"Every Single Day"

Here's a good question which demanded some real evasion:

Q Mr. President, we were told that you planned to sharpen your focus on Iraq. Why did this become necessary? And given the recent surge in violence, do you agree with Vice President Dick Cheney's assessment that the insurgency is in its last throes?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Adam, I think about Iraq every day -- every single day -- because I understand we have troops in harm's way, and I understand how dangerous it is there. And the reason it's dangerous is because there's these cold-blooded killers that will kill Americans or kill innocent Iraqis in order to try to drive us out of Iraq. I spoke to our commanders today -- Commander Abizaid today, and will be speaking to General Casey here this week, getting an assessment as to how we're proceeding. We're making progress toward the goal, which is, on the one hand, a political process moving forward in Iraq, and on the other hand, the Iraqis capable of defending themselves. And the report from the field is that while it's tough, more and more Iraqis are becoming battle-hardened and trained to defend themselves. And that's exactly the strategy that's going to work. And it is going to work. And we will -- we will complete this mission for the sake of world peace.

And you just heard the EU is willing to host this conference with the United States in order to help this new democracy move forward. And the reason why is many countries understand that freedom in the heart of the Middle East will make this world more peaceful.

And so, you know, I think about this every day, every single day, and will continue thinking about it, because I understand we've got kids in harm's way. And I worry about their families; and I obviously, any time there's a death, I grieve. But I want those families to know, one, we're not going to leave them -- not going to allow their mission to go in vain; and, two, we will complete the mission and the world will be better off for it.

Well, I'm certainly glad he thinks about Iraq every day--after all, it's his obsession, hubris, and delusions of grandeur that got us into that mess in the first place. If you think about it, it'd be pretty sick if he DIDN'T think about Iraq every day. That said, I doubt Bush is capable of determining what "battle hardened" means, given his own experiences. As for the "world peace" line...unfuckingbelievable. Once again, the pResident is cribbing notes from beauty pageant contestants. And, as anyone with a few functioning brain cells might note, Bush simply ignored the question. Makes you wonder exactly WHAT he's thinking about when he thinks about Iraq every day...

Bush went on to "explain" Guantanamo:

...those of us who espouse freedom have an obligation, and those who espouse human rights have an obligation to live that to those -- live up to those words. And I believe we are, in Guantanamo... You're welcome to go down yourself -- maybe you have -- and taking a look at the conditions. I urge members of our press corps to go down to Guantanamo and see how they're treated and to see -- and to see -- and to look at the facts. That's all I ask people to do. There have been, I think, about 800 or so that have been detained there. These are people picked up off the battlefield in Afghanistan. They weren't wearing uniforms, they weren't state sponsored, but they were there to kill.

And so the fundamental question facing our government was, what do you do with these people? And so we said that they don't apply under the Geneva Convention, but they'll be treated in accord with the Geneva Convention.

And so I would urge you to go down and take a look at Guantanamo. About 200 or so have been released back to their countries. There needs to be a way forward on the other 500 that are there. We're now waiting for a federal court to decide whether or not they can be tried in a military court, where they'll have rights, of course, or in the civilian courts. We're just waiting for our judicial process to move -- to move the process along.

Make no mistake, however, that many of those folks being detained -- in humane conditions, I might add -- are dangerous people. Some have been released to their previous countries, and they got out and they went on to the battlefield again. And I have an obligation, as do all of us who are holding office, to protect our people. That's a solemn obligation we all have. And I believe we're meeting that obligation in a humane way.

As well, as we've got some in custody -- Khalid Shaykh Muhammad is a classic example, the mastermind of the September the 11th attack that killed over 3,000 of our citizens. And he is being detained because we think he could possibly give us information that might not only protect us, but protect citizens in Europe. And at some point in time, he'll be dealt with, but right now, we think it's best that he be -- he be kept in custody.

We want to learn as much as we can in this new kind of war about the intention, and about the methods, and about how these people operate. And they're dangerous, and they're still around, and they'll kill in a moment's notice.

In the long run, the best way to protect ourselves is to spread freedom and human rights and democracy. And -- but if you've got questions about Guantanamo, I seriously suggest you go down there and take a look. And -- seriously, take an objective look as to how these folks are treated, and what has happened to them in the past, and when the courts make the decision they make, we'll act accordingly.

I don't even know where to begin...espousing freedom via Guantanamo? What's the expression? Like fucking for virginity...and, of course, we have the pResident's word that "many...are dangerous people." Well, that apparently means SOME aren't (see The Rude Pundit for more on this). Khalid Shaykh Muhammed, as far as I know, ISN'T at Guantanamo, and, while he makes for an easy target (my understanding is that he's become quite familiar with "waterboarding"), I don't think he's an example of the typical detainee, even if he DOES allow Bush to once again ride 9/11 for political purposes (the cynical bastard).

And exactly what solid intelligence has come from the facility? If "released detainees" have gone back to "their previous countries" and have joined the fight (exactly 5, according to this story, although the sources refuse to provide details on how this information was obtained), that kind of undercuts the rationale that good intelligence is being obtained.

Guantanamo is, quite simply, the essence of Team Bush. It is a profoundly ugly symbol of arrogance and ignorance. Who knows what people are being held there...and the world certainly hasn't been safer in the interim. Instead, Bush, following up on a juvenile fantasy, veered from the GWOT to attack Iraq, resulting in...well, all but the most delusional are aware of what's happening there.

And Bush, when all is said and done, will be able to continue to think about Iraq every day--especially when it becomes the issue that defines his presidency...as one of the worst administrations ever.