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Bush on terror war: 'I don't think you can win it'
President George W. Bush acknowledged that an all-out victory against terrorism may not be possible - but said that staying the course in the war on terror will make the world safer for future generations.
In an interview on NBC-TV's "Today" show broadcast to coincide with Monday's start of the Republican National Convention in New York, Bush said retreating from the war on terror "would be a disaster for your children."'
"You cannot show weakness in this world today because the enemy will exploit that weakness," he said. "It will embolden them and make the world a more dangerous place."
When asked "Can we win?" the war on terror, Bush said, "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the - those who use terror as a tool are - less acceptable in parts of the world."
That brought a storm of Democratic criticism just as the convention was getting under way.
"I decided a year ago that he cannot win the war on terror," said retired Gen. Merrill McPeak, former Air Force chief of staff, at a news conference organized by Democrats.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, seized on the comment.
"After months of listening to the Republicans base their campaign on their singular ability to win the war on terror, the president now says we can't win the war on terrorism," Edwards said. "This is no time to declare defeat."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan sought to clarify the president's remarks, telling reporters aboard Air Force one, "He was talking about winning it in the conventional sense ... about how this is a different kind of war and we face an unconventional enemy."
Bush planned to campaign Monday in New Hampshire, which has voted for only four Democratic presidential nominees in the past 100 years but is up for grabs this November. It's his eighth trip to the state as president.
Four years ago, Bush won New Hampshire by 7,211 votes, or just a little more than 1 percentage point. While Republicans outnumber Democrats among the state's registered voters, more than a third of those registered are independent.
President George W. Bush acknowledged that an all-out victory against terrorism may not be possible - but said that staying the course in the war on terror will make the world safer for future generations.
In an interview on NBC-TV's "Today" show broadcast to coincide with Monday's start of the Republican National Convention in New York, Bush said retreating from the war on terror "would be a disaster for your children."'
"You cannot show weakness in this world today because the enemy will exploit that weakness," he said. "It will embolden them and make the world a more dangerous place."
When asked "Can we win?" the war on terror, Bush said, "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the - those who use terror as a tool are - less acceptable in parts of the world."
That brought a storm of Democratic criticism just as the convention was getting under way.
"I decided a year ago that he cannot win the war on terror," said retired Gen. Merrill McPeak, former Air Force chief of staff, at a news conference organized by Democrats.
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, seized on the comment.
"After months of listening to the Republicans base their campaign on their singular ability to win the war on terror, the president now says we can't win the war on terrorism," Edwards said. "This is no time to declare defeat."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan sought to clarify the president's remarks, telling reporters aboard Air Force one, "He was talking about winning it in the conventional sense ... about how this is a different kind of war and we face an unconventional enemy."
Bush planned to campaign Monday in New Hampshire, which has voted for only four Democratic presidential nominees in the past 100 years but is up for grabs this November. It's his eighth trip to the state as president.
Four years ago, Bush won New Hampshire by 7,211 votes, or just a little more than 1 percentage point. While Republicans outnumber Democrats among the state's registered voters, more than a third of those registered are independent.
This time, however, I think Bush said it just fine all by himself 
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