[mburbank]

"Bush's speech did not break new ground or present a new strategy. Instead, it was intended to bring together in one place the administration's arguments for the war and explain existing strategy on a military, economic and political track. The president's address was accompanied by the release of a 35-page White House document titled "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq."

OUCH! I was totally, totally wrong. I seriously thought W was going to redefine what 'staying the course' meant and claim he hadn't denied it, or say that the goals of 'staying the course' were mostly met. I still think what Murtha said about serious troop reductions being immenent is going to turn out to be the case, but I thought W would acknowledge tht in this speech, while claiming he wasn't.

So maybe I'm wrong about troop reduction as well. Maybe W is really in control enough to keep this party going until the army breaks.