Posted on 05/15/2005 5:48:21 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: After spending about 24 hours at Camp David, the President and Mrs. Bush returned to the White House early to attend the annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on Capitol Hill. He was joined by Attorney General Al Gonzales, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, and Secretary of Homeland Security Mike Chertoff, as well as FBI Director Bob Mueller and the Director of ATF, Carl Truscott. The Congress was represented by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Pat Leahy and Congressman Dave Reichert, from the state of Washington, among many others. Reichert served as a law enforcement officer for over 30 years, and received the 2004 National Sheriffs Association Sheriff of the Year Award. Singer Darryl Worley performed "I Miss My Friend."
In other administration news, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice made a surprise visit to Iraq. On a lightning visit, she urged Iraqis to be patient, saying the insurgency can be beaten with the help of a strong political alternative. "The insurgency is very violent, but you defeat insurgencies not just militarily," Rice said after meeting with officials in Baghdad and the northern Kurdish region. "The Iraqis...are now going to have to intensify their efforts to demonstrate that in fact the political process is the answer for the Iraqi people."
QUOTE OF THE DAY: From the President's address at the memorial service today.
We're a nation built on the rule of law, and the men and women who enforce those laws uphold America's role as a beacon for fairness and peace. And, today, we honor 415 new names added to the memorial wall.
Among them are Detroit police officers Matthew Bowens and Jennifer Fettig. The officers were making a routine traffic stop when the suspect opened fire. Though Officer Bowens had already been shot several times, himself, his first concern was for his injured partner. Both officers gave their lives in protecting each other and their fellow citizens, and this nation of ours will always honor them.
Danger to law enforcement can come from the outskirts of a community, as it did to Bradford County Pennsylvania Deputy Chris Burgert. He and his partner, Deputy Mike Van Kuren, were shot last March while trying to serve a bench warrant on a known criminal. Chris had been leading a drug investigation that often brought him face to face with danger on rural back roads. And his bravery had brought a string of successes against a dangerous and volatile set of criminals. His acts took unusual courage, and our nation will be always grateful for his sacrifice.
Danger can come even in what one thinks is routine investigation. Last May, Arizona police officer Don Schultz was diving for evidence in a murder case when he lost his life. Officer Schultz had been on the force for 19 years and was one of the department's master divers. He died in an act of devotion to duty that was common to him, and will always remain extraordinary to us. These are just the examples of the brave we honor today.
Every generation of Americans has produced men and women willing to stand watch over the rest of us. Every generation has lived under the protection of law enforcement. We must never take for granted the police officers of America.
For each friend or family member here today, the engraving on the wall will always glow brightly around one name. We cannot soothe your grief or repay your loved one's sacrifice -- but their names are inscribed permanently on this memorial. We acknowledge the lasting debt we owe them, and offer the solemn thanks of a grateful nation.
Mirrian-Webster's online dictionary defines an insurgent as 1 : a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government; 2 : one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party. In other words, in order to be accurately defined as an insurgent, a person must first be a citizen of the nation against whose government he is rebelling. The Saudis, Jordanians, Syrians, Egyptians, and scattered other nationals are not insurgents, but TERRORISTS, plain and simple. They mindlessly slaughter other people for no logical reason, but only out of hate and a twisted notion of what it means to be religious.
The news media latched onto the description "insurgency" early on, and have refused to let it go even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
NOTE: Due to the photos from the memorial service in DC today, as well as the surprise visit of Condi Rice to Iraq, the European trip retrospective has once again been postponed. I'll do it on the next weekend without much news.
Pinging you to a Sunday evening Dose. Lots of new photos today.
PHOTOS OF THE DAY: President Bush hugs a family member of a slain police officer. Our dear Dubya has had far more than his share of duty comforting grieving Americans during his 4 years and 4 months in office to date. He always does it with heartfelt sympathy and graciousness. I don't know if it's taken a toll on him, but I know watching him go through it all has taken a toll on me.
Uh oh, methinks this is a duplicate thread.
President Bush, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and FBI Director Robert Mueller listen to the national anthem at the opening of a ceremony on Capitol Hill today. Bush was the keynote speaker at the ceremony.
President Bush, Attorney General Gonzales, and Secretary Chertoff listen to the Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service.
Flags were at half-staff around the country today to mark the occasion.
Please delete this thread. It's a duplicate. Thanks.
Hi, Wolfstar! There has also been another dose started today by Mike.
Yay! I'm early-ish :)
Hi ya
Hello everyone are we all here now?
Good evening snugs. Did you have a good day?
I'm here too, the other thread was pulled by my request
Here! And TPC, how right you are!
Thank you so much!
Those photos are so precious. You can see that he isn't just comforting those ladies because he has to, but because he really cares.
DeLynn
Sorry about the confusion, it was my fault totally, I should have FR Mailed you before posting it
Two great Doses on a Sunday. Thanks to you both. Better 2 Doses than NO Doses. ;-)
Yes I did saw Charlton draw 2:2 with Crystal Palace their local rivals and because of results elsewhere Crystal Palace were relegated.
Just one now, the other one I had pulled
Hello. Looks like we all got pretty confused tonight.
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