“This time I think the Americans are serious. Bush is not like Clinton. I think this is the end.” – Uday Hussein, Saddam’s son, in early April, according to an associate.
BUSH’S EMPHASIS: A subtle change at the Urban League, unless I’m reading too much into it:
“You see, a free, democratic, peaceful Iraq will not threaten America or our friends with weapons. A free Iraq will not be a training ground for terrorists or funnel money to terrorists or provide weapons to terrorists who would willingly use them to strike our country. A free Iraq will not destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a hopeful example to the entire region and lead other nations to choose freedom.”
It seems to me that this argument should be more front and center in Bush’s rhetoric. He needs to remind people of the global context of the Iraq war, the need to go on the offensive against terrorism, and trumpet the decision of this administration to tackle the deeper Middle East issue that fuels terrorism – despotism. This positive message is a critical complement to the negative one of self-defense. More, please.
The Dish 