Bush Vows Support for Wounded Troops, Addresses Iran Threat

American Forces Press Service ^ | Donna Miles

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2007 – America’s wounded troops are getting the best medical care possible, and the country is committed to ensuring the bureaucratic system serves them equally well, President Bush said today in Fredericksburg, Va.

Marines from Quantico Marine Base Delta Company 1st Platoon look on as President George W. Bush boards Marine One before departing the White House for his trip to Fredericksburg, Virginia, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. White House photo by Eric Draper  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Speaking to the Rotary Club of Stafford, Va., the president also told a questioner that Iran remains a threat to peace and needs to suspend its uranium-enrichment activities.

Bush told the Rotarians he feels “a particular sense of obligation to make sure that the man or woman I’ve sent into combat gets the very best care possible.”

He called the doctors and nurses providing military health care “fabulous,” noting that “the health care these troops are getting is excellent, no ands, ifs or buts about it.”

“I can look the parents … and loved ones of the troops in their eyes and say, ‘Your kid’s going to get fabulous health care, and they deserve it,’” he said.

The president conceded that problems like those that surfaced in February at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here detract from this care and said they won’t be tolerated. Bush called the Walter Reed situation “a bureaucratic foul-up” and noted that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates moved to fix the situation quickly. “That should show you our intensity in making sure that our troops get the very best care,” he said.

Bush said he and first lady Laura Bush will visit both Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., later this week. They’ll visit for two reasons, he said: “One, to tell those troops we love them, and two, to tell those docs and nurses who are working overtime to give them fabulous care this country appreciates what they're doing.”

Moving to questions about Iran, Bush pointed to the recent national intelligence estimate as proof that “Iran was a threat, Iran is a threat to peace, and Iran will be a threat to peace if we don’t stop their enrichment facilities.”

If Iran were able to produce a nuclear weapon, it would be a highly destabilizing force in the region, Bush said. He noted Iran’s threats to wipe out Israel as an example.

Iran owes the world an explanation about its suspended nuclear program, Bush said. “They need to make it clear to the international organization, the (International Atomic Energy Agency), what the program was all about and why they hid it from the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bush pledged that the United States will continue working with its friends and allies to apply diplomatic pressure aimed at convincing Iran to suspend its enrichment programs.

He noted that Russia is in the process of sending enriched uranium to Iran for use in its civilian nuclear reactor. “If the Russians are willing to do that … (and) the Iranians accept that uranium for a civilian nuclear power plant, then there’s no need for them to learn how to enrich,” he said.

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[aimhigh]

The Dems will fail to pass an AMT fix, which will result in 20 million more Republican votes.

[ODC-GIRL]

I know he is sincere in his care for wounded soldiers, and it is greatly appreciated. However, I can’t help but think about wounded and JAILED Border Patrol agents. They are another facet in our war on terror that are being utterly ignored by this President. It is..... disappointing, at the very least.

[SunkenCiv]

Same deal, if the Russians are willing to sell enriched uranium for Iran’s civilian use, there’s no need for Iran to enrich — IOW, if Iran continues to enrich, it is obviously seeking a weapon, and the US won’t accept it.

[AdmSmith]

U.S. officials are deeply concerned about the developing triangle of Iran, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Yesterday, reporter Todd Bensman of the San Antonio Express-News posted “Iran making push into Nicaragua,” his latest story describing the cooperation between the three countries. “As part of a new partnership with Nicaragua’s Sandinista President Daniel Ortega, Iran and its Venezuelan allies plan to help finance a $350 million deep-water port at Monkey Point on the wild Caribbean shore, and then plow a connecting “dry canal” corridor of pipelines, rails and highways across the country to the populous Pacific Ocean. Iran recently established an embassy in Nicaragua’s capital.”

Bensman also linked to a Nicaraguan government document http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/images/graphics/20071216MigrationDoc.pdf showing that “Nicaragua’s chief immigration minister personally authorized 21 Iranian men to enter the country, without visas that would have left a record.” Bensman told me in an e-mail that “I’ve been running those names by every intel person I know. Even went to the MEK in Paris. Nothing back yet. I ended up just posting the names on our web site. If you know anyone who can run them and report back....” So, loyal readers, please take a look at those names.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/12/terrorism_tidbits_short_notes.php

[SunkenCiv]

Pariah states are bound to band together. What you’ve described will put more than a few extra strains on OPEC.

Bush supports Russia sending enriched uranium to Iran
Reuters | 17 Dec 2007 | Tabassum Zakaria
Posted on 12/17/2007 4:01:45 PM EST by BGHater
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1940810/posts

Bush backs nuclear fuel supply to Iran
jpost.com | Dec 17, 2007 21:00 | Updated Dec 17, 2007 23:31 | JPost Staff and AP
Posted on 12/17/2007 4:58:26 PM EST by F15Eagle
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1940844/posts

[dervish]

Thanks. And I agree.

[SunkenCiv]

Derv! Have you been gone a bit?

[dervish]

Very busy with end of the year business, and my laptop crashed. I’m still trying to restore it.

[SunkenCiv]

Ouch!