Afghan fighters are good fighters

Follow-up: Thai Prime Minister Samak has been ordered by a court to step down because of his cooking show “Tasting and Grumbling.”

Today Bush spoke at the National Defense University.

WHAT IT TURNS OUT: “I am pleased to be back at the National Defense University again. It turns out this is my fifth visit as President.”

I’M SURE THEY’RE ALL THRILLED ABOUT IT TOO: “You know, one of the great things about being the Commander-in-Chief is to be the Commander-in-Chief of people who have volunteered to serve our country in a time of danger.”


AND THE ACTIVITIES TOO: “Yesterday, Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus reported to me via STVS that they had just gone into a market area, and seen the commerce and the activities.”

He announced that he was sending more troops to Afghanistan, which is experiencing what he has taken to calling a “quiet surge.” A quiet surge that includes greatly stepping up the number of quiet air strikes.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: “And for all the good work we’ve done in that country, it is clear we must do even more. As we learned in Iraq, the best way to restore the confidence of the people is to restore basic security -- and that requires more troops. I’m announcing today additional American troop deployments to Afghanistan.” Because nothing says basic security like foreign troops storming through your country.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE CASE THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF WARFARE: “Regrettably, there will be times when our pursuit of the enemy will result in accidental civilian deaths. This has been the case throughout the history of warfare.” So that’s okay then. “Our nation mourns the loss of every innocent life.” So that’s okay then. “Every grieving family has the sympathy of the American people.” So that’s okay then.


WHAT AFGHAN FIGHTERS ARE: “Afghan fighters are good fighters.”

“In the period ahead, we will once again encourage Afghan security forces and Afghan tribes to take a leading role in the building of a democratic Afghanistan.” Because nothing says democracy like tribalism and the involvement of security forces in politics.