COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF FLIP-FLOPPING AT WORK (Reversal of yesterday)
Bush to Veterans: 'We Will Win' Terror War
Tue Aug 31,11:23 AM ET
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - President Bush (news - web sites) said Tuesday "we will win" the war on terror, seeking to quell controversy and Democratic criticism over his earlier remark that victory may not be possible.
In a speech to the national convention of the American Legion, Bush said, "We meet today in a time of war for our country, a war we did not start yet one that we will win.
"In this different kind of war, we may never sit down at a peace table," Bush said. "But make no mistake about it, we are winning and we will win."
Those statements differed from Bush's earlier comment, aired Monday in a pre-taped television interview, that "I don't think you can win" the war on terror. That had Democrats running for the cameras to criticize Bush for being defeatist and flip-flopping from previous predictions of victory.
"What if President Reagan had said that it may be difficult to win the war against communism? What if other presidents had said it'd be difficult to win the war — the Cold War?" Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards (news - web sites) said on ABC's "Nightline" program. "The war on terrorism is absolutely winnable."
In his speech to the nation's largest veterans' organization, Bush also defended his decision to remove Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) from power. Though no weapons of mass destruction have been found, he said Saddam had the capability to make them.
"Knowing what I know today I would have taken the same action," he said. "America and the world are safer with Saddam Hussein sitting in a prison cell."
news.yahoo.com |
