W's State of the Union address. Danielle, who I do my radio show with, watched the thing live yesterday afternoon and she was depressed at how good it was. She said you really needed to watch it for the full effect, but even in print W. is worrying convincing... pushing through tax cuts, boosting the economy, improving health care, cleaning up the environment, trying to help people with drug problems rather than punish them, how the US has a responsibility to help the rest of the world... the anti-abortion bit was a bit out of place in the opening spiel, but apart from that you'd almost think W. was a decent man. Whereupon cue the terrorists:

There are days when the American people do not hear news about the war on terror. There is never a day when I do not learn of another threat, or receive reports of operations in progress, or give an order in this global war against a scattered network of killers. The war goes on, and we are winning. [...]
We have the terrorists on the run, and we are keeping them on the run. One by one, the terrorists are learning the meaning of American justice.

So much on the run, in fact, that they just engaged in the biggest battle in Afghanistan for about nine months. Still, don't let that stop you, George. You've got a world to save, after all.

I've nothing else to say on the subject except this. The State of the Union address is like any other political speech. W. isn't promising these things to the people of the US and the world because he's a good man and he thinks you deserve them. He's making them for the continuation of his present power and future fame. The only thing that matters in the speech is the war rhetoric. I wouldn't be looking for him to deliver on any of his other promises.

posted by James Russell | 4:15 PM