BUSH: "You know, I hear a lot of talk about civil war...."

[BurtWorm]

BUSH: You know, I hear a lot of talk about civil war. I'm concerned about that, of course. And I've talked to a lot of people about it. And what I've found from my talks are that the Iraqis want a unified country and that the Iraqi leadership is determined to thwart the efforts of the extremists and the radicals and Al Qaida and that the security forces remain united behind the government.

And one thing is clear: The Iraqi people are showing incredible courage. The United States of America must understand that it's in our interests that we help this democracy succeed.

As a matter of fact, it's in our interests that we help reformers across the Middle East achieve their objectives. This is the fundamental challenge of the 21st century.

A failed Iraq would make America less secure.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...


Follow-up questions for Bush (which admittedly give him the benefit of the doubt that he actually knows or cares about the truthful answers, despite all evidence that he doesn't deserve such benefit):

Have you talked to Iraqis about it?

What evidence do you have that the majority of Iraqis--or even a significant amount of them--want a "unified country?"

What is "failure" in Iraq and how close is it to failing? How far is it from "succeeding?" What are the signs of "success" you're looking for?

[sakabatou]

1. No, *

Just being in Iraq has made the US less secure... in fact, YOU made the US less secure.

[Crankie Avalon]

2. I hear the voices, and I hear a lot of talk about civil war...

...but I'm the decider, and I decide if it's a civil war or not, and I've decided it isn't, so that's the end of that.

[Radical Activist]

3. He hears talk? Is this water cooler gossip?

He talks about it that way. Jesus, can't he take anything seriously?

[Ezlivin]

4. He's gotta "hear" because he doesn't fucking read

Or maybe he'll get to the news after he's done with Camus' "The Stranger".

The son-of-a-bitch wouldn't know an existentialist if René Descartes punched him in the face.

He should be put on the island as "The Prisoner"; it'd serve him right.

[savemefromdumbya]

5. What a plonker - I think he means civil war in the USA?

Does he think Iraqis are stupid

[Lasher]

6. It's about time the press corps started asking some basic questions

Too long they have been the stenography corps, failing to challenge Junior's vague, subjective claims that he's gotten by with for years.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. You know what I hate about this guy?

(Among many other things) The way he's always telling us what we "need to know" and what we "must understand." He's not telling me ANYTHING that I need to know, because every word out of his mouth is a lie.

[Redbear]

8. Yes. Iraqis want a unified government. Just not the same one.

Thats why it is a civil war.

[NC_Nurse]

9. No sh*t!

You are spot on.