Absolutely. We're winning. But winning in Iraq ain't what it used to be.
Can we come back to General Pace's formulation about winning, not losing? You said October 24th, "Absolutely, we're winning." And I wanted to --
BUSH: Yes, that was an indication of my belief we're going to win.
We're going to win. Absolutely. But Bush has absolutely pulled back from his absolute statement. What Bush declared definitively in the active present tense now has him a little tense. Winning is ahead out there, somewhere in the future. Absolutely.
Plus Bush rules. He has constituencies.
BUSH: . . . Look, I've got four constituencies I speak to on a regular basis; one is the American people, who are justifiably frustrated at the progress in Iraq.
But just because the American people are frustrated, Bush doesn't believe he has to listen to them, like when they voted this November and put the Democrats back in charge at the Capitol. Believe it. Bush doesn't care what lawmakers say, so why would he care what the voters who elected them think either? The Bush who has been less than a success in Iraq is so much more than the president of the United States. Bush believes he speaks for the whole world. How?
Bush has more constituencies, more than just here in America.
BUSH: . . . The second constituency is the enemy. I'm not through yet.
Bush doesn't understand what he's saying here. It's a wonder. A constituency is a group you represent, or the place you represent. Or a group of supporters or patrons. Words for Bush have no meaning. Or the wrong meaning. I'm not through yet.
BUSH: The enemy wants to know whether or not the United States has the will to stay engaged in this ideological struggle. They don't believe we do. That's what they say. And I believe that's what they believe.
Believe it. Whatever it is. The problem with this ideological struggle so engaged is that real people, not ideologies, are bleeding and dying first. How can anyone have confidence in Bush understanding the complexities of Iraq when he doesn't even understand simple words? Like constituency.
Bush throws words out like litter. Other people are regularly expected to pick up his trashing of the language. How many other presidents have so been given the benefit of the doubt? How many other people so regularly get a pass on shredding meaning with such contempt? It's a wonder more heads don't explode.
BUSH: The third group of people I speak to are the Iraqis. They wonder whether the United States has got the will to help them achieve their objectives. That's what they wonder. The leaders I have talked to wonder whether or not -- what the elections mean, or what the Baker-Hamilton commission means, or what changing [former defense] secretary [Donald H.] Rumsfeld means -- that's what they wonder.
It's a wonder what to believe. The president isn't done yet. His last constituency? Them? The military. They and them. And us who are the they who support them. All this plus more belief and wonder? Believe it.
BUSH: And the fourth group is the military. Our troops wonder whether or not our country supports them, and they do. They wonder whether or not the mission and the sacrifice and the toil that they're making is worth it. And they need to know from the commander in chief: Not only is it worth it, but I strongly support them and believe that their work will lead to victory. That's what I believe.
Believe it? To review there is a plan to have a strategy or a strategy to have a plan that will lead to a victory, a victory that follows a mission that was accomplished, before we surged against insurgents, back when only a few troops were needed to secure the country that wasn't but now will be. We're going to win? Absolutely. How much more of this can we stand? And how many more will have to die if more than few don't take a stand?
