Bush somehow wows war scholars

As part of his Victory Tour, Bush spoke in my hometown of Carlisle, PA at the town's US Army War College, where he "found a friendly audience" who "ate up his applause lines, talked glowingly of his leadership style and thought little of his low approval ratings," according to an article in the Harrisburg Patriot News. What gets me is how these students--high ranking Army officers--can "study the nitty-gritty policy decisions and wide-arching philosophies that govern military action" then turn around and speak so "glowingly" of Bush. Sure, he's the president, and they'd show respect to whoever's in that office, but I don't see how the Bush doctrine can be seen as politically, philosophically, militarily or academically viable enough to turn these war policy geeks into giddy little kids.

Supposedly, "the president's speech gave them fodder for their classes," but the quotes I found sound more like spin than cohesive policy talking points for graduate level education, unless of course you're studying rhetoric and communications.

"We sent a clear message that America will not distinguish between terrorists and those who harbor them."

"Around the world more people live in liberty than any other time in world history," Bush said. "This is a hopeful beginning but only a beginning. The struggle against terror is a generational struggle."

"It is now the policy of the United States to seek the end of tyranny in all countries at all times."

Here's a blow-by-blow account of Bush's three and a half hours in Carlisle from the town's newspaper, the Sentinel.


(Photos from PennLive.com)