Transcript: Bush Interview

President Spoke to 60 Minutes' Scott Pelley At Camp David

(CBS) 
PELLEY: Your military officers say that Iranian agents today are killing American troops on the ground in Iraq. Is that an act of war on the part of Iran against the United States?

BUSH: I think what they're saying is, is that the Iranians are providing equipment that is killing Americans. Either way it's unacceptable. As I said in my speech the other night, we will take measures to protect ourselves. We will interrupt supplies. We will find people that if they are, in fact, in Iraq killing Americans, they'll be brought to justice.

PELLEY: Is that an act of war against the United States on the part of the Iranian government?

BUSH: I'm not a lawyer. So act of war is kind of a . . . I'm not exactly sure how you define that. Let me just say it's unacceptable.

PELLEY: What would you say right now in this interview to the Iranian president about the meddling in Iraq?

BUSH: I'd say, first of all, to him, "You've made terrible choices for your people. You've isolated your nation. You've taken a nation of proud and honorable people, and you've made your country the pariah of the world. You've threatened countries with nuclear weapons. You've said you want a nuclear weapon. You've defied international accord. And you're slowly but surely isolating yourself." And secondly, that "it's in your interest to have a unified nation on your border. It's in your interest that there be a flourishing democracy." And thirdly, you know, "If we catch your people inside the country harming US citizens or Iraqi citizens, you know, we will deal with them."

PELLEY: I wonder if you feel like you've been ill-served by your Cabinet members, [Defense Secretary] Mr. [Donald] Rumsfeld, perhaps even Vice-President [Dick] Cheney. Wrong on WMD. Wrong on the connection between 9/11 and Iraq. And now you're in a fix. And I wonder if you look back and wonder who let you down.

BUSH: Let me correct something on this connection between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. That was never the case in this administration. You know, I always said we never had evidence that Saddam Hussein ordered the attacks on 9/11. And so I don't know who continues to say that.

PELLEY: The vice-president suggested there was a connection, not necessarily 9/11, but certainly to al-Qaeda.

BUSH: [Al Qaeda’s Abu Musab] al-Zarqawi was in Iraq. But rather than debating the past, let me get back to the question.

PELLEY: Yes, sir.

BUSH: The vice-president's been a great vice-president. And Don Rumsfeld did a really find job as Secretary of Defense. Quite the contrary, I feel like this country is blessed to have those kind of people serving.

PELLEY: Vice-president involved in these war plans?

BUSH: Absolutely.

PELLEY: As much as he ever has been?

BUSH: Oh, yeah, sure. I mean, I rely upon my National Security Council, and I expect everybody to make contributions, and I expect to hear everybody's opinions. And when I make up my mind, I expect them to salute and say, "Yes, sir, Mr. President."

PELLEY: Final question. How can you escalate the war when so many people in this country seem to be against it?

BUSH: I'm gonna have to keep explaining. That's why I'm doing this interview with you. And I gotta keep explaining, one, the consequences of failure, that failure in Iraq will affect the security of the people here in the United States. And secondly, that we can succeed. And the best way to succeed at this point in time is to increase troops in Baghdad to stop the sectarian violence so that a political process, an economic process . . . so that the will of the 12 million people that voted in Iraq can be realized. Scott, sometimes you're the commander-in-chief, sometimes you're the educator-in-chief, and a lot of times you're both when it comes to war. And I've just gotta continue to take my message to the people and to explain to them this is a well-thought-out decision that is in the interests of the today's generation of Americans and tomorrow's generation of Americans. What happens in the Middle East matters to the security of this country. We learned that lesson on September the 11th. The stakes are very high, and we have got not only to stay engaged diplomatically, but we've gotta succeed in chasing down terrorists as well as helping young democracies survive. What's interesting is that you got a young democracy in Lebanon being challenged. I believe there ought to be a Palestinian democracy. It is being challenged by militants. A young democracy in Afghanistan and a young democracy in Iraq, all being challenged by radicals and extremists. And they may seem like disparate elements, but they share the same vision and same philosophy, and they have the same desire to inflict damage, particularly on the United States of America. I think it's interesting that in the midst of all the troubles, that there are people who are actively fighting a form of government which is beneficial to people, and that's democracy. We are in an ideological struggle, and it's a really classic ideological struggle, and Iraq is part of it. And it's very important for me to not only continue to explain why I believe we can be successful in Iraq but explain to people that what happens in the Middle East will affect the future of this country.

[mtedrick]

The audacity of George W. Bush is beyond alarming. For him to call himself an "educator in chief" regarding warfare would be absurd if it weren't for the tragic results for our soldiers and families. All this from a man who NEVER heard a shot fired in anger during the Vietnam War.

[abroughton]

When Mr. Bush said "You've made terrible choices for your people. You've isolated your nation. You've taken a nation of proud and honorable people, and you've made your country the pariah of the world," was he speaking about himself and what he's done to the United States? Does he know what irony is?

[jneal221]

The audacity of you is very alarming! I don't remember when it became necessary to be a veteran of war to shape war policy. This man has a lot of very good people around him that he listens to in order to shape his policy. I don't see how you can sit there at your computer and trash the man who is keeping you safe everyday he is in office but trying to SUCCEED in this war. If we don't win in this front on the war on terror you can kiss the U.S. of A. goodbye! But from the sounds of comments of you and people like you that would be a good thing, because everything is our fault and our leaders are the ones inciting death and terror around the world. So with that being said, I am proud to have a President who doesn't look at the polls and hear what people like you have to say. He's more worried about protecting the country he loves and I thank God everyday for a leader like that!

[lighthowse]

What can you say about a man who has started his country on the road to ruin? That's exactly what I think Mr. Bush has done.
I'd like answers to the following questions?

* How do you explain cutting taxes during war time? (I'm not allowed to write hot checks, but apparently, it must be okay for you).

* Why do you get rid of everyone that disagrees with you? You've just replaced the Generals on the ground again.

* Why not send your daughters? You don't mind sending everyone else's children.

* All volunteer service? Doesn't sound volunteer to me when service men and women are not allowed to get out.

* And not caring about your legacy? You're willing to keep this war going until the end of your term so someone else will be stuck with cleaning up your mess.

Do the American people a big favor and resign. The United States cannot afford another two years of your decisions!

And don't get me started on how safe we are with the invasion by illegal aliens. With the perks we give them, where do I sign up to become illegal.

Disgusted in Colorado.

[klastri]

The most disappointing thing about this whole mess is that Americans elected a dimwitted, incurious, incompetent, lying sociopath to the presidency. Sad. And since Bush has been wrong about everything since our invasion, and has consistently made lousy decisions, why should anyone think that he has finally made one good decision? His profoundly truncated mental capacity really makes that unlikely.

So, in short, Bush created the problem by invading Iraq in the first place, and now he's stuck and has no clear path out.

As for Bush saying "That would mean that they're not willing to support a plan that I believe will work and solve the situation.", why would they believe it will work.

His plans so far have failed in Iraq and Afghanistan to a degree, so why should people believe he has a plan that would work?

His comment that "I wondered what went wrong, because you can't conduct this war on terror unless you've got good intelligence. And so the first thing I did was I put a commission together to take a good, hard look at what did go."

Bush chose to ignore any information that he didn't agree with - like the enriched uranium from Africa.

He also chose to ignore others coming forward with information that went against his claims prior to the invasion.

Bush is a man not to be trusted.

lighthowse:

Great questions.

[mtedrick]

jneal221-It's apparent that you and many other Americans have been misled about the real threat posed to the US by these rogue nations. And, you are equally guilty of underestimating our strength in shaping the world to our liking.

How many years did we live in the fog of the cold war, when the truth about Soviet capability was clear in the pictures and intelligence gathered by U2 flights, etc. OUR GOVERNMENT KNEW THEY POSED LITTLE OR NO THREAT TO US-JUST LIKE NORTH KOREA, IRAN, SYRIA, etc. These countries only target us because we are #1, and we hold all the keys including the keys to sanctions, enough nuclear fire-power to destroy all of them in a few hours, and WHAT THEY ARE REALLY AFTER a larger piece of the global economic pie SEE NIKITA KRUSCHEV-USSR . You and many other people have been punked into being afraid of your own shadow!

And, its working just like it did in the 50's 60's and 70's. The military-industrial-petroleum complex is reaping unprecedented profits and revenues.

Wake-up-if we really wanted the situation in Iraq to improve, we'd put at least a division or two on the borders with each of Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iran, and make a 2 mile wide Free-Fire Zone all the way around Iraq. Nobody gets in, nobody gets out. If you're caught in the buffer zone, you're target practice for our artillery, bombers, infantry, etc.

GW Bush:

"I'd say, first of all, to him, "You've made terrible choices for your people. You've isolated your nation. You've taken a nation of proud and honorable people, and you've made your country the pariah of the world."

Sounds like he's talking about himself.

jneal221 wrote:

"He's more worried about protecting the country he loves and I thank God everyday for a leader like that!"

Really? Then why has he virtually abandoned the search for Bin Laden - the man who leads the group behind 9/11?

He only went after Saddam to get brownie points from his dad.

And now he's created a situation that is more dangerous to Americans than Saddam ever was.

Perhaps you should thank him for handing over Iraq to the Iranians and for bringing terrorists to Iraq so they can learn their trade and then bring it to America.

If you loved this country, you would not support GW Bush.

[robnsuni]

come on guys give war a chance!!!

[mtedrick]

The parallels to Vietnam are striking....We had a president from Texas with STRONG ties to the military-industrial-oil complex, whose executive orders baffled the public, and were in stark contrast to reality, and had a similarly "truncated mental capacity".

How did this guy get elected? Because we are all too busy trying to make a living, survive the destruction of the American family unit and every other assault on our sanity, morality, and sense of fairness (see the Duke Lacrosse misprosecution), to learn anything more about our politicians than what we are force fed in those commercials that only come around during election time.

And, if Apple and Microsoft have their way, we will all drop out (of any meaningful communication with one another), and tune in (to iPods, Xbox 360:, and email-like communications like this).

[obselete2]

Where in the world did all these poorly informed vitriolic Monday morning quarterbacks come from?
How about being at least marginally courteous and offer meaningful suggestions that will discourage the enemy and assist our troops in their admirable attempts to bring order out of chaos and to estblish an Iraqi democracy, albeit fledging, that can only help stablize the Middle East. The free Western World simply cannot permit the murderers to win.

[klastri]

The fact that Bush will unquestionably be judged by historians as our worst president ever may make folks like me feel vindicated; however, that temporary satisfaction is wiped away by the thoughts of the more than 3000 American dead in Iraq now; the 2000 double & triple amputees; and the 3000 traumatic brain injury patients in military hospitals so far. Embedding our military men in Iraqi units in non-armored Dodge trucks - another feature of the latest escalation plan - is completely insane. Bush needs to resign or be impeached for his malfeasance. His administration has collapsed under the weight of his own lies and incompetence, and our military and military families are paying the price.

"BUSH: Let me correct something on this connection between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. That was never the case in this administration. You know, I always said we never had evidence that Saddam Hussein ordered the attacks on 9/11. And so I don't know who continues to say that."

Well, GW Bush, Cheney said it before the invasion and after the invasion.

And there are still plenty of Republican supporters who continue to believe it.

[elaine5242]

Lighthowse:
First, I have to ask if any of you have been to either Iraq or Afghanistan. Or any third-world country for that matter. Do you read history...do you have any idea what's at stake? Have you read the Fatwa against all Jews and Christians put forth by Bin Laden and others...it's in the 9/11 commission report...read it. My husband and has been in this from the beginning and has been to Iraq more times than I can count. The people fighting this war are volunteers and they are a hell of a lot more honorable than you. They see this as an extremely important fight and they risk their lives for the safety of you and your family everyday. They do it willingly and with honor because they feel it's the right thing to do. I'm not saying everything has gone as planned in Iraq and I'm not debating that we need to change our course, I'm trying to point out that the people inside and outside the military are working day and night to help the Iraqi people create a country for themselves and it just emboldens the enemy to see our country in-fighting. In fact, tearing us apart is key part of their strategy...unfortunately, it's working...ie Kennedy getting up and saying he'll refuse to fund the surge...the further we come apart, the closer they know they are to winning. What's really scary is that they are a lot more patient than we are. Al Qaeda planned the 9/11 attacks for years, I'm sure they can hold out until we turn tail in Iraq.
More to come...

[elaine5242]

Part 2
Answers:

How do you explain cutting taxes during war time? (I'm not allowed to write hot checks, but apparently, it must be okay for you). -- Basic economics...cutting taxes builds the private sector and thus increases the revenue base forcing corps. and individuals to pay taxes on more income which increases the tax revenues without raising taxes. And tax revenues have increased...July 18, 2005 "US corporate tax revenues soar
Simon Briault
The federal US tax authorities have increased the amount of corporate tax collected by more than 40%. The US government released figures last week that show overall tax revenues were also up by almost 15%.

Tax Revenues Rise Above Predictions


All Things Considered, July 10, 2006 %u2022 Higher-than-expected tax revenues in the United States are expected to make a dent in the federal deficit, according to early reports.

According to The New York Times, corporate taxes, individual taxes on stock-market profits and taxes on executive bonuses are mostly responsible for the high tax revenues. The White House has credited the gains to its policies, noting fast-rising tax revenues.

Office of Management and Budget director Rob Portman tells the Washington Times that compared to last year, tax revenues are up more than 10 percent. And the deficit for the first three quarters of this fiscal year was about $208 billion. That's down from almost $250 billion during the first three quarters last year.

[elaine5242]

Part 3

* Why do you get rid of everyone that disagrees with you? You've just replaced the Generals on the ground again. --The Generals who are getting "replaced" have been scheduled to leave for months...it was announced a long time ago within military circles. The media chooses to delete that detail. They've been over there working and away from their families for two years; it's their time to rotate home.

* Why not send your daughters? You don't mind sending everyone else's children. --Bush didn't "send" anyone's child who didn't volunteer to be in the military. It's precisely why we have such a highly trained military...they aren't drafted in with no training; they come because they want to.

[elaine5242]

Part 4

* All volunteer service? Doesn't sound volunteer to me when service men and women are not allowed to get out. It's called a stop-loss. I'm honestly not sure if it's still in effect, but when it was, it was to keep specific specialty area, like Special Forces soldiers from getting out when we really needed those specialties. My husband is SF and I know it's not under a stop-loss anymore.

* And not caring about your legacy? You're willing to keep this war going until the end of your term so someone else will be stuck with cleaning up your mess. I don't think Bush wants that. It's funny too because, Clinton didn't seem to be worried about not dealing with the perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the USS Cole Bombing, the African Embassy bombings and the bombing of our military facility in Saudi Arabia. I guess since it pretty much didn't affect us on our soil it wasn't really important. Maybe if he'd responded adequately to all of those incidents we wouldn't have had 9/11. He had opportunities to get Bin Laden and didn't because it wouldn't have been "popular" to do so. And lord knows he didn't want to be unpopular. And he was the most honest guy around...

I hope for the sake of our country that we can all join together as one voice committed to success in Iraq so they can have peace and our soldiers can leave a stable nation who can take care of itself. Otherwise, we're in big trouble.

[elaine5242]

To jneal221

Ugh...are you vapid? Just because you don't hear about Bin Ladin doesn't mean we aren't looking for him constantly. But, I'm sure the New York Times will leak some more information that will make it impossible for us to find him.

[muskiedmaine]

Scotty - It is Democratic Party, not "Democrat". It's a shame Karl Rove and Tony Snow are now writing your lines for you.
And get a tissue, there's something of Bush's on your nose.

[muskiedmaine]

Bush's Biggest Lie Tonight:

"Everybody was wrong on weapons of mass destruction."

Revisionist history, ala Karl Rove.

[dannelle3]

Geoge Bush has no other agenda but his own. Being a Canadian, I cannot even imagine being patriotic to a nazi like GB. He is the end of our world, the US and Canada and everyone else. He is the epitomy of terror. You can all toot your horns about being in Afghanistan but what's it all for? Bush? Please, spare me the sob story. I feel for the families of all troops who have lost their lives (Canada, US, Italy, etc.) fighting this war but you really have to wonder who you're fighting for. I truly believe George Bush is no better than Bin Laden or Hussein. He has the same agenda as all the rest. And CNN...hands in your pocket, hands in your pocket, hands in your pocket.....total media propaganda.

[elaine5242]

Canada...I feel sorry for you.

See the link...this is why we fight. Open your eyes.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-06-canada-terrorism_x.htm?csp=34

[lighthowse]

My concern is that while a representative government works for us (somewhat)it doesn't mean it is good for everyone. The middle eastern countries call for a spiritual leader.

In the past we have been a benevolent bully. The world tended to listen to us because they knew we had the ability and might to back up anything we say. We've now become the bully on the block. I wonder how we'd feel if another country invaded us and said it was for our own good and they know what's best for us. We have been complicit in destroying Iraq and it's civilian population. Halliburton is under investigation concerning the money they were given to rebuild Iraq.

Mr. Bush had no plan when he invaded Iraq and that is a terrible disservice to our military. I noticed he didn't mention any of the recommendations that the Iraq study group came up with in his speech. I have the utmost respect for the military. I believe they have been put in a terrible position by Mr. Bush.

[martialslaw]

Gang, here's a painting of a Bush cabinet meeting. Note: the man being referenced by the painter is neither Mr. Hitler, Mr. Stalin, nor Mr. Pol Pot.

http://www.solroed-gym.dk/billed/images/grosz%20s40.jpg

[dannelle3]

As Canadians we don't need you to feel sorry for us...we feel sorry for you. Don't think that I'm some radical Canadian that is just sitting up North drinking beer and waiting for the cold weather to go away. We have the same TV as you and we see what GB has to say...pathetic. If he didn't have a "behind the curtain" guy writing his speeches or answers, he wouldn't have a hope in hell of speaking of anything you or anyone else wants to hear. There's more behind the scenes that you don't even know about.

[elaine5242]

It's an overstatement to say that President Bush (and by association) the military had no plan when we invaded Iraq. Trust me, the military plans more than any organization in the world. The truth is they truly didn't realize how fast the country would fall and were honestly taken by surprise. People seem to forget that humans do the planning for war...contingencies are made, but things don't always go the way one thinks they will. That's why war is hell.

We went to Iraq because the intelligence available at the time led many around the world (including democrats) to believe they had weapons of mass destruction. They were given chance after chance to provide full disclosure and did not. The threat that Iraq would develop and sell chemical weapons to terrorists was real at the time. He gassed his own people.

War is hell...and I think in the end if the Iraqis step and and take their country back from the insurgents and learn to work together toward their common goals, they'll be thankful Saddam is gone.
more...

[elaine5242]

And you do?

[emtak1]

Boy , i just read the whole transcript, and maybe the president is a straight shooter.

But...he sure doesn't seem to be the brightest crayon in the box.

It seems possible to that he's itching to get into it also with Iran. A further war which would undoubtedly require a draft.

Clearly the war now is being run by the president's dictate and not by the people's will. That is as much concern to me as to whether or not we lose the war. It seemed silly to me. The prsident says--failure is not an option, but defeat is always an option in any war.
And he said:
"the temptation is gonna find scapegoats. Well, if the people want a scapegoat, they got one right here in me 'cause it's my decisions."

But these are not his decisions alone. My country, as I knew it, was a representative democracy.

[dannelle3]

Your country seems far from a democracy...Bush leads the way and God forbid should you go the other way.

[elaine5242]

Would you like to give the entire country a security clearance and have a huge country-wide meeting and take a vote on what should be done next?

[emtak1]

Dannelle3

Lol, many many of are going the other way. And I for one wont tolerate this country not to be a democracy. My blood will run out in the street first.

[emtak1]

Elaine5242

I'd like that teh executive ddin't over power the representationla part of the United States.

The executive without the balance of power is not the America I knew. It sold fashioned tyranny.

Just....a very clever and quiet one

[dannelle3]

Well I'm a Canadian with no criminal history and yet I have to have a passport now to go to friggin Montana? That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. Growing up our trips with our parents was going to Spokane or Kalispell to shop and now it's a huge foreign issue. Go figure!

[lighthowse]

We fight great conventional wars and "smart" wars from a distance using advanced military tactics. We don't have much sucess fighting ground wars most likely because we send our troops over to Iraq in uniform while the enemy looks just like the local population. It's like painting a target on our soldiers. Our military is made up of honorable and decent men and women and to send them in to fight a conventional war when the enemy is fighting anything but doesn't make sense.
We made the same mistake in Vietnam.

[emtak1]

Montana? Why in God's name would anyone go to Montana? : P

[emtak1]

lighthowse

Yeah--but its doubly ridiculous now. I mean we already knew all this, and we've let it happen anyway...

...and its my fault and the next guys as much as it is the president's, I think

[elaine5242]

Trust me, my blood will run with yours if there's ever a threat to our democracy.

Dannelle3 -- It may be an inconvenience for you to have a passport, but as long as terrorists are entering our borders via any means possible, I have no issues with passports. I have to have one now in order to go to the Caribbean. It's a small price to pay to help avoid another 9/11.

[dannelle3]

Ok, Elaine5242, who says I can't come into the US and yet they manage to allow terrorists into the country. Why should I suffer for the sins of others?

Canada is famous for letting refugees, imigrants, etc into our country because apparently we're a compassionate country yet your country won't let some caucasion mother with four teenagers and who has no criminal record into your country without offical documents. That's Bush for you. He's going to screw with all your minds and you're all paranoid as it is.

[themartyred]

Pelley: "the Democrat party" - that is what the right wing fanatic side of the Republican party calls the Democratic party to be obnoxious.

and how GREAT of Pelley to say the Democrats have NO PLAN, also! WHAT THE FK? Is this guy with Fox News?

ggggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

I won't even get into Bush's lies, of course he had revenge in mind going after Saddam, there was NO other reason to go into Iraq!

sheesh.......

GOD Almighty help this country be more knowledgeable.

[elaine5242]

Dannelle3:

That's a classic argument and one I've heard often. But's it's false. I'm also a mother and was marked for search many times at the airport when my baby was in a carrier. I have no problem with this precisely BECAUSE I'm the least likely person to be a terrorist.

Using your logic...all it would take is one caucasion woman with four kids to join their cause or one old woman/man. If those folks weren't searched, that's who they'd try to recruit. May sound far-fetched, but I'm not willing to take the risk. I'd rather be inconvenienced for five minutes.

[lighthowse]

emtak1

I agree, we all as Americans have to take some of the blame. Until Americans start taking an active role in the process were doomed to having a government "of the money", "by the money" and "for the money". Our govenment is bought and paid for and not by it's citizens.

Until we look deeper into the candidates (like checking out their voting record) backgrounds, farther than their name, we'll be electing the same type of people to represent us (by us, I mean corporate America).

[elaine5242]

emtak1 and lighthowse:

I have a feeling I'm on the opposite side of the political spectrum from you, but I agree that everyone should be educated about the candidates we're electing.

Noone, Democrat or Republican, should be beholden to any interests...corporate or otherwise. Unfortunately, they all seem to be.

[dannelle3]

Elaine5242...it sucks to be chosen as a target even though we're law-abiding citizens. I can't imagine going through what you went through. I would have been so mad. But what is this world coming to when we can't even cross borders we grew up with? You might all think of me as a red-neck because I border Montana but Montana is no different than Washington (which I've been to) or any of the other bordering countries (which I've been to also, I was born in the East and have been to many bordering states).

[elaine5242]

Danelle3:

It didn't even occur to me that you were a redneck. You're right, it's awful that we have to change our lives because of crazy people who want to strap on bombs and kill us. But, this is the reality and I'm happy to have a few extra security checks if it means stopping attacks.

In fact, a terrorist was caught on the border in 1999 north of Seattle (I think) precisely because a border guard was doing HER job.

Look at it a different way...you said it was silly for them to check you because you're a caucasion woman with four kids. But, we aren't allowed to profile, so they have to randomly check people. How would you feel if you were an Arab and you were stopped everywhere, even if you had lived in America for 20 years. That's what could happen on the other extreme.

[dannelle3]

Hi Elaine...you're right. Who knows what I'm going to do or anyone else for that matter. To tell you the truth...I see GB on the news and I just have this hatred towards this man I will never know because of his beliefs and what he believes. He scares me...his beliefs, what he stands for, etc. To me he is no different than Hitler, Bin Laden, Hussein. He wants to control the world and it scares me.

[lighthowse]

I find it ironic that we spend so much time on searching people getting onto planes (I realize we are still responding to 9/11) but our borders are wide open! If our security is so important then why does Mr. Bush put no effort in to securing our borders?

The answer is Money

[dannelle3]

Looking forward to hitting on this topic tomorrow...good night everyone..the dog needs a walk.

[elaine5242]

Danelle,

I have to say I don't share your feelings toward GB, but you have the right to feel that way. I think he's been vilified by the press for years and perception is reality and they got what they wanted...to bring him down. They've done everything they can to make him look bad...your feelings tell me they've succeeded.

He has met with widows in our unit and they were moved by his compassion toward them. Despite what you think, he's a good man and has a lot of feeling for the sacrifices soldiers and their families are making. I'm not sure how you can compare him to a man like Hitler who gassed millions or Saddam who did terrible things to his own people, including gassing the Kurds.

Bush doesn't want to control the world...we're one of the few countries in history that actually goes in and helps other countries, pays to rebuild their infrastructure and leaves. We're not trying to get more land, we're trying to give these people hope and a future so they won't want to strap on a bomb.

It may be a bold strategy and it may fail, but the middle east is a serious issue and it's been getting worse for years...Taliban in Afghanistan, Hamas, Hezbollah, the list goes on. The free world has to step up or the problem will snowball...if one of these terrorist groups is able to secure a nuclear weapon, then we'll all be in a terrible mess. The problem is not going to just go away.