haha! I saw that too.
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."
And no, I can't imagine what the President has to endure just because he's doing what he thinks is best for America; just because he's standing on his principles; just because he's standing against much of the world, and fighting for freedom throughout the world.
But one thing I'm pretty sure of is that he doesn't care about the two-bit Bush haters from either the left or the right. And he sure as shooting doesn't care about these guys who are nearly apoplectic about this silly article.
He's got a country to run, and millions of people depending on his good decisions for our safety.
And I'm quite confident that he doesn't care that some malcontent calls him 'henpecked' and stupidly thinks that Laura makes his decisions for him.
Now I must do likewise. :o)
(Robert, I pinged you to this to be polite, but since you're twice my age, I don't expect you to reply, because given the normal male life expentancy, plus the fact that it's probably shorter for malcontents, you've been dead almost 40 years. RIP. :o)
The difference between the phrases you picked and the ones the president regrets is that the latter were off the cuff, the former included in speeches written by others. It's his own phrasemaking that is often blunder-prone, not the phrasemaking of his speechwriters.
Thank you for great common sense post. I agree !!
I agree. Actions certainly speak louder than words.....
too many people are willing to overlook every wrong thing Bush does on here too...like giving 20 mil to the Palis for instance... it's definitely emperor's new clothes around here concering Bush...
Look at the people screaming about this article, and know that they are part of the 22% who trust the leftist media.
Kind of telling, isn't it?
What exactly is 'wrong' with anything the President actually said here?
Use the quotes only........not the article or the headline.......and then understand it through the prism of left wing bias, and enlighten us as to what is 'wrong' with him.
btw, the question might be raised as to who's 'overlooking' what here.
It's folly to 'overlook' hundreds of strong, good decisions for a few you don't agree with, wouldn't you say? That's what most of us refuse to do.
You think they will butcher a direct quote from him? What for? Seems like in this interview he is saying everything that the MSM wants to hear. If they knowingly misquote him, I think there are laws against that.
"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.
These are the direct quotes. "Bring it on was a little blunt." "I guess that's not the most diplomatic of language."
Well, duh...........those statements are true.
The article has carried those quotes to their own conclusion, saying he 'regrets' saying them, and he is apologizing for them, neither of which is implied in the quotes themselves.
When you read stuff from the left, you have to analyze it more carefully, grad. If you don't, you get a whole lot of wrong ideas about the President.
But then again, that's what some people around here want.
"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,"
to leave in the pauses ... and ... and repeated words?
Or is Reuters indulging itself in a subtle dig at the President.
President George W. Bush says he regrets...an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters...who would like to spread hatred and ... and vilify...All of us
What say, Rooters? May I have that summer intern job?
haha! I saw that too.
"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.
I have no problems reading Bush's own words. He is dead wrong on both counts.
Not cranky.
You're just clearly an idiot.
I suggest in the future you mind your own marriage, and leave off the marital advice. Laura should have no input regarding foreign policy. We didn't elect her, anymore than the democraps elected hildebeast to run health care.
I doubt seriously if W listens to her on such matters.
(Robert, I pinged you to this to be polite, but since you're twice my age, I don't expect you to reply, because given the normal male life expentancy, plus the fact that it's probably shorter for malcontents, you've been dead almost 40 years. RIP. :o)
The majority of us re-elected W, and I suspect those of us who voted for him are very comfortable with him saying "bring it on" or whatever. Same as President Reagan's famous "make my day". We're engaged in a War, and the objective is plain and simple, To Kill the Enemy.
Me three
OPs4 GOd BLess America!
I thought my reply would get some response... ok ohioWfan, there is NOTHING wrong with the way GW Bush has handled the presidency, he's perfect, made no mistakes... while I can overlook him pandering to the world with his words, I can't overlook him spending OUR money on the enemy.
"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...vilify the United States," Bush said.
Remember, I'm an Aussie, I see things from a slightly different perspective with the advantage of distance. This administration has rid Afghanistan of the Taliban and brought about a democratic election in that country. This administration will, after a bitter conflict in Iraq, bring democracy to that country at the end of this month.
Public diplomacy efforts? Don't actions speak louder than words?
Compared to whom and to what? CAIR and the ACLU for example and the left-wing biased press? Who is it that continuously 'would like to spread hatred and...and vilify the United States'?
Islam and the Socialists come to mind. I think President Bush has announced his intent to neutralize them. First comes the fist, then on with the velvet glove.
Dem on Fox... right now on this..John G quoting: Words sometimes have unintended consequences I was really trying to rally the troops..Dems twisting words of course..
This was a gathering with a lot of newspersons..John says we like Bush unplugged..Dem WAaaaaaa blah blah
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