Daily Inklings

The Political Teen has the video and the transcript is here.

I didn’t get the chance to watch it live. I got home right around Newt Gingrich’s interview, and my internet connection was then on the fritz.

I liked the speech. It was very good. Pres, Bush made clear his resolve to win the war on terror over there, rather than wait for it to come to our shores, that our nation should not wait to be attacked again. He reiterated who and what the terrorists are; the significant progress achieved thus far in the Middle East, from the toppling of deadly regimes to the holding of free elections in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the positive effects these events have in the surrounding areas such as in Lebanon.

Though progress has been made, there is still a lot of work to be done. The war on terrorism is difficult and very dangerous. Pres. Bush spoke of the steps the Coalition Forces are taking to continue to train and equip the Iraqi Security Force to be able to independently defend themselves. He also made a good case for finishing that mission rather than setting a deadline.

I recognize that Americans want our troops to come home as quickly as possible. So do I. Some contend that we should set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces. Let me explain why that would be a serious mistake. Setting an artificial timetable would send the wrong message to the Iraqis — who need to know that America will not leave before the job is done. It would send the wrong message to our troops — who need to know that we are serious about completing the mission they are risking their lives to achieve. And it would send the wrong message to the enemy — who would know that all they have to do is to wait us out. We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed — and not a day longer.

He stated, and I wholeheartedly agree, that our troops must know that the American people is behind them, that they know we believe in their mission and their sacrifice. He mentioned “complete the mission” several times. He ended his speech by making an appeal for the American people to let our troops know how much we appreciate them.

America has done difficult work before. From our desperate fight for independence, to the darkest days of a Civil War, to the hard-fought battles against tyranny in the 20th Century, there were many chances to lose our heart, our nerve, or our way. But Americans have always held firm, because we have always believed in certain truths. We know that if evil is not confronted, it gains in strength and audacity, and returns to strike us again. We know that when the work is hard, the proper response is not retreat, it is courage. And we know that this great ideal of human freedom is entrusted to us in a special way — and that the ideal of liberty is worth defending.In this time of testing, our troops can know: The American people are behind you. Next week, our Nation has an opportunity to make sure that support is felt by every soldier, sailor, airman, coast guardsman, and Marine at every outpost across the world. This Fourth of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom — by flying the flag … sending letters to our troops in the field … or helping the military family down the street. The Department of Defense has set up a website — AmericaSupportsYou.mil. You can go there to learn about private efforts in your own community. At this time when we celebrate our freedom, let us stand with the men and women who defend us all.

I’m sure this speech will be scrutinized and analyzed in the coming days, and the Vietnam-fixated MSM and the President’s detractors will have their doom-and-gloom spin on it, but I believe this is by far the best speech he’s given. It was direct, heartfelt, and reassuring.