Posted on 09/03/2007 7:17:33 PM PDT by snugs
The President and the first lady spent the weekend in Washington attending church on Sunday. On Sunday night the President left Washington in order to make a visit in Iraq on his way to Australia for the APEC Summit. The President is accompanied on this trip by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Apologies for the dose being late but there were so many photos to sort and then I had a accident in the kitchen and ended up with gravy and cream all over the floor which needed clearing up.
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
QUOTE OF THE DAY
President Bush Visits and Thanks Troops in Anbar Province
Al-Asad Airbase
Al-Anbar Province, Iraq
Earlier today I met with some of the tribal sheiks here in Anbar. It was a really interesting meeting. And at the table were the leaders of the central government, as well. They told me that the kind of bottom-up progress that your efforts are bringing to Anbar is vital to the success and stability of a free Iraq. See, Iraqis need this stability to build a more peaceful future. And America needs this stability to prevent the chaos that allows the terrorists to set up bases from which they can plot and plan attacks on our homeland.
The very people that you helped the Iraqis defeat in Anbar swore allegiance to the man that ordered the attack on the United States of America. What happens here in Anbar matters to the security of the United States.
And so I thank you for your sacrifice. I thank you for volunteering in the face of danger. I thank you for your courage and your bravery. Every day you are successful here in Iraq draws nearer to the day when America can begin calling you and your fellow servicemen and women home.
But I want to tell you this about the decision -- about my decision about troop levels. Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground -- not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media. (Hooah.) In other words, when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure. To do otherwise would embolden our enemies and make it more likely that they would attack us at home. If we let our enemies back us out of Iraq, we will more likely face them in America. If we don't want to hear their footsteps back home, we have to keep them on their heels over here. And that's exactly what you're doing, and America is safer for it.
PHOTOS OF THE DAY
President Bush, right, is welcomed by Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of the multinational forces in Iraq, as he arrives at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
President Bush, third from left, arrives at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007. From left are, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, Gen. David Petraeus, the president, Adm. William Fallon, outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.
President Bush, right, poses with troops at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
New White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, who accompanied President Bush to Iraq, center, poses with Marines at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
Dose going up - please wait for the all clear before posting or reposting any photos or graphics and once again sorry for the lateness of posting but he kitchen was awash with cream and gravy.
Anyone else notice the contrast between these pictures and the ones taken with liberals who go over there like Hillary?
President Bush, center, and first lady Laura Bush, left, are accompanied by Rev. Luis Leon after morning services at St. John's Church in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007.
First!
President Bush, center, is accompanied by installation commander Army Col. Brian W. Lauritzen, as he gets ready for a bike ride at Fort Belvoir Army base in Fort Belvoir, Va., Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007.
Never saw such happy-to-be-with the Commander In Chief when clintooooone was in office - Bet he hates to see how the troops love President Bush
President Bush, right, steps off Air Force One at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007. The president made an unannounced visit to Iraq to meet with Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of the multinational forces in Iraq, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, Iraqi leaders, and U.S. troops.
Air Force One is parked during President Bush's surprise visit to Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
Hi!
President George W. Bush (4th L) meets with General David Petraeus (3rd L), the top U.S. Commander in Iraq, upon Bush's arrival at Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar Province, Iraq, September 3, 2007. Also pictured are U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (5th R) and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates (6th R
President Bush, center, arrives at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, as Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of the multinational forces in Iraq, left and CENTCOM commander Adm. William Fallon, right, look on, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
President George W. Bush (L) greets troops at Al-Asad Air Base.
My thoughts exactly.
President Bush, center, meets with Marines at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
President Bush center, poses for a photo as he meets with a Marine combat patrol unit at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
New White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, who accompanied President Bush to Iraq, center, poses with Marines at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007.
President Bush, center, stands over a map as he is briefed at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, far left, looks on as President Bush, right, reaches out to shake hands with President Jalal Talabani, second from left, lat Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007. The president made an unannounced visit to Iraq to meet with Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of the multinational forces in Iraq, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, Iraqi leaders, and U.S. troops
President George W. Bush (R) shakes hands with Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as Iraq's President Jalal Talabani (top L) watches during a meeting between Bush's administration and the Iraqi leadership at Al-Asad airbase in Anbar Province September 3, 2007
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice meet with top members of the Iraqi leadership including Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (2nd L) at Al-Asad airbase in Anbar Province September 3, 2007.
President George W. Bush (C) meets with Iraqi tribal leaders during his unannounced visit to Al-Asad airbase in Anbar Province September 3, 2007
Wow, that one where they’re all leaning in with him, that’s just beautiful. That should be all over the front page of every newspaper in the nation. But of course, we all know... that won’t happen.
LOL...okay, yes. Pretty obvious...I was trying to do the understatement thing...
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