A Good Start? Let's Hope So

President Bush's speech last night probably gave reassurance to those who were already on his side. But, it probably fell short of regaining the trust of those who have abandoend him.

He needs to make a better case for why the war in Iraq is an essential front in the larger war on terror. He mentioned it only briefly and abstractly last night. Dick Morris actually said it better. Fighting and killing terrorists in Iraq keeps them out of our country.

The downside of that is that Iraqis would not like to hear that we've selected their country as a battleground (the flypaper strategy), and if openly articulated, terrorists would likely be provoked into another attack on our soil.

The good news is that this is only the first of 6 or 7 speeches on the topic. Even if they are no more inspiring than the last one, at least they will convey the message that we do have a plan and are not simply stuck in Iraq.

One thing that he can point to without peril is the evaluation of one Iraq general that the former hotspot of Falujuah is now the calmest and most secure city in Iraq today.

That would demostrate progress in a concrete form and reverse the media and Democratic party portrayal of Iraq as a war where things are getting worse every day.