Posted on 06/25/2008 6:00:05 PM PDT by silent_jonny
President Bush met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani this morning in the Oval Office. (Transcript)
President Talabani: I am proud to have the honor of meeting President George Bush, whom we consider the liberator of Iraq from the worst kind of dictatorship, as a great friend of the Iraqi people.
Also present for the meeting were Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
Later, the President met with United Nations Security Council Representatives in the Roosevelt Room of the White House for a discussion on Zimbabwe. (Transcript)
President Bush: Friday's elections, you know, appear to be a sham. You can't have free elections if a candidate is not allowed to campaign freely and his supporters aren't allowed to campaign without fear and intimidation. … People there want to express themselves at the ballot box, yet the Mugabe government has refused to allow them to do so. This is not just, and it is wrong.
This afternoon, the President departed the White House to speak at the Max M. Fisher National Republican Award Dinner in Livonia, Michigan. (Transcript)
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the Day:
President Bush: [speaking at the Max M. Fisher National Republican Award Dinner]The last time I attended this dinner, I was the governor of Texas, running for President of the United States. Maybe some of you are old enough to remember that. (Laughter.) Since then, some things have changed: My daughter got married, my hair is grayer, the entourage is bigger -- and I haven't seen a traffic jam in eight years. (Laughter and applause.) But some things that haven't changed: the principles that are etched in my soul, and my faith in the American people.
Over these past eight years, we've endured a lot together. When you think about what has taken place, it's been a challenging time for the American people. We've had a recession, high energy prices, housing downturn, unprecedented attack on our homeland, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and devastating natural disasters. The reason I bring that up is because you can't know what the future will bring, but you can bet there's going to be some unexpected challenges facing our country. And that is why the United States must elect a leader that has the experience and judgment necessary to handle those challenges.
Photo of the Day:
President George W. Bush shakes hands with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during a meeting in the Oval Office, June 25, 2008 in Washington DC.
Hi
hi
And thanks for the ping
A close second :)
President Bush: It's been my honor to welcome a friend, President Talabani, back to the Oval Office. He is the President of a free Iraq. He is a man who's been on the front lines of helping to unify Iraq and to help Iraq recover from a brutal regime -- that of Saddam Hussein.I complimented the President on the progress that the government has made. I complimented the President on the fact that as security has improved, he and his fellow officials are reaching out to all aspects of society to help people realize the blessings of a free life.
There's still a lot of work to be done, we recognize that. We talked of a variety of subjects. We talked about a strategic framework agreement that suits the Iraq government. We talked about elections and different laws that have been passed. I did compliment the President on working hard to see to it that the legislative session this year has been very successful. We talked about the fact that the economy is improving, and that the attitude of the people there has improved immeasurably over the years.
And so I welcome you here. I'm proud of what you've done, and I thank you for the tough decisions, so that the people of a free Iraq can realize hopes and dreams. Welcome.
President Talabani: Well, I am proud to have the honor of meeting President George Bush, whom we consider the liberator of Iraq from the worst kind of dictatorship, as a great friend of the Iraqi people. I'm grateful for what he said about me, but I agree with him that we are going to work together for having this agreement -- security agreement between the United States and Iraq, and also to continue our cooperation in our struggle against terrorism, for promotion of democracy in Iraq and Middle East.We are proud to have such a good friend here in this great country …
Now I can say that Iraq -- big part of Iraq is stable and is secure and liberated from the danger of terrorism and militia.
Yes, some places still there are some groups that remain here and there, but I think big achievement we have done this year with the support of the United States Army and government, and with the friendly advices from President Bush. I can say that we are proud to achieved good successes in Iraq, and our economy is growing …
And again to thank -- here I am again to thank here our great friends, President Bush and American people, for their sacrifice and their support for the Iraqi people. Thank you very much.
MAN I don’t know about you guys I going sure hell going mess Vice President Dick Cheney especially all he is only VP that could go off on the media
Do you guys realize this going be LAST AUGUST where media be sweating in Texas August heat
I going miss that TOOOOOOO
That is a photo of two happy men!!!
President George W. Bush participates in the National Security Advisor's Meeting with the United Nations Security Council Permanent Representatives in the Roosevelt Room of the White House June 25, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The U.N. Security Council condemned the Zimbabwean government under Mugabe for intimidating people with violence making it impossible to hold a fair presidential election.
Thanks :)
President Bush: We've had a really good discussion. We talked about a U.N. Security Council role for Darfur and Burma …And then we talked about Zimbabwe. Friday's elections, you know, appear to be a sham. You can't have free elections if a candidate is not allowed to campaign freely and his supporters aren't allowed to campaign without fear and intimidation. Yet the Mugabe government has been intimidating the people on the ground in Zimbabwe. And this is an incredibly sad development …
I want to thank very much the leaders in the region, those who have stepped up and spoke clearly, I appreciate them doing every -- taking their responsibility seriously. And I want to thank the members here around the table of the United Nations Security Council for your strong presidential statement. It was a powerful statement for fairness and decency and human dignity. And I suspect you'll still be dealing with this issue. And as you do, I hope you continue to speak with the same clarity that you spoke with last Monday.
People of Zimbabwe deserve better than what they're receiving now. People there want to express themselves at the ballot box, yet the Mugabe government has refused to allow them to do so. This is not just, and it is wrong.
There’s never been a Veep like Mr. Cheney. He is my favorite government official ever (except for President Reagan :-).
If McCain is elected President, maybe he’ll spend summer vacations in Arizona!
That drive MEDIA NUTS LOLOLOL!
I think Arizona is hotter than Texas heat in Crawford that mainly desert
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