If only he could keep his story straight

So, for many, many months now (is it years? I can't keep track), Bush has been dividing the debate about Iraq into a simple binary choice: "cut-and-run" and "stay-the-course". He has accused Democrats of being "cut-and-run", due to their suggestions for alternative courses. This, of course, completely ignores the fact that Democrats' suggestions span a rather wide array of what should change -- i.e. "cut-and-run" is both an oversimplification as well as wrong. Moreover, this ignores the calls by some Republicans for a change in the course.

Ironically, it is now Bush saying that he never said that we should "stay the course" in Iraq. (Here's the interview with Bush where he denies saying it. To quote BUSH: Well, listen, we've never been stay the course). Unfortunately, Bush does not seem to realize that we have invented video cameras that record the use of such phrases. Here's the link with him using the phrase -- over and over and over.

Based on the interview, it appears that Bush believes that changing tactics is equivalent to not staying the course. It's unfortunate that A) he denies using the phrase, especially since he used it to malign those who disagreed with him and set up straw-man arguments against them and B) that he doesn't understand the difference between tactics and strategy. Certainly, when people discuss "staying the course" in opposition to "cut and run", no one is suggesting a difference of opinion in tactics. In fact, I don't think I've ever read much debate about the tactics used (though I've seen a little discussion of it -- just no real debate -- I mean, who's going to tell the Marines that they're fighting wrong?). So, Bush needs to have a basic lesson in strategy and tactics and needs to stop equivocating on these terms.

This problem of equivocation on Bush's part has been a major force in this war, and it greatly bothers me. It is a way of shutting up those who disagree with you and it is a way of claiming progress when none is being made. It is a way of saying that you've always held to position "A" when you used to make fun of your opponents for holding that position. It is a way of changing the rationale for the war post hoc. Ultimately, it is a way to be disingenous about this war even as soldiers die or as far more soldiers are injured (often for life) at an alarming rate.