Bush Spins Terror Report

Tuesday September 27, 2006

A National Intelligence Estimate states that terrorists "are increasing in both number and geographic dispersion." And that one of the primary causes of the increased terrorist threat is the war in Iraq which "has become a cause célèbre for jihadists". The war is a recruiting tool and training ground for new radicals. But rather than address this somber news, Bush claims the report says something far different. That his policies are successful (What??!!) The administration releases 3 pages of the 30 page report to attempt to bolster its claim that the current strategy is working. What is the current strategy? "Stay the course". That's terrific and makes me feel really good about the future. Stay the course and continue to create more, and more dispersed, terrorists - great plan. Very clever and well thought out.

I wonder what the other 27 pages say.

Bush says "Here we are, coming down the stretch in an election campaign, and it's on the front page of your newspapers. Isn't that interesting? Somebody has taken it upon themselves to leak classified information for political purposes." He does not address the problems discussed in the report and offers no solutions or leadership. Just attempts to turn it into a political dirty trick.

Is that leadership? Responsibility? Strategic thinking? No, no, no. This intelligence report provides futher proof that the ill conceived policy and the incredibly incompetent execution of that policy have been disasterous. Bush, a prisoner of his own stubbornness, ignorance, and arrogance offers no hope for anything better.

This is the leader the Republican party has given us. Let's remember that the next time we head to the voting booth.