Bush on the War on Terror

Bush to NBC's Matt Lauer on the War on Terror:

Can we win? I don’t think you can win it.

Terry Maculiffe reax on MSNBC:

It's unbelievable...With John Kerry [as President] we will win the war on terrorism.

UPDATE:The Kerry campaign reax:

ANOTHER BUSH “MISCALCULATION”?
Bush Flip-Flops On Whether He Can Win the
War on Terror

BUSH SAID ELECTION IS ABOUT WHO CAN BETTER WIN THE WAR ON TERROR

Bush: “You know, that’s, I guess, if you put it into a political context, that’s the kind of thing the voters will decide next November. That’s what elections are about. They’ll take a look at me and my opponent and say, ‘Let’s see, which one of them can better win the war on terror? Who best can see to it that Iraq emerges a free society?’” [4/13/04]
BUSH SAID HE CAN WIN THE WAR ON TERROR…

Bush: “One of the interesting things people ask me, now that we’re asking questions, is, can you ever win the war on terror? Of course you can.” [4/13/04]

Bush: “But I told the families that I’ve spoken to, by word and written letter, that this nation is doing the right thing, that we’re seizing history, that we refuse to be shaped by terror, that we will win the war on terror and the cause of sacrifice is noble and it is just. What a great nation we have.” [1/22/02]

Bush: “We’ve got other challenges as well; I want to talk about two of them right quick. One, we will win the war on terror.” [6/17/04]

…BEFORE HE SAID HE CAN’T

“U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged Monday that he didn’t think the war on terror could be won, but said it would make it less acceptable for groups to use terrorism as a tool. Early Monday, NBC-TV’s ‘Today’ program was broadcasting an interview with Bush that included a discussion of his goals for a second administration. Bush, who has said he expects the war on terror to be a long, drawn-out battle, was asked by interviewer Matt Lauer, ‘Can we win it?’ ‘I don’t think you can win it,’ Bush replied, according to excerpts NBC provided in advance. ‘But I think you can create conditions so that the - those who use terror as a tool are - less acceptable in parts of the world.’” [AP, 8/30/04]