50-100,000 Romanians Await Speech by Bush

He's sure going to be tired when he gets home. This week he's made almost as many speeches and traveled as much as he did the week before election.

Good thing he's a runner and has boosted his stamina so much.

A useful offset to the decadent northern Europeans.

Secure borders does not imply isolationism - just self respect.

So you presume to make them grow up by spending more money?

IMHO there was no more brutal dictator anywhere than in Roumania......

Yes, but in a different way. If Iraq falls, Iran will fall and it will be just a matter of time for Saudi Arabia and Palestine to follow. It will take money to ensure they don't become lawless and taken back by the terrorists. It took 10 years of the Clinton administration for terrorism to build up around the world, while clinton used foreign policy to make us weaker, while making his socialist/communist freinds stronger. It will take money to undo all the harm he did.

Money well spent!

Rainbows just seem to follow Dubya around. Coincidence? I don't think so.

I wonder if Russia will ever be invited into NATO. Would they accept an invitation? I don't like the idea of Ukraine being asked to join. Kuchma is a despot, and possibly a murderer.

Anyone know whether this is going to be rebroadcast on C-SPAN?

Click on pic to enlarge......

	U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) (L) and Romanian President Ion Iliescu wave to tens of thousands of Romanians gathered in Piata Revolutieu in Bucharest November 23, 2002. Bush today visited Lithuania and Romania to celebrate their induction into NATO (news - web sites). REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - Nov 23 11:40 AM ET

	U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) waves as Romanian President Ion Iliescu applauds after Bush addressed tens of thousands in the Piata Revolutieu in Bucharest, November 23, 2002. Bush today visited Lithuania and Romania to celebrate their induction, along with five other Eastern European nations, into NATO (news - web sites). REUTERS/Larry Downing - Nov 23 11:36 AM ET

	U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and Romanian President Ion Iliescu are reflected in a rain-streaked bullet proof glass in front of tens of thousands of Romanians in the Piata Revolutieu in Bucharest, November 23, 2002. Bush today visited Lithuania and Romania to celebrate their induction this week into NATO (news - web sites). REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - Nov 23 11:26 AM ET

	President Bush (news - web sites) and Romanian President Ion Iliescu address tens of thousands of Romanians in Revolution Square, site of the 1989 revolt that toppled communist rule and the place where late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled by helicopter from an angry mob, in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) - Nov 23 11:25 AM ET

	The crowd cheers as President Bush (news - web sites) and Romanian President Ion Iliescu address tens of thousands of Romanians in Revolution Square, site of the 1989 revolt that toppled communist rule and the place where late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled by helicopter from an angry mob, in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) - Nov 23 11:28 AM ET

	Romanians listen as U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) speaks in the Piata Revolutieu in Bucharest, November 23, 2002. Bush today visited Lithuania and Romania to celebrate their induction along into NATO (news - web sites). REUTERS/Larry Downing - Nov 23 11:25 AM ET

	U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and Romanian President Ion Iliescu are reflected in bulletproof glass as Bush is introduced to address thens of thousands in the Piata Revolutieu in Bucharest November 23, 2002. Bush today visited Lithuania and Romania to celebrate their induction this week into NATO (news - web sites). REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - Nov 23 11:23 AM ET

	In the rain, President Bush (news - web sites) greets some of the tens of thousands of Romanians in Revolution Square, site of the 1989 revolt that toppled communist rule and the place where late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled by helicopter from an angry mob, during his visit to Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) - Nov 23 11:03 AM ET

	Through rain-covered protective glass, President Bush (news - web sites) and Romanian President Ion Iliescu address tens of thousands of Romanians in Revolution Square, site of the 1989 revolt that toppled communist rule and the place where late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled by helicopter from an angry mob, in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) - Nov 23 11:08 AM ET

	From behind protective glass, President Bush (news - web sites) and Romanian President Ion Iliescu greet tens of thousands of Romanians in Revolution Square, site of the 1989 revolt that toppled communist rule and the place where late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled by helicopter from an angry mob, during his visit to Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) - Nov 23 10:56 AM ET

	President Bush (news - web sites) addresses tens of thousands of Romanians in Revolution Square, site of the 1989 revolt that toppled communist rule and the place where late dictator Nicolae Ceausescu fled by helicopter from an angry mob, during his visit to Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) - Nov 23 10:47 AM ET

	President Bush (news - web sites) is welcomed to the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest by Romania's President Ion Iliescu, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002. Barely a decade after winning independence from Moscow, Lithuania and the Baltic nations of Latvia and Estonia joined former communist states Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia as the next wave of NATO (news - web sites) members. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) -

One or more of these rainbow pics absolutely MUST be posted on the FR main page together with some description of the immense crowd of Rumanians waving American flags in the rain greeting our president! Please people, join me in urging the powers that be to post the pics. Arguably the most breathtaking and thrilling stills I've seen posted here. THANKS for sharing them.

FReepers played a substantial role in getting this man elected to office and solidifying his power in the last election. We can be justly proud.

Nice pics dude. Now President Bush should announce that he is pulling all of our troops out of Germany and putting them in Romania. That should be good for a 2% increase in Gerhards unemployment rate.

Colin Powell is there

I assume he is there to recruit as many of the 200,000 Muslims in Romania as he can to come to the US and obtain citizenship.

Photos from the White House web site should be up shortly. They have some talented people, and I hope they caught the rainbow.

White House photos are in the public domain, I believe, and could be used on the main page. Wire photos are copyrighted.

We can post them to the thread but not on the main page? I didn't realize there were copywrite issues. Maybe if they credit the source of the pics ... ? Huge bummer if we can't find a way to use 'em.

Actually, we probably shouldn't post them on the threads either. Threads, however, are ephemeral, while the main page is on public view.

At any rate, that is my thinking. (Disclaimer: I am not an attorney nor do I play one on TV.)

White House - AP

Text of Bush's Speech in Romania

1 hour, 50 minutes ago

Add White House - AP to My Yahoo!

By The Associated Press

President Bush (news - web sites)'s speech to tens of thousands of Romanian citizens in Bucharest on Saturday.

Thank you, all. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for being out here in the rain. Thank you for such a warm welcome.

Laura and I are honored to be in this great country.

(APPLAUSE)

As we started speaking, a rainbow appeared.

(APPLAUSE)

God is smiling on us today.

(APPLAUSE)

I'm proud to stand in this great square and to bring the good wishes of the American people.

(APPLAUSE)

Today we reaffirm the friendship between your country and mine. I'm honored to carry a message to the people of Romania: We proudly invite you to join NATO (news - web sites), the great alliance of freedom.

(APPLAUSE)

All around us are reminders of Romania's history and the culture we share. Close by is a church three centuries old, a symbol of the faith that overcomes all oppression. In this square, we see monuments to Romanian patriots who lost their lives and liberty — for the liberty of your nation.

(APPLAUSE)

And here in December of 1989, you broke the silence of your captivity. From that balcony, the dictator heard your voices and faltered and fled. Two generations of bitter tyranny ended, and all the world witnessed the courage of Romania, the courage that set you free.

(APPLAUSE)

Since those days of liberation, Romania has made an historic journey. Instead of hatred, you have chosen tolerance. Instead of destructive rivalry with your neighbors, you have chosen reconciliation. Instead of state control, you have chosen free markets and rule of law. And instead of dictatorship, you have built a proud and working democracy.

(APPLAUSE)

The path of freedom you have chosen is not easy, but it's the only path worth taking. I know that your hardships did not end with your oppression. America respects your labor, your patience, your daily determination to find a better life. Your effort has been recognized by an offer to NATO membership.

We welcome Romania into NATO.

(APPLAUSE)

NATO's invitation to join is also a vote of confidence that you will continue the hard work of political, economic and military reform. And as you do, you will have partners in all the nations of NATO.

The promises of our alliance are sacred, and we will keep our pledges to all the nations that join us. Should any danger threaten Romania, should any nation threaten Romania, the United States of America and NATO will be by your side.

(APPLAUSE)

As a NATO ally, you can have this confidence: No one will be able to take away the freedom of your country.

(APPLAUSE)

NATO membership will make Romania more secure, and Romania will add to the strength of the NATO alliance as we face unprecedented new dangers. Already our troops are serving side by side in Afghanistan (news - web sites). Already Romania has joined the global coalition against terror. And we thank you very much.

(APPLAUSE)

The world has suffered enough from fanatics who seek to impose their will through fear and murder. The NATO alliance and the civilized world are confronting the new enemies of freedom, and we will prevail.

(APPLAUSE)

Your country also brings moral clarity to our NATO alliance. You value freedom because you have lived without it. You know the difference between good and evil because you have seen evil's face.

The people of Romania understand that aggressive dictators cannot be appeased or ignored. They must always be opposed.

(APPLAUSE)

An aggressive dictator now rules in Iraq. By his search for terrible weapons, by his ties to terror groups, by his development of prohibited ballistic missiles, the dictator of Iraq threatens the security of every free nation, including the free nations of Europe.

The United Nations (news - web sites) Security Council, and now NATO, have spoken with one voice: The Iraqi regime will completely disarm itself of weapons of mass murder or we, the United States, will lead a coalition of willing nations and disarm that regime in the name of peace.

(APPLAUSE)

Every nation must confront danger. Every free nation has a responsibility to play its full and responsible role. And together, Mr. President, we will preserve our freedoms, and we will work together to keep the peace.

(APPLAUSE)

In the peaceful future we are building, Romania will strengthen our alliance in another way, as a bridge to a new Russia. For centuries, Romania's geography was a source of danger. Now, you can help our alliance to extend the hand of cooperation across the Black Sea.

Russia has nothing to fear from the growth of NATO, because Russia needs peaceful, stable neighbors like Romania. As I told President Putin yesterday, a Russia that is a fully part of Europe needs no buffer zone separating it from Europe. America and Romania are friends to the Russian people, and so is the NATO alliance.

(APPLAUSE)

Mr. President, citizens of Romania, Laura and my visit to your beautiful country has been short, but the friendship and soon the alliance between our countries will endure.

(APPLAUSE)

On this historic square, among the monuments to Romania's greatness, there is also a building left in ruins — the former offices of the secret police. It is a fitting reminder of all of the cruelties done there and the justice that rose up against oppression.

That grim monument also recalls the many brave Romanians who did not live to see this day. Our prayers are for them and their families.

(APPLAUSE)

Yet today their hopes are being fulfilled. The nation they love is rising. Romania has won its freedom. Romania is resolute in difficulty and moving toward greater prosperity. And Romania is finding its place in the greatest — history's greatest alliance for freedom.

(APPLAUSE)

I have come to tell you that the world and my country knows the character of the people of this great country. We respect your country. We love the fact that you love freedom.

May God bless you and your families. May God bless Romania.

(APPLAUSE)

And may God bless America.

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you, all.

(APPLAUSE)

END

Source

Thanks for posting the speech transcript. I hope this is re-played later this evening on C-SPAN.