Another perspective on giving credit...

Crooked Timber: Hey, Maybe Freedom Is On The March! :

I was always one who liked the sound of the Bush democracy-promotion speeches, but was convinced he wouldn’t back them up with any real pressure on US-friendly autocrats. I thought, “wow, he’s got a good speechwriter”, not “wow, I guess we’ll be giving that Niyazov guy any amount of trouble now.” So, count me happy to be somewhat wrong."

Me, I never liked the sound of the democracy-promoting speeches. To my ear, they're just so much Newspeak. Every time Bush opens his mouth to say something about democracy, the meaning of the word itself gets a little paler, as though he's a vampire, draining its lifeblood as he speaks.