Newsflash: Bush policies have increased al Qaeda power in Middle East

I think George Bush is rhetorically shooting himself in the foot with his recent speech about how we shouldn’t leave Iraq because al Qaeda is there.

“The facts are that Al Qaeda terrorists killed Americans on 9/11, they’re fighting us in Iraq and across the world and they are plotting to kill Americans here at home again,” Mr. Bush told a contingent of military personnel here. “Those who justify withdrawing our troops from Iraq by denying the threat of Al Qaeda in Iraq and its ties to Osama bin Laden ignore the clear consequences of such a retreat.”

Very good, genius. The folks who attacked us on 9/11 didn’t have any influence in Iraq before we invaded. Now they do. Since you and your brain trust gave al Qaeda this little Iraqi gift basket in the first place, why in the world should we trust you to make any decent decisions going forward? Maybe we should take the Zippo away from the guy who insists on pouring gas everywhere.

At the very least, instead of “sharp criticism” for those who oppose him, perhaps Mr. Bush could at least apologize for messing things up so badly.