The New Way and the War on Terror

The war in Afghanistan during George W. Bush s presidential tenure was justified through a unique rhetorical situation. The war in Iraq, however, was justified through the rhetoric used by George W. Bush and his administration. The war rhetoric used by Bush and his administration contained all five elements of war rhetoric that have been laid out by Karlyn Kohrs Campbell and Kathleen Hall Jamieson. Additionally, this war rhetoric fulfilled the exigence of the situation, thus ensuring public and congressional support for the war in Iraq. However, the changing rhetorical situation after Bush''s "Mission Accomplished" speech in May, 2003 brought about a different exigence; Bush''s continued use of the same justification for war after that time resulted in a drop in his approval ratings. Further events during the war in Iraq also had negative effects, the results of which are clearly shown in both poll numbers and the 2006 midterm elections.