Posted on 01/13/2005 5:47:28 PM PST by Indy Pendance
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush says he regrets sending the wrong impression of the United States by using phrases like "Bring 'em on" and "dead or alive" in his first term and has pledged to be more diplomatic.
In an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters to be broadcast on Friday, Bush said some of his past remarks were too blunt.
"'Bring it on,' was a little blunt," the president said in a transcript of the interview released on Thursday.
"I remember when I talked about Osama bin Laden, I said we're going to get him dead or alive. I guess it's not the most diplomatic of language," Bush said.
The president in July 2003 used the phrase "Bring 'em on" when speaking of insurgent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. The comment was widely interpreted as a challenge to the insurgents but Bush said his intent was to rally U.S. troops.
Days after the September 11, 2001, attacks, Bush said he wanted to catch Osama bin Laden "dead or alive," a phrase that reinforced the U.S. president's international image as a cowboy.
Bush said his wife, Laura, disapproved and "chewed me out right after that."
"So I do have to be cautious about, you know, conveying thoughts in a way maybe that doesn't send wrong impressions about our country," he said.
Asked about bin Laden, who remains at large, Bush reiterated his vow to "bring him to justice."
Bush's expressions of regret over his use of language contrasted with his comments at a news conference in April 2004, when he struggled for an answer to a reporter who asked him to name his biggest mistake since the September 11 attacks.
In another mea culpa, the president said he felt his administration had done a poor job bolstering its image in the Muslim world.
"Our public diplomacy efforts aren't ... very robust, and aren't very good, compared to the public diplomacy efforts of those who would like to spread hatred and ... and vilify the United States," Bush said.
But he said he thought U.S. efforts to aid victims of the December 26 Indian Ocean tsunami would help improve Washington's image abroad.
Turning to domestic politics, Bush played down expectations that his brother Jeb, who is governor of Florida, would someday run for president.
"I don't think he's interested in running," the president said.
In a separate interview in USA Today, Bush said he was concerned about the Education Department's decision to pay conservative commentator Armstrong Williams to promote his "No Child Left Behind" law, which sets accountability standards for U.S. public schools.
He said he wanted to prevent another such incident.
"There needs to be a clear distinction between journalism and advocacy," Bush said. "All of us, the Cabinet, needs to take a good look and make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again."
Kind of like Lazamataz had on his tagline..."Proudly posting reponses without reading the articles since 1999"
The election is long over, but the Legacy Media just can't stop spinning. It's pathetic.
I am not talking about changing the country, simply about how someone gets their message out. There is a difference between direct and indirect speech and the President sometimes doesn't have an understanding of which should be used. Yes, he is in a very tough position, but he is the one who wanted it. Nobody forced him to run.
Ah.....but HE does. That's a good thing, doncha think? :o)
(btw, I was commenting on the ARTICLE. Sorry for thinking that was what we were supposed to do on FR. I didn't know that it was to only comment on what ShadowDancer thinks. I'll try to be more careful next time to defer to your wishes and only say appropriate things when I see your name on a post).
I didn't say that.
"There is a difference between direct and indirect speech and the President sometimes doesn't have an understanding of which should be used."
In a way, yes you did. If this was I42 they would have accomidated him. This isn't the blow job pres, so, they will do everything to destroy him. And his unwilling accomplises will help.
Well, seriously then, I now better understand where you're coming from!
We differ only in that I don't bitch about every little thing if I'm happy with the general result.
Keep after 'em! But don't assume that everyone that sees things different from you is an ass kisser.
You have my admiration for your self-controlled and polite responses.
Mah! In this War on Terror we need people who KICK A$$ AND TAKE NAMES. Dimplomacy does not work against Jihadists who are willing to die to kill us. We need a general patton leading this country and leading this fight.
I think "bring it on" was great for his supporters and the belief in our soldeiers..It did bring much disapproval down on him world wide..
The dead or alive comment is a natural thing to roll off the tongue of a Texan,also..I saw no harm..but it isn't diplospeak..The thing that I like about him sets the hand wringers off.
THEY say he regrets..He says he might have been too blunt and he got in trouble with Laura..She knows he increased the size of the target on his back.
The piece picks and chooses what it wants to emphasize...That Bush has been wrong and must do better...but we all knew that/sarcasm..I hear it everyday.
More 'creative journalism' from the left, I'd say.
"rooters" ? Come on folks - sounds like Reuters but thats not good enough. Hoax!
That is the most convoluted misunderstanding of a good relationship between husband and wife as I have ever seen.
And in case you don't realize it, a good marriage is an important plus for a President to have..........or anyone else, for that matter.
amen to that.
Good catch!
Hear, hear! Imagine, a man who cares what his wife thinks, is automatically "henpecked". NOT!
This can't be true. If it is then will be seen as a sign of weakness by Muslims.
Translation: "Put some ice on that."
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