Bush is on the defensive (SOTU)

[DrBB]

WPost analysis points this out, and it's an interesting point. I had heard he was going to be flying above politics, being presidential. Expected lots more about the Moon and Mars (not mentioned at all), and other "bold" stuff. I actually posted a thread about "bold," in anticipation of seeing it everywhere today. But "bold" seems nowhere to be found. Instead, as this analysis points out, it was all small-bore stuff (steroids???) and self-justification.

I think that represents a breakthrough of some kind. No, seriously--"self-justification" is something Rove never allows. These guys are the greatest adherants of the "Never apologize" school of power-wielding in the history of the country. To see them on the defensive, being timid rather than brazen to the point--well beyond it, actually--of arrogance, is a sign of real worry inside the WH, I think.

Never mentioned by name, the Democrats nonetheless populated and propelled the speech, appearing as "some people," "some critics" and "defenders" of "the status quo." The specter of the challengers lent some credence to the frequent statements by Bush and his advisers that they expect a very close election this fall. There was a caution to it that Bush has not displayed in recent years, the caution, perhaps, of a man who has seen public opinion -- as in the most recent Washington Post poll -- souring on many of his policies, even as his job approval rides high.
</snip>

The hovering Democrats also gave Bush's speech a distinctly reactive tone. A White House strategist acknowledged as much after reading the final draft. "To an extent rare for him in a speech, he took the arguments of the critics and dealt with them," the aide said. "Most of the time, a president makes assertions, not arguments. But this speech, more than most, takes on the arguments of the critics."

"Some people question" the war on terrorism, Bush noted, before answering that "nearly two-thirds of known leaders have now been captured or killed."

"Some critics have said" U.S. foreign policy is too unilateral, Bush allowed, before ticking off a list of 17 countries with troops in Iraq and citing his teamwork with "the international community" to contain threats in North Korea and Iran.

He "took the arguments of the critics and dealt with them"? Well, TRIED to deal with them. But in fact just invited a whole lot more attention to the weakness of his position--"weapons-of-mass-destruction-related program activities"??? Syntax doesn't get much more twisted than that, nore can self-justification get more self-defeatingly convoluted.

This speech was a BAD MOMENT for the FlyingChimp.

Read the whole thing--it's very good.

[lebkuchen]

1. How can he talk about going to Mars when he has no exit strategy for Iraq?

When examining Bush from your basic "Stars and Stripes" headline, like the Stripes headline about Bush wanting to go to Mars, following all the previous headlines of those soldiers who have died in Iraq, one gets the distinct feeling Bush is losing it.

[trumad]

2. Hey..That was my "Bold" thread!!!!

;-)

[SidDithers]

5. Mars is a bad idea as far as a use of resources ...

Money is better spent on unmanned missions and other ways to study the planet.

Heard a guy from the Discovery Channel on the radio yesterday talking about a manned mission to Mars. The problem with a manned Mars flight isn't so much the technology, it's the logistics. Between the time required for the journey, waiting on Mars for an optimal time to make the journey home, and then the time for the return journey, a manned capsule would be gone for 30 to 36 months. You sure do need alot of Tang and goop food for 36 months in space.

Sid

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Worst SOTU I've ever heard

I may not be a Bush partisan, but at least his last two SOTUs had some substance and vision to them (even if it was the substance of lies). This one was little more than a "State of the Bush Administration" speech.

His vision? Tax cuts. No gays. Stricter rules for teenagers.

No mention of space.

It was an empty speech.

--bkl

[DrBB]

4. Oops--should have been in GD

I've asked mods to move this--didn't realize I'd posted to LBN. Hate when that happens.

[LiberalFighter]

6. ticking off a list of 17 countries with troops in Iraq

DESERT STORM

The Allied coalition consisted of 34 countries, including Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Honduras, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, The Netherlands, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Turkey, The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

U.S. casualties: 148 battle deaths, 145 nonbattle deaths

Source: CNN


IRAQ WAR
The State Department's list of 30 countries that are members of a "Coalition for the Immediate Disarmament of Iraq'':
Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (post conflict), Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.

Source: CBS 18 March 2003

RN: "Is the Bush administration in your view trying to create the impression that these 40 countries are involved in the conflict itself?"

"That clearly seems to be the case, but when you look at what they are really bringing or offering to the effort, it pales to what was going on in 1991 when there was a much larger international coalition. There are only four countries in addition to the US that is providing any sort of military support. Great Britain has about 40,000 troops, Australia has about 2,000 and then you look at the other two, the Czech republic and Bulgaria have a few hundred troops."

"So, the level of support is very weak and where you had countries in the United Nations that were very supportive of the US such as Spain and Italy, you know these countries aren't supplying any troops. So, it's interesting to see how the greater supporters and champions of the administration's cause aren't willing to put their people on the line."


Source: Radio Netherlands

List of the 'willing'

The United States welcomed the kingdom of Tonga on this as the 49th member of its ''coalition of the willing'' for the war in Iraq, a club that includes many of the smaller of the 191 member states in the United Nations.
The latest list of the ''coalition of the willing,'' with examples of the contributions, according to Washington Post staff and wire reports and administration sources.

• Afghanistan - Issued statement calling for ''a united and independent Iraq.''
  
• Albania - Offered use of airspace, land and ports to U.S. military.
  
• Angola - Was briefly taken off the public list, then restored.
  
• Australia - Providing naval gunfire support, as well as special forces and fighter aircraft operating in Iraq.
  
• Azerbaijan - Offered to take part in post-war humanitarian efforts.
  
• Britain - Co-founder of the coalition; has committed more than 45,000 military personnel, along with planes and ships.
  
• Bulgaria - Soon will have troops in the region to respond to chemical or biological attack.
  
• Colombia - Issued statement of support.
  
• Costa Rica - Added since list was first revealed on March 18; issued statement saying the country is ''loyal allies of loyal friends.''
  
• Czech Republic - Has troops in the region to respond to chemical or biological attack.
  
• Denmark - Submarine is monitoring Iraqi intelligence.
  
• Dominican Republic - Issued statement of support.
  
• El Salvador - Providing diplomatic support and post-war reconstruction and de-mining.
  
• Eritrea - Issued statement of support.
  
• Estonia - Offered to help with post-war reconstruction.
  
• Ethiopia - Added after initial announcement.
  
• Georgia - Offered its military infrastructure to U.S. troops.
  
• Honduras - Issued statement of support.
  
• Hungary - Host of a U.S. base where Iraqi exiles are trained for possible post-war administrative roles.
  
• Iceland - Agreed to help in reconstruction and humanitarian effort.
  
• Italy - A vocal ally of the administration's Iraq policy; offered logistical help and use of military bases and ports.
  
• Japan - Issued statement of support for President Bush.
  
• Kuwait - Most U.S. troops and equipment flowed through Kuwait on the way to Iraq, and many are still camped there.
  
• Latvia - Parliament passed statement of support for U.N. resolution requiring Iraqi disarmament.
  
• Lithuania - Offered humanitarian assistance, including doctors.
  
• Macedonia - Issued statement of support.
  
• Marshall Islands - Added after initial announcement.
  
• Micronesia - Added after initial announcement.
  
• Mongolia - Issued statement of support.
  
• Netherlands - Will help with reconstruction.
  
• Nicaragua - Issued statement of support.
  
• Palau - Wrote letter of support; added after initial announcement.
  
• Panama - Offered statement of support; added after initial announcement
  
• Philippines - Provided statement of ''political and moral support.''
  
• Poland - Some commandos are helping; agreed to deploy noncombat troops; secured an Iraqi oil platform in the Persian Gulf; has troops in the region to respond to chemical or biological attack.
  
• Portugal - Was host to the diplomatic summit before the United States, Britain and Spain withdrew their proposed U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing war in Iraq; made air bases available.
  
• Romania - Sent noncombat specialists in chemical decontamination, medics, engineers and military policy to the region in response to a U.S. request.
  
• Rwanda - Issued statement of support.
  
• Singapore - Allowing U.S. aircraft to fly over Singapore and allowing use of its ports by the military.
  
• Slovakia - Sent noncombat troops trained in decontamination to the region to respond to chemical or biological attack.
  
• Solomon Islands - Issued statement of disassociation from coalition but is still on official U.S. list
  
• South Korea - Issued statement of support.
  
• Spain - Introduced the U.N. resolution with the United States and Britain; providing logistical and humanitarian support.
  
• Turkey - Denied basing rights to United States, complicating the war plan, but has opened airspace to U.S. warplanes.
  
• Uganda - Offered to ''assist in any way possible.''
  
• Ukraine - Offered to send chemical warfare and nuclear decontamination experts to the region.
  
• United States - Leader of the coalition, with about 300,000 troops in the region.
  
• Uzbekistan - Offered statement of support.
  
  21 providing only statement of support or other minor support
  27 providing major support or access or other
  
  Source: Athens Banner-Herald
  
  U.S. Fatalities:
  Hostile US Fatalities: 504
  Hostile US Wounded: 2508
  Non Hostile US Wounded: 396
  Source: Iraq Coalition Casualties

[Bridget Burke]

7. When the Houston Chronicle gets snarky,

you know he's got a problem.

[BurtWorm]

8. "defenders" of "the status quo"!

Bushism is the status quo! Time to smash it to bits.