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| Tuesday, August 22, 2006 |
| The Real Bush Doctrine: Thinking is Overrated |
Fred Kaplan of Slate lambasts Bush's morning press conference performance.
This part I absolutely agree with. Bush's comments here make me yearn for the days of a President who can have an intelligent conversation. Being a smart reporter covering Bush must make you want to bang your head against a wall.
Asked if it might be time for a new strategy in Iraq, given the unceasing rise in casualties and chaos, Bush replied, "The strategy is to help the Iraqi people achieve their objectives and dreams, which is a democratic society. That's the strategy. … Either you say, 'It's important we stay there and get it done,' or we leave. We're not leaving, so long as I'm the president."
The reporter followed up, "Sir, that's not really the question. The strategy—"
Bush interrupted, "Sounded like the question to me."
First, it's not clear that the Iraqi people want a "democratic society" in the Western sense. Second, and more to the point, "helping Iraqis achieve a democratic society" may be a strategic objective, but it's not a strategy—any more than "ending poverty" or "going to the moon" is a strategy. |
posted by CB @ 6:28 PM   |
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