Bush states no. of our Iraq dead for first time: WH spins as "huge"...

[DeepModem Mom]

significance, proving that, despite his refusal to meet with Cindy Sheehan, he is "sensitive to the sacrifices imposed by his policies."


Washington Post:
A Very Slight Change in the Script
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Tuesday, August 23, 2005

President Bush's visit to Utah yesterday offered a great example of the White House's version of highly stylized Japanese Kabuki theater.

Although the speech Bush gave was largely an amalgam of previous addresses, White House reporters were urged to note the extraordinary significance of the president -- for the first time anyone can remember -- actually acknowledging the number of soldiers who have died in Iraq.

Yes, after months of painstakingly avoiding specific mention of the extent of American casualties in the war, Bush somewhat startlingly had this to say yesterday:

"We have lost 1,864 members of our Armed Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 223 in Operation Enduring Freedom. Each of these men and women left grieving families and loved ones back home. Each of these heroes left a legacy that will allow generations of their fellow Americans to enjoy the blessings of liberty. And each of these Americans have brought the hope of freedom to millions who have not known it."...

***

Bush's tone was matter-of-fact. He didn't spend a lot of time expressing his sympathy for the dead or their families. His speech included no new plans to stem the loss. In fact, Bush went on to invoke the dead soldiers as reason to stay the course in Iraq -- a policy that will inevitably create many more of them....

***

....after the speech, White House officials spun it as hugely significant evidence that -- in spite of his refusal to meet with grieving mother Cindy Sheehan -- the president is sensitive to the sacrifices imposed by his policies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/linkset/2005/04/11/LI2005041100879.html

[Spinzonner]

1. Actually, it is rather huge

It significantly exceeds the number of fingers and toes he has.

:sarcasm:

[rodeodance]

2. most of the cable stations have made it a big deal also (over and over)

[nankerphelge]

3. What a crock of...

[DeepModem Mom]

4. It's offensive, I think. And stupid. nt

[renate]

5. this is scary

"We will accept nothing less than total victory over the terrorists and their hateful ideology," Bush said.

NOBODY, even his own generals, thinks this war is winnable. NOBODY. Why does he persist in believing in his little dreamworld where he is the beloved champion of democracy in the Middle East while thousands and thousands of people die in real life?

[Beaverhausen]

6. He forgot to add "but I haven't attended one funeral..."

"...cause, you know, I have to get on with my life."

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. What a crock of sh*t! Who gave him the # of casualties?

He is being forced to address this and I bet he hates it!

[KerryOn]

8. His numbers are wrong....

If he paid attention, he would know that 1,870 were killed in Iraq as of September 22, 2005. (Not 1,864)

[dweller]

9. psst...your crystal ball is smudged... n/t

dp