MYRIAM MARQUEZ The Almighty's war?

President Bush has the vision thing down and his defenses up.
In a rare White House news conference Bush articulated why he believes the end of the Saddam dictatorship in Iraq can bring democracy to that country and peace throughout the Middle East. The president believes in spreading freedom.
"You know why I do?" he asked reporters Tuesday. "Because I've seen freedom work right here in our country. I also have this belief, strong belief, that freedom is not this country's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty's gift to every man and woman in this world. And as the greatest power on the face of the Earth, we have an obligation to help the spread of freedom."
War in Iraq as the Almighty's "gift" to struggling people?
This was Bush's opportunity to give Americans and the world a clue as to how his administration plans to achieve freedom for Iraq. On point after point, though, Bush refused to admit making even one tiny mistake in this almighty war against terror.
"It's incumbent upon us to learn from lessons or mistakes, and leave behind a better foundation for presidents to deal with the threats we face," was the closest he came to acknowledging mistakes.
I was hoping to see a more humble Bush, the way he was after the Sept. 11 attacks, choking up, arms wrapped around the World Trade Center firefighters, praying with the victims' families. He led by sheer force of his humanity.
What the nation got last Tuesday, though, was a president on the defensive, unapologetic and apparently clueless or too arrogant to acknowledge any mistakes since 9/11.
There was a moment during those early days after the attacks when there seemed not to be a political bone in the president's body -- when he led with spunk and heart and took on the Taliban in Afghanistan and put Osama bin Laden on the run. Then he veered into Saddam territory, and our nation became polarized.
Blame
Bush is right to blame Osama for the carnage of 9/11. There's plenty of blame to go around, dating to the Clinton administration.
So no, I don't blame Bush for not connecting the dots sooner. But not one mistake, not one regret?
He looked silly, shaking his head and coming up empty. "I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, all the pressure of trying to come with an answer," he said.
Admitting a mistake isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of a confident leader who truly doesn't worry about the polls and understands the toll this war is taking on a nation that's sick of almighty platitudes.
XMyriam Marquez is an editorial page columnist for the Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.