Then-President George W. Bush recalled, “In early July [2] 2003, a reporter asked me about attacks on our troops [in Iraq]. ‘There are some who feel like that if they attack us that we may decide to leave prematurely,’ I said. ‘…My answer is: Bring ’em on.’ …My ‘bring ’em on’ comment was intended to show confidence in our troops and signal that the enemy could never shake our will. But the firestorm of criticism showed that I had left a wrong impression with other audiences. I learned from the experience and paid closer attention to how I communicated with each audience in the years ahead.”
– George W. Bush, Decision Points, Pages 260-261