Three years and counting

Today in Ohio, Bush had this to say about the war in Iraq, which hit the three-year mark today:

In the war on terror, we face a global enemy. And if we were not fighting this enemy in Iraq, they would not be idle. They would be plotting and trying to kill Americans across the world and within our own borders.

Against this enemy there can be no compromise. So we will fight them in Iraq, we will fight them across the world, and we will stay in the fight until the fight is won.

So, basically, the strategy in the War on Terror --- or the rationalization for keeping our troops there in the midst of a civil war --- is that we're DISTRACTING Al Qaida from committing any more terrorist acts. So if we weren't fighting the war in Iraq, the terrorists would be so bored, and have so much time to kill, that they'd wage another terrorist attack on the U.S.

Why am I imaginging a game of "keep away"?

Nevermind too, that Bush is relying on a CONCEPT to lead us to a long-term victory:

In the long run, the best way to defeat this enemy and to assure the security of our own citizens is to spread the hope of freedom across the broader Middle East. We've seen freedom conquer evil and secure the peace before.

Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Oy.