[conservatism_IS_compassion]

"The terrorists saw our response to the hostage crisis in Iran, the bombings in the Marine barracks in Lebanon, the first World Trade Center attack, the killing of American soldiers in Somalia, the destruction of two U.S. embassies in Africa, and the attack on the USS Cole. The terrorists concluded that we lacked the courage and character to defend ourselves, and so they attacked us."

I notice that Bush doesn't mention the administrations in question, so I see nothing invidious about it. In point of fact Reagan did withdraw after the bombing of the Marine barraks in Lebanon - not because he wanted to, but because of the Democratic Congress.

But Bush's point, surely, is that that is a fine point to terrorists who have been conditioned to expect that their perseverence is greater than our own. We simply don't have the option of rewarding that perseverence; we must punish it.

[inquest]

not because he wanted to, but because of the Democratic Congress.

Good catch. I should have mentioned that.