Froomkin Has Some Questions About Bush’s Speech
From yesterday’s Washington Post, Dan Froomkin has some things he’ll be watching for tonight during Bush’s speech.
Here are some of the things to keep an eye out for tomorrow night:
* Will he acknowledge the real, specific concerns that many Americans have with this particular war and the way it’s been waged? Or will he once again belittle the public angst by ascribing it to too much carnage on TV and a general aversion to warfare?
* Will he engage and address the actual arguments voiced by critics? Or will he simply fight straw men of his own creation?
* Specifically, will he acknowledge the argument that the presence of American troops makes things worse in Iraq, rather than better?
* Will he acknowledge the message American voters sent about Iraq in November, and explain why he doesn’t feel obliged to heed the public will? Will he explain why he and the public seem to have reached such different conclusions?
* Will he agree to engage in dialogue — not just consultation — with those who disagree with him, and possibly even in public?
* Will he be up front about the possible consequences of a failed escalation — specifically, the cost in human lives? Will he acknowledge the human suffering?
* Will he be honest about the difference between tactics, strategy and goals, and will he explain why he seems willing to consider only a change in tactics?
* Will he be forthright about how we got here? Will he acknowledge any mistakes, beyond tactical errors that were not his fault personally? What lessons will he say he has learned? Will he take any blame for anything?
* Will he explain where the additional troops will come from? Will he call for volunteers? Will he call for anyone else to sacrifice?
* Will he say where the money will come from — for the escalation, for the reportedly billion-dollar jobs program, or for the entire war for that matter?
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