Posted on 06/28/2005 1:50:34 PM PDT by jmc1969
FORT BRAGG, N.C., June 28 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will say in a nationally televised speech to Americans on Tuesday night that the Iraq war is vital to U.S. security and there will be "tough moments that test American resolve."
"Amid all this violence, I know Americans ask the question: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it, and it is vital to the future security of our country," Bush will say, according to speech excerpts released by the White House.
The White House said Bush will acknowledge the tough fighting and suicide bombings in Iraq but will also explain "why the terrorists are failing."
"The terrorists can kill the innocent -- but they cannot stop the advance of freedom," Bush will say. "The only way our enemies can succeed is if we forget the lessons of Sept. 11 (2001), if we abandon the Iraqi people to men like Zarqawi," a reference to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian militant who heads the al Qaeda wing in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
It is worth it, but he's going to have a tough time convincing people. The treasonous left-wing press will never be convinced, and rip him apart for everything he says.
why do they release the speech before he gives it?
For the media to chew on before hand and some papers have early deadlines to meet.
"if we abandon the Iraqi people to men like Zarqawi"
That's a very good quote; I think that's a good thing to say. It will help make the case at least some.
W is usually at his best in front of the troops. I would expect a much better delivery than if he were alone in the Oval Office, in front of a telepromter.
He comes off very stiff and uncomfortable in that setting.
God bless him, and our awesome troops.
Is it worth an infite amount of US resources? What if the insurgency is still going on 2 years from now when we've spent 500 billion dollars that could have gone to infrastructure, border security, etc?
This was not a "clearly necessary" war, IMO. I don't agree with those who say it was clearly wrong. But nor was it absolutely necessary, in my view. That being the case, it all depends on the price we have to pay to get whatever is gained.
If I had known going in that the price tag was going to be several hundred billions of dollars and thousands of US casualties, I would not have supported the war. But I can respect the view of those who still agree with the war- was there at one point myself. Just didn't think we were signing up for a long, long occupation. I thought we'd liberate and get out, along with a few bases for strategic purposes.
No offense to you, jmc1969, but I sure dislike hearing excerpts of any speech that hasn't been given yet. Especially in the case of something as important and serious as a Presidential speech. I suppose his aides leak these excerpts to the press, but I wish they wouldn't. IMO, if someone wants to know what the President is going to say, then they ought to take the time to sit their butt down and listen when he gives his speech. :)
OK, I didn't write this, but, here's what I'd like to hear tonight....
My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed...
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains everyone not on the first list...
Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.
The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.
Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China.
I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York .
A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.
Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil.
We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."
Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America. It is time to eliminate World Cup Soccer from America. To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.
God bless America. Thank you and good night.
Persuasive reasoning.
Cool. Now, will he finally and clearly articulate we did it? I never felt it was for WMD's, and I wasn't disappointed when they found none. The REAL reason we went in, which I've never heard him clearly say, was that we weren't in a mood to be looking over our shoulder at Arabic maniacs with the national resources to repeat 9/11, and we also wanted to send a message to those thugs who only understand a bloody nose. Let's admit it.
Oh, c'mon....we occupied Europe with over 100,000 troops for over 50 years.....sheesh. AND, how many of our soldiers died in ONE BATTLE in WWII??????
To test the reaction.
By writing in the title of the thread that there would be excerpts of his speech I was in essence putting a spoiler warning in my post just as TV message boards do when someone posts info about what will happen in an upcoming episode of a TV show.
I've got a relative based out of Bragg...I talked with him last night...he's an Army Captain MI...they've been pre-preparing for this visit...the final preparations have taken place by the secret service.
Only soldiers will be allowed at this speech; families are not allowed. The only family will be those who've lost loved ones in our present conflicts.
Before President Bushes' speech he'll be meeting with all those family members. Only folks allowed in this meeting will be family members and 1 secret service agent.
He also said this was in line with a 'State of Union' speech. This was quickly planned; was not on Bushes' schedule even a few weeks ago.
And so liberals and their media whores did much more aggressively in 2004 with their savage attacks on President Bush, the war on terror, and the war in Iraq, but at the end they were utterly defeated in the elections.
Aides make sure there is nothing that is going to have an immediate negative reaction. It is a pretty old tactic used all the time. It's not a leak.
"Oh, c'mon....we occupied Europe with over 100,000 troops for over 50 years"
You are comparing the removal of Saddam Hussen with the removal of Adolf Hitler and preventing him from taking over all of Europe west of the Urals?
As I said, I felt removing Saddam was worth doing at some price. I feel removing Mugabe is worth doing at some price. Just not the price we're paying. If you feel it's worth 500 billion dollars, then you have a right to that opinion. At this point, most Americans agree with my view, however.
And I'd like to see 1/100 of this amount spent to add troops to our border with Mexico. In case you haven't heard Al-Jazeera is doing a 1 hour special to let all aspiring terrorists know about our weaknesses there.
We fight today, we sacrifice today so that our kids and grandchildren will not have to fight a much worse war in the future, one we could possibly lose.
So that the children in Iraq and Afghanistan will not turn into these same islamo-facists we fight today.
I say "we", as America. We all know who they are that do the fighting and sacrificing.
I am forever in debt to these heros. I hope that the President can get across to our countrymen that are doubting the mission and are willing to listen what is truly at stake. All our tomorrows security rides on seeing this mission through. All the way.
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