As I said I would, I’m chipping in my two cents on some old news here.
I was a little bit annoyed by this. I understand the President is on his way out and wants to protect his legacy, soften his historical image, blah blah blah. I don’t understand why.
You know what? I don’t regret it. Bush’s tone was perfect at the time he used it. We were (and are) a nation facing a tough enemy on multiple fronts, and the Commander in Cheif of the toughest Army in the world needs to be a tough man when dealing with tough situations.
Imagine this:
I regret the tone I took when I stated: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.” I think that in retrospect I could have used a different tone, a different rhetoric. I didn’t want to give the world the impression I was a guy really anxious for war.
-Something never said by Winston Churchill
Granted, the President isn’t as skilled with his words as the Prime Minister, but he DID have the right tone. In retrospect, al Qaeda is close to finished, Libya abandoned its pursuit of nukes, Saddam is hanged, Mullah Omar hasn’t been heard from in over a year, North Korea is at least pretending to get rid of its nukes (hey, it’s a step), and that kook in Iran is digging himself into a hole from which he won’t ever get out. Hey, even France is on board with us for that one. Why the regret?
Thanks, NR, I agree completely. I wonder if the Pres has any idea how many people have soured on him because he did not go far enough fast enough, with more troops, more focus on victory and less on rules of engagement, and stopped communicating with the American people.
We’re in truble in Afghanistan.
“trouble”
2,484 days and we still haven’t caught the guy.
4,000 Americans dead including uncounted innocent Iraqis, ~$1T spent, a world who hates us. We could have done a far better job by just putting what we had into Afghanistan. Bin Laden captured, few casualties, done. Over. Troops back home.
The right tone? Are you seriously trying to compare George Bush, who was fighting a petty bully, for no particular reason, to Winston Churchill who was fighting the German war machine?
Are you trying to compare one of the great inspirational speeches of all time to “bring ‘em on”?
I didn’t know we had troops in North Korea and Libya? And we’re the only ones in the world who care what “the kook” says. Everyone else seems to know that he’s a figurehead with no power. Not us, though, we challenge him as though he’s the second coming of Adolf.
I’ve heard of apologists before, but c’mon. Get real. We’ve had more than enough corruption and foolishness in this administration. It’s nice to know out of all the stupid things they’ve done, at least Bush feels regret about SOMEthing. It’s a start.
NR,
If you have never “felt” Sanity? before, this is a prime example. He is pretty good for running stats on how long the war is going on and how many AMERICAN dead.
I agree. Bush should never apologize for what he did or said. That’s what a legacy is all about-doing what you believe is right. History will sort it out. Who ever thought Al Gore would turn out to be the hero on the environment he is. What’s that? History hasn’t reached the final result on that one yet? Fair enough.
“4,000 Americans dead including uncounted innocent Iraqis” ????
You cannot include Iraqis, counted or uncounted, in a count of American dead.
“2,484 days and we still haven’t caught the guy.”
A great deal more if you include the 8 years of Clinton..
“We’re in trouble in Afghanistan.”
No, we are not. The Taliban is doing all they can to be a pain, but they absolutely do not have the ability to retake the country. A prison break and a takeover of a few insignificant villages gains them nothing more than a psychological success. They have gained nothing strategically or tactically, and will run without a fight when they are challenged. They are just about out of steam. The people of their home country do not support them, and every time they force themselves on the locals, they lose even more moral support.
“2,484 days and we still haven’t caught the guy.”
Maybe not, but he and his organization have yet to pull off another successful attack on American soil. Moreover, he is probably dead. Standby for more on that.
“Are you trying to compare one of the great inspirational speeches of all time to “bring ‘em on”?”
No, I specifically stated Bush wasn’t as good with his words.
“Are you seriously trying to compare George Bush, who was fighting a petty bully, for no particular reason, to Winston Churchill who was fighting the German war machine?”
Yes. And our current enemy is no petty bully.
“I didn’t know we had troops in North Korea and Libya?”
We don’t. There’s a little thing called “diplomacy” that we’ve been using there. It works a lot better when you’re in a position of power…Like right after you just crushed two other countries who had it coming.
“And we’re the only ones in the world who care what “the kook” says.”
Really? I think Israel cares. I’m pretty sure the rest of the world cares, too. Do YOU want that guy with nukes?
“Everyone else seems to know that he’s a figurehead with no power.”
If you’re right about that, then Ayatollah Khameini is an even bigger kook with a lot more power than he lets on. However, I think it’s more of an Emperor/Darth Vader evil alliance than a Hitler/Mussolini evil alliance like you are suggesting.
Dan,
The Clinton years would equal 2922 days without capture. I think that number is higher than Bush’s, yes?
ACT, Sounds about right. But we must give Clinton credit where credit is due, he did take out a tent and a couple of camels in his war against Osama.
What? No comeback from Sanity? NR, it appears you have fought fire with water. Well done.