Posted on 10/11/2001 8:49:58 PM PDT by Pokey78
The George W. Bush who addressed the nation at a prime-time news conference yesterday appeared to be a different man from the one who was just barely elected president last year, or even the man who led the country a month ago. He seemed more confident, determined, and sure of his purpose and was in full command of the complex array of political and military challenges that he faces in the wake of the terrible terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. It was for the most part a reassuring performance that gave comfort to an uneasy nation. In the weeks ahead, Mr. Bush should return to this and similar venues to talk to the American people. He's better at it than he and his aides think.
The themes of last evening's encounter with reporters in the East Room of the White House were strikingly different from those voiced by Mr. Bush during the presidential campaign and his first months in office. Here was a Republican president repeatedly extolling the crucial role of the federal government in providing for the safety of the American people, whether in improving aviation security, hunting down suspected terrorists or simply giving succor to a shaken land.
Mr. Bush, who had campaigned against a foreign policy based on "nation building," told the country he was committed to "the stabilization of a future government" in Afghanistan after American military operations end. As a candidate he rejected open-ended American interventions overseas. Last night he said the country would fight in Afghanistan "as long as it takes" to bring the terrorists there to justice. Only in his insistence on discarding the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty and building a missile shield did he stick to the pre-Sept. 11 presidential script. That will not help him win long-term Russian support for the counterattack against terrorism.
Using a mixture of straight talk, statesmanship and a touch of humor here and there, Mr. Bush clarified and sharpened his positions on several important issues. It was heartening to hear him say the United States and its allies will not walk away from Afghanistan once Osama bin Laden and his followers are captured or killed. His inclination to seek the assistance of the United Nations in establishing a new government in Kabul if the Taliban is ousted was wise. And his reaffirmation of the need for humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan — including donations from American children — seemed heartfelt. Mr. Bush may have scrambled his stern message slightly when he offered to reconsider the military assault on Afghanistan if the Taliban leadership surrenders Mr. bin Laden, but the gesture is likely to reassure other Muslim nations that Washington is not bloodyminded.
As he did in his address to Congress last month, Mr. Bush tried to prepare the country for a long and potentially costly war. There will be no easy victories, despite the early success of American air strikes in Afghanistan. Given the opportunity to say he was ready to widen the war to attack Iraq — a step that the nation is not yet prepared to take — Mr. Bush simply warned Saddam Hussein that he was being closely watched.
Mr. Bush was effective in talking to the American people about their fears. He spoke candidly about new warnings that additional terrorist attacks could come at anytime, but described the many precautions that the government is taking to defend the home front. He was at once firm in his resolve to protect the nation and calm in advising Americans to get on with the life of the country as best they can.
In all, it was an assured appearance that should give citizens a sense that their president has done much to master the complexities of this new global crisis. Toward the end of the session, he spoke movingly about the men and women who were killed at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. As he reflected on the sorrow, compassion and determination that have swept the country since those horrifying hours on the morning of Sept. 11, he seemed to be a leader whom the nation could follow in these difficult times.
Bull Sh-t. Any rational person realizes that any government that backs these terrorists must be destroyed.
Eat your empty heart out, Liar Gore!
Almost BUT just not quite there NYT....
President Bush postulated that IF the Taliban offered up/expelled Bin Laden AND his evil lieutenants AND his followers/henchmen AND the terrorists cells then his Administration would be amiable to talks with the Taliban.
Tell it ALL NYT...tell it all.
Not exactly. He took a thinly veiled swipe at the UN that was too subtle for the dingbats at the Times to pickup. He stated that the US would stay there until we accomplished our military objectives, then he would allow the UN in to work on stabilization, because that is their role. In other words, "We'll fix the problem. The UN can sweep up when we're done."
Only in his insistence on discarding the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty and building a missile shield did he stick to the pre-Sept. 11 presidential script. That will not help him win long-term Russian support for the counterattack against terrorism.
They are still clueless. The Russians are as eager to join this "War on Terrorism" as we are. It is GREATLY to their advantage. The meaningless, useless, and irrelevant ABM is an altar at only US liberals still worship at. Russia was merely using it as a bargaining chip for more aid. They realize that the old dynamic has changed.
The Times, as always, is far behind the times.
Now they have to admit it.
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