Bush tries to lower expectations over Iraq

I guess hoping for an end to bombings and the killing of innocent people, plus the eventual withdrawal of troops leaving Iraq a peaceful democracy was shooting for the stars. Now we'll be happy as long as a handful of Iraqi remain alive when we go.

President George W. Bush, fresh from a surprise trip to Iraq, on Wednesday sought to lower expectations of what should be defined as success in the country while sketching out a future strategy that did not appear markedly different from the past.

Guess he didn't like what he saw. Well...there's still Afghanistan. Batting 500 won't be too bad.

Americans should not have a “zero violence expectation”, Mr Bush said in a news conference.

Has anyone ever been to America? We know violence. I don't think we have a zero violence expectation. More like a expectation for some sort of progress towards withdrawal would be really nice. I don't want the whole sundae, just some whip cream and sprinkles.

“Winning means a government that can sustain itself, defend itself and govern itself, and an ally in the war on terror, and we will help this government do that,” he said in a significant departure from the rhetoric that accompanied the 2003 invasion.

Okay, I'll take that. How's that coming by the way?