They Don't Apologize

Cheney went to the dictionary. "If you look at what the dictionary says about throes, it can still be a violent period -- the throes of a revolution. The point would be that the conflict will be intense, but it's intense because the terrorists understand if we're successful at accomplishing our objective, standing up a democracy in Iraq, that that's a huge defeat for them. They'll do everything they can to stop it."

Bradley Graham writes in The Washington Post that Abizaid yesterday "offered an assessment of the Iraqi insurgency that contrasted with more optimistic portrayals by some administration officials. He said that the resistance remains about as strong as it was six months ago and acknowledged the possibility that enemy fighters still have sufficient reserves to mount 'a military surprise' such as a surge in coordinated attacks.

"His remarks appeared at odds with a claim last week by Vice President Cheney -- reaffirmed yesterday in an interview with CNN -- that the insurgency is in its 'last throes.' Pressed on the seeming difference, Abizaid said, 'I'm sure you'll forgive me' for not criticizing the vice president."

Cheney on Social Security

Cheney for the first time indicated that Bush might sign a Social Security bill that does not include private accounts Blitzer: "If it's not part of a final solution, if the House and Senate pass legislation that doesn't include these private accounts, will he sign it into law?"

Cheney: "I wouldn't say that. I don't know. It would depend on what's in the bill."

Cheney on Gitmo

"The treatment they're getting -- they got a brand new facility down at Guantanamo. We spent a lot of money to build it. They're very well treated down there. They're living in the tropics. They're well fed. They've got everything they could possibly want. There isn't any other nation in the world that would treat people who were determined to kill Americans the way we're treating these people."

Iraq Watch

Reuters reports this morning: "President Bush will deliver a major address to U.S. troops and the nation about Iraq on Tuesday night from the U.S. military base at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the White House said.

" 'This is a critical moment in Iraq,' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on Friday in announcing the speech. 'This is a real time of testing.' "McClellan said the speech would be delivered at 8 p.m., and that the White House has asked U.S. television networks to air the address live."

Bush meets and appears with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari today.

Robin Wright and Jim VandeHei write in The Washington Post that "the legacies of the U.S. and Iraqi leaders may now depend on how much they can achieve together over the next six months. Today they will meet at the White House to map out a joint strategy for the final phase of Iraq's transition. And for all their differences, they sound increasingly alike, from charting the political future in a new constitution to silencing an insurgency."

Invitation Required

So there was President Bush on stage at Montgomery Blair High School yesterday, with comedian Ben Stein, talking about Social Security. But here's the strangest thing: When Stein announced that he was Blair Class of 1962, there was no applause!

Maybe because there was no on in the auditorium actually from Blair High?