Bush puts failsafes to test

Winding up a speech yesterday, US President George W. Bush said the United States would be tough and resolute to defeat terrorists so that future generations could live in peace. So far so good, but then:

"And there is no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail," he said.

His audience at the Labour Department did not react.

Bush, known to make occasional verbal mistakes, continued on in a positive vein: "Failure is not a part of our vocabulary. This great nation will lead the world and we will be successful."