That's the thrust of the reporting on today's White House press conference and statements from President Bush. I, however, believe they're making bucks out of bunk.
How so? Read what Bush said: "We're exploring all alternatives as to how best to do the main objective, which is to protect America."
Here's Scott McClellan's comment: "We’re always looking at all alternatives when it comes to dealing with these detainees.”
As long as we're asking questions, here's one: have these reporters ever bothered to *listen* to the responses they get every single day of the year?
Because as anyone trained in press relations knows, you never answer "never." You always answer in a positive tone. Even if Gitmo were to be closed tomorrow, you wouldn't say that until you're ready to close Gitmo. Likewise, if Gitmo were to never close, you don't say that, either-- because if it closed for whatever reason, good or bad, the press could hang your quote from your neck.
Hence, the constantly mealy-mouth statements out of this, and any, White House: "exploring alternatives" is synonymous with "we're not going to answer the question you want us to answer because you'll just hold it against us."
Of course, never underestimate the power of the press to hold *every* answer against the White House, thus this latest instance of making a mountain out of a molehill.
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This posting was made on my personal computer.
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