President Bush’s view of the bloodshed in Iraq (video):
BLITZER: We see these horrible bodies showing up …
BUSH: Of course you do.
BLITZER: …tortured, mutilation. The Shia and the Sunni, the Iranians apparently having a negative role. Of course, Al-Qaida in Iraq’s still operating.
BUSH: Yes, you see — you see it on TV, and that’s the power of an enemy that is willing to kill innocent people. But there’s also an unbelievable will and resiliency by the Iraqi people. Twelve million people voted last December.
Admittedly, it seems like a decade ago. I like to tell people when the final history is written on Iraq, it will look like just a comma because there is — my point is, there’s a strong will for democracy.
(Emphasis added).
It’s an interesting perspective:
- 2,700 Americans killed on September 11 = a day that changed everything
- 2,700 Americans killed + 20,000 Americans wounded + tens of thousands of Iraqis killed and wounded = a comma in history
I wonder how well it would go over if a leading Democrat referred to the attack on September 11 as a “comma” (or semicolon) in the grand scheme of history. I suspect it wouldn’t go over well.
[Incidentally, I majored in history, and in four years I never did learn when the “final history” regarding an event is written. Perhaps Tony Snow can clear that point up on a slow news day.]
If that wasn’t enough, Mr. Bush added this:
These people want a unity government. The unity government is functioning. I’m impressed by President Maliki.
I’ve talked to him. I’ve seen the decision-making process that he’s put in place. The Iraqi army is still recruiting and training.
Unity government? Funny, I just read this:
After yielding to several demands from Sunni Arab parties, Iraqi political leaders agreed on Sunday to start debate on a bill that could eventually allow the country to be broken into autonomous states.
I guess it all depends on what your definition of a “unity government” is.
UPDATE: Jack Cafferty weighs in on the “comma.”