By Wednesday, Fleischer was in rhetorical flower. Thanks to the administration's timely heads up and implicit encouragement, the whole country had heard the Words of Osama. Now Fleischer could get on with the rest of the script: "If that is not an unholy partnership, I have not heard of one. This is the nightmare that people have warned about, the linking up of Iraq with Al Qaida."
Somehow, none of the Bush men appeared to be experiencing a nightmare. On the contrary, their collective pleasure was hideously palpable. Fleischer was confident, self-assured, like a conductor on an on-time train.
But hadn't he railed at the press, back in 2001: "At best, Osama bin Laden's messages are propaganda calling on people to kill Americans. At worst, he could be issuing orders to his followers to initiate such attacks."
What had changed?
Somehow, none of the Bush men appeared to be experiencing a nightmare. On the contrary, their collective pleasure was hideously palpable. Fleischer was confident, self-assured, like a conductor on an on-time train.
But hadn't he railed at the press, back in 2001: "At best, Osama bin Laden's messages are propaganda calling on people to kill Americans. At worst, he could be issuing orders to his followers to initiate such attacks."
What had changed?