Posted on 01/29/2003 2:32:13 PM PST by knighthawk
"The qualities of courage and compassion that we strive for in America also determine our conduct abroad. The American flag stands for more than our power and our interests. Our Founders dedicated this country to the cause of human dignity -- the rights of every person and the possibilities of every life. This conviction leads us into the world to help the afflicted, and defend the peace, and confound the designs of evil men." -- U.S. President George W. Bush, Jan. 28, 2003.
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When it comes to true leadership, Canadians sometimes have a hard time recognizing it when they see it -- particularly if it appears in a room adorned with the Stars and Stripes. But George W. Bush's State of the Union address is a perfect opportunity to put aside the jealousies and suspicions too many Canadians harbour toward the United States, and appreciate the outstanding brand of leadership the U.S. President has exhibited since taking office and, in particular, since the attacks of 9/11.
The fact is that, insofar as the war against terrorism and militant Islam goes, Mr. Bush and his administration are just about single-handedly facing off against a Western polity packed with naysayers, Euro-pacifists, appeasers, and multilateral dogmatists. Against the best advice of Paris, Berlin and Ottawa, he has consistently committed himself to uphold the principles of democracy and freedom, to preserve and protect those freedoms; and in the face of severe diplomatic pressures and terrorist threats, he has not wavered from that resolve.
No doubt, Canada's faux-sophisticates tittered at Mr. Bush's invocation of such phrases as "evil men" in his comments last night. It was just one year ago, during his last State of the Union speech, that President Bush identified North Korea, Iran and Iraq as an "axis of evil." At the time, critics laughed off this formulation, too, as a throwback to the 1980s when the Soviet Union was characterized by then president Ronald Reagan as an evil empire. Along with the alliterative similarities, the true connection between these two catchphrases is that both define a specific problem that their speakers meant to actually solve. For President Reagan, that meant fighting and defeating the Soviet Union and its communist satellites. For President Bush, it means leading the global community against terrorist groups and the rogue states that sponsor them. As he declared last year, "I will not wait on events, while dangers gather. I will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer. The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."
It is this kind of leadership and resolve that resulted in the routing of al-Qaeda from Afghanistan and that animates the ongoing war on terror. In hindsight, it may seem as if the decision to deploy thousands of troops to Afghanistan to face off against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban was an easy one. But remember that within as well as outside the United States, many people were skeptical of the efficacy and ultimate success of the mission. The Russians were whining that conquering Afghanistan was impossible. The continental Europeans, true to historical form, complained that going after Osama with a show of force might only bring violent reprisals to the West. (Though, currently, it is mainly Israelis who are paying that price.) Meanwhile, U.S. critics of the President's plan were moaning that it was going to be Vietnam all over again, with The New York Times repeating this mantra on the newspaper's front page just days before Kabul fell to the coalition.
Over the course of his presidency, Mr. Bush has faced challenges and situations he wouldn't have predicted back in 2000, even as a worst-case scenario. But he rose to the challenge in Afghanistan and he will do the same in Iraq. Like Mr. Reagan, Mr. Bush is a man who truly believes that something called evil exists in this world, and needs to be fought. That may make many Canadians titter. But for most of us, it is nothing less than the essence of true leadership.
So I call upon the world to come together and insist that this dangerous man disarm. But should they choose not to continue to pressure Saddam, and should he continue to defy the world, for the sake of our peace, for the sake of the security, this country will lead a coalition of other willing nations and we will disarm Saddam Hussein. If need be, if war is brought upon us like I said last night, I want to assure you, particularly those who wear the uniform and those who have a loved one in the military, we will commit the full force and might of the United States military. And for the name of peace, we will prevail. (Applause.)
We will free people. This great, powerful nation is motivated not by power for power's sake, but because of our values. If everybody matters, if every life counts, then we should hope everybody has the great God's gift of freedom. We go into Iraq to disarm the country. We will also go in to make sure that those who are hungry are fed, those who need health care will have health care, those youngsters who need education will get education. But most of all, we will uphold our values. And the biggest value we hold dear is the value of freedom. (Applause.) As I said last night, freedom and liberty, they are not America's gifts to the world. They are God's gift to humanity. We hold that thought dear to our hearts.
This is a great nation. America is a strong nation. America is a nation full of people who are compassionate. America is a nation that is willing to serve causes greater than ourselves. There's no question we face challenges ahead of us -- challenges at home, challenges abroad. But as I said last night, history has called the right nation into action. History has called the United States into action, and we will not let history down.
No doubt, Canada's faux-sophisticates tittered at Mr. Bush's invocation of such phrases as "evil men" in his comments last night. It was just one year ago, during his last State of the Union speech, that President Bush identified North Korea, Iran and Iraq as an "axis of evil."
Over the course of his presidency, Mr. Bush has faced challenges and situations he wouldn't have predicted back in 2000, even as a worst-case scenario. But he rose to the challenge in Afghanistan and he will do the same in Iraq. Like Mr. Reagan, Mr. Bush is a man who truly believes that something called evil exists in this world, and needs to be fought. That may make many Canadians titter. But for most of us, it is nothing less than the essence of true leadership.
GEORGE W. BUSH IS A COWBOY -- THANK GOD!
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It doesn't get any better than that.
Michael
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I don't know who originated that line but I did see where W brought Karen Hughes up from Texas specifically to help write that speech.
I can still hear it in the back of my head - gives me the willies.
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