Bush’s Categorical Statements on Russia

From Fred Kaplan on Slate:

A president tends to make categorical statements only when his truth is in doubt. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” “I am not a crook.” “The state of the union is sound.” Thus, on Wednesday, at the G8 summit, when President George W. Bush said, “Russia is not an enemy,” he did so, clearly, because many people are wondering if maybe it is.