I don't give a sh*t about the politics. Come to think of it, the best route would have been to give a list to Blanco as to what she should ask for and do, and if she didn't sign on, and so ask and do, then Bush should have gone on TV, and said he was left with no choice but to take this action to spare lives and needless human agony, and he was willing to accept the consequences, and would take responsibility for it.
And come to think of it, that would have been the best politics possible. Should have, would have, could have. And so it goes.
I think you're right. Unfotunately, no politician today has the kind of spine necessary to do what you suggest.
We live in sad times, when namby-pamby political correctness infects everything, even the right.