Shiite militia seizes control of city of Amarah
Al-Sadr demonstrates again that American boots only control the ground they stand on.
According to AP and the NYT:
"The Shiite militia run by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr seized total control of the southern Iraqi city of Amarah on Friday in one of the boldest acts of defiance yet by one of the country's powerful, unofficial armies, witnesses and police said."
Now Bush says "We have never been stay the course"
From AmericaBlog, and lots of others:
During an interview today on ABC’s This Week, President Bush tried to distance himself from what has been his core strategy in Iraq for the last three years. George Stephanopoulos asked about James Baker’s plan to develop a strategy for Iraq that is “between ’stay the course’ and ‘cut and run.’”
Bush responded, ‘We’ve never been stay the course'
Not discounting the freewill of
the "media" who has been known to do more than 'help a winger out' on numerous occasions - I don't think even Rove can pull sh#$ like that off.
Bush saying, "We've never been stay the course," is akin to Darth Vader saying that he 'never realized his clothes are black'.
Blame it on Bush's failure to fully grasp...
...the nuances of communicating in English. I happened to listen to most of the interview in doing research for my other post. And I think in the context of the question asked Bush was trying to say that he listens to the generals on the ground and when they deem adjustments are needed, they make them. In that context, though he said we've never been "stay the course" I think he was trying to say that they have made adjustments in conducting the war -- that they have not been closed to making adjustments recommended by generals on the ground. He is confusing his own Rovian rhetoric.
At least that is probably what the GOP pundits will say if Bush's remark becomes a point of contention. The whole thing just belies the fact that we have an inarticulate president who butchers the language so bad, so often that he inevitably sounds like an idiot.
In another segment during the interview, Stephanopoulos asked Bush if he has read any of the books written about him, especially, "State of Denial" by Woodward. Bush iterated "No" about three times, even after being asked do you think you could learn anything from them. Bush said it feels "weird" to read about himself. The whole exchange just sounded so immature and unsophisticated. I'm looking for a book myself, "How to Survive an Idiot Presidency." Anybody seen it?
Flying by the seat of my rants...
Eh, who needs the book
...when you can live it.
If anyone wants the rights to my life's tale with this president, I'm giving audience to all serious offers. :)
Sounds like an idiot
Acts as though nothing else and no one else has an existence outside of the Bush mind.
Sane, honor his fortitude, can still maintain reason and thoughtfulness when listening to Bush, and is a better person than I. Though I must confess I have rarely found myself so mentally bound as I am in my position on Bush. I made my judgment about Bush when he first started running in the 2000 primaries, and have had that affirmed with every action and expression of this administration. I am about as open to counterpoint on the Bush topic, as I am on the topic of the flatness of the earth, or the existence of classical Nosferatu.
WH trying to undo "Stay the Course"
Though I said in my previous post that Bush was using their mumbo-jumbo catch phrase "Stay the Course" in a differenct context, it is obvious that the White House is trying to unravel the knot that ties them to that phrase.
Today WH advisor Dan Bartlett said
It's never been a stay-the-course strategy. Strategically, we think it's very important that we stay in Iraq and we win in Iraq. And if we were to cut and run and go and leave that country too early it would be a disaster for American policy.
This latest effort to unring the bell, so to speak, is just indicative of the desparation of the GOP. They have painted themselves into a corner with "Stay the Course" and now they want to bust out the back wall to escape it.
For people who haven't been paying attention (most of America?) it just might work!
Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that half of everybody is stupider than that. --George Carlin
One of the best headlines...
I've seen in a very long time, maybe ever - I even took a screenshot so nobody would think I made it up:
"Bush: Iraq tactics may change, but not strategy"