Bush, Five Years Later: “The United States of America Is Safer”
Pictured: President Bush shakes hands with members of the military after delivering remarks on the “Global War on Terror” Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at the Pentagon.
Click here for a transcript of Bush’s speech on Iraq and Terrorism at the Pentagon this morning.
WASHINGTON - President Bush defiantly defended the Iraq war Wednesday as U.S. troops began a sixth year of combat in the long and costly conflict that has dominated his presidency. Bush conceded the war has been harder and more expensive than anticipated but insisted it has all been necessary to keep Americans safe.
Protesters marked the anniversary of the U.S. invasion with demonstrations near the White House and in other cities, though they seemed to lack the fervor of those that preceded the war.
Gee, I wonder why?
Bush, in a speech at the Pentagon, offered some of his boldest assessments of progress and said the war’s legacy is absolute: “The world is better, and the United States of America is safer.”
“No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure,” Bush said. “But those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq.”
The U.S. has about 158,000 troops in Iraq, and that number is expected to drop to 140,000 by summer. But Bush signaled anew that he will not pull more troops home as long as his commanders worry that doing so will imperil recently improved conditions in Iraq.
“Having come so far, and achieved so much, we’re not going to let this happen,” Bush said.
Demonstrators converged in the nation’s capital, other big cities like Miami and San Francisco, and in smaller towns in Vermont and Ohio to urge an end to the war. Police arrested more than 30 people who blocked the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington, and protesters blocked downtown intersections several times.
However, the demonstrators numbered in the hundreds rather than the thousands organizers had hoped for.
Why do you suppose that is?
Even as his time and power wane, Bush made clear he will prosecute the war as he deems fit till the end of his presidency.
In the campaign to replace him, Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged to end the war, but squabbled Wednesday over who could do it best.
(AP)
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Looks like a a man’s army to me, who’s the token wack?
March 19th, 2008 at 5:28 pmDamn straight we’re safer. Thanks to Bush, Cheney, Republicans in office and Most Importantly our military.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:35 pmThanks Mr. President and of course, thanks to the troops as well!
March 19th, 2008 at 6:19 pm” … The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around — it has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror. For the terrorists, Iraq was supposed to be the place where al Qaeda rallied Arab masses to drive America out. Instead, Iraq has become the place where Arabs joined with Americans to drive al Qaeda out. In Iraq, we are witnessing the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama bin Laden, his grim ideology, and his murderous network. And the significance of this development cannot be overstated.
The terrorist movement feeds on a sense of inevitability, and claims to rise on the tide of history. The accomplishments of the surge in Iraq are exposing this myth and discrediting the extremists. When Iraqi and American forces finish the job, the effects will reverberate far beyond Iraq’s borders. Osama bin Laden once said: “When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse.” By defeating al Qaeda in Iraq, we will show the world that al Qaeda is the weak horse. (Applause.) We will show that men and women who love liberty can defeat the terrorists. …
But in the long run, defeating the terrorists requires an alternative to their murderous ideology. And there we have another advantage — we’ve got a singular advantage with our military when it comes to finding the terrorists and bringing them to justice. And we have another advantage in our strong belief in the transformative power of liberty.
So we’re helping the people of Iraq establish a democracy in the heart of the Middle East. A free Iraq will fight terrorists instead of harboring them. A free Iraq will be an example for others of the power of liberty to change the societies and to displace despair with hope. By spreading the hope of liberty in the Middle East, we will help free societies take root — and when they do, freedom will yield the peace that we all desire. …”
March 19th, 2008 at 6:50 pmThanks President Bush!
March 19th, 2008 at 7:11 pmI wonder if Chris Matthews even listened to this speech; he’s probably re-reading Obama’s speech, drooling and wetting his pants in the process.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:13 pmOorah Mr.President!!
March 19th, 2008 at 9:06 pm