[silent_jonny]

Quote of the Day:

Prime Minister Howard: Mr. President, you do us great honor in spending four days in the beautiful city of Sydney, which we, of course, regard as the most beautiful big city in the world. And it's been on great display. But you come here as the leader of the nation that is closer to Australia than any nation in the world in strategic and defense terms. … You are here as a friend. You are here as a good mate of Australia's, and you are amongst people who have great admiration for the common values that our two nations hold so dear.

Photo of the Day:

With Australia's Prime Minister John Howard and his wife, Janette Howard, smiling in the background, President George W. Bush kids with members of the media Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, during a luncheon with Australian troops on Garden Island in Sydney.

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[geopyg]

first!?

[Kaslin]

Hi!

[silent_jonny]

Dose Ping!

There are a LARGE number of photos tonight and I’m still sorting through them, so please be patient with me, lol.

Please wait for the "All Clear" before posting or reposting pictures and graphics.

[silent_jonny]

Australian police walk past the hotel where U.S. President George W. Bush is staying while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Sydney, September 5, 2007.

[silent_jonny]

A boat carrying U.S. President George W. Bush is surrounded by police vessels as it travels across Sydney Harbour to a dinner hosted by Australia's Prime Minister John Howard September 5, 2007.

President George W. Bush and Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, wave as they take a tour of Sydney Harbor Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. The President is spending the day in meetings with the Prime Minister and will join him later this week at the 2007 APEC summit.

[silent_jonny]

Australian Prime Minister John Howard waves as U.S. President George W. Bush looks on as they travel by boat on Sydney Harbour to Garden Island naval base for a lunchtime visit with Australian troops September 5, 2007.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard waves as U.S. President George W. Bush looks on as they travel by boat on Sydney Harbour to Garden Island naval base for a lunchtime visit with Australian troops September 5, 2007.

[silent_jonny]

President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and his wife Janette take a tour of Sydney harbor as the Sydney Opera House can be seen at rear in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

President Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard take a tour of Sydney harbor as the Sydney Opera House can be seen at rear in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

[silent_jonny]

President Bush stands on the deck of the MV AQA during a tour of Sydney Harbor Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. The President is in Australia to meet with Prime Minister John Howard and participate in this week's APEC summit.

With the Sydney Opera House as a backdrop, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, talk as they tour Sydney Harbor Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, aboard the MV AQA.

[silent_jonny]

President Bush, second from right, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and his wife Janette take a tour of Sydney harbor near the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

[silent_jonny]

A couple of pics for you, Dolly ;)

President Bush smiles as he travels by boat on Sydney Harbour to Garden Island naval base for a lunchtime visit with Australian troops, September 5, 2007.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush, second from right, is escorted by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, third from left, and his wife Janette upon their arrival at Garden Island naval base to visit Australian troops in Sydney Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

[silent_jonny]

President Bush, Prime Minister Howard and his wife Janette prepare to meet the troops on Garden Island Naval Base.

[EmilyGeiger]

Hi. :) How’s it going?

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush, second from left, and Australian Prime Minister John Howard, right, pose with members of the Australian military during their visit to Garden Island navel base in Sydney, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

President Bush poses with members of the Australian military during a visit to Garden Island naval base before the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Sydney, September 5, 2007.

[snugs]

Good evening thanks for the ping

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush greets Australian troops during a social lunch Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, on Garden Island in Sydney.

Prime Minister Howard: I want to welcome all of you here today. And can I take this opportunity, because it is a gathering of the men and women of the ADF, can I take this opportunity of expressing on my behalf and on behalf of all of the people of Australia the immense admiration we have for the wonderful things you do, for your fighting qualities and for the way in which you not only fight well but you work well with the local communities of nations of where you are dispatched.

President Bush, center, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, rear left, sit with Australian troops during lunch at Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

Prime Minister Howard (speaking to the president): We are delighted that you are accompanied by your Secretary of State, who is held in very warm regard in this country for the wonderful work she does. And can I say that the relationship between our two countries has never been stronger. It's a relationship that is deeply rooted in history and common values and something that is very important to all Australians.

[silent_jonny]

President George W. Bush addresses members of the Australian Defense Force during a luncheon Wednesday on Garden Island in Sydney.

President Bush: So the Prime Minister said, do you want to eat lunch with some of our finest citizens? I said, sure. He said, fine, I'm going to introduce you to the Australian Defense Force folks. And I appreciate you having me. It's a nice barbecue you threw for us. Looking forward to a little cowboy music. (Laughter.)

But most of all, I've been looking forward to saying thanks for those who wear the uniform.

These are tough times. They're times I know that your families wonder whether or not it's worth it for you to be in the military. For those of you who have been to Iraq or Afghanistan -- I saw this wounded man over here -- you know that people wonder, is it worth it? Is it worth the sacrifice? And I told some folks today at a press conference, if it wasn't worth it for our own peace and security, I wouldn't put our own troops in.

I believe the work that you're doing along side our forces is necessary for peace. I believe we are writing one of the great chapters in the history of liberty and peace. And the Prime Minister has given me a chance to thank you, so I want to thank you. You've got a fabulous military.

I talked to our folks all the time about what is it like to be side by side with the Aussies again? And they say, it's a great honor and a privilege. So thanks for being in the military. Thanks for representing your country. Thanks for making the sacrifice necessary for peace. The work you're doing is necessary work and we're going to win. And we'll succeed. And when people look back at this chapter in the history of the world, they're going to say, thank God there were folks like you all.

So, Mr. Prime Minister, I'm honored to be with you. May God bless you all. May God bless our countries. Thanks for having me. (Applause.)

[silent_jonny]

President Bush joins Australian troops for lunch on Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

President George W. Bush smiles as he greets a young lady during a luncheon Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, on Garden Island in Sydney

[silent_jonny]

President Bush along with Prime Minister John Howard, rear left, and his wife Janette, rear center, have lunch on Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

President Bush shows the press what he is eating for lunch with Australian troops during his visit to Garden Island naval base before the APEC summit in Sydney, September 5, 2007.

With Australia's Prime Minister John Howard and his wife, Janette Howard, smiling in the background, President George W. Bush kids with members of the media Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, during a luncheon with Australian troops on Garden Island in Sydney.

[silent_jonny]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice walks with Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson during lunch with Australian troops on Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.