The Daily News on President Bush’s speech yesterday:
…Bush gradually warmed to the task in front of 750 soldiers at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg. Their silence, except for one round of polite applause, added to the solemnity.
The White House asked the 750 pumped-up soldiers and airmen in the crowd to avoid clapping or cheering, but they couldn’t resist loud applause when Bush vowed to defeat terrorism in Iraq and around the world.
Of course, one wonders why Bush felt the need to use troops as background props.
Update: The applause was faked.
God, it's great to be an American!