Bush is right, as usual. Doing what is popular or trendy is what gets a lot of people in trouble, and it is no different when it comes to countries. You do what you think is right for your country, notwithstanding whether or not it is the most popular thing to do; you have to be able to look yourself in the mirror.
What is right for Europe is not necessarily right for America; we are different, and have different interests. Also there will be times when Europe does not have the fortitude to do what is right for their long term interests, and that is where we come in. We do what needs to be done no matter what the rest of the world thinks. Because it is the right thing to do, and someone has to do it.
Of course we are not perfect, and don't always do what needs to be done, especially when it comes to some domestic issues such as our debt, the future of social security, our infrastructure, our need to become energy independent, etc. But when it comes to the fight against the Radical Islamic Jihads who would see this country totally destroyed if it were in their power, this Administrations policies have been right on the money, and you and you can take that to the bank.
Jbranstetter04
Bush defends presidency in final news conference
WASHINGTON By turns wistful, aggressive and joking in the final news conference of his presidency, President George W. Bush vigorously defended his record Monday but also offered an extraordinary listing of his mistakes — including his optimistic Iraq speech before a giant "Mission Accomplished" banner in 2003.
After starting what he called "the ultimate exit interview" with a lengthy and personalized thank-you to the reporters in the room who have covered him over the eight years of his presidency, Bush showed anger at times when presented with some of the main criticisms of his time in office.
"I think it's a good, strong record," he said. "You know, presidents can try to avoid hard decisions and therefore avoid controversy. That's just not my nature."
He particularly became indignant when asked about America's bruised image overseas.
"I disagree with this assessment that, you know, that people view America in a dim light," he said. "It may be damaged amongst some of the elite. But people still understand America stands for freedom."
Bush said he realizes that some issues such as the prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have created controversy at home and around the world. But he defended his actions after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including approving tough interrogation methods for suspected terrorists and information-gathering efforts at home in the name of protecting the country.
With the Iraq war in its sixth year, he most aggressively defended his decisions on that issue, which will define his presidency like no other. There have been over 4,000 U.S. deaths since the invasion and toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
But it was in that area that he also acknowledged mistakes. He said that "not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment." The accusation that Saddam had and was pursuing weapons of mass destruction was Bush's main initial justification for going to war.
He also cited the abuses found to have been committed by members of the U.S. military at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq as "a huge disappointment."
"I don't know if you want to call those mistakes or not, but they were — things didn't go according to plan, let's put it that way," Bush said.
And he admitted another miscalculation: Eager to report quick progress after U.S. troops ousted Saddam's government, he declared less than two months after the war started that "in the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed," a claim made under a "Mission Accomplished" banner that turned out to be wildly optimistic. "Clearly, putting `Mission Accomplished' on an aircraft carrier was a mistake," he said Monday. "It sent the wrong message."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090112/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_news_conference
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