Posted on 03/04/2002 1:47:10 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK
Bush: U.S. Will Defend Itself 'At Any Price'
— By Arshad Mohammed
MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - President Bush on Monday mourned the deaths of U.S. soldiers in the Afghan war but said the United States would defend itself "at any price."
Al Qaeda and Taliban forces shot down a large U.S. Army helicopter on Monday, killing seven U.S. soldiers, while an eighth died when he was apparently shot or fell from a second helicopter during a big offensive against al Qaeda and Taliban forces dug in high in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan.
"This nation will defend ourselves and freedom at any price," Bush told students at Eden Prairie High School during a one-day visit to Minnesota. "It is too precious a gift for future generations to give up to terrorists."
Bush launched his war on terrorism in Afghanistan five months ago, toppling the Taliban regime that harbored Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network, which the United States blames for the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
Aides said Bush was keeping close tabs on the action in Afghanistan, where U.S. and Afghan forces as well as soldiers from Western allies Australia, Denmark, France and Germany were attacking a pocket of regrouped al Qaeda and Taliban forces.
"There is some serious combat as I speak," Bush told the students. "I want to assure the students who are here and the loved ones of those military (who died) -- defending freedom is a noble cause and it is a just cause."
He added: "People say, well how long is this going to last? And the answer is, for however long it takes to make sure America is secure. People say, well the hard part is over with, and my answer is no it's not -- we're just beginning."
Speaking earlier to reporters, Bush said he was saddened by the deaths of the U.S. soldiers but determined to fight on. Speaking of bin Laden, he said: "He's on the run, if he's running at all."
"Any time somebody loses their life, the American people will mourn and are sad -- and I feel that way too," Bush said. "On the other hand, I am just as determined now as I was a week ago or three months ago to fulfill this mission and that is to make sure our country is safe."
Citing fierce resistance from al Qaeda and Taliban forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld earlier said a U.S. special forces MH-47 "Chinook" helicopter was downed by ground fire near Gardez in the icy mountains of eastern Afghanistan.
The eighth American soldier died when he apparently was shot or fell from a second helicopter that was under fire, Rumsfeld and Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news briefing.
After visiting the school, where he talked up his plans to improve teacher training, Bush was to speak at a fund-raising event to collect about $2 million for his fellow Republicans, including Norm Coleman, who hopes to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone in November's congressional elections. fend Itself 'At Any Price'
WHY on Earth would our Nation be importing Steel????
We have one of the GREATEST Steel-Producing Capacities the World has Ever Seen!
I CANNOT BELIEVE we can import steel cheaper than we can make it! If So, our "Steel Industry" has some Mighty 'splainin' to do!
There is NO Excuse for America importing construction materials!----NONE!
Doc
Utterly destroy the Islamic terrorists and the regimes that support them.
You wouldn't know truth if it crawled up your ass, out your nose and poked you in the eyeball.
Actually the Democrat Party asked that of its adherents to ensure a man who lied, harrassed, and assaulted women remained in. They put party before country, partisanship before patriotism. You simply despise President George W. Bush because he is not like Clinton, like you despised President Ronald Reagan.
Gutless cowards like you will be asked to join the women and children while the rest of us fight the bastards who want to kill us all.
You're really not much of an American.
And what a circuitous route that would be. :^)
Been out of touch since the late 1970s? If you can figure out how to read a book, or look at income statements from the top 10 steel producing corporations for the last 30 years, you will answer your own question.
You need new talking points- tell the DNC to try a better focus group....
Isn't that what Slobodan Milosevic said?
Oh, thats right, Bush said freedom as well. How could I have missed that buzz word?
Glad to hear you enlisted. What branch?
When does boot camp start?
As regards "Manufactured Products," I think we need to "Level the Playing Field!"
We abandon basic Manufacturing at GREAT Cultural Risk!!
America should ALWAYS be "Self-Sufficient!"
Recent History should have Taught us that lesson--MANY TIMES OVER!!
Doc
Alcohol.
The "Financial Managers" of our American Steel Industry seem to have been--congruent with the "Managers" of MUCH of American Industry--,"Penny-Wise, Pound Foolish!"
IMHO, of course!
Doc
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