Bush Radio: "I hear Congress say they oppose the war, but still support the troops. Prove it."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 7, 2008

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080607.html

President's Radio Address



THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Congress will soon vote on legislation to fund our troops serving on the front lines of the war on terror. This is an opportunity for Congress to give our men and women in uniform the tools they need to protect us, and Congress should approve these vital funds immediately.

Congress has had this funding request for more than a year, and there is no reason for further delay. This money is urgently needed to support military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. I put forward some reasonable requirements this bill must meet. First, this bill must give our troops the resources they need to defeat the terrorists and extremists. Second, the bill must not tie the hands of our commanders. Third, the bill must not exceed the reasonable and responsible funding levels I have requested.

Congress has had 16 months to decide how they will meet these requirements, and now the time has come for them to support our troops in harm's way. If Congress does not act, critical accounts at the Department of Defense will soon run dry. At the beginning of next month, civilian employees may face temporary layoffs. The department will have to close down a vital program that is getting potential insurgents off the streets and into jobs. The Pentagon will run out of money it needs to support critical day-to-day operations that help keep our Nation safe. And after July, the department will no longer be able to pay our troops -- including those serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Our men and women in uniform and their families deserve better than this. Around the world, our troops are taking on dangerous missions with skill and determination. In Afghanistan, they are delivering blows to the Taliban and al Qaeda. In Iraq, they've helped bring violence down to its lowest point since late March of 2004. Civilian deaths are down. Sectarian killings are down. As security has improved, the economy has improved as well, and political reconciliation is taking place at the grassroots and national levels. The Iraqi security forces are becoming more capable, and as they do, our troops are beginning to come home under a policy of return on success.

Each day, the men and women of our Armed Forces risk their lives to make sure their fellow citizens are safer. They serve with courage and honor. They've earned the respect of all Americans. And they deserve the full support of Congress. I often hear members of Congress say they oppose the war, but still support the troops. Now they have a chance to prove it. Congress should pass a responsible funding bill that gives our men and women in uniform the resources they need -- and the support they have earned.

Thank you for listening.

END

[graywarrior]

1. Prove it?

Impeach you!

[Dollface]

4. I second impeachment

[napi21]

2. TS Shrub! Lay off some of the civilian employees! All you know how to do is

ask for more money! If you would have managed what you've already gotten better, you wouldn't be back begging all the damn time! If you REALLY need more money, go talk to your oil buddies and beg them to give it to the DOD in free fuel!

[annabanana]

3. He HAS been begging to the Middle East... He went begging

twice and was rebuffed twice...

[napi21]

7. I'm not talking about the ME. I meant go to his buds like Exxon/Mobil,

Shell, B/P, etc. They've been posting RECORD EARNINGS for quite a while now! Seems to me they could afford to readjust their pricing!

[sallyseven]

5. He would be better off if he shut his mouth

and went to Texas today forever. That would be a good way to support the troops.

[bluerum]

6. Screw Texass. Let South America have his sorry hide.

[onethatcares]

8. for 542 Billion Dollars, we could have bought a lot of crude from

that guy that was in power. Holy shit batman, that's a lot of money.

[Wizard777]

9. We have better things to prove.

[horseshoecrab]

10. This is just like 40 years ago!

Forty years ago, if you didn't support the war, you didn't support the troops! An idea hatched in the minds of little men with pea sized brains.

Simple eh? But that's how they worked it, and that's how they divided a nation. A division that persists to this day.

YES WE CAN and yes, we do support the troops while opposing this war!!!


horseshoecrab

[SergeyDovlatov]

11. Tried for war crimes and put to prison

together with all who voted for the war and war funding.