A Familiar Bush Strategy - Paid Propaganda

August 27, 2007
A Familiar Bush Strategy - Paid Propaganda

A new group with close ties to the White House, Freedom's Watch, joined Mr. Bush's effort last week with a $15 million advertising campaign that revives "cut and run" accusations against the war's opponents. One of its leaders, Ari Fleischer, the former White House spokesman, said Mr. Bush was doing what was necessary to explain why he was keeping the nation at war.

Within the White House, there is growing confidence that Mr. Bush will be able to withstand Democrats' efforts to force a change in strategy. "The end of August feels much better than the beginning of August," a senior aide said Saturday.

Success in this campaign, however, does not necessarily mean success in winning the war itself.