Iraqis took a look and decided not to go to civil war.
He noted that the army has stayed united; and religious leaders have spoken out against the recent sectarian bloodshed. He said political leaders have committed themselves to move forward on a unity government.
He said the enemy is trying to spread sectarian violence, and it's "obviously something we're going to have to deal with. But I see progress," Bush added. "I believe we're going to succeed. And I understand how tough it is."
President Bush also said Iran must be dealt with "diplomatically, now" -- because if Iran develops a nuclear weapon they could "blackmail the world" -- and "proliferate."
No staff changes
President Bush, asked if he would benefit from changes to his staff, said he is surrounded by people who have placed their country above their self-interest.
"I appreciate their performance and their hard work and they've got my confidence," he said.He said his administration has been remarkably stable, and he said that's been good for the country.
Bush admitted to being dismayed by the government's apparent inability to get hurricane evacuees into thousands of trailers that sit idle. He said he's directed "Chertoff" to get to the bottom of that. (Michael Chertoff is the homeland security secretary.)
And in response to a reporter's question, the president defended Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: I don't believe he should resign. I think he's done a fine job of not only conducting two battles - Afghanistan and Iraq -- but also transforming our military."
What about censure and impeachment?
Asked about recent calls for his censure, President Bush said during these difficult times, the American people expect the debate to be honest and open - without "needless partisanship."
Sen. Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, introduced a resolution last week to censure President Bush for allegedly ignoring the Constitution and violating the law with his "domestic spying" program.
On Tuesday, President Bush noted that no one in the Democrat Party has stood up and called for an end to the "terrorist surveillance program." That's what Democrats ought to do, he said:
"They ought to stand up and say the tools we're using to protect the American people shouldn't be used. They ought to take their message to the people - and say 'Vote for me, I promise we're not going to have a terrorist surveillance program. That's what they ought to be doing. That's part of an open and honest debate."
And as far as staying the course in Iraq is concerned, it would be difficult to put it more succinctly than this, from My Spin Zone:
Where do you stand on the war in Iraq? Do you think we should count our losses and pull out? Is it unfair to put our boys and girls in the middle of a "civil war" like Richard Belzer says? Are you ready to give up?
"The terrorists haven't given up. They're tough-minded. They like to kill. There will be more tough fighting ahead."That's what the President says...
"I'm optimistic we'll succeed. If not, I'd pull our troops out."
"So failure in Iraq, which isn't going to happen, would send all kinds of terrible signals to an enemy that wants to hurt us and people who are desperate to change the condition in the broader Middle East."
How can anyone argue against this point? How can anyone deny that if we pull out, if we allow Iraq to fall apart and fall to those that would love to destroy us, that we would be worse off? How can anyone choose anything short of total victory in Iraq?
By total victory I mean a stable Iraq, able to serve as a strong and self sufficient ally in the war on terror, capable of maintaining it's sovereignty and keeping Al Qaeda and the like away.
My view is that our war on terror now has three main fronts; Iraq, Afghanistan, and here at home. The first two are obvious, but understand this war is being fought militarily in many places across the globe in quiet Jack Bauer-esque ways. But the third main front, the war at home maybe the most important part of this war. Since the war started, my friends on the left have called for a "healthy debate" on how the war is being prosecuted and why it happened in the first place. They stated that a "healthy debate" was healthy for the country and the war effort, and that to debate the issue did not make you less patriotic. Well now the President is acknowledging some short comings, admitting that he can see where the American people can be increasingly concerned.
"Listen, every war plan looks good on paper until you meet the enemy," Bush said, acknowledging mistakes as the United States was forced to switch tactics and change a reconstruction strategy that offered targets for insurgents.
"I understand war creates concerns," the president said. "Nobody likes war. It creates a sense of uncertainty in the country."
He is opening the door to "healthy debate" but he is standing firm to the overall goal in Iraq, VICTORY. Any arguement for anything less than victory makes no sense to me at all.
"Their objective for driving us out of Iraq is to have a place from which to launch their campaign to overthrow moderate governments in the Middle East, as well as to continue attacking places like the United States," Bush said.
How can you not see that as the truth? How can you not see that we must continue, and we must succeed? If he loses all support for this war, all the efforts of our troops and agents around the world will be for nothing.
"Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed." -- August 21, 1858 - Abraham Lincoln
