The Best

Last night, President Bush gave a speech at the National Endowment for Democracy. The entire conservative blogosphere seems to be abuzz about it. Mostly they are lavishly praising it; a few say "gee, that's nice — but why didn't we hear this years ago?"

I was glued to my screen as I watched the video playback (both the transcript and the video are available at the White House web site). It was a riveting speech; well-written, well-delivered, and with a much-needed message about why we're fighting the war on terror (including in Iraq), and why we're winning it. I can't add much to what the rest of the blogosphere has already said. I will say this, though (agreeing with some other observers): it's the best speech I've ever seen President Bush make. Period. An example of the rhetoric:

Over the years these extremists have used a litany of excuses for violence — the Israeli presence on the West Bank, or the U.S. military presence in Saudi Arabia, or the defeat of the Taliban, or the Crusades of a thousand years ago. In fact, we're not facing a set of grievances that can be soothed and addressed. We're facing a radical ideology with inalterable objectives: to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world. No act of ours invited the rage of the killers — and no concession, bribe, or act of appeasement would change or limit their plans for murder.

On the contrary: They target nations whose behavior they believe they can change through violence. Against such an enemy, there is only one effective response: We will never back down, never give in, and never accept anything less than complete victory.

Do read and view the whole thing.