CBS Meyer: (AWOL is) The Mother Of All Nation Builders

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/08/27/opinion/meyer/main570402.shtml

“I’m not sure the role of the United States is to go around the world and say this is the way it’s got to be…. I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders.” George W. Bush, Presidential Debate, Boston, Oct. 3, 2000

Ironic, isn’t it? George Bush, reluctant nation builder, is now CEO of the mother of all nation-building projects.

At this stage, the president’s most pressing challenge is selling the deal to wary stockholders. He’s hampered by a self-created credibility gap and a tenacious refusal to abandon campaign-style jingoism in favor of candor and clarity.

--snip--

What the president did was give a fine campaign speech.

What the president didn’t do was address the substantive concerns about the administration’s reconstruction policy directly. Nor did he level with the American people about the costs in blood and bucks.

I’m left wondering which is more important to President Bush, reconstruction or re-election?

I, too, specifically remember Bush saying that he wasn't into nation building back when he was campaigning. I also remember something about compassion and it's clear he's renegged on that one, too. I wonder what the next gimmick will be? We've had George the compassionate conservative, George the rugged working man and George the tough talking cowboy. What will he try to sell himself as next?

I don''t see much evidence of nation building there--do you?

--snip--
The costs of failure in Iraq are obvious and immense: more instability in the volatile Arab world, a more fertile spawning ground for terrorists, a setback for Arab democracy and openness, and a huge gash on American influence. The case is not hard to make. But doing right it requires some honestly and willingness to argue with critics.

A leader addresses these challenges - a campaigner finesses them.
--end of snip--

Considering the gravity of the situation in Iraq, you'd think the POTUS would make every effort to communicate his objectives and rationale for such a costly and controversial undertaking. Instead, he makes his standard "war on terra" speech that is basically a cop-out.

Can't Rove and the neocons come up with anything better?

I think they really don't want any kind of REAL national dialogue, because their agenda is built on lies and ulterior motives and because their man simply lacks the capability to engage his critics in anything like a rational debate.

Bushco is falling into the usual strategy of uttering reassuring and popular manichaen/patriotic platitudes, and hoping the public will focus their attention on something else.

But that strategy just won't do, because the problems in Iraq are constantly in everyone's face. And it just could be that the more Bush has his face in front of the cameras with his his mouth open, the more dissatisfied people are going to get.