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.
I agree wholeheartedly, Jewels. You just know the venomous Dems and their Leftist shills in the media -- along with a few rotten Republicans -- are just desperate to find a reason to impeach this President.
Although I only mean this rhetorically, there is a part of my soul that almost wishes the anthrax killer had done a better job when he sent letters to Capitol Hill.
There could be. Do you want to check? If not, I'll be happy to do it.
Nothing against VPOTUS but I meant GHWB!
(Now the Cheney Chicks are gonna git me!!)
Does anyone know how the freeper demonstration went last night in front of the White House to thank the President for a free Iraq????
I, along with many others, certainly share that hope!
The opposition party's position since President Bush got into the WH has been to be against him at every turn, regardless of what's at stake, and it's DESPICABLE!
Yep. Got to have at least one kid mugging for the camera in every such shot.
I have no idea. Did you do a search on this site? Maybe someone else will know.
A phone call might be the best way to handle it initially.
LOL! I'm sorry. I thought you meant the VP.
Yes, that's the safest thing to do. It probably is just scare tissue acting up, but it's wise to check just in case.
Maybe they could give you an injection for the pain.
Prayers for you, MamaB. While not having ever had such a problem, I have known people who have, and of course it's no picnic.
Can't blame him .. she is a beautiful first lady
Thanks for posting the Vice President's speech. It was great!
Thank you
That she is, and she seems to be getting more beautiful as the years go by.
I enjoy listening to him speak. He has such a lovely, sonorous voice. So I hope the WH posts an audio link eventually.
Good evening, Sara, or is it late night your time?
You are always so very welcome.
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