WASHINGTON - President Bush offered up a new entry for his catalog
of "Bushisms" on Thursday, declaring that his administration will "never
stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people."

Bush misspoke as he delivered a speech at the signing ceremony for a $417
billion defense spending bill.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we," Bush
said. "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our
people, and neither do we."

No one in Bush's audience of military brass or Pentagon chiefs reacted.

The president was working his way toward a larger point. "We must never
stop thinking about how best to defend our country. We must always be
forward-thinking," he said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush's misstatement "just shows
even the most straightforward and plain-spoken people misspeak."

"But the American people know this president speaks with clarity and
conviction, and the terrorists know by his actions he means it," McClellan
said.

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