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Bush defends Iraq war
The Age ^ | Saturday 5 July 2003

Posted on 07/05/2003 11:36:54 AM PDT by demlosers

US President George W Bush delivered an impassioned Fourth of July defence of war in Iraq, declaring that the United States is "on the offensive against terrorists and all who support them".

Celebrating Independence Day at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with thousands of Air Force families and other spectators, the president said the United States had learned much from the pain of the deadly September 11 terror attacks.

"Since that September day," he said, "we made our own intentions clear to them: The United States will not stand by and wait for another attack or trust in the restraint and good intentions of evil men."

Bush has cited a general threat of continuing terrorism against the United States and a specific threat from Saddam Hussein as justification for the US-led war against Iraq.

"We will not permit any terrorist group or outlaw regime to threaten us with weapons of mass murder," he told a cheering crowd of mostly military servicemen and women and their families. "We will act whenever necessary to protect the lives and liberty of the American people."

For this, Bush said, the nation must rely heavily on the men and women of its armed forces.

They are "carrying out their missions with all the skill and honour that we expect of them," Bush said. "This nation is grateful to the men and women who wear our nations' uniform."

The president's visit to Dayton was his 10th trip this year to a key battleground state that will be crucial in the elections next year.

The president's patriotic speech came at a time when his administration has been getting increasing questions about the US occupation of Iraq and the continuing casualties of troops serving in that country.

More than two dozen US troops have died in hostile action in Iraq since May 1 when Bush declared major combat in Iraq was over and more than 60 have died overall.

The government stepped up efforts to quell growing unrest in Iraq by putting a $25 million bounty on deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and $15 million on his two sons.

The Arab television station Al-Jazeera aired an audiotape Friday with a voice purported to be that of Saddam. In the tape, the speaker said he was directing resistance to American forces and called on all Iraqis to support the attacks.

Earlier in the week, Bush had challenged those tempted to attack US forces by saying "Bring 'em on," a comment quickly criticised by Democratic presidential candidates.

The Bush visit is part of a 17-day commemoration of the centennial of flight that started in the hometown of the Wright brothers. They made their first powered flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903.

The anniversary celebration includes July Fourth fireworks, hot-air balloons and blimps, an air show and a National Aviation Hall of Fame ceremony.

©2003 AP


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; iraq

1 posted on 07/05/2003 11:36:54 AM PDT by demlosers
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To: demlosers
Earlier in the week, Bush had challenged those tempted to attack US forces by saying "Bring 'em on," a comment quickly criticised by Democratic presidential candidates.

Obviously none of the Dim candidates are Marines!

2 posted on 07/05/2003 12:06:57 PM PDT by EGPWS
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