Posted on 09/25/2007 5:39:58 PM PDT by Kaslin
This morning President Bush addressed the United Nations General Assembly
transcript here
Later on the president met with Iraqi Prime Minister Malaki at the Waldorf –Astoria Hotel in New York City
The Waldorf-Astoria
New York, New York
11:33 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, it's good to see you again. We generally meet via TV screens, and now it's good to see you in person. And I appreciate your delegation coming. You brought a very distinguished delegation -- ministers in this government, foreign ministers, the Speaker of the Assembly is with us today -- Mr. Speaker, thank you.
We talked about a lot of issues, and spent time talking about reconciliation and law. And the Prime Minister and the Speaker are dedicated to getting good law out of the assembly. And the political parties in Iraq must understand the importance of getting these laws passed. Some politicians may be trying to block the law to gain special advantage. And these parties have got to understand that it's in the interests of Iraq to get good law passed. And so I want to thank you for you're dedication and your commitment to laws that will help this young democracy reconcile and move forward.
The Prime Minister and I have talked about a variety of concerns. And I assured him we want his security forces well-trained, mobile and capable of handling Iraqi security on their own. I have made it clear to the American people that our troop levels will depend upon success. When General Petraeus reported to the country, you know, I talked about troops coming home based upon success. And success in Iraq is important to the future of our country, it's obviously important to the people of Iraq.
You're sitting in a vital region and when you succeed -- which I'm confident you will -- it'll send a message to other people who believe in peace. It'll make it easier for people to grow up with a hopeful future in the Middle East. When that happens, it makes America more secure. If we were to leave before the job is done, chaos could ensue, innocent people would lose their life, extremists would be emboldened; nations that are worried about the United States would -- about our commitment, would lose their nerve; the countries of the Middle East would be endangered, and that would cause America to be endangered, as well.
And so we're with you, Prime Minister. We thank you for the courage of the Iraqi people. We expect there to be reconciliation and law, just like you expect there to be reconciliation and law. And I appreciate your time today. Appreciate your remarks yesterday; I thought they were strong remarks about a hopeful Iraq. It's good to be with you.
PRIME MINISTER MALIKI: (As translated.) Thank you very much, Mr. President. I am grateful to be here with you. I thank you for the meeting with your distinguished delegation and with my delegation.
During the meeting with the President we have reviewed a number of issues. We have discussed a variety of issues. All of them are common issues that we strongly believe that they represent the mutual goal that we have, the mutual goal of confronting and defeating terrorism, as well as building and continuing to build the Iraqi institutions and the Iraqi government.
The Iraqi side is fully prepared to assume all the responsibilities and to work for a better future for all of Iraq. We have made it very clear and emphasized that the future of Iraq goes through the gates of national reconciliations, of political agreements. That is the way to make the states and that's the way to ensure and assure the future of Iraq.
The task before us is gigantic. We have succeeded in ridding Iraq of the dictatorship and the regime that governed there. Now we have another challenge, which is to get rid of terrorism, terrorist organizations. The road will be long; it requires cooperation and the international community in order to uproot terrorism and secure a better future for everyone.
We believe and we feel that there is a development and progress that's happening every day in our political life, in the way to manage and administer the country in the security situation. Of course, as the President referred, also we have some spending legislations that we will continue to exert every possible efforts to have those spending legislations passed. They've been sent to the Iraqi parliament. But also we continue to work on the basis of the existing law and we continue to work to have those legislations passed.
We also discussed the importance of the region where we live. It is a vital region. It is important for Iraq and the region to be away from conflicts, to have a safer region and a safer Iraq, and to uproot terrorism in that part of the world and in that country. Iraq's security is very important and we have talked about the importance of mutual respect between our two sides and working together for our mutual goals. We have a great deal of confidence that we will be victorious.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Shukran.
END 11:41 A.M. EDT
Statement by the President on 2007 Nation’s Report Card
Earlier today, the 2007 Nation's Report Card, also known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, was released. The news is outstanding. Eighth graders achieved their highest scores ever in math, while fourth graders set records in both reading and math. African-American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs in a number of categories, which represents progress toward closing the achievement gap.
These scores confirm that No Child Left Behind is working and producing positive results for students across the country. Since No Child Left Behind became law in 2002, the states have been setting standards and holding schools accountable for ensuring that every child can read and do math at grade level. We are successfully challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations and continuing to make significant progress in reforming our schools.
As we commemorate the integration 50 years ago of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, we are reminded of the sacrifices students and their families have made in pursuit of a better education. Today's results demonstrate America's progress in making their dreams a reality, but we have more work to do. Now is not the time to turn back the clock on educational accountability and real options for parents, which No Child Left Behind provides.
The successes detailed in the Nation's Report Card highlight the importance of reauthorizing No Child Left Behind. I have proposed a number of ways to improve the law, by increasing flexibility, helping struggling schools, and empowering parents with more choices. I look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers of both parties to strengthen this important law.
This afternoon President Bush participated in Roundtable on Democracy at the United Nations Headquarters
Text
1:34 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. This is a meeting of people who love liberty and who understand that freedom is universal. I appreciate the ability to share thoughts about how to embolden those who seek reform to stand with those who are willing to fight tyranny, and ways for us all to be effective.
As you know, there are people around the world who are desperate to live in free societies. I think, for example, of those in Burma. And it's incumbent upon those of us who live in free societies to help them. I can think of no better way to work toward freedom than to strategize with leaders from around the world who are willing to take the harsh steps necessary to spread liberty.
And so I'm looking forward to our strategy session. I appreciate your time. I want to thank you very much for your interest in this vital subject. Thanks.
END 1:35 P.M. EDT
President Bush also participated in the United Nations Security Council Meeting on Africa at the United Nations Headquarters
You can read the transcripts here
Enoy your visit to Sanity Island
It worked. ;o) Looks like the moderator/s are paying attention tonight.
WASHINGTON - Even Dick Cheney is curious about who runs Washington.
The vice president was spotted Tuesday night with a copy of Washingtonian magazine's October issue featuring the "Power 150," its choices for the capital city's most influential people in business, culture, education and other pursuits. (Sorry, Mr. Vice President, elected officials were excluded. But you do appear in a photo at a Kennedy Center event.)
With his motorcade waiting outside the Borders bookstore at L and 18th streets NW, several people watched through streetside windows as Cheney browsed on the store's ground floor.
He picked up copies of the late David Halberstam's new book, "The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War," and the companion book to Ken Burns' PBS series "The War," according to a person in the store who asked not to be identified.
After waiting in line behind a handful of other shoppers, Cheney paid for his items and left as quietly as he arrived.
Love those pictures of the president with Condi. You can tell
that they are absolutely comfortable with one another.
They are lucky to have one another to work with.
Good bunch of pictures tonight, Kaslin...thanks for Sanity
Island tonight.
You’re welcome
Yeah it did. Thanks for your suggestion
Speaking of the PPS series. I set my TV to record it. But when I tried to watch it the next day all I saw was The McCaucklin Group or something like that
You're quite welcome
I sure am sorry that I had to miss that speech in the General Assembly. It looks like he was very passionate.
Heh, I rounded a corner in a bookstore in McLean VA once, and almost ran into Richard Lugar!
Wonder how long it’ll take someone to try and blow this up super-sized to see what it says.
Wonder how long it’ll take someone to try and blow this up super-sized to see what it says.
Someone on one of the threads about the series mentioned that they’d heard that it was going to be run in its entirety on Sunday on some PBS stations. I guess you could check whichever one is local to you to find out. We actually have four PBS stations in our viewing area!
Thanks for the dose - sorry late to the party today, had a friend round and then had a nap and only just woken up and thought I had better check before I actually turn in for the night.
So sorry about that and pardon my ignorance but what is a Yukon is that type of car?
Maybe he wears the same clothes most of the time he may several suits of the same type and colour.
Probably with his disdain for women her presence did not even register with him even more probably did not realise who she was.
I can understand both sides, one trying to be as normal as possible and also enjoying the wandering around looking at things but also understand that you do not want to go through the hassle and inconvenience both to yourself and others to be able to do this.
Here are both of them in the duty free shop in Shannon Airport when AF2 stopped for refueling during an oversea trip about 18 months ago
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