ABC News reminds us of this:

President Bush has embarked on a widely heralded visit to Africa, but early in his presidency he seemed to have little interest in the region.

An appearance in Goteborg, Sweden, on June 14, 2001, did little to change that impression. "Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease," he said — referring to Africa as a country, instead of a continent.

Howard Dean is being raked over the coals for (barely) underestimating U.S. troop strength in Iraq. He's not the president, and if he's elected he won't be for eighteen months. Bush had been president for nearly half a year (and had been alive for more than half a century) when he asserted that Africa is one country.