Bush Credibility on 2 Wars -- Iraq, Terrorism -- Under Challenge

Bush Credibility on 2 Wars -- Iraq, Terrorism -- Under Challenge
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59416-2004Apr7.html
By Dan Balz and Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, April 8, 2004; Page A11

A week of escalating violence in Iraq, accompanied by growing numbers of U.S. casualties and gruesome images on television and in newspapers, threatens to erode public confidence in President Bush and redraw the political calculus of the impact of the war on terrorism in the presidential election.

---snip---

"There's a lot of reasons this is not Vietnam," he added. "There are so many inaccurate analogies being drawn, but the one that has the most resonance to contemporary events is the credibility gap between what a president says and what is happening."

Advisers to the president and administration allies said it was too soon to measure the political impact on Bush, but they were clearly nervous and expected erosion as a result of the events of the week. Meanwhile, a second Democratic senator in three days drew a parallel between Bush's Iraq policy and Vietnam.

---snip--

The president stayed out of sight at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., but events have played havoc with his schedule. Originally, Bush planned to remain out of view until he attends Easter services on Sunday, but aides acknowledged that was untenable at such a momentous time. Now they are planning an Easter Sunday speech at nearby Fort Hood, according to aides, and a possible appearance Friday.

one tragic, needless war, we were lied into, which spawns terrorism, while the real work of fighting terrorism is left undone.

The president stayed out of sight at his ranch in Crawford, Tex.,....

but it should have really read .. The president hid in the bushes at his ranch in Crawford, Tex.,...