Posted on 09/09/2006 4:27:54 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President Bush is spending most of the weekend in the White House while his wife attended the commissioning ceremony today in Houston, Texas, for the US Navy's newest attack submarine, the USS Texas. Mrs. Bush had agreed to be the boat's sponsor while she was still the First Lady of Texas.
As we in the U.S. prepare to observe the 5th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is visiting the Middle East. The White House issued a brief written statement by President Bush about Mr. Blair's visit. Here is the transcript:
President's Statement on Prime Minister Blair Visit to Lebanon, Israel, and Palestinian TerritoriesI am pleased that Prime Minister Blair will be visiting Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. The deployment of increasing numbers of international forces in an enhanced United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), which enabled the lifting of the air and sea blockade of Lebanon, makes this a timely visit. The Prime Minister will be discussing ways to facilitate the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701, including enforcing the ban on unauthorized arms shipments to Hezbollah from Iran and Syria. I understand the Prime Minister will also be exploring ways to advance the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians and the two state solution - a democratic Israel and democratic Palestine living side by side in peace and security. I wish him well in his efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
THE WEEK AHEAD: The President and First Lady depart Sunday afternoon for New York where they will commemorate the 5th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our nation. There will be a wreath-laying at Ground Zero on Sunday evening, and a service of prayer and remembrance at St. Paul's Chapel in New York.
_ Monday, September 11, 2006, President Bush will breakfast with New York City first responders at a firehouse. He will participate in a moment of silence and a ceremony with New York City first responders in commemoration of September 11, 2001. He then travels to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the crash of Flight 93. Finally, the President returns to Washington where he will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony for the 5th anniversary at the Pentagon attack. There are no prepared remarks for any of these events. However, the President will be speaking to the nation from the Oval Office at 9:00 p.m. eastern time. Press Secretary Tony Snow said this is not a political speech. It will be a reflection of what September 11th has meant to the President, and to the country; the realities that it has brought to all of our attention and how we can move forward together to try to win the war on terror._ Tuesday, after the emotional anniversary of 9/11/01, there are no public events scheduled. This, of course, could change as events warrant.
_ Wednesday there will be a Republican National Committee reception at Evermay, in Washington, D.C.
_ Thursday, GWB will meet with President Roh of South Korea, in the Oval Office. There will be a social dinner that evening in honor of the Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz, followed by entertainment in the East Room.
_ Friday, no public events are scheduled.
EXTENDED SCHEDULE:
_ Sept. 18: Vice President Cheney is scheduled to visit Luzerne County, PA, for a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood._ Sept. 19: President Bush delivers an address to the United Nations General Assembly, New York, NY.
_ Sept. 25: Vice President Cheney is scheduled to appear at a Republican fund-raiser in Milwaukee, WI.
_ Nov. 28-29, 2006: President Bush will travel to Tallanin, Estonia, for meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Estonia, and then travel to Riga, Latvia, for the NATO summit.
*** President Bush is spending most of the weekend in the White House while his wife attended the commissioning ceremony today in Houston, Texas, ****
Can a submarine really get to Houston? If so they must be building them better that they used to.
I believe it was Commissioned in Galveston. A little deeper channel there.
Hi Gretchen. Thanks...going OK, all things considered. :)
He looks wonderful in that photograph. Thanks for the update. :)
Wow! What an emotional day for you to start work there. Will you try to stay late to maybe get a glimpse of the President when he arrives?
LOL! I've found that my dogs will eat almost anything I eat. Not quite, but almost.
Thanks for the ping.
WOW, I love that picture. Just imagine what it meant to those Marines. It brought tears to my eyes.
It was commissioned in Galveston, but news reports put her in Houston and I didn't catch their error.
You're welcome. :)
Exactly. I'm sure it meant a great deal to those Marines for the President to give them a personal send-off, and for them to have their group photo taken in front of our Nation's most famous and beloved aircraft.
Emotional sure is the right word. I strongly suspect that I will turn into a complete emotional wreck on Monday, especially since I'm going to be at the Pentagon.
I would love to see the President when he gets there. I have a feeling I won't be allowed to though.
I know how I'll feel watching the events live on TV here in L.A., so actually being in the Pentagon will be amazing.
I would love to see the President when he gets there. I have a feeling I won't be allowed to though.
You never know. I'm sure the event organizers will want as many people as possible to at least see the ceremony from behind a rope line. On the other hand, as a new intern, you're very low on the totem pole. Sigh.
That's cool...I'm glad for the sailors that the event wasn't marred by bad weather. Terrific that you got to see the First Lady, even if just from a distance.
Ironically, the Air Force is weird - with blue in it! I guess that's for urban and sky warfare!
I now return you to the Dose - and thanks Wolfstar.
Grin...I guess the flyboys and girls gotta do it their way.
speaking of the Air Force, does anyone know if the air force has it's own special service team? Or a sniper team? A friend of ours son joined the air force and told us he was going into sniper training, I wasn't aware the air force had one.
Anyone notice that on the new uniforms the pockets are at an angel and so are the names...kinda different
I know! It's so amazing to me. If someone had told me on 9/11 that on the fifth anniversary, I would be interning at the Pentagon, I would've told them they were insane. I never pictured myself as a government employee. Now I can't imagine being anywhere else.
Yeah, exactly. A brand new, handicapped intern. Lol I'll probably see nothing. But I'm going to make sure I look extra nice anyway. And tell them I donated money. Maybe that'll help ;)
"Rained before and after, but not during the ceremony. Texas hospitality. And, I think, God's grace."
Right on both counts.
Thank you for your service.
:-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.