Posted on 10/23/2004 11:55:45 AM PDT by FairOpinion
President George W. Bush told a crowd of thousands on Friday progress on every other issue in the United States depends on the safety of the American people.
As a result, about half of the president's 42-minute address at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township on Friday focused on national security and the war on terror.
"The enemies who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous and determined to strike us again," the president warned. "The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror, and in this war, there is no place for confusion and no substitute for victory."
Bush said since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, American forces have fought terrorists across the globe. He insisted that fight will continue to take place in lands abroad, rather than on U.S. soil.
The president also maintained steps are being taken to ensure an "all-volunteer army" continues to fight the war. His remarks were in response to recent comments by his Democratic opponent, Sen. John Kerry, guaranteeing he would not institute a military draft.
Bush criticized Kerry for saying Sept. 11 "didn't change (him) much at all." He also chastised Kerry for allegedly calling the war on terror a "metaphor." The president went on to defend the liberation of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. He admitted U.S. forces did not "find the (weapons) stockpiles" once believed to be in Iraq.
Kerry and other Bush critics have accused the president of misleading the American people to gain support for deploying troops to the Middle East nation.
Bush said the independent Duelfer report found Hussein had the capability to build a weapon's program and he was using the oil-for-food program to influence officials to lift sanctions placed on Iraq.
"And why? Because he wanted the world to look the other way so he could restart his programs," the president said. "That was a risk we could not afford to take. Knowing what I know today, I would have taken the same action. America and the world are safer with Saddam Hussein sitting in a prison cell."
His remarks were met with a thunderous ovation from the crowd. "Remember, my opponent called our action a mistake," Bush said. "That's after he started slipping in the polls." The president said Iraq is dangerous and used a terrorist accused of beheading Americans in Iraq, Zarqawi, to drive his point of Iraq being a terrorist haven.
Bush also said progress in the war on terror is evident. He specifically pointed to Iraq's January elections and a 19-year-old woman recently being the first person to vote in Afghanistan, a country where women used to be persecuted and executed.
"I believe everybody in the Middle East desires to live in freedom. I believe women in the Middle East want to live in a free society," Bush said. "I believe mothers and fathers want to raise their children in a free and peaceful world. I believe these things because freedom is not America's gift to the world, freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world."
We can't have a country, if we are at the mercy of terrorists to strike us, when they wish, because we regard terrorism as a "nuisance", as Kerry intends to do.
Why doesn't the other almost half of America understand this simple point? Is it plain ignorance or willful disregard?
That makes me wonder as well. Rationally, Bush should have at least 80% of the voters voting for him, just on account of self preservation instincts of most people.
It boggles my mind that these people would intentionally put themselves and their families, as well as the Nation, at risk. They're carrying the ABB - Anybody But Bush - mentality, too far. They would have us all commit national suicide.
"Tomorrow they will be paying $10,000.00 for someone willing to throw anthrax into the face of a conservative. Or they will gladly pay $25,000.00 to the families of homicide bombers willing to take down conservatives."
When that day comes, a lot of people are going to get killed outright in the act of attack, as will their enablers. Civil War II will have started and the slaughter will be hideous. We have the guns; they don't.
I don't look forward to it, but I am sure ready for it.
There is a connection between the Left and Muslim terrorists:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1225555/posts
Here's a scary scenario:
http://www.gdnctr.com/oct_08_04.htm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.