Bush says we can't win war on terror Bush says we can't win war on terror

Portsmouth Herald ^ | 08/30/04 | Deb Riechmann - AP

[Josh in PA]

Bush says we can't win war on terror

By Deb Riechmann Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- President Bush says staying the course in the war on terror will make the world safer for future generations, though he acknowledges an all-out victory against terrorism may not be possible. In an interview on NBC-TV's ''Today'' show broadcast to coincide with Monday's start of the Republican National Convention in New York, Bush said retreating from the war on terror ''would be a disaster for your children.'''

''You cannot show weakness in this world today because the enemy will exploit that weakness,'' he said. ''It will embolden them and make the world a more dangerous place.''

When asked ''Can we win?'' the war on terror, Bush said, ''I don't think you can

win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world.''

[Josh in PA]

Alright, I was looking for a thread on this but couldn't find it. It looks like the press and the Dims are going to heat up and hammer Bush on this.

Has anyone gotten a drift on how the GOP has responded to this?

[Josh in PA]

Oops.. double posted the thread title. Mods please?

[KTpig]

I thought he was asked, "can we win the war on terror in four years?"

[sinkspur]

It's not like WWII, where there will be a formal surrender, and the terrorists lay down their arms.

Bush is saying that only by creating democracies can terrorism be made unacceptable.

It's unfortunate phrasing, however, and he'll get hammered for a few days over this.

[LS]

Dunno. It was a bad way to phrase this, but once again, merely to BRING UP the war on terror plays into Bush's hands. There is a philosophy of advertising that says you never mention a competitor, especially his strengths, even by criticizing him. Well, if the Kerry people bring this up, in the end voters will still look at . . . KERRY . . . and say, . . . .

Naaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.

[Stentor]

When asked ''Can we win?'' the war on terror, Bush said, ''I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world.''

It's Truth as long as T.R.O.P. continues to exist.

[linn37]

Hume just called it a gaffe, I call it honesty. Just like theres always going to be theives,rapists and murderers there will also be terrorists.

[sam_whiskey]

Ha...I just assumed that's how the title appeared in the paper---fits the "tone" of the media.

[marty60]

Any fool that hinks we are going to have a sit down surrender signing is living in the last century. Gw meant that no we can not win this in that sence. It will be a constant fire fight all around the world. i agree that trying to draw then all to Iraq. to make that the front line was a good idea.

but, they are using classic commie tactics. Infiltrate societies and try to take over at the grass roots. Not unlike the commie planning during the 60's and 70's. Ofcourse the ignorant media which can't put two thoughts together, is trying to give as much comfort to the enemy as posible.

The terrorists must be happy with the media today. but, that will be their downfall.

[Rutles4Ever]

How is this a gaffe? I think there's a gaffe in assuming this problem will go away by being more "sensitive" and getting the unfettered support of the U.N.

[Republic]

EXACTLY!

I love President Bush for this reality check , so MUCH!Our President will NOT sacrifice the TRUTH in order to make us feel good, IN ORDER to PREVENT the LIBERALS from getting soundbites to use agaisnt him!

He is a real man.

He shows us RESPECT by giving everyone the TRUTH!

He does not embellish, exaggerate, pontificate or LIE.

And he establishs the great DIVIDE between his character and Kerry's in doing so.

He is honorable.

And man...that just makes my trust in him SKYROCKET!

[QQQQQ]

THIS IS TOTAL FABRICATION AND DELIBERATE MISINTERPRETATION OF WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH REALLY SAID. Bush: 'You cannot show weakness in this world today' (Bush interview with Matt Lauer)

In the interview, Matt Lauer asked Bush, how he is going to win the war on terror IN FOUR YEARS and THAT is what Bush was responding to.

I recommend reading the entire interview to see how Matt Lauer kept interrupting President Bush and schizophrenically changing topics on him, which helps explain how this happened.

Here is the particular excerpt:

Lauer: “You talk about winning the war on terror. You talked about being stable in terms of an economy.

Then Lower goes and asks Bush about the deficit. Then later:

Lauer: “You said to me a second ago, one of the things you'll lay out in your vision for the next four years is how to go about winning the war on terror. That phrase strikes me a little bit. Do you really think we can win this war on terror in the next four years?”

President Bush: “I have never said we can win it in four years.”

Lauer: “So I’m just saying can we win it? Do you see that?”

President Bush: “I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world –- let's put it that way. I have a two pronged strategy. On the one hand is to find them before they hurt us, and that's necessary. I’m telling you it's necessary. The country must never yield, must never show weakness [and] must continue to lead. To find al-Qaida affiliates who are hiding around the world and … harm us and bring ‘em to justice –- we're doing a good job of it. I mean we are dismantling the al-Qaidaas we knew it. The long-term strategy is to spread freedom and liberty, and that's really kind of an interesting debate.

[marty60]

Exactly!

[Dr. Frank fan]

He was criticized endlessly for two years for the "war on terror" formulation. A key part of the criticism was that "you can't possibly win a so-called 'war on terror'".

Now that Bush has said just that, he will, again, be criticized, of course.

[demlosers]

Bush: "...But I think you can create conditions so that the those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world.''

Something like crab grass. You can control it so it cannot effectively control world events.

[TADSLOS]

Honest pragmatism. There's been terror in this world since Cain slew Abel. The trick is defeating global terror organizations such as al Qaeda. It can be done, but GW needs to unveil Islam for what it is first.

[Josh in PA]

Here is my take on this.


I feel that this is a very bad move and maybe Bush's first serious gaffe this campaign.

Saying we can't win the war on terror is a very pessimistic things to be saying for the President of the United States and gives his opponent the opportunity to be optimistic on the war on terror issue.

I am very interested in seeing how Rove and Co are going to respond to this. From the early convention coverage on the alphabets and the cable nitwits (CNN, MSNBC, hell even Fox), it looks like this is going to be an issue for a while.

I always believed that optimism wins election.. JFK optimism, Reagan's optimism, and hell even Clinton's optimism. No matter how phoney the candidate (i.e. Clinton), a message of optimism always wins, and saying we can't win the war on terror was a major blunder. These middle-ground voters are going to ask themselves why they would want a leader who doesn't think we can win.


On the other side of the coin, it moves Kerry and Edwards away from talking about fluffed up health care and poverty numbers and to talking about national security, not their strong points.


I am kind of mixed on this, but I have a very very bad feeling the big momentum we have enjoyed the past week heading into this convention momentum, is going to wane because of this comment and keep this race closer than we would like.


This is the first time I've been pessimistic all campaign. I think Bush/Rove have constructed a perfect campaign strategy and felt they were on the right track the entire way. This comment makes me very uneasy. I would just very like to see and hear a quick move from the GOP to squash this bug before it grows.

[ChefKeith]

WE WILL WIN THE WAR ON TERROR!!!

The main factor is: will the politicians keep the h&!! out of the way and let the Military do the job?

And are We as a Country willing to EXTERMINATE THE SCUM OF TERROR?

I'm not for eradication of a "species" but this is what will HAVE to be done to stop the islamosheetheadscum from the face of the Earth- the jerks have been at war since the beginning of time and the ONLY thing that will stop them is to TOAST them ALL!!!


Even if that means Sterilization so they can't breed any little islamosheetheadscum.

[Josh in PA]

Thanks for posting the transcript.. I should have checked it before I posted and commented on the remark. I should have figured it was taken out of context.

That relaxes my nerves a tad that he was responding to the "next 4 years". But the Dems and MSM will still seize on this more than any of us would like.


Thanks for the transcript post.

[Soul Seeker]

It's not a gaffe and G.W. is addressing the concept of "victory" in terms the American people need to hear. Bush knew what he was saying, and to whom he made the remark.

Let the Dems squak and walk right into the trap. They are going to get burned on this, not the Prez. just as they got burned in the 2002 elections over the Iraq debate, they are setting themselves up for a repeat here.