In 1999, Bush Demanded A Timetable

from Think Progress:

In 1999, George W. Bush criticized President Clinton for not setting a timetable for exiting Kosovo, and yet he refuses to apply the same standard to his war.

George W. Bush, 4/9/99:

“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”

And on the specific need for a timetable, here’s what Bush said then and what he says now:

George W. Bush, 6/5/99

“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”

VERSUS

George W. Bush, 6/24/05:

“It doesn’t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a
timetable, you’re — you’re conceding too much to the enemy.”

I know, I know -- we're so boorishly reality-based. And the GWOT changed everything. And criticising Clinton's wars was A-OK because Clinton WAS the enemy.

But poll numbers seem to indicate that, one by one, Americans are swearing off the Kool Aid.