A president basking

With the media gushing over the president's troop withdrawal news, Steve Benen reminds them that the president actually had no choice.

And yet, the headlines this morning make it look like the president is delivering good news. USAT’s headline, for example, reads, “Bush to support troop pullback.” The AP’s headline tells readers, “Bush to announce troop cut.” The implication of the media coverage today is that the president has a choice, and he decided to bring some troops home next summer. But what the public needs to realize is that Bush doesn't’t have a choice. These troops were coming back next summer whether the president liked it or not. The p.r. move is shameless and hollow.

In the end Bush got what he wanted: a huge footprint in Iraq from now until the end of time and he gets to bask in the positive glow the word "withdrawal" implies. Bastard.