Ok, seriously now.... the reaction to the speech is typical of the partisan world we now live in as I will show below with a few choice reactions from around the blogosphere.
Link to speech from White House web site.
First the points I thought were important and needed to be said.
For all of us in this room, there is no higher responsibility than to protect the people of this country from danger. Five years have come and gone since we saw the scenes and felt the sorrow that the terrorists can cause. We've had time to take stock of our situation. We've added many critical protections to guard the homeland. We know with certainty that the horrors of that September morning were just a glimpse of what the terrorists intend for us -- unless we stop them.
With the distance of time, we find ourselves debating the causes of conflict and the course we have followed. Such debates are essential when a great democracy faces great questions. Yet one question has surely been settled: that to win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy. (Applause.)
From the start, America and our allies have protected our people by staying on the offense. The enemy knows that the days of comfortable sanctuary, easy movement, steady financing, and free flowing communications are long over. For the terrorists, life since 9/11 has never been the same.
Our success in this war is often measured by the things that did not happen. We cannot know the full extent of the attacks that we and our allies have prevented, but here is some of what we do know: We stopped an al Qaeda plot to fly a hijacked airplane into the tallest building on the West Coast. We broke up a Southeast Asian terror cell grooming operatives for attacks inside the United States. We uncovered an al Qaeda cell developing anthrax to be used in attacks against America. And just last August, British authorities uncovered a plot to blow up passenger planes bound for America over the Atlantic Ocean. For each life saved, we owe a debt of gratitude to the brave public servants who devote their lives to finding the terrorists and stopping them. (Applause.)
Emphasis mine.
It was and is important for the American people to realize that 9/11 was not an isolated incident and that the terrorist groups have NOT STOPPED TRYING and they will not.
There was a comment once on this site, the comment was a question, asking how we win and when will we have won and his answer was.....when the last terrorist is dead. (paraphrasing here) It was a good answer, a truthful answer and one that needed to be said.
We were attacked by al-Qaeda, but many, many people made that possible, especially those that give money and aid to the terror groups..... in other words, states that sponsor terror.
Every success against the terrorists is a reminder of the shoreless ambitions of this enemy. The evil that inspired and rejoiced in 9/11 is still at work in the world. And so long as that's the case, America is still a nation at war.
In the mind of the terrorist, this war began well before September the 11th, and will not end until their radical vision is fulfilled. And these past five years have given us a much clearer view of the nature of this enemy. Al Qaeda and its followers are Sunni extremists, possessed by hatred and commanded by a harsh and narrow ideology. Take almost any principle of civilization, and their goal is the opposite. They preach with threats, instruct with bullets and bombs, and promise paradise for the murder of the innocent.
Our enemies are quite explicit about their intentions. They want to overthrow moderate governments, and establish safe havens from which to plan and carry out new attacks on our country. By killing and terrorizing Americans, they want to force our country to retreat from the world and abandon the cause of liberty. They would then be free to impose their will and spread their totalitarian ideology. Listen to this warning from the late terrorist Zarqawi: "We will sacrifice our blood and bodies to put an end to your dreams, and what is coming is even worse." Osama bin Laden declared: "Death is better than living on this Earth with the unbelievers among us."
These men are not given to idle words, and they are just one camp in the Islamist radical movement. In recent times, it has also become clear that we face an escalating danger from Shia extremists who are just as hostile to America, and are also determined to dominate the Middle East. Many are known to take direction from the regime in Iran, which is funding and arming terrorists like Hezbollah -- a group second only to al Qaeda in the American lives it has taken.
The Shia and Sunni extremists are different faces of the same totalitarian threat. Whatever slogans they chant, when they slaughter the innocent they have the same wicked purposes. They want to kill Americans, kill democracy in the Middle East, and gain the weapons to kill on an even more horrific scale.
To the critics I ask one question.... is there any part of those last few paragraphs that you dispute? Do you believe that having a democratic Iraq is better for the US than having al-Qaeda, Iran and other extremists using it as a safe haven?
Again, it is a simple question.
Is it better for the US if Iraq is a Democracy or not?
This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we're in. Every one of us wishes this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. Let us find our resolve, and turn events toward victory. (Applause.)
We're carrying out a new strategy in Iraq -- a plan that demands more from Iraq's elected government, and gives our forces in Iraq the reinforcements they need to complete their mission. Our goal is a democratic Iraq that upholds the rule of law, respects the rights of its people, provides them security, and is an ally in the war on terror.
In order to make progress toward this goal, the Iraqi government must stop the sectarian violence in its capital. But the Iraqis are not yet ready to do this on their own. So we're deploying reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq. The vast majority will go to Baghdad, where they will help Iraqi forces to clear and secure neighborhoods, and serve as advisers embedded in Iraqi Army units. With Iraqis in the lead, our forces will help secure the city by chasing down the terrorists, insurgents, and the roaming death squads. And in Anbar Province, where al Qaeda terrorists have gathered and local forces have begun showing a willingness to fight them, we're sending an additional 4,000 United States Marines, with orders to find the terrorists and clear them out. (Applause.) We didn't drive al Qaeda out of their safe haven in Afghanistan only to let them set up a new safe haven in a free Iraq.
What I liked about this speech is that the President is not up for reelection, he has but one goal......to WIN.
One interesting point that always comes to mind as I read reactions from the left is the way they completely ignore the fact that it is the goal of this President to win.
He is not in this to lose, he has nothing to gain by losing....nothing at all.
His goal is to win, to succeed, to achieve victory....... can the other side of the aisle claim any of these this?
What is their goal?
Read the rest of his speech. It was much better than the last speech.
A few reactions from around the web.
I HAVE to start with The Jawa Report because it cracked me up:
The speech ran about 50 minutes. I noted Nancy was either sending Morse code or having some type of eye malfunction.
Blink count.
Nancy Pelosi: 4578
Dick Cheney: 4
A Blog for All talks about extremists:
They operate in Iraq. They operate in Afghanistan. They operate in Europe. And thinking that withdrawing from Iraq will solve matters is not only shortsighted, but a massive failure of rational thought. Leaving Iraq now would be cataclysmic and leave the door open to the Islamists to use it as a base of operations against the US going forward. That doesn't sound like something we can or should live with.
Blogs for Bush:
If you listened to the President on the War on Terrorism and are unwilling to give him at least six months in Iraq, then you are a mean spirited, hate filled, selfish ignoramous. This isn't Bush's war - this isn't the Republicans war: this is our war - America's war. George Bush won't lose the war, the United States will...and as President Bush said, whatever you voted for, you didn't vote for American defeat.
The time is now - it isn't last year, or the year before. The time is now - it isn't next year or the year after. We have a situation, now, in the War on Terrorism and we have to resolve this situation - and anyone who doesn't want it resolved in America's best interest is, well, blind to reality.
It was a great speech, by a great man we are very lucky to have as President of the United States.
Power Line calls it a return to the good old days:
Apart from the ceremonial trappings, there was a good reason why so many Senators and Congressmen had to voice their approval: the President's logic was compelling. The importance of Iraq; the disastrous consequences of failure; the grave long-term stakes in the Global War on Terror; and the need to give our new strategy a chance to succeed, are all hard to dissent from.
The President finished strong, with his introduction of a series of American heroes, the kind of thing he does best.
It was a good night for President Bush. Will it matter? I doubt that very many people who are on the fence were watching. But for the President's long-term supporters and for all who are serious about winning the war that has been thrust upon us, it was an inspiring, confidence-renewing performance.
Wizbang also notices Pelosi's discomfort:
The War on Terror - take the fight to the enemy. A standing 'O' and number of whistles. Nancy really looks uncomfortable now.
We uncovered all kinds of al Qaeda plots and we owe a debt thanks to those who put their lives at risk to stop these plots. Nancy jumped out of her seat at that one.
Hillary looks like she's about to fall asleep.
The best, and most accurate, line of the night so far:
"In the six years since we have been attacked on September 11, and I wish I could report to you that the dangers have ended. They have not. And so it remains the policy of this government to use the every lawful and proper tool of intelligence, diplomacy, law enforcement, and military action to do our duty to find these enemies and to protect the American people."
"Free people aren't drawn to malignant ideologies...We must build free societies for our security." I agree with him on this one.
I like what he said about turning ourselves toward victory in Iraq. Again, the Dems show how they feel about victory in Iraq. They sat there and did nothing.
America must succeed in the Middle East and in Iraq. Don't the Dems understand how they look when they sit there with scowls on their faces when he speaks of victory?
I like what he said: I know some of us disagree on our policy in Iraq. What ever you voted for, you didn't vote for defeat. Give this new plan a chance and support our troops.
Michelle Malkin also noticing Pelosi REALLY didn't like having to stand and appluad certain parts of the speech:
9:35pm. Bush: " With the distance of time, we find ourselves debating the causes of conflict and the course we have followed. Such debates are essential when a great democracy faces great questions. Yet one question has surely been settled – that to win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy. To win the war on terror, we must take the fight to the enemy."
Applause.
Pelosi reaaaally didn't want to stand up.
Last but not least.... BlackFive's reaction which cracked me up all over again.
A good look at our Congress reminds me why they are hardly an answer to any big problem. W is not much, even as a figurehead, but he's all we've got. I have some hope for a military win, only because the alternative is a loss that will cripple us for decades and so we must prevail.
So F**k Congress! They will not take the high road, they will maneuver politically and place their own ambitions above our country's good, too many in both parties. We have a Commander in Chief for a damn good reason, 500 blithering idiots guarantees failure, at least with one decent plan vigorously executed we have a chance to win
He is blunt huh? I REALLY like this guy!!!!
Reactions on the other side of the aisle is simply more of the same Bush Bashing they are so fond of.
Visit memorandum for a full list of discussions on this.
OH, and while folks from the left are busy criticizing and bashing Bush, lets take a second to remember that the Presidents new strategy is already bringing some successes.... not saying we have won anything yet, but as I mentioned here and here, some very good news is coming out of Iraq.
Then yesterday from BBC:
About 600 fighters and 16 leaders of the radical Shia militia, the Mehdi Army, have been captured by security forces in Iraq, the US military says.
The statement said 52 operations had been conducted in 45 days targeting the militia, which is loyal to Najaf-based cleric Moqtada Sadr.
Sunni extremists were also the focus of the crackdown, the US military said.
US and Iraqi forces are currently preparing for a broad offensive in the strife-torn Iraqi capital Baghdad.
If, and I understand it is a big IF, but if we keep seeing this type of news from Iraq, then anyone trying to criticize the new plan by ignoring the "new" aspects of the strategy is going to have quite a lot of egg on their face.
While they are so focused on their political aspirations and the 2008 elections...they should really remember that if this new strategy DOES work...... they will have to answer for these non binding resolutions in 2008.
People will remember. People will talk. People will vote and traditionally, they vote for winners, so IF these good news items continue to occur, the people that refused consider victory an option will not stand a chance in 2008.
[UPDATE] 9:54am-Two articles out, one from Wapo and one from NYT....... hedging their bets "in case" the President's new strategy works.
Also another couple of articles by Jules Crittenden here and the Boston Herald one here.... MUST READ.
[End Update]
Cross posted at Faultline USA.
Tracked back by:
State of the Union - Comedy Tonight! from Divided We Stand United We Fall...
State of the Union: Speculative from Thought Alarm...
State of the Union 2007 from Amy Proctor: Bottom Line Up Front...
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