Bush is trying to figure out a matrix to lie about the war

Before we invaded Iraq, Bush didn't even know there was a cleavage between Shiites and Sunnis or that the two groups existed at all. Now, he demonstrates his ignorance again, this time about Ramadan. This is from the interview he held with right-leaning reporters yesterday:

"And I'm trying to figure out a matrix that says things are getting better. I think that one way to measure is less violence than before, I guess. We'll have to see what happens here after Ramadan. I believe these people -- oh, I was going to tell you Abizaid believes Ramadan, no question, caused them to be more violent because he says there's some kind of reward during Ramadan for violence."

Ramadan is a period of fasting (at least during the daytime) and peace and family gatherings. It is not a time when violence is rewarded.

Further, as Editor and Publisher points out, Ramadan ended three days ago, and the violence has not abated. Five GIs were killed in the last day.

I do think the grasping at straws line, "I'm trying to figure out a matrix that says things are getting better ..." is quite telling. It's clear he's really struggling to find some way to paint lipstick on the pig.