"Terrific thread, Mia!""Terrific thread, Mia!"In his closing statement last night, President Bush spoke about the path forward to victory and security in the war on terror. Here is what he said:
"Thank you very much, tonight, Jim. Thank you, Senator.
"If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. That's not going to happen so long as I'm your President. The next four years, we will continue to strengthen our homeland defenses. We will strengthen our intelligence-gathering services. We will reform our military. The military will be all-volunteer army. We will continue to stay on the offense. We will fight the terrorists around the world so we do not have to face them here at home.
"We'll continue to build our alliances. I'll never turn over America's national security needs to leaders of other countries as we continue to build those alliances. And we'll continue to spread freedom. I believe in the transformational power of liberty, I believe that a free Iraq is in this nation's interest. I believe a free Afghanistan is in this nation's interest. I believe both a free Afghanistan and a free Iraq will serve as a powerful example for millions who plead in silence for liberty in the broader Middle East.
"We've done a lot of hard work together over the last three-and-a-half years. We've been challenged, and we've risen to those challenges. We've climbed the mighty mountain. I see the valley below and it's a valley of peace. By being steadfast and resolute and strong, by keeping our word, by supporting our troops, we can achieve the peace we all want.
"I appreciate your listening tonight. I ask for your vote. And may God continue to bless our great land."
And God bless our wonderful President, George W. Bush!