Posted on 03/28/2008 5:52:11 PM PDT by silent_jonny
Today President & Mrs. Bush welcomed Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd & his wife Therese to the White House.
After meeting in the Oval Office, Prime Minster Rudd and President Bush held a joint news conference in the East Room and took a few questions from the press. The hot topic was, of course, Iraq—specifically the situation in Basra.(Transcript)
President Bush: … Basra has been a place where criminality has thrived. It's a port, a lot of goods and services go through there. And there was -- from the beginning of liberation, there have been criminal elements that have had a pretty free hand in Basra. It was just a matter of time before the government [the Iraqi government] was going to have to deal with it.… the citizens down there just got sick and tired of this kind of behavior. Most people want to have normal lives. Most people don't like to be shaken down. Most mothers want their children to go to school peacefully, and yet that wasn't the case in Basra. And so I'm not exactly sure what triggered the Prime Minister's [Nouri al-Maliki’s] response. I don't know if it was one phone call. I don't know what -- whether or not the local mayor called up and said, help -- we're sick and tired of dealing with these folks. But nevertheless, he made the decision to move. And we'll help him.
After saying g'day to Prime Minister Rudd, the president flew to Freehold, New Jersey to speak about the economy and the housing market. (Transcript)
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store at the State Department in Washington.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke at the relinquishment -of- command ceremony of U.S. Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, outgoing commander of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. (Transcript) U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey officially took command of CENTCOM today at the ceremony.
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: … I appreciate the opportunity to visit with a leader of one of America's closest allies and friends. And one thing is for sure, that friendship will strengthen and endure under the leadership of Kevin Rudd.I have found him to be a straightforward fellow. Being from Texas, that's the way I like it. He is thoughtful, he is strategic in thought, and he is committed to the same values that I'm committed to -- rule of law, human rights, human decency. And we're sure proud you're here …
Prime Minister Rudd: Mr. President, you said that you had a warm regard for me because, from a Texan point of view, you found me to be a reasonably straight shooter. I therefore designate you as an honorary Queenslander. (Laughter.) In the great state of Australia, I come from the great state of Queensland. It may surprise you that it's bigger than Texas. (Laughter.) But can I say -- (laughter.) But can I say quickly -- (laughter.)
President Bush: Can you recover nicely? (Laughter.)
Prime Minster Rudd: Yes. The recovery point is this: Queenslanders and Texans have a lot in common, and they get on well. And so, from one Queenslander, one Texan -- one Australian to one American, I appreciate the relationship that we're forming, part and parcel of the relationship between two great democracies.
President Bush: Thank you.
Photo of the Day:
President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd shake hands at the conclusion of their joint press availability in the East Room of the White House Friday, March 28, 2008. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian
Dose Ping! 
Happy to be on Sanity Island again!
Hi Jonny and snugs. Thanks for the thread, Jonny, and for all you do, snugs. Can’t stay long, but just wanted to pop in and say hi. :)
Hi, Wolfstar :)
I took a sneak peek at pictures today--there are some great ones of GWB! Thank you so much for your efforts at the Dose! :)
President Bush and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hold a joint news conference, Friday, March 28, 2008, in the East Room at the White House in Washington.
Mrs. Laura Bush is joined by Therese Rein, wife of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and U.S. Secreatry of State Condoleezza Rice, right, during the joint press availability with President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Rudd Friday, March 28, 2008, in the East Room of the White House. White House photo by Shealah Craighead
President Bush: Obviously the Prime Minister kept a campaign commitment, which I appreciate. I always like to be in the presence of somebody who does what he says he's going to do. You know, oftentimes politicians go out there and they say one thing on the campaign trail, and they don't mean it. Well, this is a guy who meant it. But he also acted like you'd expect an ally to act -- and that is, he consulted closely with his friends. His military commanders consulted closely with our military commanders. But the commitment of Australia is not to leave Iraq alone; it's to change mission.And so he told me about an interesting story. He met with the Prime Minister, Maliki. Prime Minister Maliki says to Kevin Rudd -- or Kevin Rudd says to Prime Minister Maliki, what can we do to help you. It wasn't, what can we do to abandon you. He said, how can we help you? And he said, how about training some farmers in dry-land farming -- something we know something about in West Texas, by the way, Mr. Prime Minister. (Laughter.)
Hello.
Top 40. This thread moves fast.
Prime Minister Rudd: Thank you. Thanks very much, George, and it's a pleasure to be here in Washington, with my wife, Therese. And it's great to be here at the White House. And thanks for your hospitality in having us at Blair House. We really appreciate that.Our alliance doesn't simply reflect our shared past. Our alliance defines our common future as two of the world's great democracies. I was thinking about this, this morning, about the number of Presidents and Prime Ministers who have been party to this alliance, both Republican and Democrat, and both in our country, Labor and Liberal. This alliance has been supported by 12 American Presidents, Republican and Democrat. It's been supported by 13 Australian Prime Ministers, Labor and Liberal, and I'm the 14th.
And I'm confident that this alliance has a strong, robust future.
President Bush and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd listen to a reporter's question as they hold a joint press conference, Friday, March 28, 2008, in the East Room at the White House in Washington.
President George W. Bush walks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House in Washington, March 28, 2008.
With National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley
President Bush salutes two Marines as he steps off Marine One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Friday, March 28, 2008, prior to boarding Air Force One for a trip to New Jersey
President Bush, accompanied by Col. Paul R. Ackerley, waves to onlookers as he walks to Air Force One, Friday, March 28, 2008, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland
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