Our President spoke...Did you listen

The Democrats have been all over the media wanting the President to lay out his plan and set forth his goal for Iraq in his speech.  That's all we've heard for the last two weeks.  Well I think he did.  But for the doubters among us, allow me to lay it out:

First, the President made it clear "This Nation will not wait to be attacked again.  We will take the fight to the enemy.  We will defend our freedom."  President Bush is obviously taking a proactive stance against terrorism by fighting and defeating these terrorists abroad before they bring the fight to the shores of this country again.

Next, the President stated our mission in Iraq.  Did everyone hear that...he listed out our mission.  Here, I'll number them for you:

1.  "We are hunting down the terrorists.

2.  We are helping Iraqis build a free nation that is an ally in the war on terror.

3.  We are advancing freedom in the broader Middle East.

4.  We are removing a course of violence and instability.

5.  and laying the foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren."

Remember, that was the mission, the strategy comes a bit later in the speech.

President Bush talked about why the insurgency was fighting so hard.  Their "hateful ideology is at stake."  Democracy is contagious.  If we succeed in Iraq, millions of others in the Middle East will want to live free as well and the terrorists lose.

The President spoke of the violence in Iraq.  He noted that even with all of the attacks and bombings, it didn't stop the transfer of sovereignty or the elections.  The terrorists failed to incite an Iraqi civil war and failed to stop large numbers of Iraqis from joining the military and police forces.  "Iraq has more than 160,000 security forces trained and equipped for a variety of missions."  And most importantly, this past January, more than eight million Iraqis voted in democratic elections.

Next was the President's strategy:

1.  "The principal task of our military is to find and defeat the terrorists..."

2.  "As we pursue the terrorists, our military is helping to train Iraqi Security Forces so that they can defend their people and fight the enemy on their own."

3.  "..make the Iraqi units fully capable and independent.  We are building up Iraqi Security Forces as quickly as possible."

4.  "..to help ensure that the hopes Iraqis expressed at the polls in January are translated into a secure democracy."

Strategy sum up:  "As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down."

Now, he discusses how we are accomplishing these tasks:

1.  "Thousands of of Coalition of troops are involved in the training and equipping of Iraqi Security Forces."

2.  "NATO is establishing a military academy near Baghdad to train the next generation of Iraqi military leaders."

3.  "and 17 nations are contributing troops to the NATO training mission."

4.  Iraqi Army and Police are being trained by personnel from 8 different countries that the President listed.

There are three new steps that the President discussed to further prepare Iraqi forces:

1.  "we are partnering Coalition units with Iraqi units."  They are conducting operations together in the field.

2.  "we are embedding Coalition "Transition Teams" inside Iraqi units."  They are providing battlefield advice and assistance.

3.  "we are working with the Iraqi Ministries of Interior and Defense to improve their capabilities to coordinate anti-terrorist operations."  This provides leadership training and develop command and control structures.

For those of you who, like Ms. Pelosi, wanted a timetable, the President gave us one:

"We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed -- and not a day longer."

The President made it clear the our job is not done and there is more to do.  He also made it clear that there would be tough times ahead.  Just like he said right after September 11, 2001.  The insurgents we are fighting have a "blind hatred" for the American way of life and will stop at nothing to kill us.

I think the President was straight forward and his mission was clear.  He laid out a strategy and steps to carry out that strategy without divulging great details.  He did not paint a rosy picture as far as what needed to be done to secure Iraq but he did speak of accomplishments like the elections and rebuilding of schools and health clinics; the re-establishment of electricity and water; and the rebuilding of road.

So it is my hope now that the Kennedys and the Durbins of Congress will shut up with their negative rhetoric and stop giving Al Jeezera something to broadcast.  They have their mission..their strategy... and the process for carrying out that strategy.  It's time to let our men and women do their job.

Lisa

UPDATE:  Michelle Malkin talks about the AP reporting on President Bush's speech BEFORE he even spoke.

Blogs for Bush weighs in with a more indepth review.

the Blue State Conservatives gives us a blogger round up.

Captain Ed gives us a live blow by blow as well as the editorial response from WaPo, NY Times and LA Times.

Comments

[Sam]

Oh how I wish I could beleive that! I want our military to take care of these matters so bad, but we know where their leaders are in Pakistan, Saudi, Syria, Iran, but our leaders (both parties) will never let us go take care of them. We hear all these words about how we will go after them no matter where they are and I can't believe that. I so wish it were so. Our Soldiers can take care of the problem, but not our DC crowd.

[Ryan]

"So it is my hope now that the Kennedys and the Durbins of Congress will shut up with their negative rhetoric ..."

Don't count on it.

[Steel Turman]

Hey babe,

Palosy? Pelosi.

Although ... Palousy has a nice ring to it.

Lisa ... since you mentioned biscotti I have been queaving chocolate. I resisted the temptation when I went to the store. I am holding out for yours. Don't know how long I can hold out. BTW. The megastore where I do my grocery shooping has DARK CHOCOLATE COVERED COFFEE BEANS in BULK. $2.98 @ LB!!!

Can you imagine? I passed them by in anticipation of your stuff.

Hope you are feeling better my dear.

[Some Soldier's Mom]

Afraid the President's speech won't quell them... they were all over the net and airwaves criticizing the speech EVEN BEFORE THE PRESIDENT MADE IT -- even the AP...

and despite the fact that the transcript of Rumsfeld's comments about insurgencies IN GENERAL lasting 2,4,10,12 years being available everywhere on the Net, Chuzzy Rangeler and his ilk continue to say that Rumsfeld said we'd be there 12 years... they are a twisted inconsolable group who DON'T GET IT, don't want to get it... it's sickening and maddening!!!

[Lisa]

Steel,

$2.98 a pound for chocolate covered coffee beans?!!! I'm moving to Reno.

And, yes....Palosy........spelling were my best subject. But, OK, I'll change it for you.

[Billy]

NO I didnt listen,i knew it by heart
Freedoms on the march,we are hunting the terrorist down,americans are working hard.Same old song and dance.He needs to shut up just like the demodogs need to and let the military do its thing[after being unleashed] .There was and still is enough of a war in AFGAN. to go around.Thats where most of our troops need to be.All these foreign fighters that are flocking to Iraq would be flocking to AFGAN.We would have our troops in one place fighting one war.Hell the terriosts couldnt have traveled thru iraq ,Saddam would have killed them.[as he killed anybody that opposed him].
Do you think that Bush ,Cheney and Rumsfield ever talk to each other ,they all seem to have different timelines as to when this thing might be over.We are there so lets get it done,let the military loose.

[Val]

http://forwardho.blogspot.com/2005/06/isnt-one-too-many.html

If we are going to ask our people to make the ultimate sacrifice shouldn't we be willing to honor them for it and make sure they have what they need?

[Lisa]

Val,

Now you and I agree. I think it is ridiculous that we are sending our men and women over to fight and making them pay out of their own pockets for equipement that they need. That is inexcusable. That is one reason why we are running our donation campaign. We have just purchased insulators for camelbak water pouches and now we are researching boots to buy for our adopted unit of 66 men. The military only issues them one pair of boots and expects them to wear the same pair on a daily basis for 6 months or more. That's just insane.

Now, I'm assuming that the link is to your blog. We certainly don't mind you promoting your blog. But I think the better way would be to track back to us through an article of similar subject, and that sends our readers to your site.

Ha, maybe I'll write a book on blog etiquette. In the meantime, I'll check out your site. Maybe we'll add you to our blogroll.

Lisa

[Lisa]

Val,

Now you and I agree. I think it is ridiculous that we are sending our men and women over to fight and making them pay out of their own pockets for equipement that they need. That is inexcusable. That is one reason why we are running our donation campaign. We have just purchased insulators for camelbak water pouches and now we are researching boots to buy for our adopted unit of 66 men. The military only issues them one pair of boots and expects them to wear the same pair on a daily basis for 6 months or more. That's just insane.

Now, I'm assuming that the link is to your blog. We certainly don't mind you promoting your blog. But I think the better way would be to track back to us through an article of similar subject, and that sends our readers to your site.

Ha, maybe I'll write a book on blog etiquette. In the meantime, I'll check out your site. Maybe we'll add you to our blogroll.

Lisa