Post-Game Analysis

So, let's take a look at the predictions from the post below and see how Bush's speech turned out. I stated that Bush would:

1. Never take responsibility.

Check. "We will take the fight to the enemy. Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war." Which is true...the problem is that we made it the battlefield in this war. After a brief semi-invasion, we abandoned Afghanistan, the actual battlefield. Iraq has been a very costly diversion, and the result is that jihadists have access to a country they had never infiltrated before. However, rather than acknowledge his role in fueling the problem Bush would rather pretend that, somehow, invading the wrong country made sense.

2. Exploit the military.

Check...but a weak check. Bush really didn't use the level of manipulative troop rhetoric that I thought he would. In reference to setting a time-table, he stated: "It would send the wrong signal to our troops, who need to know that we are serious about completing the mission they are risking their lives to achieve." Guess what, Bush? Troops willing to put their lives on the line for a stable Iraq are probably thick-skinned enough to handle debate back at home. My guess is that vague policies send the wrong message, not questioning them.

3. Exploit the hell out of 9-11.

Double...nay, triple check. I had suggested that one could easily make a drinking game out of the 9-11 references...anyone who did this will be having a serious hang-over tomorrow. I know this is difficult for Republicans to understand, but HUSSEIN WAS NOT INVOLVED WITH 9-11. PERIOD. Wouldn't it have been nice if we had taken Bin Laden as seriously as we took Hussein? Just imagine if, instead of invading Afghanistan with fewer than 20,000 troops, we had gone in with 250,000...the number we took into Iraq. What would be going on right now in Afghanistan if American soldiers were leading the hunt for Bin Laden instead of Pakistani soldiers? Here's my new rule: you are only allowed to reference 9-11 if you understand who was behind it. Thanks.

4. Ramp up the patriotism.

I would say that I got this one wrong. The speech was fairly low-key given the amount of unrest over Iraq. I suppose he'll leave this one to the conservative echo-chamber...Rove and his flock of blogists.

5. Go into absurd cowboy mode.

No fist slamming, but plenty of stupid one-liners. However, people are beginning to sense that there may not be an easy way out of Iraq and I was suprised at how vague Bush was. I actually thought the whole point of the speech was to provide the initial outlines of an exit strategy...nothing specific, just something broad enough and optimistic enough to ease people's fears. And what was Bush's formula for withdrawal? "Our strategy can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down". Oh. So...the bad news is that we have no exit stragety. The good news? The next Bush time is at a sporting event, he will definately know how to participate in the Wave. "Wait for it...wait for it...WHOOO!!! Man, that was fun."

I guess that about covers it. I got, what, 3 and a half out of five right? Not too great really, considering how 2-dimensional Bush's rhetoric tends to be.

Thanks.