Bush: Iraqi, Afghan Wars "Our Destiny"

(AP)  President George W. Bush paid tribute Monday to America's troops — "a new generation of fallen leaders" — in a solemn Memorial Day visit to the national burial ground for war heroes.

Speaking under overcast skies after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns and meeting privately at the White House with the families of some fallen servicemen and women, Mr. Bush called the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan a part of the nation's destiny. He said they follow a rich tradition of similar American sacrifices throughout this country's history.

As people across the U.S. marked the day of remembrance, violence continued in Iraq where a suicide car bomber struck a busy commercial district in central Baghdad, killing at least 21 people and damaging a shrine revered by Sunnis and Shiites alike.

Speaking of the more than 368,000 buried through history at Arlington National Cemetery, Mr. Bush said, "Nothing said today will ease your pain. But each of you needs to know our country thanks you and we embrace you and we will never forget the terrible loss you have suffered."

"The greatest memorial to our fallen troops cannot be found in the words we say or the places we gather," he added. "The more lasting tribute is all around us."

A man holding a sign that said "Bring home our troops" stood at the bridge as the Bush's motorcade traveled over the Potomac River on its way to the cemetery. There, the president was greeted by tourists waving at his motorcade.

Troops with rifles fitted with bayonets stood at attention as his motorcade drove through rows of white tombstones, each marked with a tiny American flag. Smoke from cannon fire rose over the cemetery.

Bush laid a wreath of red, white and blue flowers at the Tomb of the Unknowns and stood, his hand covering his heart, during a drum roll and Taps. First Lady Laura Bush stood nearby with relatives of fallen troops.

In his speech, Mr. Bush said the freedoms that people enjoy in this country today "came at a great cost and they will surive only so long as there are those who are willing to protect them."

The president said that even after four years, many young men and women still volunteer for the U.S. armed forces.

"We've heard of 174 Marines recently, almost a quarter of battalion, who asked to have their enlistments extended," Mr. Bush said. "They want to serve their nation."

"Those who serve are not fatalists or cynics," he added. "They know that one day this war will end, as all wars do. Our duty is to make sure this war was worth the sacrifice" and that the fighting men and women succeeded — and "where tyrants and terrorists are frustrated and foiled ... where our nation is more secure from attack."

"This is our country's calling," Mr. Bush said. "It's our country's destiny."

"On this day of memory, we mourn brave citizens who laid their lives down for our freedom," he said. "May we always honor them, may we always embrace them and may we always be faithful to who they were and what they fought for."

At least 3,452 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginining of the war in Iraq in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 325 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.

[tigger2005-2009]

Bush has destroy America as a free country plus the rest of the world with his stupid thinking. We have nuts in local government think he is the greatest and the average hard working people of this country must wake up take America back, return it to freedom before Bush and clean house at all govenment levels.

[ddaymichael]

George W. Bush is a draft-dodging coward and a dangerous criminal. George W Bush is a dangerous criminal who happens to be the most powerful man in the world. The most powerful man in the world is dumber than disco and may well be a barking lunatic to boot. Knowing that, you have a rudimentary grasp of the current situation.

Nice going America!

While you were watching American Idol, this cretin and his gang were allowed to purchase the office of president of the United States, and they%u2019ve been looting and murdering ever since.

In another age, the concept of keeping citizens of a supposed republic from realizing that they no longer had any say in their country%u2019s affairs was called providing the people with bread and games. I think the Romans had a better deal.

WAKE UP AMERICA%u2026TAKE YOUR COUNTRY BACK!

[isisloves]

I think that Bush is a total disgrace as a president. Outside of Nixon, he has done more to circumvent the US Constition. Illegal wire tapping, advocationg the torture of prisoners and keeping troops in Iraq much longer than necessary are just to name a few. I am in support of Detroit's panel for impeachment. Its a shame, however that it doesnt carry and legal clout, and cant make it happen. There is a quote by Bush that says "Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists." This shows echos of the days of European totaliarian regimes such as Hitler, Mussolini and General Franco, who uttered very similar quotes. Citizens had to join them and spout their rhetoric, or they would be jailed, tortured and executed. He will keep sending American men and women to be slaughtered for a pointless war. No matter when American troops should pull out, the Iraqi parliment will be dismantled with a coux and another tyrranical regime will take its place. I for one, predict he will find a way to override the two term limitation on presidential terms and he will stay in office. I am extremely sick of Bush and his illegal tendencies to destroy the moral of this nation, throw us into a horrific recession, jam our oil prices ever higher (due to the war) and offer illegal immigrants benefits from social security. That is wrong on so many levels. BUSH MUST GO!!!

[passerby2]

after almost seven years, I still can't believe bush is president.

[a-ji]

"This is our country's calling," Mr. Bush said. "It's our country's destiny."

Some destiny you've got Pres. Bush. We wonder how on earth you come up with this kind of thoughts. Silly and Stupid!

[randalds]

Posted by bbbbbfan at 01:03 PM : May 30, 2007

Excellent description of Manifest Destiny! To it I would only add the religious and racial aspects of it during the era of president Polk. Polk and other devotees of Manifest Destiny did not just believe that is was our destiny to own North America, but also that this literally the will of God and that it was the white mans destiny to eliminate or control the native Americans and Mexicans. To them this was a religious act. Which sounds frighteningly familiar when one hears Bush say that God made sure he was president at this point in history so he could spread God's gift of democracy throughout the world. Bush honestly believes he's on a mission from God and that belief makes him as dangerous as any fanatic in history.

[xlt150]

We have had a military presence in southwest Asia since August of 1989 when the first George Bush decided to go to war (desert shield/storm) and we are still there.

How much longer does this have to go on?????? I'm tired of hearing about the war, bring them home and fight the terrorist that are here around us...

[tucano2]

Mr. Bush designed the intervention in Iraq. Mr. Bush designed the Katrina response. Mr. Bush (with help from some drones) designed the so-called "Comprehensive Immigration" package. Anyone with a brain a just a little backbone will reject this huge Corporate Welfare package presented under the guise of helping Illegal Aliens. Anyone with a brain and a little backbone will reject this AMNESTY package.

Amnesty by any other name is AMNESTY. This proposal intends to reward criminals with the object of their crime. This is typical Bush Administration "My way or the highway", if one does not agree with Mr. Bush one must therefore be some kind of subversive. The subversives are those criminals who have invaded our country, and the traitors who support them whether in the Senate or in some church or other providing aid and comfort to them while still enjoying tax-exempt status. What is it about ILLEGAL Mr. Bush and the drones in the Senate will not understand about ILLEGAL ALIENS?



Americans know in their gut Mr. Bush and the drones in the Senate are selling out the USA.
This is the most massive Corporate Welfare piece of Pork ever considered by Congress. It should be rejected with hostility.

[anonbychoice]

How long is CBS going to run with this story??? I've seen it on here for 3 LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG days. Isn't there anything else these morons can cover?? I'm sure there is.....IF they had any journalists!!

*some people are only alive because it's illegal to shoot them*

[candojj1]

Manifest Destiny was a phrase that expressed the belief that the United States was destined to expand from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean; it has also been used to advocate for or justify other territorial acquisitions. Advocates of Manifest Destiny believed that expansion was not only good, but that it was obvious ("manifest") and certain ("destiny"). It was originally a political catch phrase or slogan used by Democrats in the 1845-1855 period, and rejected by Whigs and Republicans of that era. Manifest Destiny was an explanation or justification for that expansion and westward movement, or, in some interpretations, an ideology or doctrine which helped to promote the process.

Bush believes Iraq and the other sandbox are our destiny just as our expansion westward was. Same way the neo-imperialist IMF sent multi multinational corporations into many of the of the poorest countries on earth to "democratize" them and pass legislation in congress called "The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act" where the natural resources have been pillaged "legally" and by our "destiny as "imperialists" and colonizers.
The b*astard.