[Cold Heat]

O'Connor was acknowledging correctly that the MSM will be largely responsible for how this report is interpreted, and she inferred by her words, that the media was responsible for the present perceptions.

I could not find anything wrong with that statement. I doubt the media took it very well...LOL...

Anyhoo.....the reactions I see on this thread appear to be reactions to what the Dem's and media are saying and how they perceive the report. They built this up for weeks as a repudiation of bush policy, but it actually, with only one major exception, confirms the policy so far, and the so called new stuff has either been implemented, is undergoing implementation, or has been tested and is under review by the generals.

When you stand back and look at it, there is nothing new at all, except for the first of the 79 recommendations, and the panel knows this. They just put the current thinking from the pentagon on paper, added some crap for the liberals and put it out there as recommendations.

Bush can use this to firm up public and international support for the war, but he will have to eat a bit of pride, which he does all the time anyway, quite willingly. He will claim to have accepted the bulk of the recommendations, and the public will perceive a change in policy.

But there really was no change, and the Bush policies will have more support as a result.

I think this was all intentional.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Well, that's an interesting "rope-a-dope" take on this whole thing.

I'm not sure I'm buying it, but I'd be quite happy if this plays out as you think it will.

[PerConPat]

I think this was all intentional.

Quite possibly...The country's naive majority have no stomach for war. Only a catastrophe will change this position. I'm past blaming Bush43 and agree with those posters who have pointed to the general lack of fiber within this nation to understand, or confront, the lessons of history. The Ahmadinejad, bin Laden etc. axis has told us in no uncertain terms what they intend. It is possible that even highly responsible leaders are now left with no option other than proposing small, and even useless, steps while the pampered public, God willing, slowly awakes to the danger.

[tarheelswamprat]

But there really was no change, and the Bush policies will have more support as a result.

I think this was all intentional.

Of course it was intentional - that doesn't prevent it from being delusional as well.

The flaw in your reasoning is that this isn't happeneing in a vacuum - the whole world is watching, especially those who wish to destroy us. No matter how endlessly we prattle on about consensus and bi-partisanship, the only thing they will hear is that America is indeed, as Osama said, a paper tiger, as that we lack the will to oppose them over the long run. That IS the message we are currently broadcasting to the whole world, and it's being heard loud and clear.

[Mo1]

O'Connor was acknowledging correctly that the MSM will be largely responsible for how this report is interpreted, and she inferred by her words, that the media was responsible for the present perceptions.

There is too much history to think O'Connor or any one the media will present this any other way they what the liberals want to happen