[Howlin]

this is going to do nothing to stop the attack of the media and the Dems

That's not why Bush did this; he did it because it's the right thing to do.

[oceanview]

I agree with you on that. But this story has always been about two issues - the reality of what happened, and the domestic US politics and motives of the media and the Dems.

Bush needs to speak to both issues - this "apology" may well be appropriate for the first issue, but he should have quickly followed it up by saying "...that said, I caution those at home who want to overplay this issue and damage the US military over it". Something like that is needed.