Editorial: Changing the course?

Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006 | 7:54 a.m.

The war in Iraq has been a faltering operation for two years. Yet it isn't until two weeks before a major election, in which Republicans might lose control of Congress, that President Bush starts talking about "benchmarks" for possible changes in strategy.

In a news conference Wednesday, Bush admitted that he is "not satisfied" with the situation in Iraq. He has claimed that he no longer is "staying the course" and is embracing a new flexibility. His benchmarks, he says, will give the United States a better war policy.

However, Bush hedged when a reporter asked how he would determine whether his benchmarks had been met and whether anyone would be held accountable if they are not met. Instead, the president attempted to parse the difference between benchmarks, which he supports, and a timetable for withdrawal of American troops, which he does not support. In that sense, the president's new Iraq war policy sounds pretty much the same as the old Iraq war policy - new words, but same lack of planning.

For Bush, this has always been a war of words. Inflammatory rhetoric and generalizations that played on Americans' fears after the Sept. 11 attacks were used to justify going to war. Similar platitudes and bumper-sticker phrases have been used to justify keeping American troops there.

Now, as increasing numbers of Americans call for a change in strategy and similar sentiments burrow deep into the Republican ranks two weeks before a midterm election, Bush is using catchy phrases in an attempt to show that he is responsive and flexible.

But he remains clueless. October has marked the deadliest month for American troops in a year, yet Bush stood there Wednesday and declared, "Absolutely, we're winning."

And, he added, he is increasing pressure on the Iraqi government to take more initiative in defending their country - transparently setting up Iraqi leaders as scapegoats to shoulder the blame when the Bush administration's failed strategy results in the unavoidable pullout of American troops.

The Bush administration has always had plenty of words to promote this war. What it has lacked is a well-thought-out plan. Unfortunately, that hasn't changed.