Is That Legal?

Don't feel bad. It isn't the first time that a president, vice president, and secretary of defense have been critisized during a war effort. That doesn't make the contrary opinion right... it just makes it an opinion... Who was criticized??? let's see... Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Truman.... just to name a few.

Sadly, even when this President hints that he is willing to look at alternative strategies, he uses language that further fuels the flames of fanaticism. In defining the goal of those who oppose us as a clash of civilizations, whereby he asserts that they seek to "extend the caliphate", he once again obfuscates the potential for reasoned clarity and measured dialogue. Unfortunately, I'm not sure he has the discipline needed to restrain his confrontational outbursts. Further, it has yet to be seen if he can moderate his goals to match that which can reasonably be achieved in Iraq and the Middle East.

The larger question is if this President can accept the more modest goals to be offered by Baker's task force or if they will be met by resistance or even a campaign to discredit. It is increasingly difficult to determine where George Bush's convictions end and his need to be right might begin. He has held fast to the argument that he isn't concerned with polls or politics and yet his reported convictions continue to evolve to fit the changing circumstances. The essential question is how he actually views the concept of adaptation. The evidence suggests that he prefers to adapt his rhetoric to fit the circumstances rather than adapts his strategy to address the realities. As he receives this important report, I fear the former...but I'm hoping for the latter.

Read more here:

www.thoughttheater.com

When the president says that the Islamists want to extend the caliphate, he is engaging in reportage, not expressing an opinion. Whatever you think about Bush, it might be valuable to look at what the Islamists actually say, rather than simply assuming their good will in the face of all evidence to the contrary.