Media Reaction to Bush's 'New' Iraq Speech 
Surprisingly, the MSM presented a reasonably skeptical take on the speech noting that it was merely a response to growing criticism of Bush's policies and barrel-bottom poll numbers (See this post for the initial Bush lambasting by the AP). Many described the President's remarks as broad and lacking specifics.
The AP, for example, reports Bush "did not outline a new strategy." Rather, the speech "was intended as a comprehensive answer to mounting criticism and questions. Billed as a major address, it brought together in a single package the administration's arguments for the war."
Similarly, the Washington Post runs a front-page analysis piece that says the Bush plan "offered nothing new substantively." Moreover, adds the Post, "Bush faces enormous challenges in turning around public attitudes on the war. The American people have grown increasingly sour on Iraq in public polls, and most no longer approve of the way the president is handling the war." The speech, the Post continues, "won Bush few converts in Washington."
More over the flip:
ABC World News Tonight (11/30/05, lead story, Vargas) said Bush "outlined" his strategy "very broad strokes," noting the President "spent time saying he believes the US has already done a lot to lay the foundation for his goals in Iraq." ABC (Raddatz) added Bush spoke "with his poll numbers at an all-time low, and troop levels in Iraq higher than at any point during this war." The President was shown saying, "Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a signal to our enemies, that if they wait long enough America will cut and run and abandon its friends."
CNN's The Situation Room (11/30/05, Blitzer) reported "some," added CNN, "dismissed" the speech "as little more than Administration spin."
Fox News' Special Report (11/30/05, Hume) reported the speech "seemed to push his Democratic opposition even closer to calling for an immediate pullout from Iraq." It was "the first of a series of speeches the President is expected to make."
The Wall Street Journal reports "the speech was as notable for what he left out," as Bush "appeared to gloss over shortcomings in the Iraqi security forces playing a greater role in taking on the insurgents. Human-rights groups have offered evidence that the new forces routinely use torture, but Mr. Bush declined to address the accusations." He also "declined to address widespread Sunni accusations that members of the overwhelmingly Shiite and Kurdish security forces have kidnapped and killed hundreds of Sunni men in recent months, a development that is increasing tensions between the groups and raising the specter of civil war." The Journal adds it was not "clear...whether the speech can stop the erosion of public confidence in the administration's handling of Iraq."
and...
Knight Ridder says "the president still left key questions unanswered, such as what benchmarks would be used to measure progress in quelling the Iraqi insurgency and how to ensure that Iraq's military forces will answer to their emerging national government instead of to the tribal and sectarian leaders many of them now obey."
KEYWORDS: Media Reaction, Iraq, Bush Administration
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