"America will change our approach to help the Iraqi government..." said President Bush tonight (see prepared text of Bush's speech here), as if all of America had come together to craft the "new" strategy he announced tonight. It was striking to hear President Bush mention the Iraq Study Group in almost reverential terms, as he described how he and his administration had listened to many opinions and options from many groups.
But Mr. Bush, you and your team may have heard what they said, but you did not listen. You many have heard, but you did not learn. You may have heard, but you quickly discarded - as you and your team have countless times before - any suggestion that did not already support your existing theory: that American military might and American diplomacy exclusively between it and its friends (a twisted definition of diplomacy so fitting to your "my way or the highway" philosophy of life) are what will enable America to "succeed in the fight against terror".
Fortunately, Mr. Bush, the American people - and an increasing number of their leaders in Congress - know that your new approach is not America's new approach. It is YOUR new approach. And as a result, the American people and their leaders in Congress will do everything they can in the weeks and months ahead to change your approach - which so many respected experts say will fail - to an approach that really will make America safer, by among other things protecting the American economy from the negative consequences of a terribly expensive war being fought with borrowed money.
"Fellow citizens", you said, "The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a Nation." Mr. Bush, you have demanded no sacrifice of anyone other than the men and women of our military and their families. No other American families are sacrificing for this war. No American businesses are sacrificing for this war. In fact, certain American businesses with ties to your administration are reaping windfall profits.
There is an American approach to this "new struggle that will set the course for a new century." And it is not the approach you outlined tonight. God willing, it will be the approach that the American people and their leaders - their civil, political, and business leaders - will develop moving forward, while relegating "the Bush 'my way or the highway' approach" to the ash heap of history where it belongs.