Posted on 12/13/2006 4:55:03 PM PST by silent_jonny
President Bush met today with senior Defense Department officials at the Pentagon for a talk about Iraq.
Attending the meeting were Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, his soon-to-be replacement Robert Gates, National Security Advisor Steven Hadley and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace along with the Joint Chiefs.
After the meeting, President Bush took questions from the press. Click HERE for a complete transcript.
Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island
Quote of the Day:
Question from reporter: You've been gathering advice, as you said, from leaders here and from leaders in Iraq. As you've gone through that extensive process, have you heard any new ideas at all, anything that would change your thinking?
President Bush: I've heard some ideas that would lead to defeat, and I reject those ideas --
Today I heard from some opinions that matter a lot to me, and these are the opinions of those who wear the uniform. These generals have spent a lot of time thinking about this issue. There's nobody who cares more about our troops than they do, and nobody who wants us to achieve more -- than to achieve our objectives than they do …
But one thing people got to understand is we'll be headed toward achieving our objectives. And I repeat, if we lose our nerve, if we're not steadfast in our determination to help the Iraqi government succeed, we will be handing Iraq over to an enemy that would do us harm, the consequences of which -- of leaving Iraq before the job is done, for example, would be grave for the American citizens.
Photo of the Day:
President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney shake hands with military personnel following their meeting with U.S military leaders at the Pentagon, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006.
Yo!
Great pic of the day. Love those swabbies.
Good evening !
President Bush, center, sits with from left to right, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, Vice President Dick Cheney, Sec. Of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and incoming Sec. Of Defense Robert Gates before the start of their meeting with Senior U.S. Department of Defense Officials on Iraq at the Pentagon, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006.
You have put the ISG report exactly where it belongs, in the trash!!!
Love the opening remarks by President Bush and the POTD!
Yes Sir..this is gonna be a good dose today. Thanks Jonny.
President Bush: While the enemy is far from being defeated, there should be no doubt in anybody's mind that every day and night, the Iraqi government and our brave men and women of the Armed Forces are taking the fight to the enemy; that in spite of the fact that I am conducting a strategic review of the best way forward in Iraq, there are a lot of operations taking place, day and night …I do want to say something to those who wear our uniform. The men and women in uniform are always on my mind. I am proud of them. I appreciate their sacrifices. And I want them to know that I am focused on developing a strategy that will help them achieve their mission.
Do you think Dubya would miss Rummy candiad I think so Robert Gates seem like cold fish to me I don't know why
President Bush: … our troops deserve the solid commitment of the Commander-in-Chief and our political leaders and the American people.You have my unshakable commitment in this important fight to help secure the peace for the long-term … I will continue to speak about your bravery and your commitment and the sacrifices of your families to the American people. We're not going to give up. The stakes are too high and the consequences too grave to turn Iraq over to extremists who want to do the American people and the Iraqi people harm.
I thank you for your service. I'm proud to be your Commander-in-Chief. We'll honor the sacrifices you are making by making sure your children and grandchildren can grow up in a more peaceful world.
WOO-HOO!
You won the toaster!
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!
With (from left) Vice President Dick Cheney; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, right.
President Bush: And so the stakes are high in this fight. Nobody knows that better than the gentlemen standing behind me. They clearly understand the stakes that are confronted -- that confront this nation. And I am proud to have listened to their points of view. And I'm proud to be working with them, as they help lead the greatest military ever assembled -- a military, by the way, in which we've got brave volunteers, people who understand the stakes of this fight, saying, I want to be in, I want to serve my country.It's a remarkable period in American history right now. And as I deliberate the way forward, I keep in mind that we've got brave souls that need -- to need to know that we're in this fight with a strategy to help them achieve the objectives that we've got.
Lol I love the trashcan. That's funny...
Great pic of the day.
Yep, that one made the POTD an easy choice today.
Evenin' :)
Hey, we leave for the Smokies in the morning. Have a few errands to do first. I talked with my sister-in-law today. One of my niece's daughters is not going to be able to get away and the one who had the baby boy is not going either. I made some hot chocolate mix, spiced tea mix, and made a no bake fruitcake. We are going to have a good time.
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