Consider the following:

President Bush warned defiant Republican senators yesterday that he will close down a CIA interrogation program that he credited with thwarting terrorist attacks if they pass a proposal regulating detention of enemy combatants, escalating a politically charged battle that has exposed divisions within his party.

—— Peter  Baker, September 16, 2006, front page of the Washington Post  

Think about that. The President of the United States will acquiesce to the demands of political opposition within his own party if they do what they say they intend to do.  Bush will stop a program that he says has thwarted terrorist attacks. Hmmm. That'll convince 'em — your political opponents as well as the terrorists — you really mean business.

That makes about as much sense as an armed robber pointing his gun at his own head with his other hand out saying, 'Give me what I want or I'll pull the trigger!'

Dennis Sevakis 09 16 06