FREDO AND HISTORY

I recall that when asked whether his strategy of bringing democracy to the Middle East will work, Bush replied that we won't know until after we are dead. This vision of history is disturbingly similar to that of diehard Marxists and other fanatics, who excused atrocities by claiming that history will justify their actions.

(Via Atros -> Kevin Drum)

Democrats frustrated by Bush's reaction to Iraq report
By William Douglas and Margaret Talev
McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Fri, Dec. 08, 2006


But some Democrats came away unconvinced that major changes were coming.

Instead, Bush began his talk by comparing himself to President Harry S Truman, who launched the Truman Doctrine to fight communism, got bogged down in the Korean War and left office unpopular.

Bush said that "in years to come they realized he was right and then his doctrine became the standard for America," recalled Senate Majority Whip-elect Richard

Durbin, D-Ill. "He's trying to position himself in history and to justify those who continue to stand by him, saying sometimes if you're right you're unpopular, and be prepared for criticism."Durbin said he challenged Bush's analogy, reminding him that Truman had the NATO alliance behind him and negotiated with his enemies at the United Nations. Durbin said that's what the Iraq Study Group is recommending that Bush do now - work more with allies and negotiate with adversaries on Iraq.

Bush, Durbin said, "reacted very strongly. He got very animated in his response" and emphasized that he is "the commander in chief."