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October 20, 2006

My Confidence Is Restored

After all, how could it not be after this report?

President Bush conceded Friday that "right now it's tough" for American forces in Iraq, but the White House said he would not change U.S. strategy in the face of pre-election polls that show voters are upset.

Bush met with Gen. John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, at the White House for a half-hour Friday afternoon. The White House said Abizaid already was in town and Bush asked him over. The president also will consult by video conference on Saturday with Abizaid at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla., and with Gen. George Casey, who leads the U.S.-led Multinational Forces in Iraq, to determine if a change in tactics is necessary to combat the increasing violence.

A half-hour? I suspect some folks have had difficult bowel movements that lasted longer than that, nevermind difficult conversations about a war strategy that doesn't appear to be working.

And, well, it's a good thing he just happened to be in town; heaven forbid you actually insist the top U.S. commander in the region to stop by for a chat.

Bush, at a political fundraiser in Washington for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, railed against Democrats who criticize the war. Calling the Democrats the party of "cut and run," Bush said voters need to ask: "Which political party has a strategy for victory in this war on terror?'"

Having a strategy that isn't working isn't very far removed from having no strategy at all: the end result is the same. Granted, the Democrats need to do a much better job of telling us their vision for Iraq and the broader war in terror, but forgive me if I am not reassured by Republicans saying "hey, at least we got us a strategy for screwin' things right up."

Can I vote for NOTA?

Update: Well, this is better news:

President Bush met with senior generals in Washington Saturday for face-to-face discussions on the war in Iraq.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld joined Gen. John Abizaid, the head of U.S. Central Command; Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and, via videolink from Baghdad, Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, for the White House summit.

However, it sounds like the Democrats may be getting a clue too:

In the Democratic radio response, Diane Farrell, who is seeking the seat of GOP Rep. Chris Shays in Connecticut, urged Bush to fire Rumsfeld and Congress to establish benchmarks for Iraqis, The Associated Press reported.

Calling for a "new direction in Iraq," Farrell said: "An arbitrary departure date could be dangerous, but real goals for the new Iraqi government and its army are necessary."

Sounds good to me.