Posted on 01/12/2008 2:36:06 PM PST by STARWISE
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
The President continues his travels to Israel, the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt from January 8-16, 2008.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Jan. 12, 2008 ~ President George W. Bush reaches out to greet members of the military in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
QUOTE(s) OF THE DAY
President's Radio Address ~ January 12, 2008
Good morning. I'm speaking to you from the Middle East, where I have been meeting with friends and allies. We're discussing how we can work together to confront the extremists who threaten our future. And I have encouraged them to take advantage of the historic opportunity we have before us to advance peace, freedom, and security in this vital part of the world.
My first stop was Israel and the Palestinian Territories. I had good meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas. Both these men are committed to peace in the Holy Land. Both these men have been elected by their people. And both share a vision of two democratic states -- Israel and Palestine -- living side by side in peace and security.
I came away encouraged by my meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Each side understands that the key to achieving its own goals is helping the other side achieve its goals. For the Israelis, their main goal is ensuring the safety of their people and the security of their nation. For the Palestinians, the goal is a state of their own, where they can enjoy the dignity that comes with sovereignty and self-government.
In plain language, the result must be the establishment of a free and democratic homeland for the Palestinian people, just as Israel is a free and democratic homeland for the Jewish people. For this to happen, the Israelis must have secure, recognized, and defensible borders. And the Palestinians must have a state that is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent.
Achieving this vision will require tough decisions and painful concessions from both sides.
I believe that a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians that defines a Palestinian state is possible this year. Prime Minister Olmert made clear to me that he understands a democratic Palestinian state is in the long-term security interests of Israel. President Abbas is committed to achieving this Palestinian state through negotiation.
The United States cannot impose an agreement on the Israelis and Palestinians -- that is something they must work out themselves. But with hard work and good will on both sides, they can make it happen. And both men are getting down to the serious work of negotiation to make sure it does happen.
The United States will do all we can to encourage these negotiations and promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. But the international community has a responsibility to help as well.
In particular, the Arab nations of the Gulf have a responsibility both to support President Abbas, Prime Minister Fayyad, and other Palestinian leaders as they work for peace, and to work for a larger reconciliation between Israel and the Arab world. And in my meetings with Arab leaders over the next few days, I will urge them to do their part.
A democratic Palestinian state is in the interests of the Palestinians. It is in the long-term security interests of Israel. And it is in the interests of a world at war with terrorists and extremists trying to impose their brutal vision on the Middle East.
By helping the Israeli and Palestinian people lay the foundation for lasting peace, we will help build a more hopeful future for the Holy Land -- and a safer world for the American people.
Thank you for listening.
President George W. Bush reaches out to King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa as he deplanes Air Force One Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, after arriving at Bahrain International Airport in Manama, Bahrain.
This was ALMOST the Photo of the Day .. look at that smile and the smiling Bahrainis.
President George W. Bush enjoys the moment with performers Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, after being presented with a sword by King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, left, during arrival ceremonies in Manama, Bahrain.
Today, in Kuwait, with Gen. David Petraeus, Amb. Ryan Crocker, Sec. Condoleezza Rice and our awesome troops
President George W. Bush emphasizes a point as he speaks to troops at Camp Arifjan Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, in Kuwait. Said the President, "There is no doubt in my mind when history is written, the final page will say:
Victory was achieved by the United States of America for the good of the world; that by doing the hard work now, we can look back and say, the United States of America is more secure, and generations of Americans will be able to live in peace."
I hope you can post them .. so glad she
was there for his visit. The troops
always looked thrilled to be with him ..
as he is to be with them.
It’s pretty easy to post pictures ..you
can check this site out for instructions.
http://www.ibdguy.com/posting.shtml
Good luck.
I think I will. That will probably make him smile (the Goal pic) because it is very much his goal to have some “me” time, fishing...soon. It will be a sad day for this Country, though. We have been so blessed to have had him as such an important player in W’s administration. What a great contribution and incredible service he’s made/given to our Country. What a good guy.
Dick Cheney — Date of Birth: 30 January 1941
Absolutely gorgeous! Breathtaking....and we have beautiful sunsets here.
Those “snow in Baghdad” pics were really touching especially the one with the man holding the little boy. It looks like his jacket says “hope” on the back. I don’t think its any coincidence that this is the first time in 100 yrs that snow has fallen on Baghdad. I like to think the “angel in the whirlwind” sent it.
I know .. I almost mentioned that, too.
Hope lives.
Cook Islands
Aitutaki
This is a dreamy beach there
Let's go!
Now we know one of the things that you pay attention to ;).
;)
Thank you.
Good to see W with the troops.
Yes, I forgot the “<” and didn’t notice it until much later. I have the whole html in my folder for the dose, but sometimes it doesn’t copy
But I will save your picture, resize it and fix it up a
I’ve saved that one, too .. sure
is a heavenly place .. Aitutaki.
I resized the picture and made it brighter
Lovely.
I think I will start using that one now
The husband of a friend of ours is in Kuwait right now, doing some sort of work with a private contractor, not even his wife really knows what it is. They have three children. The oldest son graduated from the Air Force Academy, and has been to the Persian Gulf twice doing work related to missles. Their only daughter graduated from West Point, and returned this past summer from a extended tour of duty with her Stryker brigade in Iraq. Their youngest son graduated from Annapolis, and was going to be a Naval aviator, but a physical problem cropped up, and instead he’s doing Information Security at the Pentagon. The Dad is a retired Army Major, who flew attack helicopters in Vietnam, and he really wanted to be able to do something for the US in this war. I guess he got his opportunity! He’s due home in March, and I can’t wait to hear his stories! I hope he got to see the President!
What an incredible family, Suzi .. God bless them.
I hope he got to see the President, too.
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