Shadow Government

A front-row seat to the Republicans' debate over foreign policy, including their critique of the Biden administration.

A sincere address, but too-high a price

By Kori Schake It was shocking to see how much Bush has aged in office — a telling sign of how arduous being the president is. His delivery of the address seemed oddly out of tune with the words, which I also attribute to the toll these eight years have taken. I suspect critics will ...

By Kori Schake

By Kori Schake

It was shocking to see how much Bush has aged in office — a telling sign of how arduous being the president is. His delivery of the address seemed oddly out of tune with the words, which I also attribute to the toll these eight years have taken. I suspect critics will cavil about insincerity, but my limited experience with him persuaded me he deeply believes what he said in the farewell address.  My strong reaction to President Bush’s words was sorrow that the country unnecessarily paid too-high a price to achieve those worthy objectives.

Kori Schake is the director of foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, a former U.S. government official in foreign and security policy, and the author of America vs the West: Can the Liberal World Order Be Preserved? Twitter: @KoriSchake

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