[silent_jonny]

Quote of the Day:

President Bush: The advance of liberty has never been easy, and Iraq is proving how tough it can be. Yet, the safety and security of our citizens requires that we do not let up. We can be smarter about how we deploy our manpower and resources; we can ask more of our Iraqi partners, and we will -- one thing we cannot do is give up on the hundreds of millions of ordinary moms and dads across the Middle East who want the hope and opportunity for their children that the terrorists and extremists seek to deny them, and that's a peaceful existence.

Photo of the Day:

President George W. Bush gestures as addresses reporters during his news conference Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, in the Indian Treaty Room at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., speaking on the challenges in Iraq and working with the new Congress in 2007.

[silent_jonny]

Dose Ping!

Please wait for the "All Clear" before posting or reposting pictures and graphics.

[silent_jonny]

There are many photos today and I still haven't sorted through all of them, so please be patient :)

[ilovew]

Thanks, jonny! :)

[snugs]

Hello Jonny thanks for the dose

[silent_jonny]

President Bush arrives for a news conference at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, December 20, 2006.

President George W. Bush addresses reporters during his news conference Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, in the Indian Treaty Room at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. White House

[silent_jonny]

President Bush speaks during a news conference in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006.

President Bush: This war on terror is the calling of a new generation; it is the calling of our generation. Success is essential to securing a future of peace for our children and grandchildren. And securing this peace for the future is going to require a sustained commitment from the American people and our military.

We have an obligation to ensure our military is capable of sustaining this war over the long haul, and in performing the many tasks that we ask of them. I'm inclined to believe that we need to increase in the permanent size of both the United States Army and the United States Marines. I've asked Secretary Gates to determine how such an increase could take place and report back to me as quickly as possible.

[kitkat]

HI, Jonny and ALL:

Could someone please arrange to change the date of Christmas until a week later than planned? I am NEVER going to get everything done by next Monday.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush addresses reporters during his news conference Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, in the Indian Treaty Room at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C.

[silent_jonny]

President Bush speaks during a news conference in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006.

President Bush: Two thousand and six was a difficult year for our troops and the Iraqi people. We began the year with optimism after watching nearly 12 million Iraqis go to the polls to vote for a unity government and a free future. The enemies of liberty responded fiercely to this advance of freedom. They carried out a deliberate strategy to foment sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shia. And over the course of the year, they had success …

We enter this new year clear-eyed about the challenges in Iraq, and equally clear about our purpose...

… We'll never lose sight that on the receiving end of the decisions I make is a private, a sergeant, a young lieutenant or a diplomat who risks his or her life to help the Iraqis realize a dream of a stable country that can defend, govern and sustain itself.

[silent_jonny]

Taking questions from the press

Q Thank you, Mr. President. If you conclude that a surge in troop levels in Iraq is needed, would you overrule your military commanders if they felt it was not a good idea?

President Bush: That's a dangerous hypothetical question. I'm not condemning you, you're allowed to ask anything you want. Let me wait and gather all the recommendations from Bob Gates, from our military, from diplomats on the ground; I'm interested in the Iraqis' point of view; and then I'll report back to you as to whether or not I support a surge or not. Nice try.

[silent_jonny]

[silent_jonny]

President Bush speaks during a news conference in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006.

President Bush: The most painful aspect of my presidency has been knowing that good men and women have died in combat. I read about it every night. My heart breaks for a mother or father, or husband or wife, or son and daughter; it just does. And so when you ask about pain, that's pain. I reach out to a lot of the families, I spend time with them. I am always inspired by their spirit. Most people have asked me to do one thing, and that is to make sure that their child didn't die in vain -- and I agree with that -- that the sacrifice has been worth it.

We'll accomplish our objective; we've got to constantly adjust our tactics to do so. We've got to insist that the Iraqis take more responsibility more quickly in order to do so.

But I -- look, my heart breaks for them, it just does, on a regular basis.

[silent_jonny]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrives in Baghdad on an unannounced visit, December 20, 2006.

Gates greets General John Abizaid, commander of US Central Command, upon arriving in Baghdad, December 20, 2006. General Peter Pace is seen far left.

Shaking hands with General George Casey, commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq.

[silent_jonny]

Walking and talking with General Abizaid

With General George Casey.

With Army Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr., commander of the 1st Cavalry Division. At center is Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the Number two general in Iraq.

[silent_jonny]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates greets members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division, as they were preparing to go out on a mission, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006 in Baghdad.

[silent_jonny]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, followed by General Peter Pace, leaves the hotel at the Joint Visitors Bureau at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, heading to meetings with senior military leaders at the Al Faw Palace.

[silent_jonny]

Secretary Robert Gates conducts a news conference in Baghdad as Generals George Casey(L), Peter Pace and John Abizaid look on. Dec. 20, 2006.

General Casey at left.

General Pace at right.

[silent_jonny]

Back in Washington

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with U.S. special envoy to Sudan and Darfur Andrew Natsios at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush signs H.R. 6407, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., joined by, from left to right, Postmaster General Jack Potter, Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware, James C. Miller III, Chairman fof the Postal Service Board of Governors; Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Rep. Danny Davis of Illinois and Rep. John McHugh of New York.