Bush declares Hezbollah defeated: Another "Mission Accomplished" moment?

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Another 'Mission Accomplished' Moment?
By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Tuesday, August 15, 2006

President Bush's startling assertion yesterday -- that at the end of 33 days of warfare between Israel and the Hezbollah militia, Hezbollah had been defeated -- once again raises questions about his ability to acknowledge reality when things don't turn out the way he intended.

Here, from the transcript of his appearance at the State Department, are his exact words: "Hezbollah started the crisis, and Hezbollah suffered a defeat in this crisis. And the reason why is, is that first, there is a new -- there's going to be a new power in the south of Lebanon, and that's going to be a Lebanese force with a robust international force to help them seize control of the country, that part of the country."

My first question: Did he really mean to say that?...

***

....the conclusion that Hezbollah had been defeated was a rare, possibly unscripted moment of news-making amid a public appearance heavy on timeworn talking points about the march to freedom....

***

Hezbollah, by most accounts, suffered some military setbacks but has emerged in a stronger political position than ever before. Israel, by contrast, is generally considered to have lost its aura of military invincibility. American clout in the region has taken a big hit. Lebanon's fragile democracy has suffered a terrible blow. And the biggest losers, of course, were the people of Lebanon....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/08/15/BL2006081500571.html

[Sherman A1]

1. Good for him!

Now he can return to the bubble and await the next time he needs to come out with another major statement about how things are going in the world.

[MurryMom]

2. How many lies?

Let me count the lies in Bush's statement -- 1,2,3, ad infinitum. At least Bush didn't complain about Hezbollah "rewriting history".

These people have absolutely no respect for the truth!

[Disturbed]

6. Busholini is a simplistic Silverspoon Sociopath.

If America has an actual factual Media they would laugh at his idiotic statements.

[savemefromdumbya]

3. Bush to USA - look no hurricanes this year........

This man is is a real plonker. Hezbollah defeated? LOL!

[Rex]

4. Both sides declare victory and people are surprised?

Both sides CAN do so, yet Bush acts like Hezbollah was dealt a fatal blow. What a moran! No wonder he decided OBL wasn't the primary target, he can't reason or hold a logical thought! The man doesn't have the ability to place value on danger. And he's insane! I would say that is lose, lose for all of us. :(

He needs 24/7 handlers.

[gizmo1979]

5. Heck of a job

Israeli's.

[TrogL]

7. Welcome to the authoritarian personality

He thinks it if he says it loud enough or often enough, it actually is true.

What I tell you three times is true - Lewis Carroll

[anakie]

8. and when hezbollah becomes the dominant party

after the next Lebanese election - just like Hamas - what then.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. "The good news is the rat doesn't live in the walls any more...."

"The bad news is that we had to carpet bomb half the city in order now to say: Mission Accomplished."

[Supersedeas]

10. acknowledging reality is not a Bush/Rice strong point

[Vincardog]

11. How do you tell when * is lying? His lips are moving.