is nu-cu-lar anything like un-cle-ar?

at his inauguration less than 9 months ago, da prez told folk of other countries: if you stand up for freedom, we will stand with you.

but now he says when iraq has a defense force that stands up against the "insurgents," we will stand down.

if those metaphors sound contradictory to you and me, imagine how it must confuse non-english speakers, like, say, iraqis.