One thing:
PR
If you can do two things, make money for the economy and show humanitarian "stuff" (sorry about not actually coming up with the word, but I'm in several conversations and in a hurry), you can increase how much people like you (PR). Yes we want to make money, ultimately, out of this, but you must address humanitarian concerns, too. We have already forged a relationship with the people of Iraq, especially since we have actually gathered all three of the major Muslim groups in one building to work on a new government. We got the group noone thought we would be able to get in there, the Shi-ites. The Suni and Kurds were givins as they already like us, and the idea of a new, democratic government. They will likely open up trade with us, and there will be a nice relationship there. As for Afganistan, there were a lot of mistakes dealing with that. Bush didn't like those mistakes, so he's having a new person head things up. He only wants a policing force in Iraq and Afganistan now, as they are basically "under control".
So, to answer your question, even if our government doesn't care, I believe Bush does. He's an honest guy. He has tried his hardest to work with the most difficult situation imaginable. A president with an almost perfectly split congress and a media that hates his party. He has made comprimises to try and "justify" that end.