A Very Slight Change in the Script

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

During his speech in Salt Lake City on Mondy, President Bush for the first time mentioned the number of U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq—a change in script that follows "months of painstakingly avoiding specific mention of the extent of American casualties in the war," notes Dan Froomkin. According to advisors, his gesture "was aimed in part at deflecting criticism that he is not sensitive to the sacrifices imposed by his policies."

Main Source: 
Washington Post, August 23, 2005
Topics: 
Iraq

Comments

tanstaafl28 replied on

The President's comment concerning Cindy Sheehan to the affect of "...She does not represent the views of most of the families I've met with." Should we be surprised when the Bush Administration carefully keeps dissent as far away from the President as possible?

ianmoseley replied on

"During his speech in Salt Lake City on Mondy, President Bush for the first time mentioned the number of U.S. soldiers who have died there" I was not aware that much combat was taking place around Salt LAke City

Carl Williams replied on

Given that each and every Presidential audience is carefully screened to keep out anyone who might confront the President with an actual fact or dissenting opinion, no doubt the President has not ever encountered those who are fully aware of the cost of the Iraqi war in lives lost: the parents of deceased military personnel. Droning repetition of the number of those killed in action is the very method of "de-sensatizing" the nation about the real costs of war that was used during the Vietnam era. After so many times of hearing the same thing over and over, it becomes just another part of one's reality and fades from consciousness. I'm fearful that this is exactly what the Bush administration hopes to accomplish this time around. It worked in Vietnam for many years and it will, no doubt, work again in this war.