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.
He knows we're at war, he knows the costs, and he's strong enough to keep up the fight no matter what anyone says.
I agree with whoever it was that said he was throwing a bone to the press here.
It's not an apology or retraction of anything, and certainly not a change in policy.