Bush tries to lower expectations over Iraq

[sabra]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13324310/

Bush tries to lower expectations over Iraq

President George W. Bush, fresh from a surprise trip to Iraq, on Wednesday sought to lower expectations of what should be defined as success in the country while sketching out a future strategy that did not appear markedly different from the past.

Americans should not have a "zero violence expectation", Mr Bush said in a news conference.

"Winning means a government that can sustain itself, defend itself and govern itself, and an ally in the war on terror, and we will help this government do that," he said in a significant departure from the rhetoric that accompanied the 2003 invasion.

Asked if the US had a specific target level of violence in mind that would be deemed acceptable, Mr Bush answered: "Enough for the government to succeed."

[Rex]

1. Bush is blowing smoke, they have ZERO credibility

and can't build any with the majority of Americans. Laff!

[UpInArms]

2. contrasting back to March 20, 2003

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,918031,00.html

"Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force and I assure you this will not be a campaign of half measures and we will accept no outcome but victory.

"My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. We will bring freedom to others and we will prevail.

[VegasWolf]

3. The only "win" that ShitHead cares about is a sympathetic Iraqi gov

that lets Bush pump "his" oil.

[Roland99]

4. His whole residency has been about lowering expectations.

[Tempest]

6. "I am the master of low expectations." - GWB

[Kolesar]

5. LOL Americans should not have "any expectation of decreasing violence"

Is the the Onion or the Borowitz report? www.borowitzreport.com

[Thor_MN]

7. WTF? "* Tries to Lower Expectations?"

He couldn't lower my expectations if he danced a naked jig on the White House lawn for the next SOTU and played "Taps" at sunset by passing gas...

[Fire Walk With Me]

8. Translation: Raise expectations of dead US soldiers.

And Iraqi civilians.

[kiraboo]

9. No need. I really don't think my expectations could be any lower

than they are right now.

Are people catching on to him, or are they just pissed off about the price at the pump? I've no faith in our collective intelligence any more.

[maxsolomon]

10. defining down victory

'sustain itself' is utterly nebulous.

it is impossible for me to become more cynical.

[daleo]

11. Can anything go below absolute zero?

'Cause I think that's where expectations are now.