Make Up Your Mind, Already!

George Bush, 9/13/01

"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."

George Bush, 9/17/01

"I want justice...There's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said, 'Wanted: Dead or Alive,'"

George Bush, 3/13/02

"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."

George Bush, 3/13/02

"I am truly not that concerned about him."

In his speech today, George Bush used the name bin Laden at least 17 times, including this one:

Bin Laden and his terrorist allies have made their intentions as clear as Lenin and Hitler before them. The question is: Will we listen? Will we pay attention to what these evil men say? America and our coalition partners have made our choice. We're taking the words of the enemy seriously. We're on the offensive, and we will not rest, we will not retreat, and we will not withdraw from the fight, until this threat to civilization has been removed.

I just wish he would make up his mind. Either bin Laden isn't worth being concerned about, or he is a historical evil genius ranking with Lenin and Hitler. Why is it that, in 2002, when people were actually asking why he hadn't followed through on his 'dead or alive' promise, bin Laden was not a priority, but now, he's worth quoting multiple times and holding up as the symbol of our evil enemy?

I'm sorry, George. If bin Laden is that important, why haven't you gotten him yet? You've had 5 years. Before you try to explain to me we can't withdraw from Iraq because of the symbolic power it would have for the terrorists, you need to explain to me, and all the other curious Americans, why you've been passing up the symbolic victory of having bin Laden captured or killed.