Still staying the course

Following yesterdays misleading and empty WAPO article titled Major Change Expected In Strategy for Iraq we have this:

Bush: I Won't Change Strategy in Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush conceded Friday that "right now it's tough" for American forces in Iraq, but the White House said he would not change U.S. strategy in the face of pre-election polls that show voters are upset.

With Republicans anxious about the potential loss of Congress - and with conditions seemingly deteriorating in Iraq - Bush addressed the question of whether he would alter his policies.

"We are constantly adjusting our tactics so that we achieve the objective, and right now it's tough, it's tough," Bush said in an Associated Press interview.

Of course the only thing that resembles an Iraq strategy is Bush's desire to postpone the inevitable "cut and run" until after he leaves office. Of course as usual Bush has no idea what strategy even is and confuses "goals" - "tactics" and "strategy".

Despite calls for change, Bush said, "Our goal has not changed. Our goal is a country that can defend, sustain and govern itself, a country that which will serve as an ally in this war. Our tactics are adjusting."

Just to be fair let's help Bush out on this front.

• goal
  noun
  The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed; an objective.


• strategy
  noun
  
  
  1. The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war.
  
  
  2. The science and art of military command as applied to the overall planning and conduct of large-scale combat operations.
  
  
  3. A plan of action resulting from strategy or intended to accomplish a specific goal.


• tactic
  noun
  An expedient for achieving a goal; a maneuver.

So George, you may have a goal and it might even be a noble one, but you don't have a strategy that will work so the tactics are irrelevant.