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."
Savage is right about bush moving left in his second term. He is starting by wanting everyone to LIKE him...from throwing $350 million down the TsunamiGate rathole to criticizing our foreign policy brusqueness....next stop: Making St. Abbas.
No. Or wait, I think I can cause I just read your question. God, I'm so confused now.
Savage gets capital letters but not our President?
Bush is pressing to fundamentally reform taxes and Social Security this term. Only you and Savage could term that as "moving left."
Ridiculous.
That he is .. and that is why we love him
For the record .. he is right "Bring it On" wasn't very Presidential
But I could care less .. but then I am bias towards strong man :0)
False dilemma, brainiac.
I assume that neither tiger has changed his stripes.
The press still hates Bush, and Bush still says things he ends up regretting. Where's the story? What's new?
** I assume that whatever he said, the press (esp. Reuters) will try to crucify him with it. They're still trying to use the "I can't think of any mistakes" BS against him. Criticize him for not having a clever quip? Who gives a crap?
** I assume that if Bush opened his mouth, he spoke a Bushism. So what? Did he make policy? Did he announce pulling out of Iraq? Stopped pursuing OBL? Releasing Saddam next weak? Dropping SS reform? Reversing the tax cuts? Apologizing to Indonesia for relief efforts? NO.
So if he changes policy tomorrow, let me know. If he makes 'regrettable' gaffe #4,112 of his tenure tomorrow that gets you all hot about the way he misspeaks, DON'T PING ME.
Write a letter to the National Enquireer.
"bring him to justice."
Or bring justice to him, OBL.
Savage is a fool. I really used to like him, he lost's me and thousands of listeners over his bush bashing agenda.
Even MSNBC canned him.
Can either of you two folks call BarBar WarWar and ask her if she knows when ShadowDancer stopped beating his or her wife?
You know you just guaranteed the fact that I now will, right?
"I was waiting for him to look at Chiraq and say, "go ahead punk, make my day". lol"
rolmao....This whole story worries me....It worries me because it seems like Bush is trying to do the same thing he did when he first got elected.....reach out to the Dems
I thought he said that he has a mandate! Use it Bush!
Was that supposed to make sense?
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Savage is trying to triangulate and reinvent himself as Dr. Alex Jones, but not sure he has the mental stability to make the transition.
The last time I tuned in, some caller that was being pummeled by him said, "gee. Mike I think you're disturbed."
And Savage went berzerk into a spitting routine about how many millions of people listen to him and how popular he is and who the hell did the the caller think he was but a nobody that calls in and nobody likes him, etc. I wanted the caller to say, "Uh, Hitler was real popular for a while, too, sir...."
Interesting. I have been saying for quite a while that the US needs to do much better at PR. That is the main beef that I have with the current administration. They put no effort into it. Now we have the President saying basically the same thing. I wonder if everyone is going to jump all over him like they have me.
But my guess is that he'll be judged as far less eloquent than Ronald Reagan, but far more decisive and bold. Reagan, God bless him, was a great President and able to turn the country around with his economic policies and silver tongue. His defense policies also brought an end to the Cold War.
But he also didn't understand the nature of the new enemy and abandoned Lebanon after a terrorist attack, nor did he dare address the Third Rail of Social Security.
There's nothing this administration won't address. Bush is no coward, and the fact that he can't seek re-election makes him as brave as he wants to be.
Yeah, but I love Cowboys. ;-)
At his core the President is a very blunt man.
He is a President, a husband, a father, A son, a brother, a friend, etc..
He is also a Christian. All play a role in the life of the man we know.
Guess I'll be blunt to follow in the President's example. If one looks throughout his life it is very much IN character for Bush to get up in the face of his adversary. In this case, the terrorists. That is what he did when he spoke those words. The troops understood.
As President of the United States, his words are heard throughout the entire world and can be manipulated for evil as well as good. Laura, imo, advised him of this.
As President, he feels a burden to reflect the highest character of the nation. As a husband, he is respectful of his wife's imput. As a Christian, he feels a burden to evaluate his actions and discern room for improvement.
I quoted an incident taken from an above article in which the terrorists used his words to inflict harm. They would have inflicted that harm regardless of what he said. But, if my words were used in terrorist propaganda it would give me pause.
All the President has vowed in this interview is to give consideration to how his words can be used to justify evil. I find nothing wrong with him abiding by his conscious. At the same time, I loved the statements at the time and still do. I know it is within his nature to speak his feelings, he'll do so again.
He is not kissing up to anyone, it's not in his personality. He is very sure himself most times and is only saying this for diplomatic reasons.
This is the video that they are referring to.
I totally agree
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