No Light in the Tunnel

by William Greider

Hope and fear are always the polar forces at work in American politics and this Texas-macho President has brilliantly orchestrated the nation's fear of terrorism into a winning position. Support him, he will protect us, take the fight to the treacherous enemies and crush them. He has reminded us relentlessly of what we most fear. For many, it felt reassuring to hear his resolve. But the brave-cowboy act is over. He failed himself yesterday in the White House press room.

George W. Bush called the press conference to sell hope--give people a reason to keep on believing--but trampled his own objective. Instead, he deepened the public's fear--not of Muslim terrorists--but of his own leadership at war. Does this guy know what he's doing? He got us into this mess; does he know how to get us out?

A fatal admission was revealed when Bush was asked whether he could envision a day when US troops were out of Iraq. The President shrugged, as though the question does not apply to him. "That'll be decided," Bush said, "by future presidents and future governments of Iraq." When I heard this, I thought, that's going to be tomorrow's headline. Sure enough, it was in the Washington Times, a conservative newspaper that always rallies to Bush's side. "Bush commits until 2009," the banner headline declared.

That remark shuts down hope and kicks it out the door. Want to bring the troops home? For the next three years, forget it. Bush's comment, it is true, was more ambiguous than the headline. But it's too late for White House amplifications. The headline is the shorthand that will linger in public consciousness, repeated endlessly in the political chatter.

Does this guy have a clue? His tone of casual dismissal sends a chill down the spine. His press conference blunder will stalk George Bush until he either makes a big change in policy or personnel or actually gets us out of Iraq. He can't just smirk and walk off the stage.