PHOTO OF THE DAY (maybe of the year, for dog lovers everywhere): In a photo taken yesterday, we proudly present Barney the Snow Angel...
Posted on 12/10/2005 4:52:24 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President and First Lady are spending the weekend at the White House. They will be attending the annual "Christmas in Washington" event tomorrow (see "the week ahead.")
President Bush had a somewhat busy day. He congratulated Kazakhstan president-elect Nursultan Nazarbayev on his December 4 election victory, while highlighting the importance of continued democratic reforms in Kazakhstan, White House spokesman Blair Jones said.
"Allegations of irregularities in the elections were noted and the president stressed the importance of investigating the facts related to those allegations," Jones said.
Nazarbayev said the country is prepared to investigate the allegations, Jones said.
President Bush and Nazarbayev also "stressed the importance of the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Kazakhstan," Jones added.
In a written statement released today, President Bush urged Syria to immediately release opposition activist Kamal al-Labwani and at least eight other prisoners.
The statement accused Syria of denying opposition activists "the fundamental right to freedom of opinion and expression," and called for the harassment to end.
Labwani was arrested by Syrian authorities in Damascus on November 8 after he visited the United States, where he attended a meeting at the White House. In a November 10 statement, the White House said it was "deeply disturbed" by reports of Labwani's arrest on his arrival back in Damascus.
THE WEEK AHEAD: From the White House press briefing Thursday.
On Sunday, President and Mrs. Bush will attend the "Christmas in Washington" annual event. As he did last year, psychologist Phil McGraw joins his wife, Robin, in hosting the TV special. Taped at the National Building Museum as a benefit for the National Children's Medical Center, the TNT program will be televised Wednesday, Dec. 14.A country slant is evident this time, since the scheduled performers include the award-winning group Rascal Flatts and the latest "American Idol," Carrie Underwood. Also on the bill is R&B artist Ciara.
On Monday, GWB will make remarks on the war on terror at the Park Hyatt in Philadelphia. Hosting this event will be the World Affairs Council.
On Tuesday, the President will make a statement at a senior center in Springfield, Virginia, on Medicare and the prescription drug benefit that is available to seniors today.
On Wednesday, President Bush will make remarks on the war on terror at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.
There are no public events scheduled for Thursday and Friday at this time.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: A reminder of why we are in Iraq: Excerpts from the President's remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, September 12, 2002 -- one year after the worst terrorist attack in history, and after the anthrax attack, the first bioweapons attack in our nation's history.
And our greatest fear is that terrorists will find a shortcut to their mad ambitions when an outlaw regime supplies them with the technologies to kill on a massive scale.
The conduct of the Iraqi regime is a threat to the authority of the United Nations, and a threat to peace. Iraq has answered a decade of U.N. demands with a decade of defiance. All the world now faces a test, and the United Nations a difficult and defining moment. Are Security Council resolutions to be honored and enforced, or cast aside without consequence? Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant?
Our partnership of nations can meet the test before us, by making clear what we now expect of the Iraqi regime.
[REASON #1] If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will immediately and unconditionally forswear, disclose, and remove or destroy all weapons of mass destruction, long-range missiles, and all related material. [We found plenty of related material in Iraq after the invasion.]
[REASON #2] If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will immediately end all support for terrorism and act to suppress it, as all states are required to do by U.N. Security Council resolutions.
[REASON #3] If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will cease persecution of its civilian population, including Shi'a, Sunnis, Kurds, Turkomans, and others, again as required by Security Council resolutions.
[REASON #4] If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will release or account for all Gulf War personnel whose fate is still unknown. It will return the remains of any who are deceased, return stolen property, accept liability for losses resulting from the invasion of Kuwait, and fully cooperate with international efforts to resolve these issues, as required by Security Council resolutions.
[REASON #5] If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will immediately end all illicit trade outside the oil-for-food program. It will accept U.N. administration of funds from that program, to ensure that the money is used fairly and promptly for the benefit of the Iraqi people. [The corruption of the oil-for-food program by the UN, itself, was not known then.]
If all these steps are taken, it will signal a new openness and accountability in Iraq. And it could open the prospect of the United Nations helping to build a government that represents all Iraqis — a government based on respect for human rights, economic liberty, and internationally supervised elections.
A BRIEF ASIDE: One of the best-known aides to former President Ronald Reagan is ailing. Lyn Nofziger, 81, is fighting cancer with his usual good humor. Mr. Nofziger ended chemotherapy last week, and I know all Dose readers have nothing but the best wishes for him.
Merry Christmas!
Pinging you to a happy pre-Christmas Dose.
2
Merry Christmas.
guess I'm early, no pics yet
PHOTO OF THE DAY (maybe of the year, for dog lovers everywhere): In a photo taken yesterday, we proudly present Barney the Snow Angel...
Merry Christmas!
The toaster is yours by 21 seconds (if I counted correctly :)
Visitors wave as President Bush takes off in Marine One from a snow-covered South Lawn yesterday.
Barney and Miss Beazley prepare for their close up during the making this year's Barney Cam in the Red Room.
Barney walks past the White House Christmas Tree, which is decorated with fresh lillies in the Blue Room.
Thank you MamaB! I am hoping for a White Christmas here in the Sierra's. Feels cold enough already to snow!
...while Beezie chases a Christmas ornament.
Barney (right, looking bored) and Miss Beazley on the red carpet. This is Beezie's first Christmas in the White House and, like many a human youngster, she's all wide-eyed and amazed.
Happy Weekend. Prayers for our troops.
LOL! I need a new toaster! Red please! :-)
The First Lady with Barney (left) and Beezie.
Hiya!
Oh, I've been on that very path!! Cool!
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