Posted on 12/18/2005 4:48:35 PM PST by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY As is their custom when in Washington on a weekend, the President and First Lady attended St. Johns Episcopal Church this morning. The President will address the nation this evening from the Oval Office. In the meantime, Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Iraq on the first leg of his Middle Eastern trip.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: From the Vice President's remarks to the troops at Al-Asad Air Base, Al-Asad, Iraq, Sunday, December 18, 2005. (Click here to read the entire transcript.)
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not Jessica Simpson. (Laughter.) But I'm glad to be here, and I thank you for that warm welcome; General Johnson, for the kind words. And I want to say good afternoon to all my fellow Americans. I happened to be in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd drop by.It's a privilege to be here, to stand on the ground of the world's newest democracy -- to be with so many men and women who helped make this history. I wanted to pay this visit during the holidays to express appreciation to all of you and to every American serving in this part of the world. With Christmas and Hanukkah arriving next week, I know your thoughts naturally turn to home. And your fellow Americans are thinking of you more than ever. I'm pleased to bring you the good wishes of the entire country, and personal greetings from our Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush. (Applause.)
From Marines going into combat and dominating the battle space, to the precision strikes of the Air Force, to the Army brigades holding and operating across wide terrain, to Navy corpsmen risking their lives to help the wounded, and to Seabees all over the country, day and night, preparing runways, fixing water pumps, and doing a hundred other tasks, Americans serving in Iraq have been absolutely superb.
They've made clear, as well, their ultimate ambition: to acquire weapons of mass destruction, to destroy Israel, to intimidate all Western countries, to cause mass death in the United States. The terrorists' war against America began long before 9/11. And during those years, they were the ones on the offensive. They grew bolder in their belief that if they killed Americans, they could change American policy. In Beiruit in 1983, terrorists killed 241 of our servicemen. Thereafter, the U.S. withdrew from Beiruit. In Mogadishu in 1993, terrorists killed 19 Americans; thereafter, the U.S. withdrew from Somalia. Over time the terrorists concluded that they could strike America without paying a price because they did -- repeatedly: the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York in 1993; the murders at the Saudi National Guard training facility in Riyadh in 1995; the attack on Khobar Towers in 1996; the attack on our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998; the attack on the USS Cole in 2000.
Ultimately, of course, they attacked the homeland on 9/11 and took the lives of 3,000 people aboard passenger jets, and at the World Trade Center, and at the Pentagon.
Now terrorists are making a stand here in Iraq, trying to force the United States to abandon our friends, and permit the overthrow of this new Middle Eastern democracy. Zarqawi has sworn his allegiance to bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda. And recently we got our hands on a message from bin Laden's deputy, Zawahiri, sent to Zarqawi. The letter makes clear that Iraq is part of a larger plan of imposing Islamic radicalism across the broader Middle East, making Iraq a terrorist haven and a staging ground for attacks against other nations. Zawahiri also expresses the view that America can made to run again. But we're giving him an education. We're in this fight to win. These colors don't run.
Sigh, on Sports Center now. It's gonna hurt to watch it, but I've got to.
Once again, I love your captions, much, much better than the originals!
Laura looks great in the leopard blouse and turquoise jacket.
Thanks, also, for posting the inaug. photo of them dancing on the Presidential Seal, I do love that one.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1543024/posts?q=1&&page=1
Hiya wolf, link to live thread for the Prez's speech
Snicker...kind of looks that way, doesn't it.
Thank you, thank you. I'd like to thank all the little people I had to step on to get this award...
I'm doing fine, thank you for asking. BTW, you're first tonight. Congratulations!
Indeed!
Hi snugs, thought of you when the V.P. was in Iraq.
He was having lunch with the troops and while loading
up his plate he put his finger to his mouth like to say
don't tell.
Condi photo
I agree completely, Deb. That's what I've been saying since yesterday. Too many FR folks are politically tone deaf. There's a time and place for red meat. Tonight's address isn't one of them.
Maybe it has something to do with being raised in the clean mountain air of Wyoming.
Doesn't she, though. That's a very attractive look on her.
Hi Pol. Thanks for the link to the live thread. This one will be for folks who don't want to be bothered with the bashers.
He is not bald :0) - just a bit thin on top LOL
I hope beyond hope that there is an investigation of the newst leak and people are put in jail for a very long time!!! To put this nation is jepordy just to get to the President is treason and nothing less. The firing squad for the leaker and there won't be any more leaks for a while!
I wonder if there are any on the DOD
Snugs, the VP looks like he lost some weight. He looks quite trim, especially considering that he will turn 65 at the end of January.
Take a look at the kid in the 2nd row, first seat on the left. He's leaning in for the photo; doesn't want to be missed. There's one in every group. : )
Just to be safe, I wouldn't assume it is due to weather or scar tissue tightening. You might consider calling your doctor tomorrow. I'll be crossing my fingers for you that it is not serious.
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