Same as it ever was, again

George Bush did a speech before his favourite audience today -- troops in uniform (who usually have to attend these events under orders from superior officers). It was the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg Georgia. Condi Rice once sneered that the 82nd Airborne had no role in nation-building activities. Afghanistan and Iraq later, they have the body count to show for it. Anyway, here's part of Bush's speech --

Withdrawal from Iraq before we have achieved success would embolden al Qaeda and give them new safe havens from which to plot attacks on the American homeland. Withdrawal before success would embolden Iran in its nuclear weapons ambitions and its efforts to dominate the region. Withdrawal before success would send a signal to terrorists and extremists across the world that America is weak, and does not have the stomach for a long fight.

Note that his three reasons -- the only three that he gave -- would all be inapplicable if he had never invaded Iraq in the first place: al-Qaeda wouldn't be there, Iran wouldn't be stronger, and America wouldn't be stuck in a long fight.