Posted on 09/11/2006 7:45:56 PM PDT by blam
Bush: We're facing fight for civilisation
By Alec Russell in Washington
(Filed: 12/09/2006)
US President Bush and first lady Laura Bush place a wreath to mark the fifth anniversary of the attack on the Pentagon
President George W Bush last night linked the nuclear showdown with Iran to the fight against terrorism as he called on Americans to unite to spare their children a terrible future.
In a speech from the Oval Office marking the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, he told Americans they faced not a "clash of civilisations" but "a struggle for civilisation".
"If we do not defeat these enemies now we will leave our children to face a Middle East overrun by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons," he said.
His comment was a clear reference to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, whose nuclear ambitions have provoked a confrontation with the West. America and its European allies are pushing for UN sanctions against Teheran after it refused to freeze its uranium enrichment programme, a key part of the process of making a nuclear bomb.
Mr Bush was addressing the nation in a televised speech at the end of a moody day of commemorations.
"America did not ask for this war, and every American wishes it were over," Mr Bush said, according to extracts released ahead of his address by the White House.
"So do I. But the war is not over and it will not be over until either we or the extremists emerge victorious."
Mr Bush called on Americans to put aside their "differences" and work together "to meet the test that history has given us".
"This struggle has been called a clash of civilisations," he said. "In truth it is a struggle for civilisation."
He also asked Americans to help him to "lead the 21st century into a shining age of human liberty".
"We are fighting to maintain the way of life enjoyed by free nations," he said. His address was the climax to a day of poignant ceremonies.
Earlier Mr Bush and the First Lady, Laura Bush, bowed their heads at a fire station in the Lower East Side of New York.
It was 8.46am, East Coast time, the exact moment that the first hijacked jet hurtled into the World Trade Centre towers.
Mr Bush then flew to Shanksville, Pennyslvania, to lay a wreath in the field where United 93, the fourth hijacked plane, crashed after a passenger revolt. He later attended a ceremony at the Pentagon, the third crash site.
White House aides said in advance that he would not be making a political speech and that he would instead focus on the victims of that day and the "heroes", the firemen and policemen, whose bravery at the Twin Towers saved countless lives.
"On 9/11 our nation saw the face of evil," he said. "Yet on that awful day we also witnessed something distinctly American – ordinary citizens rising to the occasion and responding with extraordinary courage.
"Winning this war will require the determined efforts of a unified country."
However, he also used the occasion to try to bolster support for his anti-terrorist policies and his desire to spread democracy in the Middle East.
The anniversary comes at a testing time for his Republican Party. It is embroiled in a difficult campaign for November's mid-term elections when it risks losing control of the House of Representatives.
Opinion polls indicate that half of Americans have lost confidence in his record in fighting terrorism, traditionally his strongest political suit.
As the ceremonies began, al-Qa'eda put its own stamp on the anniversary of easily its most murderous atrocity.
A new video tape issued in the name of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the deputy leader, warned that the Gulf and Israel would be the next targets of al-Qa'eda and called on Muslims to step up their attacks on Americans.
Better tell sunkenciv
Finally, our leaders are saying what needs to be said, and should have been said all along. If we don't defeat the Islamic thugs there will be NO civilization left, but only a medieval existence with brutal islamic rule. It's never too late though, and thank God the President finally found the nerve to say, (though veiled), that we are at war with ISLAM.
he told Americans they faced not a "clash of civilisations" but "a struggle for civilisation".
Bush is so disappointing. We have civilization. We are not struggling for it. What we are in is a clash between two civilzations, one of which intends to destroy the other. Why he can't come out and say it could very well be one of the reasons we may not win the war: Fear of giving offense to the enemy's supporters and enablers in our midst.
That's where you are wrong. The terrorists and their minions are not civilized. Civilized people do not saw off the heads of innocent journalists. Or strap bombs to themselves in a cafe. Or slit the throats of women who date a non-mulsim. They have no civilization to clash with, and have effecrtively cowered those among them that have some decency.
Bush's speech was DEAD NUTS ON
I heard the speech. It was brilliant and clear--one of the best summaries of where we are and the stakes made by anyone to date. And, there was no more religion of peace crap.
...the Gulf and Israel would be the next targets of al-Qa'eda and called on Muslims to step up their attacks on Americans.Y'know, because Israel and the Gulf states haven't been attacked before...
They're going after Israel and the Gulf because Bush has busted them so bad they can no longer reach America.
But we're no safer now than we were in 2001. Nope! Nope!
Shalom.
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