Ellington

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please be seated. Good evening. I'm pleased to visit Fort Bragg, "Home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces." It's an honor to speak before you tonight. My greatest responsibility as President is to protect the American people. And that's your calling, as well. I thank you for your service, your courage and your sacrifice. I thank your families, who support you in your vital work.

The soldiers and families of Fort Bragg have contributed mightily to our efforts to secure our country and promote peace. America is grateful, and so is your Commander-in-Chief. The troops here and across the world are fighting a global war on terror. The war reached our shores on September the 11th, 2001.

The terrorists who attacked us -- and the terrorists we face -- murder in the name of a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent. Their aim is to remake the Middle East in their own grim image of tyranny and oppression -- by toppling governments, by driving us out of the region, and by exporting terror. To achieve these aims, they have continued to kill -- in Madrid, Istanbul, Jakarta, Casablanca, Riyadh,Bali, and elsewhere. The terrorists believe that free societies are essentially corrupt and decadent, and with a few hard blows they can force us to retreat. They are mistaken. After September the 11th, I made a commitment to the American people: This nation will not wait to be attacked again. We will defend our freedom. We will take the fight to the enemy. Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war. Many terrorists who kill innocent men, women, and children on the streets of Baghdad are followers of the same murderous ideology that took the lives of our citizens in New York, inWashington, and Pennsylvania. There is only one course of action against them: to defeat them abroad before they attack us at home. The commander in charge of coalition operations in Iraq -- who is also senior commander at this base -- General John Vines, put it well the other day. He said: "We either deal with terrorism and this extremism abroad, or we deal with it when it comes to us." Our mission in Iraq is clear. We're hunting down the terrorists. We're helping Iraqis build a free nation that is an ally in the war on terror. We're advancing freedom in the broader Middle East. We are removing a source of violence and instability, and laying the foundation of peace for our children and our grandchildren.

The work in Iraq is difficult and it is dangerous. Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed. Every picture is horrifying, and the suffering is real. Amid all this violence, I know Americans ask the question: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it, and it is vital to the future security of our country. And tonight I will explain the reasons why. Some of the violence you see inIraq is being carried out by ruthless killers who are converging on Iraq to fight the advance of peace and freedom. Our military reports that we have killed or captured hundreds of foreign fighters in Iraq who have come from Saudi Arabia and Syria, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and others. They are making common cause with criminal elements, Iraqi insurgents, and remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime who want to restore the old order. They fight because they know that the survival of their hateful ideology is at stake. They know that as freedom takes root in Iraq, it will inspire millions across the Middle East to claim their liberty, as well. And when the Middle East grows in democracy and prosperity and hope, the terrorists will lose their sponsors, lose their recruits, and lose their hopes for turning that region into a base for attacks on America and our allies around the world. Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Hear the words of Osama Bin Laden: "This Third World War is raging" in Iraq. "The whole world is watching this war." He says it will end in "victory and glory, or misery and humiliation."

The terrorists know that the outcome will leave them emboldened, or defeated. So they are waging a campaign of murder and destruction. And there is no limit to the innocent lives they are willing to take. We see the nature of the enemy in terrorists who exploded car bombs along a busy shopping street in Baghdad, including one outside a mosque. We see the nature of the enemy in terrorists who sent a suicide bomber to a teaching hospital in Mosul. We see the nature of the enemy in terrorists who behead civilian hostages and broadcast their atrocities for the world to see. These are savage acts of violence, but they have not brought the terrorists any closer to achieving their strategic objectives. The terrorists -- both foreign and Iraqi -- failed to stop the transfer of sovereignty. They failed to break our Coalition and force a mass withdrawal by our allies. They failed to incite an Iraqi civil war. They failed to prevent free elections. They failed to stop the formation of a democratic Iraqi government that represents all of Iraq's diverse population. And they failed to stop Iraqis from signing up in large number with the police forces and the army to defend their new democracy. The lesson of this experience is clear: The terrorists can kill the innocent, but they cannot stop the advance of freedom.

The only way our enemies can succeed is if we forget the lessons of September the 11th, if we abandon the Iraqi people to men like Zarqawi, and if we yield the future of the Middle East to men like Bin Laden. For the sake of our nation's security, this will not happen on my watch. A little over a year ago, I spoke to the nation and described our coalition's goals in Iraq. I said that America's mission in Iraq is to defeat an enemy and give strength to a friend -- a free, representative government that is an ally in the war on terror, and a beacon of hope in a part of the world that is desperate for reform. I outlined the steps we would take to achieve this goal: We would hand authority over to a sovereign Iraqi government. We would help Iraqis hold free elections by January 2005. We would continue helping Iraqis rebuild their nation's infrastructure and economy. We would encourage more international support for Iraq's democratic transition, and we would enable Iraqis to take increasing responsibility for their own security and stability. In the past year, we have made significant progress.

One year ago today, we restored sovereignty to the Iraqi people. In January 2005, more than 8 million Iraqi men and women voted in elections that were free and fair, and took time on -- and took place on time. We continued our efforts to help them rebuild their country. Rebuilding a country after three decades of tyranny is hard, and rebuilding while at war is even harder. Our progress has been uneven, but progress is being made. We're improving roads and schools and health clinics. We're working to improve basic services like sanitation, electricity, and water. And together with our allies, we'll help the new Iraqi government deliver a better life for its citizens. In the past year, the international community has stepped forward with vital assistance. Some 30 nations have troops in Iraq, and many others are contributing non-military assistance. The United Nations is in Iraq to help Iraqis write a constitution and conduct their next elections. Thus far, some 40 countries and three international organizations have pledged about $34 billion in assistance for Iraqi reconstruction.

More than 80 countries and international organizations recently came together in Brussels to coordinate their efforts to help Iraqis provide for their security and rebuild their country. And next month, donor countries will meet in Jordan to support Iraqi reconstruction. Whatever our differences in the past, the world understands that success in Iraq is critical to the security of our nations. As German Chancellor Gerhard Schr der said at the White House yesterday, "There can be no question a stable and democratic Iraq is in the vested interest of not just Germany, but also Europe."

Finally, we have continued our efforts to equip and train Iraqi security forces. We made gains in both the number and quality of those forces. Today Iraq has more than 160,000 security forces trained and equipped for a variety of missions. Iraqi forces have fought bravely, helping to capture terrorists and insurgents in Najaf and Samarra, Fallujah and Mosul. And in the past month, Iraqi forces have led a major anti-terrorist campaign in Baghdad called Operation Lightning, which has led to the capture of hundreds of suspected insurgents. Like free people everywhere, Iraqis want to be defended by their own countrymen, and we are helping Iraqis assume those duties. The progress in the past year has been significant, and we have a clear path forward. To complete the mission, we will continue to hunt down the terrorists and insurgents. To complete the mission, we will prevent al Qaeda and other foreign terrorists from turning Iraq into what Afghanistan was under the Taliban, a safe haven from which they could launch attacks on America and our friends. And the best way to complete the mission is to help Iraqis build a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself. So our strategy going forward has both a military track and a political track.

The principal task of our military is to find and defeat the terrorists, and that is why we are on the offense. And as we pursue the terrorists, our military is helping to train Iraqi security forces so that they can defend their people and fight the enemy on their own. Our strategy can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. We've made progress, but we have a lot of -- a lot more work to do. Today Iraqi security forces are at different levels of readiness. Some are capable of taking on the terrorists and insurgents by themselves. A large number can plan and execute anti-terrorist operations with coalition support. The rest are forming and not yet ready to participate fully in security operations. Our task is to make the Iraqi units fully capable and independent. We're building up Iraqi security forces as quickly as possible, so they can assume the lead in defeating the terrorists and insurgents.

Our coalition is devoting considerable resources and manpower to this critical task. Thousands of coalition troops are involved in the training and equipping of Iraqi security forces. NATO is establishing a military academy near Baghdad to train the next generation of Iraqi military leaders, and 17 nations are contributing troops to the NATO training mission. Iraqi army and police are being trained by personnel from Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, Poland,Romania, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Today, dozens of nations are working toward a common objective: an Iraq that can defend itself, defeat its enemies, and secure its freedom. To further prepare Iraqi forces to fight the enemy on their own, we are taking three new steps: First, we are partnering coalition units with Iraqi units. These coalition-Iraqi teams are conducting operations together in the field. These combined operations are giving Iraqis a chance to experience how the most professional armed forces in the world operate in combat.

Second, we are embedding coalition "transition teams" inside Iraqi units. These teams are made up of coalition officers and non-commissioned officers who live, work, and fight together with their Iraqi comrades. Under U.S.command, they are providing battlefield advice and assistance to Iraqi forces during combat operations. Between battles, they are assisting the Iraqis with important skills, such as urban combat, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance techniques.

Third, we're working with the Iraqi Ministries of Interior and Defense to improve their capabilities to coordinate anti-terrorist operations. We're helping them develop command and control structures. We're also providing them with civilian and military leadership training, so Iraq's new leaders can effectively manage their forces in the fight against terror. The new Iraqi security forces are proving their courage every day. More than 2,000 members of Iraqi security forces have given their lives in the line of duty. Thousands more have stepped forward, and are now training to serve their nation. With each engagement, Iraqi soldiers grow more battle-hardened, and their officers grow more experienced. We've learned that Iraqis are courageous and that they need additional skills. And that is why a major part of our mission is to train them so they can do the fighting, and then our troops can come home.

I recognize that Americans want our troops to come home as quickly as possible. So do I. Some contend that we should set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces. Let me explain why that would be a serious mistake. Setting an artificial timetable would send the wrong message to the Iraqis, who need to know that America will not leave before the job is done. It would send the wrong message to our troops, who need to know that we are serious about completing the mission they are risking their lives to achieve. And it would send the wrong message to the enemy, who would know that all they have to do is to wait us out. We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed, and not a day longer.

Some Americans ask me, if completing the mission is so important, why don't you send more troops? If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job. Sending more Americans would undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead in this fight. And sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever, when we are, in fact, working for the day when Iraq can defend itself and we can leave. As we determine the right force level, our troops can know that I will continue to be guided by the advice that matters: the sober judgment of our military leaders. The other critical element of our strategy is to help ensure that the hopes Iraqis expressed at the polls in January are translated into a secure democracy. The Iraqi people are emerging from decades of tyranny and oppression. Under the regime of Saddam Hussein, the Shia and Kurds were brutally oppressed, and the vast majority of Sunni Arabs were also denied their basic rights, while senior regime officials enjoyed the privileges of unchecked power.

The challenge facing Iraqis today is to put this past behind them, and come together to build a new Iraq that includes all of its people. They're doing that by building the institutions of a free society, a society based on freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and equal justice under law. The Iraqis have held free elections and established a Transitional National Assembly. The next step is to write a good constitution that enshrines these freedoms in permanent law. The Assembly plans to expand its constitutional drafting committee to include more Sunni Arabs. Many Sunnis who opposed the January elections are now taking part in the democratic process, and that is essential to Iraq's future.

After a constitution is written, the Iraqi people will have a chance to vote on it. If approved, Iraqis will go to the polls again, to elect a new government under their new, permanent constitution. By taking these critical steps and meeting their deadlines, Iraqis will bind their multiethnic society together in a democracy that respects the will of the majority and protects minority rights. As Iraqis grow confident that the democratic progress they are making is real and permanent, more will join the political process. And as Iraqis see that their military can protect them, more will step forward with vital intelligence to help defeat the enemies of a free Iraq. The combination of political and military reform will lay a solid foundation for a free and stable Iraq. As Iraqis make progress toward a free society, the effects are being felt beyond Iraq's borders. Before our coalition liberated Iraq, Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. Today the leader of Libya has given up his chemical and nuclear weapons programs.

Across the broader Middle East, people are claiming their freedom. In the last few months, we've witnessed elections in the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon. These elections are inspiring democratic reformers in places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Our strategy to defend ourselves and spread freedom is working. The rise of freedom in this vital region will eliminate the conditions that feed radicalism and ideologies of murder, and make our nation safer. We have more work to do, and there will be tough moments that test America's resolve. We're fighting against men with blind hatred -- and armed with lethal weapons -- who are capable of any atrocity. They wear no uniform; they respect no laws of warfare or morality. They take innocent lives to create chaos for the cameras. They are trying to shake our will in Iraq, just as they tried to shake our will on September the 11th, 2001. They will fail. The terrorists do not understand America. The American people do not falter under threat, and we will not allow our future to be determined by car bombers and assassins. America and our friends are in a conflict that demands much of us. It demands the courage of our fighting men and women, it demands the steadfastness of our allies, and it demands the perseverance of our citizens. We accept these burdens, because we know what is at stake. We fight today because Iraq now carries the hope of freedom in a vital region of the world, and the rise of democracy will be the ultimate triumph over radicalism and terror. And we fight today because terrorists want to attack our country and kill our citizens, and Iraq is where they are making their stand. So we'll fight them there, we'll fight them across the world, and we will stay in the fight until the fight is won. (Applause.)

America has done difficult work before. From our desperate fight for independence to the darkest days of a Civil War, to the hard-fought battles against tyranny in the 20th century, there were many chances to lose our heart, our nerve, or our way. But Americans have always held firm, because we have always believed in certain truths. We know that if evil is not confronted, it gains in strength and audacity, and returns to strike us again. We know that when the work is hard, the proper response is not retreat, it is courage. And we know that this great ideal of human freedom entrusted to us in a special way, and that the ideal of liberty is worth defending. In this time of testing, our troops can know: The American people are behind you. Next week, our nation has an opportunity to make sure that support is felt by every soldier, sailor, airman, Coast Guardsman, and Marine at every outpost across the world.

This Fourth of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom -- by flying the flag, sending a letter to our troops in the field, or helping the military family down the street. The Department of Defense has set up a website -- AmericaSupportsYou.mil. You can go there to learn about private efforts in your own community. At this time when we celebrate our freedom, let us stand with the men and women who defend us all. To the soldiers in this hall, and our servicemen and women across the globe: I thank you for your courage under fire and your service to our nation. I thank our military families -- the burden of war falls especially hard on you. In this war, we have lost good men and women who left our shores to defend freedom and did not live to make the journey home. I've met with families grieving the loss of loved ones who were taken from us too soon. I've been inspired by their strength in the face of such great loss. We pray for the families. And the best way to honor the lives that have been given in this struggle is to complete the mission. I thank those of you who have re-enlisted in an hour when your country needs you. And to those watching tonight who are considering a military career, there is no higher calling than service in our Armed Forces. We live in freedom because every generation has produced patriots willing to serve a cause greater than themselves. Those who serve today are taking their rightful place among the greatest generations that have worn our nation's uniform. When the history of this period is written, the liberation of Afghanistan and the liberation of Iraq will be remembered as great turning points in the story of freedom. After September the 11th, 2001, I told the American people that the road ahead would be difficult, and that we would prevail. Well, it has been difficult -- and we are prevailing. Our enemies are brutal, but they are no match for the United States of America, and they are no match for the men and women of the United States military. May God bless you all. (Applause.) END 8:30 P.M. EDT

Previous Comments

ID

87337

Comment

I'm usually able to sit through Bush's speeches and am usually intrigued enough to sit through the entire thing. I usually laugh a little... Growl a little... Grind my jaw a little... But, this speech made me violently ill. I couldn't tolerate it. I had to quit about 3/4 of the way through. I just don't get it! I'm all about finishing up this mess we started. We must.. I support our troops. Hell, I'm eager to see a "free" Iraq... But, why the hell can't our president admit he !$@# UP? Why can't he say, "I made a boo boo and I apologize to all the families with dead or wounded relatives but we must finish this because backing out will only create more enemies"? Why is it so hard (or easy, you make the call) to avoid that apology? Can he not admit he @!#$ up? Do Rove and BushCo think the American public are not worth the admission of guilt? Bush spent minute upon minute justifying why we are there... He tried tying it to 9/11 repeatedly (pull those heartstrings Dubya!)... He tried convincing everyone that Iraq was the mistress of all terrorists and the aorta of all terrorism. Still, he never took a handful of seconds to admit he LIED to us about the situation and conditions. He never apologized for killing innocents in his oil-thirsty, blood drenched crusade of, er, freedom. What will it take for America to get a straight answer from this man and his heretical cronies? He looks worse than Clinton did in his darkest moments and the sheep keep on sucking it up and drinking from the same bad water. Why is no one seriously demanding impeachment of this mockery of a president?

Author

kaust

Date

2005-06-29T12:31:45-06:00

ID

87338

Comment

Because this administration has punched us in the gut so hard, we have no wind left, no fighting spirit left....no voice of the people left in our government. sad... "Give us your poor, your downtrodden...." ...yeah, right.

Author

Steph

Date

2005-06-29T12:56:31-06:00

ID

87339

Comment

If you all are ready, let's begin. "The war reached our shores on September the 11th, 2001." That's right folks. We're going to milk September 11th early, and often. "The terrorists who attacked us -- and the terrorists we face -- murder in the name of a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent." Remember those "Free Speech Zones" from during the last presidential race? You know, if you wanted to protest during a presidential appearance you had to go to a "Free Speech Zone" about a mile from where the president was and demonstrate there. After all, the audiences for presidential appearances (his "Town Hall Meetings" most notably) are hand picked by the White House to weed out trouble makers (anyone with an opinion contrary to Bush doctrine). Remember a few weeks ago when Sensenbrenner violated House committee rules by ending debate on the Patriot Act? One should be careful when calling out others for despising dissent. "After September the 11th, I made a commitment to the American people: This nation will not wait to be attacked again. We will defend our freedom. We will take the fight to the enemy. Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war." Oh yeah, September 11th, y'all. This is another of several implications that BushCo is still pressing the issue that Iraq had something, anything to do with 9/11. "The only way our enemies can succeed is if we forget the lessons of September the 11th, if we abandon the Iraqi people to men like Zarqawi, and if we yield the future of the Middle East to men like Bin Laden. For the sake of our nation's security, this will not happen on my watch." 9/11 y'all. Oh, and "Not on my watch"? I know he di'nt. "Q: Mr. President, in your speeches now, you rarely talk or mention Osama bin Laden. Why is that? [...] BUSH: ... I don't know where he is. Nor -- you know, I just don't spend that much time on him really, to be honest with you [...] Q: Do you believe the threat that bin Laden posed won't truly be eliminated until he is found either dead of alive? BUSH: As I say, we hadn't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, you know, again, I don't know where he is. I'll repeat what I said: I truly am not that concerned about him." March 13, 2002 "I said that America's mission in Iraq is to defeat an enemy and give strength to a friend." Wait, I thought you said that the mission in Iraq was to get rid of the Weapons of Mass Destruction. But then it was because Saddam was a bad, bad man. But then it was because the Iraqi were hungry for freedom. The reasons for the invasion and occupation have been revised so many times, one just looses track...

Author

Count No Account

Date

2005-06-29T13:18:07-06:00

ID

87340

Comment

I listened to part of it (that is, what I was able to stomach), and the only thing he said that we haven't heard already was about the military website. No matter what he is asked, he always regurgitates the same garbage. I'm sick of him repeating himself. As far as Clinton, goes, at least he apologized for lying, and what he did affected his family, not people worldwide.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-06-29T13:21:16-06:00

ID

87341

Comment

"Rebuilding a country after three decades of tyranny is hard, and rebuilding while at war is even harder. Our progress has been uneven, but progress is being made." Daily attacks are on the rise. The number of attacks per day has risen from 10 in May 2003 to 52 in June 2004 to 70 last month Brookings Institute. Car bombs are on the rise. ì[T]here have been more than 484 car bombs since the handover, according to an Associated Press count, killing at least 2,221 people and wounding at least 5,574.îAP Gen. John Abizaid said insurgency is just as strong as six months ago. ìIn terms of comparison from six months ago, in terms of foreign fighters, I believe there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago. In terms of overall strength of the insurgency, I would say it is the same as it was.î CNN "Living and working in Iraq, it's hard not to succumb to despair. At last count America has pumped at least $7 billion into reconstruction projects, with little to show for it but the hostility of ordinary Iraqis, who still have an 18 percent unemployment rate. Most of the cash goes to U.S. contractors who spend much of it on personal security. Basic services like electricity, water and sewers still aren't up to prewar levels. Electricity is especially vital in a country where summer temperatures commonly reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Yet only 15 percent of Iraqis have reliable electrical service. In the capital, where it counts most, it's only 4 percent." MSNBC.

Author

Count No Account

Date

2005-06-29T13:29:57-06:00

ID

87342

Comment

Hey, Count: I thought the Q & A quote was just some form of satire until I saw the link. Somebody get a muzzle...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-06-29T13:31:03-06:00

ID

87343

Comment

"Finally, we have continued our efforts to equip and train Iraqi security forces. We made gains in both the number and quality of those forces." ìOnly three battalions are rated fully operational by the Americans, and many others are far behind in terms of manpower, training and equipment.î New York Times "Some contend that we should set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces. Let me explain why that would be a serious mistake. Setting an artificial timetable would send the wrong message to the Iraqis, who need to know that America will not leave before the job is done. It would send the wrong message to our troops, who need to know that we are serious about completing the mission they are risking their lives to achieve. And it would send the wrong message to the enemy, who would know that all they have to do is to wait us out. We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed, and not a day longer." Wow. When he wasn't president, he was all for exit strategies: "ìVictory means exit strategy, and itís important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.î 4/9/99 "ìI think itís also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.î 6/5/99 "If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job." Really? Washington Post " They are trying to shake our will in Iraq, just as they tried to shake our will on September the 11th, 2001." Oh yeah. September 11th, y'all. "This Fourth of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom" ìThe Bush administration, already accused by veterans groups of seeking inadequate funds for health care next year, acknowledged yesterday that it is short $1 billion for covering current needs at the Department of Veterans Affairs this year.î WaPo "Across the broader Middle East, people are claiming their freedom." As fighting between the Israelis and Hezbollah ramps up, again.Today "After September the 11th, 2001, I told the American people that the road ahead would be difficult, and that we would prevail." The fact remains that a bipartisan commission found no evidence of collaboration between Iraq and al Qaeda. CNN

Author

Count No Account

Date

2005-06-29T13:32:58-06:00

ID

87344

Comment

Knol: the sheep keep on sucking it up and drinking from the same bad water Philip: Something just occured to me when you said that. I admit I'm won't be urging this without hypocrisy on my part - since I don't really do it myself...but.. Matthew 28:19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.... Maybe trying to win the locals over to our point of view isn't a bad idea. If it OK for the fundies and their religion, then why isn't it OK for Jackson's political minorities to do the same (how's "Political Minorities" for a "code phrase" for Com'nist Librul Atheists!!)

Author

Philip

Date

2005-06-29T14:56:25-06:00

ID

87345

Comment

thanks Philip, but how did you find that Matthew quote so fast? I did not watch Mr. B. myself because I have a sensitive stomach. And I sure don't need to see his twitchy facial expressions and body language. I have heard there is actually a world tribunal on Iraq, will look. All the sanctions for years were bad enough, but we , as a country, have now made that country just a hell for the innocent and decent people who live there. I suppose there were many Bushisms in his talk - I cannot understand how we can have such a president!

Author

sunshine

Date

2005-06-29T15:12:44-06:00

ID

87346

Comment

sunshine, I think he got elected because people were afraid to change presidents in the middle of a war, which I think, and I hate to say, is why he started the whole mess to begin with. I think that he is incredibly power hungry. Also, religion was used to make people believe that they were "in sin" if they voted for Kerry. I know that's ridiculous, no question. When Kerry came to our church, my pastor welcomed him with open arms and prayed for him, and I know my pastor is a pretty good judge of character.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-06-29T15:33:01-06:00

ID

87347

Comment

Sunshine, sit back and listen :P I attended evangelical, if not outright fundamentalist, churches for a good portion of my youth and my early 20s. So I have a fairly broad and solid grasp of the Bible -- certainly enough to do a quick google search on verses (Today, I'm a moderate to liberal Protestant now. I attend a theologically likewise Presbyrterian church mainly because it's pretty close to where I live, rather than any intricacies of their particular theological positions). If you want to have my "prowess" (Ha Ha) one day, then attend a highly conservative church and attend their bible studies for about 5 to 10 years. THEN you can be my "equal" :P

Author

Philip

Date

2005-06-29T15:50:53-06:00

ID

87348

Comment

Hey L.W, don't 'hate to say' that, it's really a pretty good possibility. As for Kerry going to church, I believe the current Pope gave him some grief and that was so pitiful, but really - one's religion or lack of should never be the point. And now of course is becoming so. meanwhile, as I suspected, the US press is very quiet about the world tribunal - only Reuters so far looks like. Though many foreign press sites. here's the main place: http://www.worldtribunal.org/main/? and here http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/wti.shtml and of course here http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/06/27/1335230 Has anyone seen it mentioned anywhere else? Let's see how quiet it's kept. and thanks be for the Internet. actually it could be in the main media and I never watch so I wouldn't know! ha.

Author

sunshine

Date

2005-06-29T15:51:12-06:00

ID

87349

Comment

Philip, I get ya. I spent my life in a Pentecostal-like environment: no hair-cutting, no makeup, no pants, etc. (Why do the women always have to have rules like this?) Anyway, I went to Vacation Bible School almost every summer, I had to memorize all 66 books of the Bible, and so on. I'm sure you had to do the same. Because of this, I hate it when people use religion to justify evil and dishonest behavior. They can hide their thoughts and secret conversations from people, but they can't hide from God.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-06-29T16:04:42-06:00

ID

87350

Comment

Sunshine, The reason is that, in part, it's more of a glorified protest than a call by a large multiplicity of actual governmental authorities. Despite the grandiose sounding name, it is, as a Namibian news site says http://www.namibian.com.na/2005/June/world/05BF1BB2F1.html ISTANBUL - The self-styled World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI), an anti-war grouping of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), intellectuals and writers, yesterday harshly, if symbolically, condemned the United States, Britain and their allies for the occupation of Iraq. Also, because it is as such, it won't be taken seriously unless a large number of actual recognized governments actually call a tribunal - especially since such a combination will be seen as more balanced, objective and last but not least LEGITIMATE.

Author

Philip

Date

2005-06-29T16:25:40-06:00

ID

87351

Comment

Don't know where to start here! ha. Being a fallen- away Catholic, (do not even put quotes there) I never learned my Bible very well, so it always amazes me when people know verses and such. It also scares me. (I do have a friend who is reading 900 pages of Tillich just for fun. That amazes me too, but does not scare me.) As for the tribunal being 'just' NGO's , self-styled, and oh forbid intellectuals and writers, well, who else would do it? and lastly, as some may know - Democracy Now is on directv, ch. 375, 5pm. And so I just happened to see the first bit of Mr. B's speech. But , with great commentary after. Still, made me ill - so much falsity. Lying, blatant lying.

Author

sunshine

Date

2005-06-29T16:58:49-06:00

ID

87352

Comment

Very good article in Mother Jones, called "Immoral Relativism and Other Distractions of the Age of Bush": http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2005/06/immoral_relativism.html

Author

C.W.

Date

2005-06-29T21:00:35-06:00

ID

87353

Comment

Well, I don't think I will read this before sleeptime, or will just toss and turn. But thanks, I forget about Motherjones. And, I am just so amazed how much good alternative journalism is out there. On the other hand, I am distressed at how little impact it seems to make. But I do believe it makes a difference. Like erosion, but in a good way.

Author

sunshine

Date

2005-06-29T21:09:20-06:00

ID

87354

Comment

Here's a message from John Kerry about last night's speech: Dear Friend, Last night the President had a chance to move the country forward by laying out a specific course of action to make our troops safer and rescue the mission in Iraq. Instead, the President took us backwards -- backwards to campaign style rhetoric and unshakeable stubbornness. Let me be clear about something. I've never met an American who doesn't want to see America succeed in Iraq. I've never met a veteran who doesn't fly the flag on the 4th of July with pride in our country. I've never met an American who doesn't believe in the greatness of our country and the strength of our ideals. But I've met a lot of Americans who fear the President has no plan to get it right in Iraq -- and they woke up this morning feeling the same way. The President and the administration need to get their story straight about what is happening in Iraq -- and how they are going to get our mission back on track. From their 24th different rationale for war, to the Vice President and Secretary Rumsfeld telling us the insurgency is in its "final throes" while last night President Bush said it is more dangerous than ever, Americans just want to hear the truth. They want leadership equal to our soldiers' sacrifice, and they know we can't win if our leaders can't even agree on the facts. This is a time for leadership, and a time for responsible answers to difficult problems. Yesterday, I laid out a 9 point plan to get it right in Iraq. Here are 3 steps the President can take this weekend to start getting it right in Iraq and ensure greater security for our troops. ...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-06-29T21:17:04-06:00

ID

87355

Comment

1) The President heads to Europe this weekend. He needs to bring home more commitments from our allies to shore up Iraq's borders, invest more in reconstruction and do more training of Iraqi troops. A secure and stable Iraq is in the best interest of every nation across Europe and the Middle East. 2) Send a message across the Middle East that Iraq's neighbor countries must do more to stop the rise of terrorism in Iraq. We need countries like Saudi Arabia to keep their commitment to help pay for reconstruction efforts in Iraq so the Iraqi people get electricity, water and better roads. We also need help from Iraq's neighbors in shoring up the borders so foreign fighters and terrorists can't get in and can't get out. The President needs to take his tough message to the region and enlist support for our mission. The best way to stop the growth of terrorism is by enlisting more Arab allies. 3) Truly honor our troops' sacrifices in Iraq by immediately covering the one billion dollar shortfall in funding for veterans care this year here at home and increasing funding for armor and necessary supplies for our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Byrd, Senator Murray, I and others have an amendment pending right now to address the critical funding shortage for veterans. The administration could send a powerful message about sacrifice and national unity if they act now to address this shortfall for the VA. We need more than just words to get it right in Iraq. We need actions and focus and leadership. We saw what happened after 9/11, in the mountains of Tora Bora, when the administration took its eyes off the ball when it came to hunting down and capturing Osama Bin Laden. We can't afford to let the same thing happen in Iraq. Our troops are depending on us and we can't let them down. It's time to bring the country together to get it right. No more excuses, no more spin, and no more dividing the country on partisan lines. Americans have the resolve - we need action from the administration. Sincerely, John Kerry

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-06-29T21:17:27-06:00

ID

87356

Comment

So, does the brilliant Clarion-Ledger editorial board now question how well Mr. Bush is fixing his mess in Iraq. Don't forget their endorsement of him last fall, so he could go in and fix what he started. Editorial today: His argument against sending more troops ó that it would be an admission that the U.S. effort is failing ó is less sound. If more troops are needed to keep order and protect our forces there, then that's a military decision, not a political one, albeit with political implications. It must be wondered if President Bush is looking at another political issue regarding that question: if he would not be escalating the conflict and following the same path of "quagmire" as in Vietnam. Nonetheless, there must be a timetable of some sort: a goal that will spell when the U.S. troop commitment can be reduced. The American people deserve that.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-06-30T12:00:06-06:00

ID

87357

Comment

Does that mean JFP will soone be coming out with an "I-told-you-so" article?

Author

Johann

Date

2005-06-30T12:05:55-06:00

ID

87358

Comment

No. We don't need to. Everyone knows we ran a story the week the war started about the myths being spread by the administration. Our conscience is clear, in as far as doing what media should have done to question a poorly justified war before American soldiers started dying in it. Having done the right thing in no way, however, makes it easier to lose family members in Iraq, or listen to Bush try to fabricate after-thought reasons for the mess he's gotten us into. And it makes me no less angry at lamestream publications like The Clarion-Ledger that did not have the courage to stand up and say what was right last fall about Mr. Bush's presidency. This is one of those cases where being right is little consolation.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-06-30T12:09:38-06:00

ID

87359

Comment

9/11 is like Cocaine to Bush--He Just Can't Get Enough.* In an attpempt to put his finger in the dyke of crumbling poll numbers (including the bush sacred cow: war on terrorism), bush spoke to the nation tonite. Unfortunately, he went back to 9/11 again, trying as best as he can to link it with Iraq in the minds of Americans. How often can he mine this? at some point, it just sad. He threw a war and lots of folks came. now the party's thinning out and its early. He doesn't know why. The thing is, you can't just put House of Pain's "Jump Around" on the CD player over and over and think that's good enough to keep things going. He keeps going to the same sad song over but that won't quite get it. see, there's two types of people at this party. the kids that are so happy to be around Bush (let's call them the kool-aid drinkers) that they don't care what he does. he's just dreamy! Everyone else is starting to wonder why we came to this shin dig in the first place. In an odd stroke, i'm going to give bush some advice. this is for the current situation and posterity: QUIT LYING! JESUS, it IS as bad as it looks on the news. quit telling us it isn't. its our families and friends dying (daily) and its our money being spent for your damn war. This country will support what you're doing. really, it will--for years to come, even. Just QUIT saying it isn't so bad. it makes things seem like you don't have a grip on reality when you and your cabinet are the ONLY ones seeing it this way. Hell, your GENERALS don't even agree with you. for gods sake, do what needs to be done but quit saying "I DUNNO how long we'll be there...I DUNNO how much it will cost" No one's gonna hold you two it (got knows that), but narrow it down between $50 and $5 Trillion. 6 months and 12 years. the point is, we're rarely impressed when our leader seems to be fighting a war that is different than the war we're fighting. you want your poll numbers to stop dipping? try fighting the war we're in, not the war you want it to be. *Also appears on Polly & the Mooch

Author

jp!

Date

2005-06-30T16:45:12-06:00

ID

87360

Comment

The President's Speech - Redux* Another thing that bothered me about this speech that bothered me was the emphasis on how we can't just abandon Iraq. We must be strong and fight through the difficulties. Um...NO KIDDING! there is a general acceptance that we HAVE to stay because we'll see civil war if we left now. most people that think the president should be impeached because of his actions still believe that we now cannot leave Iraq. THAT is why it is insulting for bush's speech and his "Plan" is to stay in iraq and 'work hard'. Really? no kidding? THAT isn't the problem with the President. the Problem is that the WAY we're going about this has worked poorly and everyone but the President seems to see that. God knows we don't want him to say he's wrong. we'd be stupid to expect that. what we don't want is a description of the war that implies a detachment from reality. that makes us nervous. We don't need you to tell us we're stuck in Iraq for a while, Mr. President. we watch the news, even if you don't. i know its hard. just quit lying to us...and if you can't do that...well...could you quit lying to yourself? *again, also appears on Polly & the Mooch

Author

jp!

Date

2005-06-30T16:46:07-06:00

ID

87361

Comment

Sydney Blumenthal at Salon brings up an interesting point: The novelty in Bush's speech did not come from his militarized stagecraft. His innovation came with his approving quotation of Osama bin Laden. "Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Here are the words of Osama bin Laden: 'This third world war is raging in Iraq. The whole world is watching this war.' He says it will end in victory and glory or misery and humiliation." By citing bin Laden, Bush raised him to the stature of a foreign leader. But he went further, embracing bin Laden's understanding of the war's dynamics as a crusade. By endorsing bin Laden's notion of a "third world war," the American president lent the prestige of his office to the terrorists' vision. Using bin Laden's statement to justify his own course, Bush legitimated their war. By mixing 9/11 and Iraq, Bush jumbled the actual logic of cause and effect. In the rush to war, Bush, Cheney & Co. had suggested that Saddam Hussein was allied with terrorists, connecting the dot to 9/11. Now the CIA reports that Iraq has become a terrorist training center only since the failed postwar reconstruction. This point - that Bush is legitimizing bin Laden by quoting him in a major speech - didn't occur to me while listening. But, it is a fair assessment - one of the primary rules in communication is to be very careful not to legitimize the opposition through this type of language. Bush just accepted bin Laden's definition of the conflict, thereby ceding the rules of the game to him, at least in part. Bad move.

Author

kate

Date

2005-06-30T18:11:13-06:00

ID

87362

Comment

Check these out: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050630/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_23 http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050629/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2005-07-01T08:34:51-06:00

ID

87363

Comment

I was just reading about that helicopter that crashed in Afghanistan. The casualities consisted of 8 Airborne Rangers and 8 Navy Seals. The troops we are losing are our best, most elite and highly-trained corps.

Author

Steph

Date

2005-07-01T08:57:24-06:00