Posted on 03/05/2005 4:02:43 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: Earlier today, President Bush telephoned Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to express deep sorrow after the wounding by U.S. forces of freed hostage Giuliana Sgrena and the killing of a member of her Italian escort in Iraq.
Also today, Syrian President Bashar Assad announced a two-stage pullback of his forces to the Lebanese border, but failed to address broad international demands that he completely withdraw Syria's 15,000 troops after nearly 30 years in the country. Assad also did not respond to President Bush's demand just a day earlier that Syria withdraw all its troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon before its parliamentary elections in May.
Assad was vague about the pullback, leaving it unclear if Syrian forces would eventually leave Lebanon or remain inside the country near the Syrian frontier. He said Syrian and Lebanese authorities would negotiate this week.
Later Saturday, however, Syrian Immigrant Affairs Minister Buthaina Shaaban told Lebanese Broadcast Corp. television that withdrawal would be complete. "The matter is very clear. When an army withdraws it withdraws to inside the country's border."
THE WEEK AHEAD: Source, Press Secretary Scott McCellan, White House press gaggle, March 5, 2005.
Monday, lunch with the King and Queen of Norway at the White House. The President and Mrs. Bush then go to Pittsburgh, PA, where they will visit Providence Family Support Center. The President will make remarks on helping America's youth.
Tuesday, the President will make remarks on the war on terrorism at the National Defense University in Washington. He then will meet in the Oval Office with former Presidents Bush and Clinton, and receive an update about their tsunami relief efforts and their recent trip to the region.
Wednesday, The President will meet with the President of Romania in the Oval Office. He will then travel to Colombus, OH, where he will tour the Battelle Memorial Institute and make remarks on energy policy.
Thursday, the President will speak about Social Security in Louisville, KY, and Montgomery, AL. He will then fly to Memphis, TN, where he'll stay the night.
Friday, the President continues his Social Security tour in Memphis and Shreveport, LA.
Saturday, the President will attend the Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington.
PHONE CALLS WITH FOREIGN LEADERS: The President called to congratulate Prime Minister-designate Socrates of Portugal on his electoral victory. The two leaders expressed their commitment to strengthening our bilateral relations, and agreed that the President's trip to Europe helped advance the transatlantic agenda in support of freedom. They also welcomed the international community's growing commitment to support the Iraqi people as they move forward on the path to democracy.
LATER THIS MONTH: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will hold talks with President Bush at the White House at the end of the month, a Palestinian official said.
The President will host Mexican President Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in Texas on March 23rd. The three leaders will discuss ways to strengthen our continent's common security, and enhance our people's common prosperity. This meeting will consist of working sessions at Baylor University, and a lunch hosted by the President at his ranch in Crawford. At present, this is scheduled to be a trilateral meeting and lunch.
[NOTE TO BARNEY AND BEEZIE FANS: The dogs usually go to the ranch with the first couple, so we might see new photos of them at that time. Miss Beazley turned 4 months old on Feb. 28.]
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Presidential Radio Address, Satuday, March 5, 2005.
Today, people in a long-troubled part of the world are standing up for their freedom. In the last five months, we have witnessed successful elections in Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territory and Iraq; peaceful demonstrations on the streets of Beirut; and steps toward democratic reform in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The trend is clear: In the Middle East and throughout the world, freedom is on the march. The road ahead will not be easy, and progress will sometimes be slow. But America, Europe and our Arab partners must all continue the hard work of defeating terrorism and supporting democratic reforms.
Freedom is the birthright and deep desire of every human soul, and spreading freedom's blessings is the calling of our time. And when freedom and democracy take root in the Middle East, America and the world will be safer and more peaceful.
Here are the debate/poll results: 36 individuals chose to express their opinion -- 19 (54.2%) voted for the con (no) position, and 16 (45.7) for the pro (yes) position. (One person was both for and against, which is why the percentages add up to 99.9 rather than 100.)
I want to thank CyberAnt for agreeing to conduct this poll with me, and for arguing the con position. A clear, if narrow majority of those who participated do not want to point out or discuss Secret Service agents we may see in photos of the President and First Lady. For this reason, CyberAnt and I urge all regular Dose participants to comply with the will of the majority, as well as to help enforce this democratically arrived at Dose rule in the future. Thanks, everyone.
Ping -- Saturday Dose going up. Please hold off from posting other images/photos until the all clear is given. Thanks.
Here
Woo Hoo another toaster!
Saturday it's-Spring-Break bump!
Hello. We are going out. Be back later.
The President greeting the crowd as he leaves the auditorium in South Bend.
While in Germany, the President took the time to greet German troops as well as American troops. Here, GWB returns a salute from a German soldier.
I am ordinarily a very polite person, but if I had an opportunity to shake hands with this President, I might do a little surging myself. Thanks, Wolfstar, for the dose.
Syrian soldiers sit in their position in Bhamdoun in Mount Lebanon, east of Beirut.
The Syrians arranged a counter-protest in Damascus. Assad is trying to drum up domestic support for his position.
Lebanese opposition protesters, one wearing a picture of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, watch a live outside broadcast of the speech of Syrian President Bashar Assad on a giant screen set up in the Martyrs Square in central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday.
(Have we FReepers uncovered another media scandal? [snicker])
The thing is, the AKC, Eukanuba, et. al., ripped off the well-known photo of GWB's beloved Spotty. I wonder if they got permission from the WH.
Good day to you, hoosiermama.
Am I top 20?
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