Paul Krugman har en samling med fascinerende motstridende sitater om utviklingen i Midtøsten de siste årene. En smakebit:

“My fellow citizens, not only can we win the war in Iraq, we are winning the war in Iraq.” President Bush, Dec. 18, 2005
“I think I would answer that by telling you I don’t think we’re losing.” Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, when asked whether we’re winning in Iraq, July 14, 2006

Okei da, en til:

“Iraq’s new government has another able leader in Speaker Mashhadani. … He rejects the use of violence for political ends. And by agreeing to serve in a prominent role in this new unity government, he’s demonstrating leadership and courage.” President Bush, May 22, 2006
“Some people say ‘we saw you beheading, kidnappings and killing. In the end we even started kidnapping women who are our honor.’ These acts are not the work of Iraqis. I am sure that he who does this is a Jew and the son of a Jew.” Mahmoud Mashhadani, speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, July 13, 2006

Det er slike ting som gjorde det lett for Putin å latterliggjøre Bush foran et internasjonalt pressekorps:

When Mr. Bush recommended democratic reform for Russia, Mr. Putin went for the jugular: “We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy as they have in Iraq,” he said.

Bush’ svar? “Just wait.” Ooooh. Den sved, Dubya. 😉