"the truth is that the war was not justified by any "imminent" threat -- which is the only justification for a preemptive war"
Why do you talk the lies of Ted Kennedy yet claim to be conservative?
Why do you spout DNC talking points that have been DISPROVEN time and time again?
Nobody claimed the threat was imminent. What was claimed was that it was utter nonsense to spout what you just did, that war is only justified when the threat is 'imminent'. Such a concept is an unknowable one when facing terrorism. They plot secretly.
Was Al Qaeda an imminent threat on Sept 10,2001???
How would we know?
Bush explained that we dont want to know the threat was indeed 'imminent' after the fact, after a disaster happened.
"Because I don't want Kerry in the White House, I have to say these unpopular truths now, while there might be time for Bush to turn away from the cliff up ahead."
Hogwash. The only rational course now is "stay the course" - any other course would make Kerry President and cost us dearly in the War on Terror.
"Hogwash. The only rational course now is "stay the course" - any other course would make Kerry President and cost us dearly in the War on Terror."
The problem is it appears the course we are on will only inexorably lead to Kerry becomming president to our dear cost in the war on terror.
You say, "stay the coure" but what is that course? Bush certainly has not been able to articulate a credible course in Iraq, although he has done so for the general war. Bush's original conception of a Jeffersonian democracy no longer is taken seriously in the perception of the media - and perception is everything in the run up to this election, as the sad decline in Mr Bush's favorability ratings show.
The President will begin a series of speeches on Monday outlining our policy in this hand off business, I hope he can show the American people that there actually is a plan for Iraq and that he is in charge.
But speeches alone will not overcome evidence. There must be no more Chalabis, no more Fallujahs, no more prison scandals. The American electorate will vote the evidence before their eyes and they can only see the pictures they are shown. They cannot see metaphysical progress toward democracy, even if the media would show it.
Bush is unfortunately hostage to events in Iraq and he can do very little to shape day to day perceptions. As he loses the day to day battle for the perception of sucess in Iraq, he loses the election. When he loses the election, American stands in extreme danger of losing the war on terrorism.
The posters here have the choice of winning the war, winning the perception war, or shooting the messanger. So far, they have chosen the last.