[snugs]

President Discusses Tsunami Relief in Radio Address

January 1, 2005

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. On this first day of a new year, we join the world in feeling enormous sadness over a great human tragedy. Last Sunday, an earthquake and violent tsunamis struck the nations that surround the Indian Ocean. The carnage is of a scale that defies comprehension, with over 100,000 deaths reported. I have signed a proclamation calling for our nation's flag to be flown at half-staff this coming week. As the people of this devastated region struggle to recover, we offer our love and compassion, and our assurance that America will be there to help.

Earlier this week, I spoke with the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. I offered them the condolences of our nation and I praised their steadfast leadership. The task they face is difficult. Their relief resources are stretched nearly to the limit. Communications, roads and medical facilities have been badly damaged; disease has become a very real threat.

Americans are a compassionate people and we are already hard at work helping those nations meet these challenges. The United States has pledged $350 million in relief assistance, with $15 million already in the hands of relief organizations in the affected countries. To help coordinate this massive relief effort, disaster response officials are on the ground and have established a support center in Thailand that is manned and operational; more than 20 patrol and cargo aircraft have been made available to assess the disaster and deliver relief supplies -- many of those aircraft are already on the scene. We have dispatched the aircraft carrier, Abraham Lincoln, the Maritime pre-positioning squadron from Guam, and an amphibious ship carrying a Marine Expeditionary Unit -- they will soon be in position to support relief efforts, to include the generation of clean water.

Tomorrow, I will send a delegation to the area to meet with regional leaders and international organizations to assess what additional aid can be provided by the United States. The delegation will be led by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Governor Jeb Bush, who has extensive experience in the state of Florida with relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts following natural disasters. Secretary Powell has already spoken with many of his counterparts in the region, and with officials from the United Nations, and other governments that are helping with the response. Together, we are leading an international coalition to help with immediate humanitarian relief, rehabilitation and long-term construction efforts. India, Japan and Australia have already pledged to help us coordinate these relief efforts, and I'm confident many more nations will join this core group in short order.

Here at home, Americans are translating the blessings of our own country into generosity to others. From charitable organizations to private individuals to companies, our fellow citizens, on their own initiative, are raising millions of dollars for relief efforts. These Americans, donor and fundraiser alike, represent the best of our country and offer an example to the world. Any American who desires to donate to these efforts can easily do so online, by accessing the USA FreedomCorps web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

In this season when we gather with loved ones and count our many blessings, we hold the victims of this terrible tragedy in our hearts and prayers. And let us be mindful that even in this modern age, our world still requires compassion, tolerance and generosity from each of us. Laura and I send our condolences to all whose hearts are filled with grief this New Year's Day; and to our fellow Americans, we wish you peace and happiness in the coming year.

Thank you for listening.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

President George W. Bush and Laura Bush lead the Inaugural Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue en route the White House, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005. Marking the beginning of his second term, President Bush took the oath of office during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. White House photo by Eric Draper

[NordP]

Happy New Year snugs!

[snugs]

MONTHLY DOSE OF SANITY ISLAND FOR JANUARY 2010 GOING UP - PLEASE WAIT FOR THE ALL CLEAR BEFORE POSTING ANY PHOTOS OR GRAPHICS.

[2rightsleftcoast]

Aren’t they a beautiful couple!!! Miss them, big time.

[patriciaruth]

Oh, boy! Thanks, snugs!

[lonestar67]

awesome posts

Thanks so much!

[luvie]

...all my friends here who love OUR president!

[GVnana]

Thank you for a much-needed breath of fresh air and the sight of competence.

[Gapplega]

the beginning of the end.

[SuziQ]

Great memories, snugs! Thanks so much, and I hope you have a very Happy New Year!

[ladyvet]

[Lucky2]

Oh how I long for the days when our country was being governed by adults. Now we’re stuck with a overgrown baby and his haughty, angry wife. Makes me sick.

[Krodg]

Add me please.

[Krodg]

Do you have the photo of Dubya and Laura standing back to back? That was so cute.

[octex]

Great to see you here, snugs! I hope you and your dad can stay warm over there across the pond!

Thanks for posting about GWB, as we seldom see much about him these days while he is completing his memoirs. octex

[SnarlinCubBear]

Thank you, snugs - much appreciated!!!

[florm15]

One of the greatest things about W is that he is a wonderful man. He is a man who loves his wife with his whole heart, would do anything for her, and we were so blessed with having a President and a First LADY of their kind for 8 years.
After 8 years of Clinton and his political partner, we needed a TRUE COUPLE! We needed two people who were together because of love, not because of political purposes... We had a couple in love while George and Laura were in the White House.
And he is a devoted father who loves his two daughters.
One of the things I miss the most about W is his sense of humor [Obama speaks... I fall asleep...]. President Bush was the man that made me get interested in policy, because he wasn’t the boring man who cheats on his wife and only cares about popularity and money kind of politician...
George took criticism way better than 0bama. Everytime someone criticizes Obama, that someone will sure get a personal attack, courtesy of the White House. President Bush truly understood, and understands, the importance of free speech, and supports it 100%. [I’ve never heard a Bush White House official calling the Democrats names. When the news of the Christmas Bomber broke, they were already blaming Bush..]
President Bush loves the best nation on Earth, the United States of America. He always enjoyed being with the brave men and women who defend freedom and our nation in Afghanistan and Iraq. 0bama simply thinks they are a photo-op.
I started missing President Bush at 12:00 last January the 20th, and I cried as Obama was taking the oath, because I knew that the man I respect so much because of everything he did for us, was gone =( And I still miss him a lot...

[gramho12]

Thanks, Snugs, for the memories. Don’t you just want to hug George and Laura? I gave a donation to the Salvation Army today to aid Haiti, and saw that Laura is on their advisory board. I know the Salvation Army uses the money wisely, and seeing Laura I know I made the right choice.

[bergmeid]

Thank you for all those wonderful photos.

The Bushes represented class, sheer CLASS.

[seoul62]

Thank you Snugs-san and Happy Year to you. These pictures bring a huge smile to my face but I also weep at what has happen to this country.

[florm15]

President BUSH takes Oath of Office 2001 1st Term to become 43rd President:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_hRo1i3vK8

Nice memories! =)