But if no American buyer steps up, the Dubai deal could resurface.
Over the weekend, Bush rejected a reporter’s suggestion that the ports deal had opened a lasting rift within the Republican Party. “I’ve read all the stories about this rift or that rift — that’s typical Washington,” Bush said in the Roosevelt Room. “The Republican Party is united in our efforts to win the war on terror.”
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Saturday: “Democratic senators and representatives forced President Bush to give up the idea that six major American ports should be run by a foreign country.” As opposed to the dozens that are already run by foreign countries. Nice spin, Howie.
In an effort to pivot away from the ports deal, Bush will deliver a series of speeches to mark the three-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which began March 19, 2003. “In the coming days, there will be considerable reflection on the removal of Saddam Hussein from power and our remaining mission in Iraq,” Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address. “I will discuss the progress we are making, the lessons we’ve learned from our experiences, and how we’re fixing what has not worked.”
Bush acknowledged that “the fighting has been tough.” “The last three years have tested our resolve,” he said. “The enemy we face has proved to be brutal and relentless.”
Insurgents or New York Times? Oh, yeah; they're on the same side!
The weapon of choice for Iraqi insurgents is the improvised-explosive device, or roadside bomb. Bush is expected to discuss a program to counter the weapon in a speech today at George Washington University. “These weapons are now the principal threat to our troops and to the future of a free Iraq,” Bush said Saturday. “We’re not going to rest until this danger to our troops has been removed.”
Bush conceded that ongoing bloodshed is taking a toll on American support for the war in Iraq. “Amid the daily news of car bombs and kidnappings and brutal killings, I can understand why many of our fellow citizens are now wondering if the entire mission was worth it,” he said. “I strongly believe our country is better off with Saddam Hussein out of power.”