The True Flip-Flopper: Bush

This is a massive Flip-Flop, courtesy of Political Wire,

Bush Once Demanded an Exit Strategy

Think Progress notes President Bush's evolving views on committing troops to battle.

"Victory means exit strategy, and it'’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is." -- Bush criticizing President Clinton on not setting a timetable for troops in Kosovo, 4/9/99

"I think it's also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn." -- Bush, again criticizing Clinton, 6/5/99

"It doesn'’t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable, you're -— you'’re conceding too much to the enemy." -- Bush on Iraq, 6/24/05

Update: A Political Wire reader sends this quote from the second Bush-Gore debate in 2000.

"I'm going to be judicious as to how to use the military. It needs to be in our vital interest, the mission needs to be clear, and the exit strategy obvious." -- Bush, in response to a question from Jim Lehrer, 10/12/00.

The sheer inconsistency is baffling, but the consequences of his fatal foresight have been the true measure of his ineptitude. Hopefully the media will pay some attention to this, as these are very easy quotes to digest.