Reality's Revenge

"Bush credited Rumsfeld with overseeing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while overhauling the military. 'I'm pleased with the progress we're making,' the president said. He replied in the affirmative when asked if he wanted Rumsfeld and Cheney to stay with him until the end."

From the AP excerpts: "I asked Vice President Cheney to get on my ticket, to run with me, because I trust his -- I value his judgment and his advice. And he's given me good advice. The good thing about Vice President Cheney's advice is you don't read about it in the newspaper after he gives it. In other words, he's a trusted adviser. He's not out there trying to make his own way. He's an integral part of this team."

Richard Keil writes for Bloomberg: "On Iraq, the president said U.S. military commanders haven't sought more forces for the conflict. 'The troop level they got right now is what they can live with,' he said."

Live with?

As Keil promptly notes: "October has been one of the deadliest months for U.S. forces with the deaths of 99 military personnel in combat, the most since November 2004, according to Department of Defense figures. Another six have died from accidents and other causes. A total of 2,815 U.S. personnel have died since the March 2003 invasion, 2,259 of those as a result of combat. There have been 21,419 wounded.

"'No question October has been a tough month,' the president said."

Worth More Than Just One Question

Also from the interview, on Cheney's comment about how a "dunk in the water" for suspected terrorists was a "no-brainer" to save lives:

"We don't discuss methodology in terms of how we question our detainees because I don't want them adjusting. ... My answer is that we don't discuss the techniques we use. And the reason you don't is because we don't want people practicing on how to avoid the techniques we might use so that we can get information from people."

New Media Strategy, Part One

Last week, in an interview with conservative journalists, Bush expressed moral reservations about publicizing body counts, a controversial hallmark of the Vietnam war.

"First of all, we are on the offense and we had made a conscience [sic] effort not to be a body count team. . . .

"They're moving hard and they're pressing hard. And I don't want to give you numbers. It's frustrating however, because . . . it's the perception that this great military power full of decent people is just getting picked off and nothing is happening. And I share the same frustration you share. And the American people, most of them out there are saying, how are you doing; get after them.

"And so we explain we are, but -- and I think the judgment is right in the Pentagon not to be talking about the number we kill and capture on a weekly basis because it then begins to -- they're just fearful. There's a culture over there. And I believe they're right. Maybe we're wrong. I'd be interested in your opinion."