Posted on 09/23/2008 7:21:33 PM PDT by Kaslin
This morning President Bush addressed the United Nations general assembly for the last time. Transcript
After the address he and the first Lady met with some political dissident at Governors Island in New York City Transcript
Vice President Cheney attended a weekly House Republican conferencemeeting on Capitol Hill
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testified today on Capitol Hill before the Armed Forces Committee on Afghanistan and Iraq
Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Sarah Palin met this morning in New York City with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. She also met with Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the day
As the 21st century unfolds, some may be tempted to assume that the threat has receded. This would be comforting; it would be wrong. The terrorists believe time is on their side, so they made waiting out civilized nations part of their strategy. We must not allow them to succeed. The nations of this body must stand united in the fight against terror. We must continue working to deny the terrorists refuge anywhere in the world, including ungoverned spaces. We must remain vigilant against proliferation -- by fully implementing the terms of Security Council Resolution 1540, and enforcing sanctions against North Korea and Iran. We must not relent until our people are safe from this threat to civilization.
To uphold the Charter's promise of peace and security in the 21st century, we must also confront the ideology of the terrorists. At its core, the struggle against extremists is a battle of ideas. The terrorists envision a world in which religious freedom is denied, women are oppressed, and all dissent is crushed. The nations of this chamber must present a more hopeful alternative -- a vision where people can speak freely, and worship as they choose, and pursue their dreams in liberty.
Advancing the vision of freedom serves our highest ideals, as expressed in the U.N.'s Charter's commitment to "the dignity and worth of the human person." Advancing this vision also serves our security interests. History shows that when citizens have a voice in choosing their own leaders, they are less likely to search for meaning in radical ideologies. And when governments respect the rights of their people, they're more likely to respect the rights of their neighbors.
For all these reasons, the nations of this body must challenge tyranny as vigorously as we challenge terror. Some question whether people in certain parts of the world actually desire freedom. This self-serving condescension has been disproved before our eyes. From the voting booths of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Liberia, to the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Rose Revolution in Georgia, to the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon and the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan, we have seen people consistently make the courageous decision to demand their liberty. For all the suggestions to the contrary, the truth is that whenever or wherever people are given the choice, they choose freedom.
Nations in these chambers have supported the efforts of dissidents and reformers and civil society advocates in newly free societies throughout the new United Nations Democracy Fund. And we appreciate those efforts. And as young democracies around the world continue to make brave stands for liberty, multilateral organizations like the United Nations must continue to stand with them.
In Afghanistan, a determined people are working to overcome decades of tyranny, and protect their newly-free society. They have strong support from all 26 nations of the NATO Alliance. I appreciate the United Nations' decision this week to renew the mandate for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The United Nations is also an active civilian presence in Afghanistan, where experts are doing important work helping to improve education, facilitate humanitarian aid, and protect human rights. We must continue to help the Afghan people defend their young democracy -- so the Taliban does not return to power, and Afghanistan is never again a safe haven for terror.
In Iraq, the fight has been difficult, yet daily life has improved dramatically over the past 20 months -- thanks to the courage of the Iraqi people, a determined coalition of nations, and a surge of American troops. The United Nations has provided the mandate for multinational forces in Iraq through this December. And the United Nations is carrying out an ambitious strategy to strengthen Iraq's democracy, including helping Iraqis prepare for their next round of free elections. Whatever disagreements our nations have had on Iraq, we should all welcome this progress toward stability and peace -- and we should stand united in helping Iraq's democracy succeed.
We must stand united in our support of other young democracies, from the people of Lebanon struggling to maintain their hard-won independence, to the people of the Palestinian Territories, who deserve a free and peaceful state of their own. We must stand united in our support of the people of Georgia. The United Nations Charter sets forth the "equal rights of nations large and small." Russia's invasion of Georgia was a violation of those words. Young democracies around the world are watching to see how we respond to this test. The United States has worked with allies in multilateral institutions like the European Union and NATO to uphold Georgia's territorial integrity and provide humanitarian relief. And our nations will continue to support Georgia's democracy.
In this chamber are representatives of Georgia and Ukraine and Lebanon and Afghanistan and Liberia and Iraq, and other brave young democracies. We admire your courage. We honor your sacrifices. We thank you for your inspiring example. We will continue to stand with all who stand for freedom. This noble goal is worthy of the United Nations, and it should have the support of every member in this assembly.
Extending the reach of political freedom is essential to prevailing in the great struggle of our time -- but it is not enough. Many in this chamber have answered the call to help their brothers and sisters in need by working to alleviate hopelessness. These efforts to improve the human condition honor the highest ideals of this institution. They also advance our security interests. The extremists find their most fertile recruiting grounds in societies trapped in chaos and despair -- places where people see no prospect of a better life. In the shadows of hopelessness, radicalism thrives. And eventually, that radicalism can boil over into violence and cross borders and take innocent lives across the world.
Overcoming hopelessness requires addressing its causes -- poverty, disease, and ignorance. Challenging these conditions is in the interest of every nation in this chamber. And democracies are particularly well-positioned to carry out this work. Because we have experience responding to the needs of our own people, we're natural partners in helping other nations respond to the needs of theirs. Together, we must commit our resources and efforts to advancing education and health and prosperity.
Photos of the day
Mrs. Laura Bush participates in a drop-by meeting on food security Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York. White House photo by Eric Draper
President Bush, left, and first lady Laura Bush, center, listen to U Kovida, right, a monk from Burma, after posing for a group photo with with political dissidents on Governors Island, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.
hi
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U.S. President George W. Bush (R) meets with the Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 23, 2008.
President Bush meets with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The president is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly later today
President Bush meets with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The president is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly later today.
U.S. President George W. Bush (R) meets with the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari at the United Nations General Assembly in New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush gestures during his meeting with the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.
U.S. President George W. Bush (R) meets Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 23, 2008
U.S. President George W. Bush (R) listens to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during a meeting with the Iraq Coalition at the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
U.S. President George W. Bush (R) speaks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during a dinner at U.N. Headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush delivers a toast to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, right, at a dinner for heads of state during the 63rd session of the U.N. General Assembly Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at U.N. Headquarters.
President Bush arrives to address the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. U.N. Chief of Protocol Alice Hecht walked behind Bush
U.S. President George W. Bush arrives for his address to the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008
President Bush, sits in the chair reserved for heads of state before addressing the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, Sept. 23 2008 at the United Nations.
President Bush arrives to address the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.
President Bush walks past U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, prior to addressing the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.
Could you add me? Thanks.
President Bush addresses the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.
President George W. Bush speaks during the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush delivers remarks to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York
U.S. President George W. Bush addresses the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
US President George W. Bush addresses the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations in New York. World leaders called for urgent steps to tackle the global financial crisis and said the time had come for a sweeping reform of multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council.
President President George W. Bush speaks during the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush addresses the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
U.S. President George W. Bush addresses the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.
U.S. President George W. Bush addresses the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush addresses the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Listening behind the president are, from left, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockman, and Undersecretary General Shaaban M. Shaaban.
President Bush speaks during the 63rd General Assembly Tuesday, Sept. 23 2008 at the United Nations>p>
President Bush addresses the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
President Bush speaks during the 63rd General Assembly Tuesday, Sept. 23 2008 at the United Nations.
President Bush addresses the 63rd United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23 2008, at the United Nations.
U.S. President George W. Bush speaks during the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush delivers remarks to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.
U.S. President George W. Bush addresses the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
U.S. President George W. Bush sits in a chair after addressing the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008
U.S. President George W. Bush walks away from the podium after addressing the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush walks away from the podium after delivering remarks at the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) meets Leader of the Other Russia Coalition Garry Kasparov and other dissidents on Governors Island in New York September 23, 2008.
U.S. President George W. Bush meets with dissidents on Governors Island in New York September 23, 2008.
Thanks for the photos! I had to miss most of this today because of family commitments.
I don’t post here often, but I do check in. Thanks again!
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and first lady Laura Bush to a meeting with dissidents on Governors Island, New York September 23, 2008.
President Bush, left, waves to the media as he arrives for a photo-op with first lady Laura Bush, center, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 on Governor's Island in New York. Bush had lunch on the island and was photographed with a group of political dissidents
President Bush, center, and first lady Laura Bush, poses for a group photo with political dissidents on Governors Island, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York. At far right is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
President Bush, left, and first lady Laura Bush, center, listen to U Kovida, right, a monk from Burma, after posing for a group photo with with political dissidents on Governors Island, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.
President Bush, left, and first lady Laura Bush, center, listen to U Kovida, right, a monk from Burma, after posing for a group photo with with political dissidents on Governors Island, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008, in New York.
U.S. President George W. Bush (L) and first lady Laura Bush (2nd L) listen to a Burmese monk U Kovida during a meeting with dissidents on Governors Island in New York September 23, 2008.
U.S first lady Laura Bush listens to the address by her husband U.S. President George W. Bush to the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York September 23, 2008.
First lady Laura Bush, left, listens from the gallery as her husband President Bush speaks during the 63rd General Assembly Tuesday, Sept. 23 2008 at the United Nations. To her right are Yoo Soon-Taek, wife of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, center, and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, far right, wife of French president Nicolas Sarkozy
(L-R) U.S. first lady Laura Bush sits with Yoo Soon-taek (C), wife of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as they listen to the address of U.S. President George W. Bush to the 63rd United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 23, 2008
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