Bush Does What the Media Won't

This morning Fox News carried a live satellite feed interview conducted by President Bush with several American (and one Iraqi) soldiers working in Tikrit to ensure that Saturday's elections are protected as much as possible. One thing that has been largely missing from the mainstream media reports from Iraq has been the view of the military personnel on the ground. Of course given what happened to Matt Lauer the last time he was there, it's no wonder--the soldiers simply don't follow the script the media wants to play.

But for the President to have to do their job for them is a pretty startling revelation. To a man (and woman) they were upbeat, energized, and optimistic about the future of Iraq. Saturday's vote, which I expect will approve the Constitution will be yet another step toward true and lasting freedom in that pivotal country--and another nail in the coffin of the autocratic and despotic regimes in the region. The President will likely never receive the credit for risking his political career to do what he felt had to be done to protect the country. And he certainly will never get credit for trying to drag the media into reporting the truth. But he deserves both.