During an August 21 press conference, President Bush faced a question regarding whether he is -- as The New York Times recently reported -- “frustrated” by news from Iraq and the lack of gratitude among the Iraqi people. Bush responded, “Frustrated? Sometimes I'm frustrated. Rarely surprised. Sometimes I'm happy. You know, this is -- but war is not a time of joy. These aren't joyous times. These are challenging times.” In an August 21 article on the press conference, Washington Post staff writer Daniela Deane included this answer, but removed from the middle of the quote Bush's admission, “Sometimes I'm happy.” Deane offered readers no indication that she had edited the quote.

From the August 21 Post article:

Asked if he wasn't frustrated by the seeming lack of progress there, Bush replied, “Sometimes I'm frustrated, rarely surprised. War is not a time of joy. These are challenging times.”

But when asked by NBC News White House correspondent Kelly O'Donnell if he was indeed frustrated by the lack of progress in Iraq, Bush not only said that he is occasionally frustrated and “rarely surprised,” he also claimed to “sometimes” be happy:

O'DONNELL: But are you frustrated, sir?

BUSH: Frustrated? Sometimes I'm frustrated. Rarely surprised. Sometimes I'm happy. You know, this is -- but war is not a time of joy. These aren't joyous times. These are challenging times, and they're difficult times, and they're straining the psyche of our country. I understand that. You know, nobody likes to see innocent people die. Nobody wants to turn on their TV on a daily basis and see havoc wrought by terrorists.