Kieran Healy at Crooked Timber cited this article (titled: Bush Says Attacks Are A Sign of U.S. Progress) with a blog entry lampooning Bush’s comments as Orwellian (“War is Peace,” etc.)

While it may seem counterintuitive, I think the recent attacks are an indication of progress.

Here’s what I wrote in the Comments:

I think Bush is right that these attacks indicate progress on our part and desperation on the attackers’ part, and these Orwellian eferences
are silly.

When they attack the Red Cross (Crescent), the average Iraqi knows that these people are not on his side. It’s clear that they are attacking people who are there to help Iraqis, not oppress them. It seems that they have given up on trying to rally popular support and are pinning their hopes on driving away helpers before the imminent political changes can become irreversible.

That seems like desperation to me.