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Posted on 11/22/2001 7:40:14 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
WASHINGTON- President Bush said he would spend Thanksgiving mindful of the Sept. 11 tragedy that has burdened so many and the war being fought by Americans thousands of miles away.
He planned to share a Thanksgiving meal with the first family and friends at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland. On Wednesday, Bush carved turkey for the troops before heading to Camp David with his wife.
Americans and Afghans should be thankful for the military's service, Bush says.
"Thanks to you, the people of Afghanistan have the hope of a better life," Bush told some 15,000 soldiers at Fort Campbell, Ky. on Wednesday. "Thanks to you, many Afghan women are walking in public again, and walking with dignity."
Later, Bush said Americans too had much to be grateful for: the love of family, the generosity of fellow citizens.
"We will remember, too, those who approach the holidays with a burden of sadness," Bush said. "We think especially of families that recently lost loved ones and of our men and women in the armed forces serving far away from home."
The White House was tight-lipped about who was attending the family gathering at Camp David.
Spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush's brother Marvin would be there, along with several friends and administration members. The meal would be traditional Thanksgiving fare, he said.
Bush personally assumed turkey-carving duties Wednesday at Fort Campbell, and sat down for an early Thanksgiving meal with soldiers.
He waved the knife at soldiers to keep them moving through the chow line; His wife said he was better with an electric knife.
"This Thanksgiving, Americans are especially thankful for our freedom," Bush told soldiers and their families. "And we are especially thankful to you, the people who keep us free."
The president pledged to persevere against the al-Qaida network, suspected of orchestrating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and the Taliban government that has sheltered bin Laden and his followers.
So far, Bush said, 27 of 30 Afghan provinces have been taken from Taliban control.
But that is just a start, he cautioned; U.S. forces have yet to approach Afghanistan's rugged mountains, where Taliban fighters can hunker down in caves.
"These hide-outs are heavily fortified and defended by fanatics who will fight to the death," Bush said. "Unlike efforts to liberate a town or destroy Taliban equipment, success against these cells may come more slowly.
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