Bush visibly shaken by the news.

[bhunt70]

10/3/2005

WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush scrambled to seize back control of the US political battleground, despite slumping opinion poll ratings, an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq, and severe criticism of his role in the Hurricane Katrina debacle. The President held a meeting in the Oval Office with some of his top advisors and select members of the press corp to get a handle on some of the issues plaguing him.

Towards the end of the meeting the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, informed the president about the latest issue to have introduced itself to the White House administration. "Mr. President, our latest reports indicate that three brazilian soldiers were killed in the line of duty in Najaf", stated the Secretary.

At this point the president visibly slumped in his chair behind the desk during the meeting, something atypical for many presidents especially one that has been stoic in the face of previous adversity.

The rest of the cabinet took it's cue from the president, also looking visibly troubled. After a brief respite the president looked towards his secretary of defense and asked "How many is a brazillion?".