3 posts tagged “president bush”
President Bush Visits Troops in Iraq
Al Faw Palace - Camp Victory
Baghdad, Iraq
In Focus: Defense
In Focus: Iraq
8:05 P.M. (Local)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for coming out to say hello. General, thank you for the introduction, I am honored to be at Camp Victory.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: Laura and I have been having a lot of Christmas parties at the White House, so I thought it would be kind of neat to change the scenery.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: And I would rather be with the men and women of the United States military than with anybody else. (Applause.)
So as you can see I decided to fly over, and in the spirit of the season we renamed Air Force One to Rudolph One.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. I bring greetings from a proud and grateful nation -- Merry Christmas to you, happy holidays. Congratulations on your inspiring accomplishments here in Iraq. And above all, thank you for volunteering to defend our country in a time of danger.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: This is a time of year to give thanks for our many blessings B- and the greatest blessing we have is freedom and the fact that we've got a United States military to defend that freedom.
So General, thank you very much for your leadership. I'm proud to be with you again. I appreciate the leadership of General Austin, as well. Ambassador Crocker and Christine are with us today. I had the pleasure of meeting Sergeant -- Command Sergeant Major Lawrence Wilson; Command Sergeant Major Joe Allen; Major General Hammond -- (applause) -- put it together for Hammond. (Laughter.)
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: Command Sergeant Major Gioia.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: Major General Oates. (Applause.) How about, have you ever heard of a guy named Redmore? (Applause.)
Thanks for coming out. I am thrilled to be here with the diplomats, embassy personnel who are so critical to our success.
I want to thank the Iraqi citizens who are here with us today. I appreciate your courage. I know there are members of the coalition who are here with us. There have been a lot of troops from around the world who have come to help this young democracy survive and thrive. And so I want to thank the citizens of those country [sic] and the troops who have served here before us.
This is my fourth trip to Iraq -- and you've probably heard I'm heading into retirement -- (laughter) -- so it's going to be my last trip as the President. But thanks to you, the Iraq we stand in tonight is dramatically freer, dramatically safer, and dramatically better than the Iraq we found eight years ago.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: And as a result of the sacrifices of our troops, America is safer, and America is more secure.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: I want to take you back to what life was like eight years ago here in Iraq. Iraq had a record of supporting terror, a record of developing and using weapons of mass destruction, was routinely firing at American military personnel, systematically violating United Nations resolution. Life for the Iraqi people was a nightmare, with Saddam Hussein torturing and murdering anyone who did not support his repressive rule. Iraq was a sworn enemy of the United States at the heart of the Middle East; the region was a serious threat to the us.
After the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, America concluded we
could not tolerate a regime like this in a pivotal region of the world.
I gave Saddam Hussein a chance to peacefully resolve the question as to
whether or not he had weapons of mass destruction. You might remember,
I went to the United Nations, where a body said: disarm, disclose, or
face serious consequence. It was his choice to make. And he made the
wrong choice. And so the United States military, with a vast coalition
removed this man from power and the world is better off for it.
(Applause.)
AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: I doubt in his worst nightmares he ever would have dreamt that we'd be standing in one of his palaces.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks to you, 25 million Iraqis are free.
Thanks to you, Iraq is no longer sponsoring terror -- it is fighting terror. It's making American people safer as a result.
The enemies of freedom in Iraq are determined, and this fight has been tough. Two years ago, the situation had grown dire -- the political process was frozen and sectarian violence was spiraling out of control. Some of you were here then/
Many said the mission was hopeless; many called for retreat. Retreat would have meant failure -- and failure is never an option.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: So instead of pulling troops out, we sent more troops in -- called the surge. And because of you and because of your courage, the surge is one of the greatest successes in the history of the United States military.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: Terrorists who once held safe havens across the country are being driven out of their strongholds. The political process that was once stalled is moving forward. Iraqi citizens once afraid to leave their homes are going back to school, and shopping in markets, and leading a more normal life. And American troops are returning home because of success.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: The dramatic turnaround you led in Iraq culminated in the two agreements completed last month, which the Prime Minister and I affirmed in a ceremony earlier today.
These agreements formalize the ties between our two democracies in areas
ranging from security and diplomacy to culture and trade. These
agreements show the way forward toward a historic day -- when American
forces withdraw from a democratic and successful Iraq, and the war in
this land is won.
There's more hard work to do before we reach that day. But if there is any -- but if there is no doubt -- but there is no doubt in my mind, there's just no doubt that we're going to reach that day. I am confident because our cause is just. And freedom is universal. I'm confident because the Iraqi people are showing unshakable determination and courage.
And above all, I am confident because I know the character and the strength of those who wear the uniform of the United States military.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: Over the past five years, you have shown the world some unmistakable truths:
You have shown that when America is tested, we rise to meet the test.
You have shown that the desire for freedom is more powerful than the intimidation of terrorists.
You have shown that there is no task too difficult for the United States military.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: And so I have a message for you and all who serve our country: I want to thank you for making the noble choice to serve and to protect your fellow Americans. Sometimes it can be hard to tell when history is being made, particularly if you're in the middle of the action. What you're doing in Iraq is as important, and courageous, and selfless as what American troops did in places like Normandy and Iwo Jima and Korea. Your generation is every bit as great as any that came before it. And the work you do every day will shape history for generations to come.
I guess what I'm telling you is your grandchildren some day are going to say, "Thank God you showed up and served."
America now has a strong friend and a partner in the fight against extremism in the heart of the Middle East, and that is historic.
People across this troubled region of the world now have an example for a more hopeful path -- a model of liberty that can prevail over tyranny and terror. Killers who wanted to take the lives of Americans back home have been brought to justice before they reached our shores.
Because of you all who work to protect this nation -- and all who work to protect the nation, America has done something many said was impossible: We have gone seven years without a terrorist attack.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: We think of those who have laid down their lives for freedom here in Iraq. Their children are growing up without a mom or a dad. But all of our children are growing up with something else -- the promise of a safer America and a better world. And that is the lasting memorial of all who have sacrificed here in Iraq. And thanks to you, that memorial will be achieved -- and their sacrifice will not be in vain.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: We think of your comrades who have been wounded. And this nation pledges that we will give them all the care and all the support they need to recover.
AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!
THE PRESIDENT: We think of all your families back home. I know many of you have a sweetheart who misses you, or a daughter who longs for her dad, or a mom who worries about you day and night. For many of you, it won't be your first holiday away -- and that certainly doesn't make it easier. So I'm going to give you an order: When you get out of here, call home or email home; you tell your families you love them; and you tell the Commander-in-Chief came by to thank them for their sacrifice along with yours. (Applause.)
Thanks -- thanks for coming by to let me say hello. Thanks for serving the United States of America. They ask me what I'm going to miss as the President. I'll tell you what I'm going to miss: being the Commander-in-Chief of such a fabulous group of folks. May God bless you, and God bless America. (Applause.)
END 8:13 P.M. EST
President Bush Meets with President Talabani of Iraq
Oval Office
In Focus: Iraq
In Focus: Global Diplomacy
3:53 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, welcome. First of all, I am so pleased to see that you're looking good. The President's health is strong, and that's going to be very important for the people of Iraq. After all, there's been no stronger defender of a free Iraq than President Talabani. I've known him for a long time. He cares deeply about the Iraqi people, and he has been a strong defender of human liberty.
Mr. President, thanks for the good conversation we had about the election
laws, about the need to get a strategic framework agreement signed. And
thank you very much for bringing me up to date on your perspective about
life inside of Iraq. It's -- things have changed a lot since we've known
each other.
PRESIDENT TALABANI: Of course.
PRESIDENT BUSH: And attitudes are completely different now that people realize the security situation has changed and mothers can raise their children in a more normal life. It's still difficult, but there's no doubt that the surge has been effective, which has enabled us to take out troops. Iraqis want there to be fewer U.S. troops, the United States wants there to be fewer U.S. troops, but both of us want to realize that vision based upon success.
And so, Mr. President, welcome back. I'm glad you're feeling good. And thank you for the visit.
PRESIDENT TALABANI: Well, Mr. President, thank you very much for giving me the honor of meeting you again. I think it's clear that we are in Iraq looking to you as a hero of liberation of Iraq from worst kind of dictatorship. And now we are working with your -- with you, Mr. President, for finalizing the strategic framework agreement between United States and Iraq.
And also, we are always getting benefit from your views about how to secure Iraq. I think you know very well that you and we in Iraq achieved very good successes on terrorism. Now I can say all parts of Iraq liberated from terrorist control and activities. It's true that some groups remain hiding themselves from here or there, but there's no place, no inch of Iraqi land under the control of terrorist activities. There are some terrorist -- still groups working -- hiding themself, and thanks to you and sacrifice of your brave army and to Iraqi people, now we can live in peace and security.
And Iraq government started to spend the money which we have for serving the Iraqi people and rebuilding the country, reconstructing the country. Not only we liberated our country from terrorist activities, but also from militias, outlawed militias who are also making troubles and danger for Iraqi people.
And as you have heard, the Basra city, Sadr City, (inaudible), Ninawa, Baqubah -- all these cities are now liberated. So we are thankful to you and to your people, your army. We hope that the agreement about this strategy formation will be signed soon.
And as usual, we are working, our parliament is working now for finalizing the draft of a new law for election provinces, and I hope that, as I heard the news yesterday, I hope that today it will be finalized, because the groups -- head of groups of parliament are now gathering in parliament to reach -- to finalize this.
In our country, we are now busy to reconstruct our country and to rebuild our country. And I am glad to tell you, Mr. President, that our position with our neighbors is improved very well -- with Turkey, with Syria, with Iran, with the Arab countries. The relation is notable now and we have no problem with any of these countries. In contrary, many, many new ambassadors are coming --
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right.
PRESIDENT TALABANI: -- to our country from Arab countries. And our visit of Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Tayyip Recep Erdogan, and of the -- His Majesty, the King of Jordan, to Baghdad were very successful, and was encouraging to Iraqi people to understand that they have friends outside Iraq.
So I hope that friendship and relation between your great people and the Iraqi people will continue and will be strengthened. And we will never forget what you have done for our people.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, President.
END 3:59 P.M. EDT
President
Urges Congress to Pass Military Funding Bill
Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:03:00
-0500
"If Congress does not act, critical accounts at the Defense Department will
soon run dry," Bush said during his weekly radio address to the nation. "At the
beginning of next month, civilian employees may face temporary layoffs."
President Urges Congress to Pass Military Funding Bill
By Gerry J.
Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, June 7, 2008 - President Bush today urged Congress to
immediately pass legislation that's urgently needed to fund military operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq and other important Defense Department programs.
If the required funding doesn't arrive by
the end of July, "the department will no longer be able to pay our troops --
including those serving in Afghanistan and Iraq," Bush said.
In the
absence of funding from Congress, the Pentagon will soon "run out of money it
needs to support critical day-to-day operations that help to keep our nation
safe," the president said.
Bush specified three requirements the funding
bill must meet. The bill, he said, must provide troops the resources they need
to defeat terrorists and extremists, that it should not tie the hands of U.S.
commanders, and it must not exceed the reasonable funding levels that he
requested.
The men and women in the U.S. armed forces and their families
deserve the support of Congress, Bush said.
"Around the world, our
troops are taking on dangerous missions with skill and determination," the
president said. "In Afghanistan, they are delivering blows to the Taliban and
al-Qaida."
U.S. forces serving in Iraq have "helped bring violence down
to its lowest point since late March of 2004," Bush said. "Civilian deaths are
down. Sectarian killings are down."
Improved security in Iraq has
produced positive effects for Iraq's economy and across its political realm,
Bush said.
"As security has improved, the economy has improved as well,
and political reconciliation is taking place at the grassroots and national
levels," Bush observed.
Concurrently, Iraq's security forces "are
becoming more capable, and as they do, our troops are beginning to come home
under a policy of return on success," Bush said.
Bush cited the courage
and honor displayed by America's servicemembers as they perform difficult and
dangerous duty in the war against terrorism.
"They've earned the respect
of all Americans," Bush said of members of the armed forces. "And, they deserve
the full support of Congress."
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