Posted on 03/18/2006 7:54:34 AM PST by Salvation
For Immediate Release
March 18, 2006
President's Radio Address
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. In recent weeks, Americans have seen horrific images from Iraq: the bombing of a great house of worship in Samarra, sectarian reprisals between Sunnis and Shias, and car bombings and kidnappings. Amid continued reports about the tense situation in parts of that country, it may seem difficult at times to understand how we can say that progress is being made. But the reaction to the recent violence by Iraq's leaders is a clear sign of Iraq's commitment to democracy.
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I also remain optimistic because slowly but surely our strategy is getting results. This month I'm giving a series of speeches to update the American people on that strategy. I'm discussing the progress we are making, the lessons we have learned from our experience, and how we are fixing what has not worked. This past week, I discussed the security element of our strategy. I spoke about our increasingly successful efforts to train Iraqi security forces to take the lead in the fight against the terrorists. And I described our strengthened efforts to defeat the threat of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.
On Monday, I will give a speech discussing how we are working with all elements of Iraqi society to remove the terrorists and restore order in Iraqi cities, to rebuild homes and communities, and to achieve the stability that can come only from freedom. I will also share some concrete examples of how this approach is succeeding -- evidence of real progress that is too often lost amid the more dramatic reports of violence.
Sunday marks the third anniversary of the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The decision by the United States and our Coalition partners to remove Saddam Hussein from power was a difficult decision -- and it was the right decision. America and the world are safer today without Saddam Hussein in power. He is no longer oppressing the Iraqi people, sponsoring terror, and threatening the world. He is now being tried for his crimes, and over 25 million Iraqis now live in freedom. This is an achievement America and our allies can be proud of.
These past three years have tested our resolve. We've seen hard days and setbacks. After the fall of Saddam Hussein, the terrorists made Iraq the central front in the war on terror, in an attempt to turn that country into a safe haven where they can plan more attacks against America. The fighting has been tough. The enemy has proved brutal and relentless. We have changed our approach in many areas to reflect the hard realities on the ground. And our troops have shown magnificent courage and made tremendous sacrifices.
These sacrifices by our Coalition forces -- and the sacrifices of Iraqis -- have given Iraq this historic opportunity to form a democratic government and rebuild itself after decades of tyranny. In the past three years, Iraqis have gone from living under a brutal tyrant, to liberation, sovereignty, free elections, a constitutional referendum, and last December, elections for a fully constitutional government. By their courage, the Iraqi people have spoken and made their intentions clear: They want to live in a democracy and shape their own destiny.
In this fight, the American and Iraqi people share the same enemies because we stand for freedom. The security of our country is directly linked to the liberty of the Iraqi people, and we will settle for nothing less than complete victory. Victory will come when the terrorists and Saddamists can no longer threaten Iraq's democracy, when the Iraqi security forces can provide for the safety of their own citizens, and when Iraq is not a safe haven for the terrorists to plot new attacks against our nation.
More fighting and sacrifice will be required to achieve this victory, and for some, the temptation to retreat and abandon our commitments is strong. Yet there is no peace, there's no honor, and there's no security in retreat. So America will not abandon Iraq to the terrorists who want to attack us again. We will finish the mission. By defeating the terrorists in Iraq, we will bring greater security to our own country. And when victory is achieved, our troops will return home with the honor they have earned.
Thank you for listening.
END
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Needs to be repeated over and over to the gutless wonder in the Junk Media and the Democrat Leadership.
No mention of the Iranian IED's. The Drumbeat to war is getting louder.
Thank God for you - in New York City, the media refers to the Radio Address, never providing it!
Brookings Institution Panel on Presidential War Powers
Stuart Taylor Jr., Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and National Journal Columnist is one of the speakers at the Brookings Institution panel "Presidential War Powers." 3/17/2006: WASHINGTON, DC: 2 hr.
Not sure if it will be replayed on the actual CSPAN TV network.
Seems to be a Java driven script, some may have trouble playinng it, needs broadfband of course.
I do not know what the DNC reply was today but America is not being shown the factual results through either the media nor the liberals. Thankfully Feingold has stepped forward to espouse the left's true beliefs and demonstrated to the country their non-commitment towards protecting it.
another dimocrat came out sounding like Murtha. Blummenauer of Oregon. I certainly would like to un-elect him.
Thanks for the graphic and video link.
You're welcome. Glad I could be part of the best of media for you!
As far as I am concerned, Feingold helped the Republican Party more than he helped himself.
Boxer and Hardin were the only senators who reponded positively to him. Only TWO. That some testament, huh?
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