Bush Doctrine

The Bush Doctrine is an invented term coined by liberals, usually to falsely ascribe the the concept of preventive war to George W. Bush.

Charlie Gibson and Sara Palin

The left-wing term became popular in the mainstream after Sarah Palin was asked by Charlie Gibson, "Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine." Governor Palin responded, "In what respect, Charlie?" Charlie Gibson declined to elaborate, and instead answered, "well, what do you interpret it to be?"

Sarah Palin went on to enumerate how she agreed with Bush's attempts to combat Islamic extremists and terrorism, while admitting that some mistakes had been made.

Charlie Gibson then smugly elaborated what he meant by the Bush Doctrine.

“

The Bush Doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense. We have the right to a preemptive strike against any country that we think is going to attack us.

”

The leftist leaning media portrayed the Palin/Gibson exchange as evidence that Sarah Palin is not competent on national security and foreign policy, neglecting to address Charlie Gibson's confusion of preventive war and premptive war, as well as the unlikelihood that Sarah Palin would be familiar with a term popular at salon.com.

Early mentions of the Bush Doctrine

In 2002, Steven R. Weisman asserted in a New York Times op./ed. piece that the Bush Doctrine holds those who harbor terrorists accountable for terrorism.Editorial Observer; President Bush and the Middle East Axis of Ambiguity