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On Monday, Bush appeared before the Orange County (Calif.) Business Council to justify the origins of the Iraq war and his foreign policy in general. "I also wanted to let you know that it's before you commit troops that you must do everything you can to solve the problem diplomatically. And I can look you in the eye and tell you I feel I've tried to solve the problem diplomatically to the max," he said.
It is rare to see such qualifications placed on a statement that turned out to be true.
1. "...I feel I've tried..." = I didn't try at all, but you can't tell me what I feel.
2. "...to the max." = I didn't try at all, but "to the max" is a colloquial and somewhat vague measure of effort, so you can't disprove anything.
