[oceanview]

this "apology" does not show weakness to the Arabs, I don't buy that, I don't see how it emboldens the Arabs. I don't see why a new group of Iraqis picks up an RPG and says "Bush apologized, let's go out and hit a US convoy". There is no connection that I see there.

[faithincowboys]

The truth is that they respect you when they think you might be a hardass. If you are "sorry" they say, good, now Bush will be more careful and lenient i.e. less effective.

[lonevoice]

I don't see why a new group of Iraqis picks up an RPG and says "Bush apologized, let's go out and hit a US convoy". There is no connection that I see there.

There is no connection. Every day the Islamofascists pick up an RPG simply because the sun came up for them that day. The only way they're going to stop is when the sun doesn't come up for them anymore. I don't understand the naivite of those who imagine that these psychopathic thugs are sitting around watching TV and deciding whether or not to strap explosives on their children depending on what George Bush says on CNN. Sheesh!