Posted on 08/06/2008 6:01:56 PM PDT by silent_jonny
On his second day in South Korea, President Bush met with President Lee Myung-Bak (Transcript). The two leaders later participated in a joint press conference at Blue House, the presidential residence in Seoul. (Transcript)
President Lee: Once again, along with the Korean people, let me extend to you, Mr. President, and to your family our warmest welcome from the bottom of our hearts. Also, I look forward to you and Mrs. Bush to come and visit Korea freely when you have more time, Mr. President. I will always be ready to welcome my real friend whenever you come by. I will always be ready with open arms.President Bush: I think you're referring to my retirement. (Laughter.) It's great to be back, and I can't thank you and Mrs. Kim enough for your gracious hospitality.
The President, First Lady Laura Bush and daughter Barbara Bush joined President Lee and his wife for lunch at Blue House.
Afterwards, President Bush visited US troops stationed at the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. (Transcript)
President Bush: I am so honored to be here at "Freedom's Frontier." Thanks for coming out to say hello. I always look forward to the chance to say "Hooah!"Audience: HOOAH!
Mrs. Bush and Barbara toured the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul.
From there the First Family boarded Air Force One and departed for Thailand.
Arriving in Bangkok, President Bush met with Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and held a press conference at the Government House. (Transcript)
Prime Minister Samak: We are pleased to welcome President Bush visit to Thailand on the auspicious occasion of the celebration of 175th anniversary of Thai-U.S. relations.President Bush: Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Sawtdee Khrab. (Laughter.) Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for welcoming Laura and me, and our daughter, Barbara, to your beautiful country. I want to thank you very much for welcoming us on behalf of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen. We appreciate the opportunity to come back, and we honor the friendship that has been in existence for 175 years.
The First Family will stay overnight in Thailand.
A certain congressman has been displaying symptoms of BDS—not to mention his own ignorance--by implying that President Bush's trip to Asia is a vacation.
Dear Congressman,
The President is going to Asia so he can promote individual and religious freedoms--especially those oppressed in China.
He is going so he can meet with US troops stationed overseas and to thank them for their service.
He is going so he can meet with pro-democracy activists from Burma and encourage their fight against tyranny.
He is going so he can put pressure on the Democrat controlled congress to vote on trade legislation for our allies like South Korea.
And he is going so he can support our athletes as they compete in the Olympic games.
Congressman, maybe you need to GROW A PAIR and fight the battle you volunteered to fight instead of whining about the president doing his job.
Grateful I don't live in your district,
Silent_Jonny
.
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island 
President Lee: It's been a little over five months since I became President, but already today's meeting was the third meeting with President Bush. We had a very deep and insightful meeting. President Bush and I reaffirmed once again the importance of our alliance, and we discussed ways on how to strengthen this alliance ...Furthermore, we both agreed that we must work to expand our alliance so that Korea and the U.S. will continue to cooperate in various global issues, such as maintenance of peace, eradicating terrorism, climate change, and non-proliferation. Based on shared values and mutual trust, President Bush and I agreed to continue discussing specific ways to build our alliance into a strategic and future-oriented structure ...
President Bush: It's important for the people of your great country to know how much Americans value our friendship and our relationship, and that we have a very important alliance, and that it is being transformed to make sure that it's modern and effective. It's -- alliances aren't stagnant; they've got to constantly reassess. And that's what we're doing in a way that will not only help defend the freedom here on the Peninsula, Korean Peninsula, but also will help us meet the challenges of a new century.
These two presidents seem to have a good relationship.
President George W. Bush laughs with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during a press availability Wednesday, August 6, 2008, at the Blue House in Seoul. White House photo by Eric Draper
Standing and cheering for you!!! Woo-hoo!!!! Now, I'll go back and look at the pictures. ;-)
First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Barbara accompanied by South Korean first lady Kim Yoon-ok, second from left in front, visit at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008.
First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Barbara accompanied by South Korean first lady Kim Yoon-ok, third from left, visit at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KASLIN, In honor of your birthday FReeRepublic went green tonight - we all chipped in to help that occur. Funny thing that is probably true on this thread!
Thanks :)
First Lady Laura Bush, her daughter Barbara Bush listens to an South Korean tour guide during their visit to the National folk museum on Kyoungbok Palace in Seoul, South Korea, 06 August 2008.
South Korean first lady Kim Yoon-ok, U.S. first lady Laura Bush, and her daughter Barbara take seats as they pose with South Korean children during their visit at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008.
President George W. Bush shakes hands with U.S. Army Cpl. Victor Berlus before delivering his remarks to the U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Wednesday, August 6, 2008, in Seoul, South Korea. White House photo by Eric Draper
President Bush: Thank you all. Berlus -- how about the Corporal? What a silver-tongued devil. (Applause.) Thank you, Corporal Berlus. Thanks for the kind introduction. I'm feeling pretty spiffy in my new jacket. (Applause.) Feeling pretty warm in it, too. (Laughter.)
Barbara looks cute. Love her dress.
Thank you. :)
President Bush: I am so honored to be here at "Freedom's Frontier." Thanks for coming out to say hello. I always look forward to the chance to say "Hooah!"Audience: HOOAH!
President Bush: Sure! No better place to do it than right here with U.S. Forces Korea. I thank the units here from the 8th Army Pacific Victors --
Audience: HOOAH!
President Bush: -- members of the 7th Air Force --
Audience: HOOAH!
President Bush: -- U.S. Navy Forces Korea --
Audience: HOOAH!
President Bush: -- Marine Forces Korea --
Audience: HOOAH!
President Bush: -- and members of the Special Operations Command.
Audience: HOOAH!
President Bush: I appreciate the fact that you're carrying our flag with such honor in this vital part of the world. The American people are grateful for your service, and so is your Commander-in-Chief. Thank you.
Audience: HOOAH! (Applause)
President Bush: We're at war. Oh, I know some in the United States say that we're not at war; they say it's a simple law enforcement matter. Well, in law enforcement you respond after the crime. Hopefully the September the 11th, 2001 lesson will teach us all that it's important to prevent the crime from happening in the first place; that we have a duty -- (applause.) And that's why it's important to use all assets of national power to keep the pressure on the enemy, to do our solemn duty to protect the American people from further harm.But in the long run, I want you to remember that in this ideological struggle, the best way to yield the peace for our children and our grandchildren is to understand the transformative power of freedom. I brought a set of principles to the Oval Office, principles I will not compromise from. And one such principle is I do believe there's an Almighty, and a gift of that Almighty to every man, woman, and child on the face of the Earth is freedom. (Applause.)
Thank you!! I was a little angry, lol :)
You share a birthday with: Robert Mitchum, Lucille Ball, Andy Warhohl and JonBenet Ramsey.
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