Remarks by the President to the Travel Pool

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 26, 2004

Remarks by the President to the Travel Pool Coffee Station Crawford, Texas 12:30 P.M. CST

THE PRESIDENT: I just had a great Thanksgiving with our daughters and my mother and dad and my mother-in-law. It's good to be back in Texas. I wish the Crawford Pirates all the best in their state playoff football game tonight. I know you agree with me. I'll take a couple of questions.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. If I could ask you about a couple news developments today. Seventeen political parties in Iraq demanded postponement of the January 30th elections for at least six months. I wonder about your reaction to that. And there's a tentative deal on Iran's nuclear weapons, but I wonder whether you think Iran should be trusted given their history.

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I appreciate the nations of Great Britain and Germany and France who are working to try to convince Iran to honor their international treaty obligations. And the only good deal is one that's verifiable. And I look forward to talking to the leaders of those countries, if they can get Iran to agree to a deal, to make sure that it's verifiable. I know that the Prime Minister of Great Britain wants a verifiable deal because I've talked to him personally about it.

In terms of Iraq, the Iraq election commission has scheduled elections in January, and I would hope they would go forward in January.

Q Mr. President, what are the consequences if Ukraine does not comply with international pressure and demands on the elections? And do you think that President Putin overstepped his bounds?

THE PRESIDENT: There's just a lot of allegations of vote fraud that placed their election -- the validity of their elections in doubt. The international community is watching very carefully. People are paying very close attention to this, and hopefully it will be resolved in a way that brings credit and confidence to the Ukrainian government.

Yes.

Q Mr. President --

THE PRESIDENT: Identify yourself, please.

Q I'm with Bloomberg News. I'm Jay Newton-Small.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, welcome.

Q Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Do you know Scott? (Laughter.)

Q Very well.

Q We ride in a lot of vans together.

THE PRESIDENT: You might ask him why he didn't shave. But go ahead.

THE PRESS: Awww .

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I was just curious. (Laughter.)

Q Don't ask me.

THE PRESIDENT: It looks like it's contagious, as a matter of fact.

Q Left the razor at home.

THE PRESIDENT: Please, sorry to interrupt.

Q Today the World Trade Organization finalized or approved sanctions the European Union will have against the United States, $150 million worth of sanctions for the Byrd amendment. Do you have any comments on that?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we've worked hard to comply with the WTO. I think it's important that all nations comply with WTO rulings. I'll work with Congress to get into compliance. As you might remember, we worked on the FISC/ETI bill because of the WTO ruling. We expect the WTO, as well, to treat our trading partners as they treat us. And that's why, for example, I filed complaint on the Airbus situation. We believe that the subsidies for Airbus are unfair for U.S. companies, such as Boeing.

Yes, Mark, hi.

THE PRESIDENT: Hi. Sir, you said you're going to sign the big OMNIBUS appropriations bill, but are you bothered by all the examples of pork-barrel spending that are in that bill?

THE PRESIDENT: Mark, it's -- first, the bill conforms to the budget that I worked out with the Congress, and I appreciate that. In other words, the size of the bill is a number that we agreed to early on -- earlier this year. And I appreciate that, because part of making sure we cut the deficit in half is to work together on the overall size of our spending bills.

Now, secondly, obviously, there's going to be things in these big bills that I don't particularly care for, and that's why I've asked Congress to give me a line-item veto. And the only way a President can affect that which is inside the bill, other than vetoing the entire bill, is to be able to pick out parts of a bill and express displeasure about it through a line-item veto. I hope the Congress will give me a line-item veto.

Listen, it's great to see everybody.

Q Anything on Northern Ireland?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I talked to -- evidently the word's out that I made a phone call this morning, and I did so. And I was just trying to be a part of the process of getting both Ian Paisley's group -- Dr. Paisley's group and Gerry Adams' group to the table, to get a deal done.

Q To get --

THE PRESIDENT: To get a deal done. In other words, to close the agreement that they've been working on for quite a while. Hopefully it will help. Of course the primary movers are Prime Minister Blair and Bertie Ahern of Ireland, who have been working very diligently on this. I appreciate their efforts, and anything I can do to help keep the process moving forward, I'm more than willing to do so.

Listen, I've got to go eat a burger. Thank you all.

END 12:35 P.M. CST

Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 23, 2004

SUBJECT: Strengthening Central Intelligence Agency Capabilities

The Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States recommended:

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director should emphasize (a)rebuilding the CIA's analytic capabilities; (b) transforming the clandestine service by building its human intelligence capabilities; (c) developing a stronger language program, with high standards and sufficient financial incentives; (d) renewing emphasis on recruiting diversity among operations officers so they can blend more easily in foreign cities; (e) ensuring a seamless relationship between human source collection and signals collection at the operational level; and (f) stressing a better balance between unilateral and liaison operations.

I approve and direct you to implement these recommendations, recognizing that significant progress has already been made in rebuilding the CIA's capabilities under the Strengthening Intelligence Initiative and the Director of Central Intelligence's (DCI) Strategic Direction, especially with respect to all-source analysis, clandestine operations, information sharing, and foreign languages.

Working within the framework established by the Strengthening Intelligence Initiative, I direct you to implement within the CIA measures to:

(1) Further strengthen the core capabilities of the CIA to meet the intelligence challenges presented by international terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and other critical national security issues, including, but not limited to, its capabilities to:

(a) Perform all-source intelligence analysis that, among other qualities, routinely considers, and presents to national security policymakers, diverse views;
(b) Conduct clandestine collection operations involving human sources and technical methods unilaterally, with other elements of the Intelligence Community, and with foreign partners, and conduct covert action operations as directed by the President;
(c) Share information rapidly and proactively with other agencies of the United States Government, including specifically those responsible for national security and homeland security, while protecting the sources and methods of its collection from unauthorized disclosure, giving top priority to support of governmental actions to detect, prevent, preempt, and disrupt terrorist threats and attacks on the United States, its people, and its allies and interests around the globe; and
(d) Collect, process, analyze, and disseminate intelligence information using personnel proficient in foreign languages, and develop information technology tools to assist in effective processing and use of foreign language information.

2) Ensure that the CIA processes, shares, and disseminates to the President, Vice President in the performance of Executive functions, and other appropriate officials in the executive branch, including the heads of depart-ments and agencies with elements in the Intelligence Community, terrorism information and other information relevant to national security and homeland security including as directed by Executive Order 13356 of August 27, 2004, entitled "Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans."

Building on levels attained under the DCI's Strategic Direction I, measures implemented in accordance with the foregoing shall include, but not be limited to, actions to:

(1) Strengthen CIA intelligence analysis capabilities substantially and promptly through actions to:

(a) Increase, as soon as feasible, the number of fully qualified, all-source analysts by 50 percent;
(b) Assign fully qualified, all-source analysts in a manner that strengthens CIA and Intelligence Community analytical capabilities focused on terrorism, pro-liferation of WMD, the Near East and South Asia, and other key strategic areas in Asia, while maintaining substantial analytical capabilities focused on other issues and regions;
(c) Increase investment in development of their analytic expertise, field experience, and training in advanced analytical methods, including for geospatial analysis; and
(d) Continue to acquire and develop tools that enable analysts to connect to counterparts inside and outside of government, increase the speed of the analytic workflow, and deal with the rapidly increasing volume of all-source information.

(2) Strengthen CIA human intelligence operations capabilities substantially and promptly through actions to:

(a) Increase, as soon as feasible, the number of fully qualified officers in the Directorate of Operations by 50 percent;
(b) Ensure that a majority of these officers are collectors drawn from diverse backgrounds with the skills, experience, and training needed for the effective conduct of human intelligence operations;
(c) Assign substantial numbers of these officers to collection missions reflecting the priorities established through the National Intelligence Priorities Framework; and
(d) Integrate effectively, as appropriate to particular collection activities, human intelligence collection capabilities and signals and other technical intelligence collection capabilities.

(3) Improve the foreign language capabilities of the CIA through actions to:

(a) Increase, as soon as feasible, the number of CIA officers tested and proficient in mission-critical languages by 50 percent; and
(b) Develop and employ information technology tools to assist in processing and use of information in foreign languages.

(4) Fully implement directives concerning information sharing, information technology, information privacy, and security including Executive Order 13354 of August 27, 2004, entitled "National Counterterrorism Center" and Executive Order 13356.

(5) Double, as soon as feasible, the number of officers who are engaged in research and development to find new ways to bring science to bear in the war on terrorism, countering the proliferation of WMD, and against new and emerging threats.

I direct you to submit to me within 90 days from the date of this memorandum, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a detailed budget and implementation plan, including performance measures, with timelines for achievement of specific, measurable goals. In addition to the capabilities enumerated above, this plan shall also include a description, with appropriate performance measures, of steps underway at the CIA to develop and implement new collection strategies against difficult targets, to integrate human and technical collection tools, to assure appropriate access by analysts to information on the sources of critical intelligence reporting, to expand relationships with experts outside of government and otherwise ensure diverse views are routinely reflected in finished intelligence products. A copy of this plan will be provided to the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, which will advise me on the adequacy of the plan, especially with respect to countering the threat posed by WMD. Beginning in June 2005, I direct you to report to me at least semi-annually, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, on progress made implementing this memorandum.

This memorandum shall be implemented subject to the availability of appropriations and in a manner consistent with applicable law, including the Constitution and laws protecting the freedom and information privacy of Americans.

GEORGE W. BUSH # # #

UNCLASSIFIED STATEMENT BY STEPHEN A. CAMBONE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR INTELLIGENCE BEFORE THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AUGUST 18, 2004

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Transcript

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld

On the Web: defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004 Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131 Public contact:dod.mil/faq/comment or +1 (703) 428-0711

Presenter: Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Wednesday, December 8, 2004

Secretary Rumsfeld Town Hall Meeting in Kuwait

SEC. RUMSFELD: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. My goodness. What a group this is. Impressive gathering. General Steve Whitcomb, thank you so much for your kind words. Sergeant Major Kellman, it’s good to see you again. I appreciate your able leadership as well. First, I want to say thank you to each of you, to your families for your superb service to our country. You are doing noble work, it’s vitally important work and your country is deeply grateful.

Today’s December 8th. Sixty three years ago today our nation declared war on an enemy that had launched a sneak attack on the United States and killed thousands of people. I remember the day well. I doubt that many of you do. [Laughter] Some six decades later, America faces another global conflict. And as it was in 1941, a new generation of Americans has been asked to come to freedom’s defense. In recent times, we’ve witnessed the advance of freedom in nearly every region of the world. In the joy of the reunited Germans dancing atop the crumbling Berlin Wall, after it was torn down. If you think about, in today’s papers, the passionate debate that’s taking place over free elections in Ukraine. And certainly, in the determination of the women who braved violence and cast their ballots in Afghanistan in what was the first ever democratic presidential election in the country’s history.

Think of it, yesterday, December 7th, the inauguration of the first popularly elected president in Afghan’s history. I was there to see that historic event and I’ll never forget it. And all of you who serve in our military in all the coalition countries that assisted in Afghanistan will look back in five or ten or fifteen or twenty years and know that you were a part of something enormously important. Twenty five million Afghan people liberated, voting, tears in their eyes, yesterday at the inauguration of Hamid Karzai. And as you consider your service in Iraq, think also of the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have volunteered to risk their lives, as you have to come to the defense of their newly liberated nation – a nation that was liberated by the coalition countries at the risk of their lives.

These pivotal moments in history would not have been possible, had it not been for the determination and the daring of America’s founders. And the generations of Americans who have advanced those freedoms at home and helped to nurture those freedoms abroad. Now that duty falls to you or more correctly, and I think importantly, you have each volunteered to accept that duty and I know that you are up to the task.

Now I’ve been told something about who’s here today. Some of you are en route out, some of you are en route in, some of you are en route back in for the second time, I understand. I’m told that the Task Force Liberty includes the Rainbow Division that broke [Cheers] I was told right. That’s the division that broke through the Siegfried Line in World War II and liberated Dachau. And I believe it was a division that, decades later, came to the World Trade site within hours of the September 11th attacks.

The Swamp Fox Artillerymen [Cheers], they’re a little slow on the draw. [Laughter] I understand you folks are flexible enough to become experts in military police-style convoy security. Congratulations. And the 699th Maintenance Mad Max Shop, is that right? [Cheers] Oh, good, it’s an echo. [Laughter] I understand you folks have up-armored some 6,000 vehicles and we appreciate that a great deal. And two maneuver brigades from the guard and many others, as well – Active, Guard, Reserve, even some sailors.

ARMED FORCE MEMBER: Taos here sir.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Where? Where’s a sailor?

ARMED FORCE MEMBER: No, I said, “Taos, New Mexico,” Sir.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Oh, good. Taos, New Mexico. I know that place very well. We’ve got some sailors and airmen and Marines and civilians here as permanent party, all working with the same commitment. And for those nearing the end of your time in theater, know that you’ve done a superb job and I wish you the best, as you return home. And welcome to any of you who’ve been here before, like the Red Legs of the 42nd Division Artillery from Massachusetts.

And America’s fortunate to have some old pros back in the field. You know, there are those who see the violence taking place in Iraq and there is violence, let there be no doubt. The beheadings, the slaughtering of innocent men, women, the bombings and they say we can’t prevail. I see that violence and say we must win. Think of a world – just think of a world in which the butchers and the murderers are allowed to prevail. Think of what would happen if Iraq were to, again, be run by the extremists.

On this day, 63 years ago, Franklin Roosevelt ended his address on December 8, 1941 to the Congress by vowing that no matter how long it may take, we will not only defend ourselves to the utmost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us. In today’s global conflict, the stakes are as high. As before, it falls to you and to our country to win this test of wills and to see it through to victory. I ask you all to remember this in the difficult, in the trying moments that you’ll face. There’s perhaps no greater calling in life than doing what you are doing: serving on freedom’s front lines.

You know there are doubters and those who say it can’t be done. Well, there have always been doubters who have said it couldn’t be done. Think of Afghanistan only three years ago. It was described after a few weeks as a quagmire. People were aware that the Soviet Union had some 200,000 troops in Afghanistan and they lost after decades and thousands of lives. Well, it’s not a quagmire, it’s a democracy. It’s a democracy of 25 million liberated Afghans and it’s a democracy, thanks to many of you here and all across the globe who didn’t listen to the doubters and believed it was possible and understood the important fact that the great sweep of human history is for freedom and freedom is on our side. [Applause] [Cheers]

There is no finer legacy to bestow on future generations than being a part of the world’s forward strategy for freedom and contributing to a safer and a more peaceful world and you are doing just that. And for that I thank you. God bless you all. I am confident that I’ll have other chances to say this, but just know this for a fact – there is nothing more important for you than to understand – excuse me – understand how deeply grateful the American people are to you for what you do, indeed, for what you volunteer to do and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all. [Applause]

Now the General said you can ask tough questions [Laughter] and you can. And I’ll answer the questions that I know the answers to. And I’ll have the General answer the ones that I don’t. [Laughter] Now this is quite a sight. I wish all of you could be right up here and look out at this fabulous array of soldiers and sailors and airmen, Marines. Well, who’s got the first question? Who has a microphone? Are there any microphones? There’s a microphone, there’s a microphone. There’s a couple. What you might want to do is get near a microphone. And we could save some time and I can answer some questions. And when a microphone person has a person with a question, why don’t you put your hand up, so I can see you. There you go. Yes, sir.

Q: Good morning, sir. My name is Staff Sergeant Donald Ross (sp) from Bravo Company 6 of the 7th Signal Battalion. Yes, sir. My question is with numerous troops deploying and numerous troops preparing to deploy, what is your plan to maintain a balance between units deploying overseas and units back at home to maintain an adequate fighting force in case of possible terror attacks?

SEC. RUMSFELD: Well, it’s a good question. And what we do is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the vice chairman and the chiefs review all the deployments in what we call “a tank,” which is a room where they meet in the Pentagon and they constantly are looking to see that the United States of America has the capability to fulfill the assigned missions that it has. And I can assure you that as troops are activated, alerted, activated, deployed, demobilized as active forces are deployed and redeployed, all of that is looked at in the context of the several contingencies that conceivably could occur in the world that the United States would have to be prepared for and that let there be no doubt, we have 1.4 million men and women in uniform in the active force.

We have something like 865,000 in the Active Reserves, the Selective Reserves. And we have something like 450,000 in the Individual Ready Reserves. We have in this AOR – Area of Responsibility – today, something in the neighborhood of – for the sake of argument – 200,000. That’s 200,000 out of 1.4 million plus 600,000 and so well over 2.5 million people who we can call on at any given time. So you can be sure that we have the capability we need. There are elements of the force, however, that have been stressed and we read a lot about that and we hear a lot about that on television and it’s a fact. And the reason some elements of the force have been stressed is not because we have too few total forces, it’s because we have not had the right balance between the Active and Reserve. We’ve not had the right skill sets. And some skill sets and some capabilities have been overused, by my characterization. That is to say they’ve been used more than otherwise would have been necessary if we’d had the proper balance. But no one in the world should think that because of the fact that we have some stresses in portions of the force and that because we have a large number – 200,000 – deployed to the CentCom Area of Responsibility, that our country is not capable of fulfilling any conceivable contingency because, in fact, we are. Thank you.

Question, right here.

Q: Yes, sir. My question is after the January 30th elections and the Iraqi government in place, what is the plan for the U.S. forces in a post-democratic Iraq?

SEC. RUMSFELD: The president has indicated that his intent and indeed, the other members of the coalition have indicated that what we need to do is to have the appropriate number of forces in Iraq to help create an environment for them to succeed in moving their country off the path of a dictatorship towards a democracy and towards a country that’s at peace with its neighbors and that they ought to be there, as long as they’re necessary, but not one day longer. Now that means that the facts on the ground will determine what will happen. And it’s hard to predict precisely what will take place, but there’s a strong belief on most of our parts, including this individual, that once the Iraqis begin having their elections, which they’re scheduled for next year, that the people of Iraq will see that they have a stake in the future of that country and that they will then begin to assume greater and greater responsibility for the management of their country.

Their security forces, as I mentioned earlier, are – oh, they’re now up to something like 110[000], 120,000 -- up from zero. And they are putting their lives at risk as well. Indeed, a large number of security forces – Iraqi security forces have been killed. But they’re being trained rapidly, they’re standing in line and the goal is to have them prepare to take over the security responsibility. So one would anticipate that after the elections and as the security forces grow, you’ll see a reduction in the forces of the coalition countries and that’s the hope and that’s the expectation. The pace of that, however, is dependant completely on what the facts on the ground are.

Thank you. Yes, sir.

Q: Yes, Mr. Secretary. My question is more logistical. We’ve had troops in Iraq for coming up on three years and we’ve always staged here out of Kuwait. Now why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromise ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles and why don’t we have those resources readily available to us? [Applause]

SEC. RUMSFELD: I missed the first part of your question. And could you repeat it for me?

Q: Yes, Mr. Secretary. Our soldiers have been fighting in Iraq for coming up on three years. A lot of us are getting ready to move north relatively soon. Our vehicles are not armored. We’re digging pieces of rusted scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass that’s already been shot up, dropped, busted, picking the best out of this scrap to put on our vehicles to take into combat. We do not have proper armament vehicles to carry with us north.

SEC. RUMSFELD: I talked to the General coming out here about the pace at which the vehicles are being armored. They have been brought from all over the world, wherever they’re not needed, to a place here where they are needed. I’m told that they are being – the Army is – I think it’s something like 400 a month are being done. And it’s essentially a matter of physics. It isn’t a matter of money. It isn’t a matter on the part of the Army of desire. It’s a matter of production and capability of doing it.

As you know, you go to war with the Army you have. They’re not the Army you might want or wish to have at a later time. Since the Iraq conflict began, the Army has been pressing ahead to produce the armor necessary at a rate that they believe – it’s a greatly expanded rate from what existed previously, but a rate that they believe is the rate that is all that can be accomplished at this moment.

I can assure you that General Schoomaker and the leadership in the Army and certainly General Whitcomb are sensitive to the fact that not every vehicle has the degree of armor that would be desirable for it to have, but that they’re working at it at a good clip. It’s interesting, I’ve talked a great deal about this with a team of people who’ve been working on it hard at the Pentagon. And if you think about it, you can have all the armor in the world on a tank and a tank can be blown up. And you can have an up-armored humvee and it can be blown up. And you can go down and, the vehicle, the goal we have is to have as many of those vehicles as is humanly possible with the appropriate level of armor available for the troops. And that is what the Army has been working on.

And General Whitcomb, is there anything you’d want to add to that?

GEN. WHITCOMB: Nothing. [Laughter] Mr. Secretary, I’d be happy to. That is a focus on what we do here in Kuwait and what is done up in the theater, both in Iraq and also in Afghanistan. As the secretary has said, it’s not a matter of money or desire; it is a matter of the logistics of being able to produce it. The 699th, the team that we’ve got here in Kuwait has done [Cheers] a tremendous effort to take that steel that they have and cut it, prefab it and put it on vehicles. But there is nobody from the president on down that is not aware that this is a challenge for us and this is a desire for us to accomplish.

SEC. RUMSFELD: The other day, after there was a big threat alert in Washington, D.C. in connection with the elections, as I recall, I looked outside the Pentagon and there were six or eight up-armored humvees. They’re not there anymore. [Cheers] [Applause] They’re en route out here, I can assure you. Next. Way in the back. Yes.

Q: Staff Sergeant Kobeck (sp) with Charlie Company 171 Aviation. With the recent success of the elections in Afghan, what message will you take back to the States to the people that say we couldn’t get it done?

SEC. RUMSFELD: Well, I guess the short answer is you folks did get it done in Afghanistan. And it was a breathtaking, thrilling moment to be there yesterday and to see that inauguration and to see the first popularly elected president take his oath of office and to hear the stories that he told – the stories of women who left maternity areas in their homes, having just had babies to go in and vote, people who got up at three in the morning and walked in the cold to get there to vote, individuals who were standing in line in a voting area and 100 meters away there was a explosion where some Taliban were trying to disrupt the elections and the people stayed right in line and voted. And that says something about the power of freedom. It says something about the desire on the part of human beings. And when people constantly look at what’s going on and find everything they can say – take Iraq, there’s a lot not right in Iraq. That’s a fact and we know that and people are being killed and people are being wounded.

And when you visit with the wounded in Walter Reed and Bethesda your heart goes out to them. But I can tell you, they’re proud of what they’ve been doing. They know what they’re doing is important. They believe in what they’re doing. Their families believe in what they’re doing. And it is a – I mean, the other side of the coin is this: In Iraq, there are 25 million people who were living under a vicious dictator with killing fields, mass graves. And today the schools are open, the clinics are open, the hospitals are open, the stock markets open. People have an opportunity.

I was with one of the leaders of a Gulf country and I suppose it’s not for me to talk about a private meeting. But he looked at me and he said: You know, you Americans have sent the finest young men and women from your country over to Iraq -- this is a neighbor of Iraq – and you’ve sent them over there to free those 25 million people and you’ve liberated those 25 million people and you’ve opened the schools and you’ve opened the hospitals. And now it’s up to the Iraqi people. And the Iraqi people are going to have to pick up and grab a hold of their country and make that country work. In the last analysis, you can’t do that for someone else. All you can do is create an environment that allows them to do that. And that’s what’s happening. That’s what’s taking place. And is it perfect, no. Is it ugly from time to time, yes. It is dangerous, you bet your life, it is. But God bless the people who’ve done it and who are doing and who are giving those 25 million people the opportunity to be free and to be liberated and to have opportunities they never could have thought of under that vicious dictator. [Applause] Question.

Q: Yes, sir. Specialist Anderson, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon. And my question is I was curious to know why I, as a single soldier, cannot enlist in the regular Army, but I can enlist in the National Guard and be deployed with a family care plan?

SEC. RUMSFELD: Your voice was dropping off on me and I’ve got an aviator’s ear.

Q: Yes, sir. I was wanting to know why I cannot enlist as a single parent in the regular Army, but I can enlist in the National Guard and be deployed?

SEC. RUMSFELD: I don’t have the vaguest idea. But by golly, we’re looking for folks in the Army. You ought to be able to enlist in the Army and I’ll try and figure out how in the world you ought to be able to do it. [Applause] We want people who want to serve and we’ve got ‘em and God bless you for it. Yes.

Q: Mr. Secretary, Specialist McKobiak (sp), 116th Calvary Brigade. My question is what is the Department of Defense, more specifically, the Army side of the house, doing to address shortages and antiquated equipment that National Guard soldiers, such as the 116th Calvary Brigade and the 278th ACR are going to roll into Iraq with?

SEC. RUMSFELD: The – now settle down. Settle down. [Laughter] Hell, I’m an old man and it’s early in the morning. I didn’t take – just gathering my thoughts here. In any organization you’re going to have equipment and materials and spare parts of different ages. And I am told – and no way I can prove it, but I’m told – that the Army is breaking its neck to see that there is not a differentiation as to who gets what aged materials in the military, in the Army, as between the active force, the Guard and the Reserve. I’m told that they are, instead, trying to see that the equipment goes to those that are in the most need and who are most likely to be using it - the equipment. And that varies among the Guard and Reserve and the active force. So any organization, any element of the Army is going to end up, at some point, with – you characterize it as “antiquated.” I would say the older equipment, whatever it may be, in any category. Somebody is always going to be at that level as things are constantly replaced. And things are being constantly replaced. I mean, I believe them when they tell me that they have made a major effort to see that they’re dealing equitably as between the forces and seeing that the ones who are likely to be going into combat and have the greatest needs are the ones that have the best equipment. Yes, sir.

Q: Chaplain Malone (sp), the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion. Mr. Secretary, my job is to support the spiritual fitness of the soldiers that you see in the room today. I am also here to support the morale of these soldiers. And the soldiers that you see here today have asked me to ask you this question on their behalf. Would you be kind enough, sir, to put us on your aircraft today and take us to Disneyland? [Cheers]

SEC. RUMSFELD: [Laughter] Oh, Chaplain, you did it. [Laughter] You asked it, you knocked it right out of the park and the answer is sorry. [Laughter] We’ve got more important things for you to do [Laughter] and we appreciate it. We’ve got time for a couple more questions right here.

Q: Yes, Mr. Secretary, Specialist McCullough (sp), Alpha Company 1st of the 112th Infantry. There’s a lot of soldiers here from Western Pennsylvania and we were wondering if we were going to be given the opportunity to watch the Steelers win the Super Bowl this year? [Cheers] [Applause]

SEC. RUMSFELD: I can’t answer the question about outcomes [Laughter], but General, they’re going to have access to the…

GEN. WHITCOMB: Absolutely, sir.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Yes, you’ll have access to the television, but you’re going to have to figure out a way to encourage that to happen. [Laughter] Yes.

Q: Mr. Secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Alan Kronolog (sp). I’m the Inspector General for the 116th Brigade Combat team. We’re helping – or trying to help about 150 soldiers get their contingency travel pay. We’ve gone through the chain of command; we’ve tried IG channels. These soldiers have gone – some since July – without getting travel pay. Thousands of dollars, they’re having creditors call them at home, call their spouses at home, threatening collection action. We have a big problem. There seems to be a problem with the Defense Finance Accounting Service. Can you help us to understand that problem, Mr. Secretary or even better, can you point us to a resource that will help us get these soldiers paid? [Applause]

SEC. RUMSFELD: Can someone here get the details of the unit he’s talking about? That’s just not right. Folks have earned money and are due money, ought to be able to get the money and they ought not to have to put their families under stress while they’re waiting for the money. Thank you. [Applause] We’ll take a note and see what we can do. Yes, sir.

Q: Specialist Skarwin (Sp?) HHD 42nd Engineer Brigade. Mr. Secretary [Cheers] my question is with the current mission of the National Guard and Reserves being the same as our active duty counterparts, when are more of our benefits going to line up to the same as theirs, for example, retirement? [Cheers] [Applause]

SEC. RUMSFELD: [Laughter] I can’t imagine anyone your age worrying about retirement. [Laughter] Good grief. It’s the last thing I want to do is retire. The pay and benefits for the Guard and the Reserve relative to the active force have been going up unevenly at a rate faster than the active force. If you go back over four years – matter of fact, I just went over this with the senior person in the department who looks at pay and benefits. And apparently, what’s happened is that for a variety of reasons, the incremental changes that are made each year, in terms of pay and benefits and health care and retirement and what have you, have brought the Guard and Reserve up at a faster level than the active force. And what one has to do in managing the total force and the total force is critically important. We need the Guard and Reserve as well as the active force. And we have to see that we have the incentives arranged in a way that we can attract and retain the people that are needed to defend the country. At the moment, we are doing well in terms of attracting and retaining the people we need. And if anything, I think the data suggests that the Guard and Reserve forces had been advantaged relatively compared to the active force over the past four years. Question.

Q: Sergeant Carr (sp), 3 in the 116 Armored Cav from Oregon. [Cheers] Mr. Secretary, with the recent re-election of our commander in chief to another term in office, the U.S. people sent a message to the world that we are committed to fight this war on terrorism. Specifically, in regards to non-NATO countries, how has this message affected their posture or willingness to renegotiate their relationship with the United States?

SEC. RUMSFELD: You know, you read an awful lot in the paper about different countries disagreeing on various things and there’s a tendency, I think, for the press to play up controversy and differences. But the reality is that since September 11th, the United States of America has put together a coalition of something like 85 or 90 nations, probably the largest coalition in the history of mankind. We have had somewhere – we’ve had somewhere between 25 and 30 countries helping us in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Those are large numbers of nations.

Now, why is that so important? I think it’s important because in the nature of the world today, there are so many things we can – no nation, certainly not the United States, but no nation on the face of the earth can do alone. We have to have the cooperation of other countries. You can’t deal with, for example, the problem of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction around the world alone. You’ve got work with other countries. In the case of the global war on terror, you have to share intelligence. You have to cooperate in terms of the movement of people and money across borders. If you’re going to put enough pressure on the terrorist networks, which are truly global in nature, if you’re going to put enough pressure on them, you simply have to cooperate with other countries. My impression is that your question will be answered as we go through the coming weeks and months in the positive sense, that country after country that I’ve seen since the election – and I’ve been in Latin America in six countries, I’ve been over here since the election – and in every instance, I find countries cooperating, leaning forward, understanding the threat that exists in the world in wanting to work with the United States. We’ll make that the last question. Right there.

Q: Good morning, sir. Staff Sergeant Latazinsky (sp), 1st COSCOM (sp), Fort Bragg, [Cheers] North Carolina. Yes, sir. My husband and myself, we both joined a volunteer Army. Currently, I’m serving under the Stop Loss Program. I would like to know how much longer do you foresee the military using this program?

SEC. RUMSFELD: The Stop Loss has been used by the military for years and years and years. It’s all well understood when someone volunteers to join the service. It is something that you prefer not to have to use, obviously, in a perfect world. But if you think about it, the whole principle of stop loss is based on unit cohesion. And the principle is that in the event that there is something that requires a unit to be involved and people are in a personal situation where their time was ending, they put a stop loss on it, so that the cohesion can be maintained. It’s basically a sound principle. It’s nothing new. It’s been well understood. It’s been used as little as possible. And my guess is that it will continue to be used as little as possible, but that it will continue to be used.

Folks, I am very grateful to all of you. I am so pleased that I was able to come and say hello and to thank you. I wish you Godspeed, as you do your important work. Thank you very much.

[Applause]

Remarks by John C. Danforth

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 271 (04) December 3, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Remarks by Ambassador John C. Danforth, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, on his Tenure as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, at the Security Council Stakeout, December 3, 2004

Reporter: Any surprises for us today?

Ambassador Danforth: What can I say?

Reporter: Ambassador, why are you leaving?

Ambassador Danforth: I want to go home. It’s just that simple. It doesn’t have anything to do with making any kind of statement other than at this point in my life the question that I ask myself is what’s most important to me. And what is most important to me is my wife and my home and having more time with both. I’m a St. Louis guy and that’s the place I love and the wife of 47 years, and I just want to spend more time with both.

Reporter: Do you think Kofi should leave too?

Ambassador Danforth: I think that an investigation is going on. It’s very important when an investigation is going on to have it proceed in an orderly way and in a very thorough way, and for everybody to keep his mind open.

Reporter: Last week in some very strong words you expressed frustration with the General Assembly with the no action vote on Sudan. In general, what has been your feeling about the workings of the UN and your frustrations? And also, you said you would say something substantive about now on the report that came out? If you could address those two.

Ambassador Danforth: Anything else? In general, let me say that it has been an honor to have been here and to be in this position. The United Nations is very important. The U.S. is committed to a multilateral foreign policy and the United Nations is a key part of that. President Bush made that clear to me when he asked me to do this job; that is the position of our government. I have had a good experience here. I must say that in connection with the inaction of the General Assembly on the issue of Sudan, I just couldn’t understand it. I thought it was just plain wrong to say we can’t be bothered with the suffering of the people of Darfur or the people of Sudan. I am concerned that the General Assembly is essentially a place where 191 countries make statements and some of the statements they make are not very helpful in solving the problems of the world. With respect to the Security Council, I think we did very good work on our trip to Nairobi. To me the highest and best use of the Security Council is to provide a stage for the focus on significant issues and that’s what we did. My own view is that more important than the specific wording of a resolution is the focus we can give particular problems, and I think we’ve done that with respect to Sudan, and did it especially on the trip to Nairobi.

Reporter: Would you have stayed with this administration if you were offered a different post within the administration? And beyond that, how concerned are you now about the relations between the United Nations and the U.S.?

Ambassador Danforth: Well, first of all and I’ve thought a lot about this since September, since about Labor Day, if the President were to win, what would be my – what would I want to do and I talked a lot to my wife about it and thought a lot about it and what I really want to do is go home. I mean it’s really just as simple as that. And I wanted to make that clear. In fact, three days after the election I talked to the President’s Chief of Staff Andy Card and told him that what we want to do – what my wife and I want to do - is to go home. It’s not that we don’t like it here – we do. But it’s just home at this point in our lives and being together at this point in our lives, and not being off on some other pursuit. So that was my sole thought on that.

Reporter: How concerned are you about the relations between the United Nations and the U.S.?

Ambassador Danforth: I think, you know just my own experience, that being here and my own experience working in the Security Council and my experience with the UN is that essentially we have a good relationship and the rest of the world. We, of course, and I in this position have to do our best to state what is the policy of the United States, what’s our government’s say, and we do that to the best of our ability. But I’ve noticed a good relationship; I haven’t noticed anything other than that.

Reporter: You told the students of Washington University not too long ago (inaudible) that they have to check every word (inaudible)?

Ambassador Danforth: It’s different. Frustration is not exactly a word that applies to me. I’m not easily frustrated. Are you frustrated with this or that? I’m really not frustrated – it’s a different kind of role. My view is that it’s best that the U.S. have one foreign policy, not a bunch of independent operators. I do not believe that the Permanent Representative to the United Nations is an independent foreign policy maker or should be some sort of figure running around Washington saying exotic things, or running around New York saying exotic things. I really don’t believe that. I believe we should speak with one voice. And therefore I think that this particular method of operation is right. It’s the way I should function. It’s the way the State Department should function. It’s the way the government should function as a totality. Am I used to this kind of operating? No, I mean when I was in the U.S. Senate, I voted my conscience, my point of view and my position on issues, what I thought. And then when I’d go back to my home state and try my best to explain my position to my constituents. You can’t do that in this position, nobody can. I mean everybody who represents the government here does so as an ambassador. You’re representing a point of view that’s the point of view of the entire government, not just the point of view of an individual member of the United States Senate. So it’s a different kind of role, I think that the role here, I’m repeating myself, I think that the role here is not one for somebody who is an independent operator and shouldn’t be that way. And so that’s just the way it is.

Reporter: When you talked to Mr. Card, your name was already being mentioned as a possible replacement for Secretary of State Powell, in that conversation were you in effect ruling yourself out of consideration for that position? And as a second question, what do you see in your five months here as your greatest accomplishment?

Ambassador Danforth: The answer to the first question is yes. Now nobody in the White House talked to me about anything else, now this is three days after the election. And it certainly would have been presumptuous of me to call up the White House and say hey are you thinking about me for some other job. But did I want to sign on for a four-year stint at this time in my life, for something that would be preemptive of anything else in my life, and the answer to that question is no. So the message I gave is that I decided to go home from my current position, but obviously the message in that was that I just plain wanted to go home. Now I’m very happy, and I said this to the President in the letter I wrote him, if there’s something I can do in a more specific basis without being a government employee I’d be happy to do that, if I can do it from St. Louis as I did with Sudan and as I did with Waco before that in the Clinton administration. I’m very happy to do that kind of thing, but it’s the full-time job that I didn’t want to do. Now on the question of what is the most important thing. It was continuing to deal with Sudan; it was trying to increase the visibility of the issue of Sudan and particularly the trip to Nairobi.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Danforth: I’m sorry?

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Danforth: The Syria-Lebanon Resolution, yes, it was.

Reporter: (inaudible) meeting with Kofi Annan?

Ambassador Danforth: It was not about anything we’ve talked about. It was about something that was much more nuts and bolts than we’ve talked about.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Danforth: First of all, we welcome the report. It was a serious piece of work – is a serious piece of work. It recognizes the fact that the world situation is different now from when the UN was formed. It triggers a process now of considering what the UN should look like in the future. It makes about a hundred specific recommendations and all of that will require a lot of review and a lot of discussion among the members of the UN and within the governments of each country. We haven’t done that process of digesting it all, but we take this as very serious, as positive, as raising important issues, as starting an important process. And then let’s get into all of the details, and figure out whether the specific recommendations are just right or if they should be monitored in any way, what the precise answers should be. But it’s a very good start.

Reporter: (inaudible) I wanted to ask about the major priorities you set out in your initial testimony before congress. You said you wanted to expand and broaden the UN role in Iraq. How have you seen that progressing? Are you disappointed that you can’t get a more expansive approach to it?

Ambassador Danforth: Our approach has been to encourage the United Nations to be more and more active and present in Iraq and to follow up on the leading role that was set out in the resolution that was adopted last June. So you know it’s always been a matter of trying to encourage the UN to be more forthcoming, to encourage more people to be in Iraq to help out with the elections. I think there has been a very positive development in the last few days, and that was the Security Council creating the trust fund and the commitment of the European Union to $12 million dollars to provide the Middle Ring security for the UN people who are going to be in Iraq. So I think all of that’s positive and it’s moving in the right direction.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Danforth: Do I believe it’s a moral place?

Reporter: (inaudible) is it a place where generally people act (inaudible)?

Ambassador Danforth: Yes, it’s a place of ambassadors. That is it’s a place of people who represent their governments. And therefore their job is to represent the national interests of 191 nations and they all have whatever their national interest are. So there’s a national interest component, it’s not the altruism society of the world, it’s a representation of national interests. But I’ve been very impressed at the convergence of the national interests, not to say that there aren’t real differences and differences on fine points. But the earnestness of the approach that my colleagues have taken, the desire to do the right thing, the commitment to making the world a better place is very real. There can be differences between the countries with respect to wording of resolution and specific points of emphasis, but the seriousness of purpose and the desire to do the right thing to make the world better and safer, I think it’s there and it’s very, very commendable.

Reporter: Ambassador, in your meeting with the Secretary General, did you offer words of support in this time of crisis for him?

Ambassador Danforth: The meeting was really about different matters than matters of crisis. It had to do with more specific nuts and bolts things rather than the problem you’re talking about.

Reporter: Ambassador, you’ve been here for a few months, what has experience taught you – what would you say is the number one reform that’s necessary for the United Nations?

Ambassador Danforth: I’m an ambassador not a personal recommender, so I think what we have to do is to take this report very seriously, study it very carefully, look to the future and what the real problems are today as opposed to what they were 50 years ago – 50 plus years ago and do a very good job trying to respond to the impetus this sort of report has given to that sort of analysis.

Reporter: Is there one area that needs reform that needs work?

Ambassador Danforth: Well, there are, I think, a hundred different suggestions in the report so we’ll look at all of them. Thanks a lot.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Danforth: To do what?

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Danforth: I don’t – I really don’t agree with the premise of that comment. It’s very serious; charges have been made relating to the oil-for-food program, so they have to be taken seriously. And I – one thing I know about is investigations because I did the Waco investigation. When you go into an investigation there are at least two points you have to bear in mind, first of all, keep your mind open, don’t prejudge it. Don’t prejudge it on the basis that this person did something wrong. Don’t prejudge it to say all this is beyond reproach.

Reporter: (inaudible)

Ambassador Danforth: Just a second – wait, wait, wait, wait. Do you want me to respond to your question or would you like the mike?

Reporter: I’d just like to explain my question, sir. (inaudible)?

Ambassador Danforth: I’m saying that it’s important to have an investigation that goes forward. And it’s important that the investigation be one that is thorough, that is comprehensive and that is objective. And the only way that I know to conduct an objective investigation is to keep your mind clear of preconceived ideas.

Reporter: So you have confidence in Kofi Annan’s (inaudible)?

Ambassador Danforth: I’ve given you the answer to the question. No, you are not listening to me. You are not listening. What I am saying is that in the context of this oil-for-food controversy, it is important to have a thorough investigation and it is important that the investigators and the rest of us who are interested in the success of the investigation go into this with an open mind. And that means neither prejudging this on the side of innocence or the side of guilt, just open-mindedness. Thanks. ###

National Guard and Reserve Mobilized

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release

On the Web:
defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20041124-1647
Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131

Public contact: dod.mil/faq/comment
or +1 (703) 428-0711

No. 1208-04 IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2004

National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of November 24, 2004

This week, the Army and Air Force announced an increase in the number of reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization, while the Navy , Marines and Coast Guard had a decrease. The net collective result is 294 more reservists mobilized than last week.

At any given time, services may mobilize some units and individuals while demobilizing others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. Total number currently on active duty in support of the partial mobilization for the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 156,972; Naval Reserve, 3,235; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 10,808; Marine Corps Reserve, 10,703; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 1,054. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel, who have been mobilized, to 182,772 including both units and individual augmentees.

A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are currently mobilized can be found at defenselink.mil/news/Nov2004/d20041124

Colin Powell Briefing Ukraine full video text

Colin Powell Briefing Ukraine FULL STREAMING VIDEO (11/24/2004)

Briefing by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell Secretary Colin L. Powell Washington, DC November 24, 2004 (1:00 p.m. EST)

SECRETARY POWELL: Good morning, everyone. A dozen years ago, Ukrainians chose freedom and independence, setting their country on a path of democracy and prosperity. The United States has been a consistent partner with Ukraine in this journey. Similarly, today the United States stands with the people of Ukraine and their effort to ensure their democratic choice.

Indeed, this is a critical moment. It is time for Ukrainian leaders to decide whether they are on the side of democracy or not, whether they respect the will of the people or not. If the Ukrainian Government does not act immediately and responsibly, there will be consequences for our relationship for Ukraine's hopes for Euro-Atlantic integration and for individuals responsible for perpetrating fraud.

The Central Election Commission has just announced official results and declared the current prime minister the winner. We cannot accept this result as legitimate because it does not meet international standards and because there has not been an investigation of the numerous and credible reports of fraud and abuse. We have been following developments very closely and are deeply disturbed by the extensive and credible reports of fraud in the election. We call for a full review of the conduct of the election and the tallying of election results.

During the election campaign, the Ukrainian authorities at the highest level repeatedly sent a message about the importance of free and fair elections. We deeply regret that they did not take the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to democracy and to be a model for the region and the world. It is still not too late for Ukrainian authorities to find a solution that respects the will of the Ukrainian people.

Briefing by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell FULL TEXT

Thanksgiving Day, 2004

THANKSGIVING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 23, 2004

Thanksgiving Day, 2004 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation

All across America, we gather this week with the people we love to give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our freedom, grateful for our families and friends, and grateful for the many gifts of America. On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge that all of these things, and life itself, come from the Almighty God.

Almost four centuries ago, the Pilgrims celebrated a harvest feast to thank God after suffering through a brutal winter. President George Washington proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, and President Lincoln revived the tradition during the Civil War, asking Americans to give thanks with "one heart and one voice." Since then, in times of war and in times of peace, Americans have gathered with family and friends and given thanks to God for our blessings.

Thanksgiving is also a time to share our blessings with those who are less fortunate. Americans this week will gather food and clothing for neighbors in need. Many young people will give part of their holiday to volunteer at homeless shelters and food pantries. On Thanksgiving, we remember that the true strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of the American people. By seeking out those who are hurting and by lending a hand, Americans touch the lives of their fellow citizens and help make our Nation and the world a better place.

This Thanksgiving, we express our gratitude to our dedicated firefighters and police officers who help keep our homeland safe. We are grateful to the homeland security and intelligence personnel who spend long hours on faithful watch. And we give thanks for the Americans in our Armed Forces who are serving around the world to secure our country and advance the cause of freedom. These brave men and women make our entire Nation proud, and we thank them and their families for their sacrifice.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we thank God for His blessings and ask Him to continue to guide and watch over our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 25, 2004, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship to reinforce the ties of family and community and to express gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # #

Ukraine elections Elizabeth Jones Yuriy Ushakov

Taken Questions Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC November 23, 2004
Question Taken at November 23, 2004 Daily Press Briefing
Meeting with Russian Ambassador (Taken Question)

Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Jones

Question: Did Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Jones meet with/contact the Russian Ambassador, Yuriy Ushakov, yesterday to discuss Ukraine elections? Did she ask the Russians to change their position on this issue? Answer: We can confirm that Assistant Secretary Jones met with the Russian Ambassador yesterday afternoon at her request.

While we do not comment on the details of these meetings, we can confirm that Ukraine was discussed.

### 2004/1274 [End]

Statement on Ukrainian Elections

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 23, 2004 Statement on Ukrainian Elections

The United States is deeply disturbed by extensive and credible indications of fraud committed in the Ukrainian presidential election. We strongly support efforts to review the conduct of the election and urge Ukrainian authorities not to certify results until investigations of organized fraud are resolved. We call on the Government of Ukraine to respect the will of the Ukrainian people, and we urge all Ukrainians to resolve the situation through peaceful means. The Government bears a special responsibility not to use or incite violence, and to allow free media to report accurately on the situation without intimidation or coercion. The United States stands with the Ukrainian people in this difficult time.

# # #

Dan Rather Stepping Down

CBS) Dan Rather stepping down full streaming video

NEW YORK, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- (CBS) Dan Rather announced Tuesday that he will step down as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News in March, 24 years after his first broadcast in that position.

Rather will continue to work full-time at CBS News as a correspondent for both editions of 60 Minutes, as well as on other assignments for the news division. His last broadcast as anchor will be March 9, the 24th anniversary of when he assumed the position from Walter Cronkite.
more Dan Rather Steps Down 'CBS Evening News' Anchor

Spencer Abraham Hydrogen Refueling WASH, DC

WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today joined representatives of Shell and General Motors in the opening of the first hydrogen refueling station in Washington, D.C. This station is the first integrated gasoline / hydrogen station in North America and represents a major step toward realizing President Bush’s goal of reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources of energy by developing new, innovative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells.

“Today’s opening of the hydrogen refueling station is an important step forward as this Administration works toward energy independence and a cleaner environment,” said Secretary Abraham. “Projects like this one help prove that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies work, which will allow private industry to make a future commercialization decision.

“President Bush recognizes that a hydrogen economy has the long-term potential to deliver greater energy independence by reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources of energy,” continued Secretary Abraham.

Shell’s hydrogen station is the centerpiece of a joint demonstration project with General Motors. The site will be used to refuel General Motors’ fuel cell vehicles in the Department of Energy (DOE) Vehicle and Infrastructure Learning Demonstration and Validation Project. This will be the first station to be deployed in a potential Washington, D.C. to New York hydrogen corridor.

Secretary Abraham announced the “Learning Demonstrations” Project on April 28, 2004, as an opportunity to assess important data under real world environments that will re-focus research efforts. The total expected DOE share for the Learning Demonstrations is $190 million over five years, with an additional private cost share of approximately $190 million.

In last year’s State of the Union address, President Bush communicated his vision that “the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.”

Demonstration projects like the one announced today address major technical and economic hurdles in renewable and distributed hydrogen production technologies that must be overcome to make the President’s vision a reality.

source: energy.gov
For more information, please visit hydrogenandfuelcells
Media contact: Chris Kielich, 202/586-5806
Number: R-04-353

Rep. Tom ("the Hammer") DeLay

NEW YORK, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- NEWSWEEK PERISCOPE item:

Rep. Tom ("the Hammer") DeLay strengthened his hand in the House last week when the Republican caucus voted a rule change that would permit him to stay on as majority leader even if he is indicted in a Texas fund-raising probe. At the same time, DeLay is quietly raking in fresh bundles of cash from GOP colleagues and big corporate donors for another highly personal cause: paying off his mounting legal bills.

A NEWSWEEK tally shows that a special legal-defense fund created by DeLay in 2000 has collected more than $932,000, including $370,000 in the past four months alone. That's when Austin prosecutor Ronnie Earle began stepping up his investigation into allegedly illicit fund-raising by a political committee set up by DeLay to push a controversial redistricting plan through the Texas Legislature. A huge chunk of the new DeLay legal-defense cash, $200,000, comes from Republican House members who have new reasons to be especially grateful to the majority leader: the success of the DeLay-engineered Texas redistricting plan brought four new Texas GOP members to Washington this month, thereby consolidating Republican control in the chamber.

But much of the rest of the cash comes from a posse of corporate donors such as Texas horse-racing magnate Charles Hurwitz, who, along with his company, Maxxam, has chipped in $10,000 to pay DeLay's legal debts. (Hurwitz also has contributed an additional $24,000 to other DeLay campaign committees in recent years). Hurwitz and DeLay have a long relationship: when Hurwitz was facing a suit by federal regulators for allegedly defrauding a savings and loan in 1999, DeLay interceded with the chief federal bank regulator in an unsuccessful attempt to get her agency to back off the case. Hurwitz later hosted a golf and marlin-fishing fund-raiser for DeLay at Palmas del Mar, a luxurious resort complex he owns in Puerto Rico.

Hurwitz's most recent cause is getting legislation in Texas to permit video lottery and blackjack terminals at his Houston racetrack. To that end, Maxxam donated $50,000 to the campaign coffers of Texas Gov. Rick Perry as well as an additional $5,000 to DeLay's Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC), the committee at the center of Earle's probe into the improper use of corporate cash in Texas races. NEWSWEEK has learned that Maxxam's donation to TRMPAC, solicited by a DeLay fund-raiser, is among those now being scrutinized by Austin prosecutor Earle. Hurwitz declined to comment last week. DeLay spokesman Stuart Roy said he couldn't say if Hurwitz had sought DeLay's help for the Texas gambling legislation, but if he had, "it wouldn't make any difference." Why? "Tom is not supportive of the expansion of gambling, period." In any case, Roy added, contributors to DeLay "only get two things: good government and a good meal." Earle, who was denounced by one House Republican last week as a "partisan crackpot district attorney," declined to say whether he will ultimately indict DeLay or any more of his corporate
donors. But he strongly hinted to NEWSWEEK there is more to come. "This investigation is a little like clowns coming out of a Volkswagen in the circus," he said. "There's always another clown coming out."

-- Michael Isikoff and Holly Bailey

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6542177/site/newsweek

SOURCE NewsweekWeb Site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/

tom delay

house majotity leader tom delay (r-tx)is under some fire to step down if indicted. if innocent for form and appearence only, if guilty removed from spotlight and scrutiny.

1993, In Moscow, George H. W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin sign the second Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). , The Intel Corporation ships the first Pentium chips (80586) 64 bits-60 MHz-100+ MIPS., Release of version 1.0 of the Mosaic web browser, what a simpler time they lived in. a sword cuts both ways. we have seen, recently, the system works and best when exercised, the people's voice will be heard, louder when interested. the republic will endure, best when unfettered by rules for rule's and appearance's sake.

Implied as it is in Magna Carta (c. 39), the presumption of innocence was first literally stated, it seems, by Jean Lemoine, a canonist and cardinal in the time of Pope Bonifice VIII. “is presumed innocent until proved guilty” (quilibet praesumitur innocens, nisi probeturnocens, Glossae to Extrav. Communes, 161-65).

Presumption of innocence is an essential right that the accused enjoys in criminal trials in all countries respecting human rights. It states that the accused is presumed to be innocent until it has been declared guilty by a court. The burden of proof is thus on the prosecution, which has to convince the court of the guilt of the accused.

Conversely, in many authoritarian regimes, the prosecution case is, in practice, believed by default unless the accused can prove he is innocent — presumption of guilt.

Amendment V (the Fifth Amendment) of the United States Constitution

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment XIV (the Fourteenth Amendment)

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Coffin v. United States, 156 U.S. 432; 15 S. Ct. 394

The principle that there is a presumption of innocence in favor of the accused is the undoubted law, axiomatic and elementary, and its enforcement lies at the foundation of the administration of our criminal law.

sources:

• The History of the Presumption of Innocence
• Coffin v. United States
• Presumption of innocence
• ANCIENT ROMAN IDEAS
  OF LAW
• 1993 year in review

Fact Sheet: White House Holiday Decorations

For Immediate Release Office of the First Lady December 2, 2004

Volunteers 51

Garland 660 feet

Christmas Trees 41 trees

Wreaths 245

Bows 221

Lights 155,500 (total throughout complex)

Blue Room Tree

Lights 32,500

Balls 390

Instrument ornaments 350

Guests touring the White House during the Holidays: 44,000

Guests attending receptions during the Holidays: 6,500

Vignettes:

EAST WING ENTRANCE
Vignette of We Wish You a Merry Christmas

GROUND FLOOR
Lower Cross Hall (under Mrs. Clinton's portrait)
Vignette of Here Comes Santa Claus

Lower Cross Hall (under Mrs. Bush's portrait)
Vignette of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Lower Cross Hall (under Mrs. Carter's portrait)
Vignette of All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

Lower Cross Hall (under Mrs. Ford's portrait)
Vignette of Up On The Housetop

Lower Cross Hall (under Mrs. Eisenhower's portrait)
Vignette of Blue Christmas

EAST ROOM Northwest Mantel
Vignette of Toyland

Northeast Mantel
Vignette of Frosty the Snow Man

Southeast Mantel
Vignette of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Southwest Mantel
Vignette of Marshmallow World

CROSS HALL Pier Table outside of State Dining Room
Vignette of Jingle Bells

Pier Table outside of East Room
Vignette of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

GRAND FOYER Pier table beneath mirror
Vignette of I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

STATE DINING ROOM Buffet Table Gingerbread House
100 pounds of gingerbread
150 pounds of chocolate
50 pounds of marzipan
# # #

Remarks by the First Lady

For Immediate Release Office of the First Lady December 2, 2004

Remarks by the First Lady The State Floor 10:52 A.M. EST

MRS. BUSH: Happy Holidays to you all. Good to see you all. I'm so excited to welcome everybody to the Christmas decorations to the White House right now, and I think the White House looks really terrific. And I have some very important people to introduce you all to.

First, Nancy Clarke, who always does the decorations. She's our florist. As you know, she's the one who works, starting in March, if she can get me to make a decision that early -- or July if I can't make a decision that early on what the theme is going to be. And she starts building all the great things that you see around here, and making the plans for each one of these rooms. And how long have you been at the White House?

MS. CLARKE: I started full-time in 1981.

MRS. BUSH: 1981 -- 23 years. I know because the girls were born in 1981. And it's so terrific to have people who when whatever we say -- if I say, don't you think it would be great to do American Christmas music this year, Nancy always says, that will be terrific. (Laughter.) And she immediately starts to work and comes up with really, really great ideas. And so we have a good time all year planning what we'll be doing for the holiday season.

And this year, as all of you know, it's "A Season of Merriment and Melody." And it's all those American Christmas songs that we grew up on and that our children are singing now -- of course, "Rudolph," and "Frosty," and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas," and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, "All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth." I don't know if you all remember that song. (Laughter.) But anyway, I think Nancy has done such a fabulous job once again. Thank you very, very much, Nancy.

MS. CLARKE: Thank you.

MRS. BUSH: I really appreciate it.

And then, of course, another really important part of the season is the food. Could you all come on in? The Christmas foods that we always have. And this is our chef, Walter Schreib. And he does all the buffets. I think you all are going to get a chance to taste it in a little bit. And he plans all the foods that we have. And then this is our new pastry chef that I'm introducing you to, Thaddeus DuBois. And so this is his first gingerbread house for the White House. It certainly isn't his first gingerbread house, as you can tell. He has a lot of experience from gingerbread houses before. But you can see how great the gingerbread house is. If you look here you can find Barney and kitty -- our kitty, Willie, all over here. They're always -- they're doing something all over the house which is sort of similar to what they are. They're singing with the carolers right here, which I think is really cute. And they're up here on a little sleigh. I think they're in another couple of spots. Where are they, Thaddeus?

MR. DUBOIS: We have five, actually. There's -- right here on the snowman.

MRS. BUSH: Oh, yes, here's Barney building the snowman, or else eating the carrot. (Laughter.) One of the two. Here they are in Santa's pack, and that looks really cute. And do you want to talk about your gingerbread house?

MR. DUBOIS: Yes, the house -- we took eight Christmas songs, and we did this -- worked the theme around the eight songs. And they're listed on little brown signs here: "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," for instance, and "Frosty the Snowman," "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," "Marshmallow World," which is in the back there, which is a world covered with marshmallows. (Laughter.) On the corner there is "Toyland," with a child sleeping in the bed with a bunch of toys. And then on top of the house, we topped it off with The President's Own, the Marine Band -- six, or five players on top there just to continue the music theme.

MRS. BUSH: And as you all know, because you've come to a party, the Marine Band plays for a lot of our Christmas and holiday parties. And they're a very important part of our whole Christmas season, and, of course, all the social life at the White House.

You know Thaddeus replaced Roland, who was our pastry chef for about 28 years before that. And just in case any of you are looking for a great Christmas gift, Roland has done a dessert cookbook. So that's something that you might want to give friends for Christmas.

And also our Christmas brochure artist Elise Primavera is a wonderful artist. Come over here and join me here, Elise. And she is a children's book illustrator. So if you're looking for a beautiful book for your children on your Christmas card list, you can see the example of her work in the brochures that you all have that give a tour of the White House. And she has a number of really magnificent children's books on the market. So don't forget Elise Primavera, either, when you're looking for a holiday book for your favorite kids.

And then Cindi Holt is the artist who did the Christmas card. This year's Christmas card is the Red Room, which is the perfect room for a Christmas card. I know it has been a subject of a lot of Christmas cards over the years because it's so perfect. And she put in it, in the foreground, the cranberry topiary that has been in the Red Room, I think for 25 years. They make it ever year for the Red Room, and it looks so pretty. There is somebody -- one of the decorators that comes to work on the Christmas decorations every year painstakingly puts each one of these cranberries on the topiary. Isn't that right, Gary? For how long, is it 25 years?

MR. WALTERS: Since the Ford administration in 1975.

MRS. BUSH: So even longer.

And Cindi is from Fort Worth. She is an artist who has painted several paintings of rooms at the White House. And she also painted some paintings of the Texas Governor's Mansion when we lived there. And I think this one is so exuberant and happy, and a really wonderful holiday card.

Thank you, Cindi.

MS. HOLT: Thank you.

MRS. BUSH: Thanks, a lot.

Okay, are we ready to move to the next room? Did everybody -- everyone has Elise's brochure so you can see how great her work is. And then here is her original art.

Q I just wanted to ask you a little bit about the -- the look of the house this year is a little more elegant, a little less whimsical than last year. What made you kind of lean that way?

MRS. BUSH: Well, every year we want it to be different. And we come up with different ideas, and really the choice of the theme this year, the songs are whimsical and funny. And I think that's sort of what each one of the vignettes look like that are on the mantles and on the tables in all the rooms. But this is a room, as you know, that we use every night for entertaining. It's either the buffet table at receptions, or this is where the tables will be set up for the dinners, the Christmas dinners that we have. And so I think it is really great for it to be so elegant in the dining room. And of course, we use a lot of the White House chinas for these events. And the gold millennium china that President Clinton and Senator Clinton added in the last administration looks great with these gold decorations, too.

And then in the Cross Hall are the snow-covered trees, which always look so beautiful, the reflection of the lights on the marble floors. And that's because on the pier table in the Cross Hall is "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas," so that's really the whole theme of the Cross Hall.

MR. JOHNDROE: Now, we're going to the Blue Room.

MRS. BUSH: Okay, now we go to the Blue Room and look at the tree there.

* * * * *

MRS. BUSH: The centerpiece always of the Christmas decorations is the big Christmas tree in the Blue Room. And as all of you know, we have to remove the chandelier to get the tree in, it's so big. I think a couple of days ago you might have met the Christmas tree growers from Washington state, the Tillman family. And they delivered the tree, and then they came in and decorated the tree, worked with all the decorators and stayed until yesterday getting the tree decorated.

And so to carry out our theme of merriment and music, melody, we covered the tree with ornaments that are musical instruments -- the bells and the maracas and the tambourines and the -- even little piano. I don't know if you see the little piano, the drums, the guitar. And they're all painted by decorative artists from the Decorative Artists Society of America. And they came in yesterday from every state, all around the country, to see their ornaments on the tree. And I think it makes a really beautiful, vibrant, deep color tree. I think it's so pretty. Did you all see any of these up close? (Laughter.)

Any other questions? Are we going to go to the next room?

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes, ma'am.

MRS. BUSH: All right, we'll see you in the next room.

* * * * *

MRS. BUSH: Hey, everybody. So this room is always so beautiful however it's decorated, but especially this year with the snow-covered trees and the red tablecloth, the white tulips. I think it really makes a beautiful room. And this is the room that, of course, all of our guests who will be coming to parties all over the holiday season will be able to fill their plates. And as you can see back here behind us, we have Frosty the Snowman, made by Thaddeus DuBois, our pastry chef. So that's the dessert table that is set up back there.

And then on each of the mantles in this room is one of the songs that American children know and remember. And we have "Rudolph" over here, and "Marshmallow World" on that one, "Frosty the Snowman" back here, and "Toyland" on the other mantle. So I think this room always looks really magnificent, but especially during this holiday season it's so pretty with the snow and the garlands and the gold ornaments and the beautiful gold drapes that are in here.

And you may not know it but our Washington -- famous Washington and Martha Washington paintings that are in here are reframed with frames that are more appropriate to the period of the paintings. So they look great.

Any questions?

Q What is your favorite tradition?

MRS. BUSH: My favorite tradition? I think I'll have to admit it's the Christmas foods. (Laughter.) I like that part of it. And of course, I like opening presents and giving gifts, and being with my family. I think for everybody, the nicest part of the holidays are the times we get to spend with the people we love.

Q Mrs. Bush, because the public cannot come through, are there any groups, special groups of people that you're going to have through here this year?

MRS. BUSH: Yes, there's tours set up for the whole holiday season. They'll actually -- I think they start tomorrow and run all the way through, even after Christmas. And there are military families that are coming on tour, as well as White House staff. People that work all over the administration come through on different days.

Q How does it feel to know that you'll have a few more Christmases here

MRS. BUSH: I'm glad to have a few Christmases here. (Laughter.) I'm very happy. Thanks, thanks for asking. I knew we were coming up to this holiday before the election. One of the things I really thought about was, was this going to be our last Christmas here, or was it going to be one of a few more Christmases here? And certainly, the whole idea -- everything that goes along with decorating this beautiful house for the holidays is one of the most fun parts of my job, one of the things that I really like to do, and that is to be involved in how we're going to decorate and what we're going to show the American people with our decorations. And so that was something I actually thought about a lot before the election.

Q So you actually help with the decorations?

MRS. BUSH: Well, I come up with the theme and talk about with Nancy Clarke, who is the florist here, talk about what we're going to do here. And then she works on all of the vignettes, along with other people who work in the florist shop here at the White House, and the carpenters and the electricians. And everyone is really involved in building these different scenes.

Q Mrs. Bush, it must be a spectacular transformation -- 150,000 lights. But what does it look like before it's done?

MRS. BUSH: Well, it looked like chaos right before, when the decorators were all here. And there are a number of decorators that come in from around the country. The florists are people who are particularly interested in helping decorate the White House. I think they always have a wonderful time. There's a group of them that have come in for years and they love to see each other every holiday season when they come to decorate. But they also love to be here. And it's very, very busy. It really does remind me of what I think Santa's workshop would look like with strings of lights on the floor, and boxes of ornaments everywhere, and this snow. I think they usually have a snow fight. And that's the last thing they add to the trees. And I think that's the final ritual of the decorators.

Q Mrs. Bush, would that mean that you --

Q -- the Inauguration and all the Inaugural parties and all your friends from Texas coming?

MRS. BUSH: Sure, sure. I've been meeting with the people who are planning the Inauguration. It's very preliminary right now, the plans. But we've been meeting and talking about that, and all our friends from around the country that will come in. We're looking forward to it.

Q Do you have a special message for all the American Armed Forces --

MRS. BUSH: Absolutely. I want all of our troops who are deployed to know that everybody in the United States, that I know I can speak for everybody, that we're thinking about them, we're praying for them. And I know that the burden on their families is a special burden, the families that will have an empty place at the table because their loved one is deployed, or because they lost their loved one. And I want to urge Americans to reach out to military families over the holiday season and always, but especially over the holiday season because it is hard to be away from the people you love best, especially on the holidays.

Q Mrs. Bush, can we take a peek inside of your personal Christmas decorations and ornaments, either at Crawford, or here at the White House; we see such elaborateness here. Tell us about what you do and the President will do?

MRS. BUSH: Well, upstairs, we have all of our own holiday decorations that are on our Christmas tree. And we have those little ornaments that Barbara and Jenna made when they were little. We have little photographs of them in their Mother's Day out program that they made for us as a Christmas gift when they were three. And those are on the tree upstairs, along with a lot of our own decorations, the Santa Clauses and the Nativity scenes that we've collected over the years. But we'll be with our family. George's parents will come. My mother is already here. A couple of George's brothers and their families, and his sister and her family will be with us at Camp David for Christmas.

Hey, Ann.

Q Mrs. Bush, your first year here was such a traumatic time.

MRS. BUSH: That's right.

Q For Christmas. What do you think the mood of the country is this year?

MRS. BUSH: Well, I think in many ways, I think we are still very aware of what happened on September 11th and what has happened since. But I think the mood of the country is good. I think people look at what has happened in Afghanistan. It is unbelievable how Afghanistan has changed in such a really short period of time. And we watched the people of Afghanistan line up to vote. Women not only can be a part of society now in Afghanistan, but also lined up to vote. And that's what we want to see in Iraq, and the elections that will come in January. (Laughter.) We're joined here now. You all can't tell on this side, but Barney has joined us. But now he's going around so now he's coming to your side.

Q What do they think of all the decorations, Barney and Willie?

MRS. BUSH: Barney and Willie like them. I think they find them -- they're pretty good. Our cat used to bat the balls around on the Christmas tree, but she's gotten too old. She's not that interested any more.

Q Are you preparing Barney for --

MRS. BUSH: Pardon me?

Q Are you preparing Barney for Miss Beazley?

MRS. BUSH: I've been telling Barney that he's going to have a new sister named Beazley, but I don't think it has really registered yet.

MR. JOHNDROE: Last question.

Q Have you decided what you want most for Christmas this year, and what you think the President wants?

MRS. BUSH: Of course, I want peace, and I hope we have peace in the New Year. And I know that's what everyone is working on. I know that certainly everybody in the administration is working on that, and that's what I hope. I hope that the people of Afghanistan [sic] will be able to have good, free, fair elections in January and will make the first step toward a democracy.

Q While you were campaigning, you lost a lot of weight. (Laughter.) Are you going to be able to keep it with all the cookies and goodies?

MRS. BUSH: No, absolutely not. That's going to be very, very difficult. I don't know if you saw the list but I think the pastry chefs will make 24,000 cookies over the holidays. I won't eat all of those. (Laughter.)

Q Mrs. Bush --

MR. JOHNDROE: Last question.

Q -- did you finish the Christmas shopping you do? How much did you spend for this?

MRS. BUSH: I haven't done any Christmas shopping, and I'm going to have to think about what to get everyone. But I literally think -- maybe this is wrong, but I think by the time your children are 23, they get to the age where they don't really care if they have a whole lot of presents under the Christmas tree. So we won't have that many.

Q And your husband is the President, what do you get?

MRS. BUSH: Pardon me?

Q When your husband is the President, what do you get for him?

MRS. BUSH: That's a very hard -- that's a hard thing to figure out, what to get your husband when he's -- for Christmas. And I don't know any ideas yet. So if you all know anything, if you hear him say anything he might want, let me know about it.

MR. JOHNDROE: Thank you all.

MRS. BUSH: Happy Holidays, everybody. Thank you all very much. Thanks a lot.

Q Merry Christmas.

MRS. BUSH: Merry Christmas.

END 11:15 A.M. EST

Harriet Miers Counsel to the President

10/03/05 - President Nominates Harriet Miers Supreme Court Justice (VIDEO)

President Bush Names Harriet Miers as Top Counsel

Harriet Miers

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to appoint Harriet Miers to be Counsel to the President. Ms. Miers will fill the position held by Judge Alberto Gonzales, following his confirmation by the Senate.

"Harriet Miers is a trusted adviser, on whom I have long relied for straightforward advice. Harriet has the keen judgment and discerning intellect necessary to be an outstanding Counsel. She is a talented lawyer whose great integrity, legal scholarship, and grace have long marked her as one of America's finest lawyers. I have deep respect for Harriet and look forward to her continued counsel in this new role," stated President Bush.

Ms. Miers currently serves as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff. Most recently, she served as Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary.

Harriet Miers was born in Dallas, Texas on August 10, 1945. She is single and very close to her family: two brothers and her mother live in Dallas and a third brother lives in Houston.

Ms. Miers received her bachelor's degree and J.D. in 1967 from Southern Methodist University. Upon graduation, she clerked for U.S. District Judge Joe E. Estes from 1970 to 1972.

Prior to joining the White House staff,

In 1972, Ms. Miers became the first woman hired at Dallas’s Locke Purnell Rain Harrell. Locke, Purnell eventually merged with a Houston firm and became Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP

Ms. Miers was Co-Managing Partner at Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP, where she helped manage an over 400-lawyer firm. Previously, she was President of Locke, Purnell, Rain & Harrell, where she worked for 26 years. In 1992, Ms. Miers became the first woman elected Texas State Bar President following her selection in 1985 as the first woman to become President of the Dallas Bar Association.

In 1989, she was elected to a two-year term as an at-large candidate on the Dallas City Council. She chose not to run for re-election when her term expired.

Ms. Miers had a very distinguished career as a trial litigator, representing such clients as Microsoft, Walt Disney Co. and SunGard Data Systems Inc.

She played an active role in the American Bar Association. She was one of two candidates for the Number 2 position at the ABA, chair of the House of Delegates, before withdrawing her candidacy to move to Washington to serve in the White House. Ms. Miers also served as the chair of the ABA’s Commission on Multijurisdictional Practice.

On numerous occasions, the National Law Journal named her one of the Nation’s 100 most powerful attorneys, and as one of the Nation’s top 50 women lawyers.

Ms. Miers also served as general counsel for the transition team of Governor-elect George W. Bush in 1994.

"[Miers] Received A Distinguished Alumni Award From The SMU Law School In 1997." (SMU Website, www.smu.edu,

From 1995 until 2000, Ms. Miers served as Chairwoman of the Texas Lottery Commission, a voluntary public service position she undertook while maintaining her legal practice and other responsibilities. When then-Governor Bush appointed Ms. Miers to a six-year term on the Texas Lottery Commission, it was mired in scandal, and she served as a driving force behind its cleanup.

Ms. Miers came to Washington D.C. in 2001. She was appointed to be Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary on January 20, 2001. In 2003, Ms. Miers was promoted to be Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff. Ms. Miers has served as Counsel to the President since February, 2005.

Miers Was Awarded The Sandra Day O'Connor Award For Professional Excellence By The Texas Center For Legal Ethics And Professionalism In 2005. (Texas Center For Legal Ethics And Professionalism Website, txethics.org/oconnorinformationcourses

bush radio address 11/20/04 full audio, text transcript

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 20, 2004 President's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This weekend I am on my first trip outside the United States since the election, traveling to South America for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. I am meeting with many allies and friends to strengthen our ties across the Pacific and discuss practical ways we can enhance prosperity, advance liberty, and improve our shared security.

America and the nations of Latin America and Asia share many vital interests. All Pacific nations benefit from free and fair trade, the foundation of this region's remarkable prosperity. The United States has completed free-trade agreements with nations throughout Asia and the Americas, including Australia, and Singapore, Chile, the five nations in Central America, and the Dominican Republic. We are also negotiating new agreements with Thailand, Panama and the Andean nations of South America. America has opened our markets, and I will urge other countries to do the same.

Pacific nations also have a clear interest in spreading the benefits of liberty, democracy and good government across this vital part of the world. From the recent history of the Asia Pacific region, we know that freedom is indivisible. The economic liberty that builds prosperity also builds a demand for limited government and self rule. Modernization and progress eventually require freedom in all its forms. And the advance of freedom is good for all, because free societies are peaceful societies.

America and our friends are helping other countries lay the foundations of democracy by establishing independent courts, a free press, political parties and trade unions, by instituting the rule of law and by keeping up the fight against corruption.

America joined with other members of the Organization of American States to create the Inter-American Democratic Charter. This charter recognizes democracy as the fundamental right of all peoples in the Americas and pledges our governments to promoting and defending the institutions of liberty.

All Pacific nations must also keep up the fight against the forces of terror that threaten the success of our economies and the stability of the world. At last year's summit, APEC leaders started a major initiative to strengthen the security of ports and transportation networks, to defend our aircraft from the threat of portable missiles, and to end the flow of terrorist finances. This year, APEC leaders will work together to improve the security of our ships and ports. We will develop a new system to track and stop the travel of suspected terrorists using forged or stolen documents. And we launched new programs to support APEC members that have the will to fight terror, but need help in developing the means. Terrorism is a threat not just to the West, or to the wealthy, but to every nation. And every nation must fight the murderers.

During my trip, I will also meet with President Lagos, of Chile, and President Uribe, of Colombia, to reaffirm our strong ties with those nations. Colombia is making progress in the fight against terrorists who traffic in illegal drugs, and America is standing with the Colombian government to oppose the drug trade that destroys lives in our countries and threatens the stability of our hemisphere.

In my second term, I will continue to pursue a confident foreign policy agenda that will spread freedom and hope and make our nation more secure. America seeks wider trade and broader freedom and greater security for the benefit of America, our partners, and all of the world.

Thank you for listening.

END

Presidential Inaugural Committee

Bush 2d Inaugural Speech Full Text, Steaming Video

President Sworn-In to Second Term
Full Video of Speech

Inaugural Parade Video
from C-SPAN, created by cable, provided as a public service
FULL STREAMING VIDEO

live webcam platform construction from the west lawn FULL STREAMING VIDEO

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 19, 2004

Personnel Announcement November 19, 2004

Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln

President George W. Bush today announced the leadership of the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee. The committee will be responsible for planning and coordinating all official activities associated with the President's upcoming Inauguration

The following is a list of the Members of the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee:

Bill and Kathy DeWitt of Ohio, Co-Chairs of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Mr. DeWitt is the Co-Chairman of Reynolds, DeWitt and Company, a Cincinnati-based investment firm. Mr. and Mrs. DeWitt served as Co-Chairs for the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Brad Freeman of California, Co-Chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Mr. Freeman is a founding partner of Freeman Spogli & Co., a private investment firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York. Mr. Freeman served as Co-Chair for the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Mercer and Gabrielle Reynolds of Ohio, Co-Chairs of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Ambassador Reynolds served as the National Finance Chairman of Bush-Cheney 2004. Ambassador Reynolds served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Switzerland, and as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Principality of Liechtenstein. Ambassador and Mrs. Reynolds served as Co-Chairs for the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Jeanne L. Phillips of Texas, Chairman of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Ambassador Phillips served as the Representative of the United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (rank of Ambassador). Ambassador Phillips served as Executive Director of the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee. Ambassador Phillips is a Texas businesswoman.

Greg Jenkins of Virginia, Executive Director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Mr. Jenkins has served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Advance for the past two years.

Finance Committee Members:

Nancy and Rich Kinder of Texas, Finance Chairs Dawn and Al Hoffman of Florida, Honorary Finance Chairs Dawn and Roland Arnall of California, Finance Co-Chairs Marcie and Bruce Benson of Colorado, Finance Co-Chairs Sue Ellen and Joe Canizaro of California, Finance Co-Chairs Germaine and Jim Culbertson of North Carolina, Finance Co-Chairs Marilyn and Sam Fox of Missouri, Finance Co-Chairs Martha and Dwight Schar of Virginia, Finance Co-Chairs Patty and Roger Williams of Texas, Finance Co-Chairs

Please direct media inquiries to (202) 863-2005

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• 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee announced participants to perform - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) Executive Director Greg Jenkins announced the initial list of participants invited to perform in the 55th Inaugural Parade.
• 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee - WASHINGTON, DC- Today, the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) Chairman Jeanne Johnson Phillips and Executive Director Greg Jenkins announced the inaugural theme, “Celebrating Freedom, Honoring Service”, and the schedule of events surrounding the 55th Presidential Inauguration.
• 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee - "On January 20, 2005, George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney will be inaugurated for a second term as President and Vice President of the United States. The 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) organizes, plans, and executes most Inaugural celebration activities as well as works to select participants for the Inaugural parade and assign credentials to media covering the Inauguration and surrounding festivities. All Americans are invited to share in this historic celebration."

"On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson walked the short distance from his boardinghouse to the nearby Capitol Building to take the oath of office as president of the United States. At a joint session of Congress convened in the Senate Chamber, he became the first president inaugurated in the new federal city of Washington." "I Do Solemnly Swear": A Half Century of Inaugural Images

The Official Web Site for the 2005 U. S. Presidential Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony and Luncheon to be held on January 20, 2005 at the United States Capitol sponsored by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Department of Defense (DoD)Joint Task-Force Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (JTF-AFIC) - Military involvement in the presidential inauguration is a centuries-old tradition in which the armed forces celebrate democracy, honor the new commander in chief, and recognize civilian control of the military.

Condoleezza Rice Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Condoleezza Rice to Undergo Nonsurgical Interventional Radiology Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

contact: diane shnitzler, emily ochler 703-691-1805

Uterine fibroids are very common noncancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can range in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy. In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus.

Twenty to 40 percent of women age 35 and older have uterine fibroids of a significant size. African American women are at a higher risk for fibroids: as many as 50 percent have fibroids of a significant size. Uterine fibroids are the most frequent indication for hysterectomy in premenopausal women and, therefore, are a major public health issue. Of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United States, one-third are due to fibroids.

Most fibroids don't cause symptoms - only 10 to 20 percent of women who have fibroids require treatment. Depending on size, location and number of fibroids, they may cause heavy bleeding, pain, urinary frequency and constipation.

About the Procedure

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), also known as uterine artery embolization, is performed by an interventional radiologist who makes a tiny nick in the skin, less than one-quarter of an inch, in the groin and inserts a catheter into the femoral artery. Using real-time imaging, the physician guides the catheter through the artery and then releases tiny particles, the size of grains of sand, into the uterine arteries that supply blood to the fibroid tumor. This blocks the blood flow to the fibroid tumor, causing it to shrink and die, and disruptive symptoms to subside. On average, 90 percent of women who have the procedure experience significant or total relief of heavy bleeding and other symptoms. The FDA approved procedure is effective for multiple fibroids, and offers less risk, less pain and less recovery time than hysterectomy - as well as preserves the uterus.

Supplemental materials available
-- Interview with local interventional radiologist
-- Broadcast quality video footage, includes national expert, patient and
procedure footage
-- Medical illustration of treatment for your Web site
-- Contact: Diane Shnitzler or Emily Oehler at 703-691-1805

Other UFE Facts
-- An estimated 13,000-14,000 UFE procedures are performed annually in the
U.S. (as of 2004).
-- The embolic particles are approved by the FDA specifically for UFE,
based on comparative trials showing similar efficacy with less serious
complications compared to hysterectomy and myomectomy (the surgical
removal of fibroids).
-- UFE is covered by most major insurance companies and is widely
available across the country.
-- Most women with symptomatic fibroids are candidates for UFE and should
obtain a consult with an interventional radiologist to determine
whether UFE is a treatment option for them. An ultrasound or MRI
diagnostic test will help the interventional radiologist to determine
if the woman is a candidate for this treatment.

About Interventional Radiologists

Interventional radiologists are doctors who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments that have less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. They use their expertise in interpreting X-rays, ultrasound, MRI and other diagnostic imaging studies to understand, visualize and diagnose the full scope of the disease's pathology and to map out the procedure tailored to the individual patient. Then during the procedure, they image as they go to guide tiny instruments, such as catheters, through blood vessels or skin, to treat diseases at the site of the illness nonsurgically.

Interventional radiology is a recognized medical specialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians with advanced training minimally invasive targeted treatments using imaging to guide them. Their board certification includes both Vascular and Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology. The American Board of Radiology certifies their specialized training.

SOURCE Society Of Interventional Radiology
Web Site: http://www.sirweb.org

Innovative Treatment for Uterine Fibroids
According to statistics, between 20 and 30 percent of women over the age of 30 have fibroids. In some women, this condition causes heavy bleeding and painful periods that often requires treatment. The most common treatments are hysterectomy, surgical removal of the entire uterus, or myomectomy, which involves surgically removing only the fibroids. Today, women are exploring a less invasive treatment option called uterine fibroid embolization. Uterine fibroid embolization is performed by Interventional Radiologists and involves less risk, less pain, and shorter recovery time than surgery. Learn more about this innovative procedure in this feature report. source: http://www.uterinefibroids.org/

Clinton Presidential Center Dedication

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 18, 2004

President's Remarks at the Clinton Presidential Center Dedication , full streaming video

bush 43 and clinton more at foxnews.com

Little Rock, Arkansas 12:20 P.M. CST

THE PRESIDENT: President Clinton, Senator Clinton, President Carter and Mrs. Carter, President Bush and Mother -- (laughter )-- Governor and Mrs. Huckabee, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: Laura and I are really pleased to be a part of this happy and historic occasion. On this day of dedication, we honor the man from Hope, Arkansas, who became the 42nd President of the United States. Mr. President, congratulations. (Applause.)

This presidential library chronicles a vivid era in American history, for the benefit of future generations. It will contribute to the vitality of this fine city and to the great state of Arkansas. The collections here record the dedication and hard work of thousands, who brought talent and idealism to public service. And at the center of that era, at the head of that administration, was an able and energetic American. President Bill Clinton led our country with optimism and a great affection for the American people, and that affection has been returned. He gave all to his job, and the nation gave him two terms.

In the early 1990s, the American people saw a young, well-spoken, relatively unknown governor rise to national prominence. Yet for decades here in Arkansas, the signs of destiny were clear. When young William entered a new school in the 4th grade, a classmate recalls, "He didn't mean to, but he just took the place over." (Laughter.) When Governor Clinton declared his candidacy for President in this city, his close friends were not surprised in the least. They'd always known that Bill Clinton's moment in history would come.

Arkansas is a state that knows political skill when you see it. A fellow in Saline County was asked by his son why he liked Governor Clinton so much. He said, son, he'll look you in the eye, he'll shake your hand, he'll hold your baby, he'll pat your dog -- all at the same time. (Laughter.)

Over the years, Bill Clinton showed himself to be much more than a good politician. His home state elected him governor in the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s, because he was an innovator, a serious student of policy, and a man of great compassion. In the White House, the whole nation witnessed his brilliance and mastery of detail, his persuasive power, and his persistence. The President is not the kind to give up a fight. His staffers were known to say, "If Clinton were the Titanic, the iceberg would sink." (Laughter.)

During his presidency, Bill Clinton seized important opportunities on issues from welfare to free trade. He was a tireless champion of peace in the Middle East. He used American power in the Balkans to confront aggression and halt ethnic cleansing. And in all his actions and decisions, the American people sensed a deep empathy for the poor and the powerless. Shortly before leaving office, President Clinton said, "Christ admonished us that our lives will be judged by how we do unto the least of our neighbors." Throughout his career, Bill Clinton has done his best to live up to that standard. And Americans respect him for it.

At every stage of his remarkable life, President Clinton has made and kept countless friends, who share in the joy of this day. And three people in particular have the largest part in this remarkable story. One day more than 30 years ago, inside the Yale Law Library, a fellow student walked over to Bill Clinton and said, "If you're going to keep staring at me, and I'm going to keep staring back, we ought to at least know each other's name. Mine's Hillary Rodham. What is yours?" (Laughter.) That was a good day for both of them, and the beginning of a partnership unique in American history. So today, we honor the former First Lady of Arkansas, the former First Lady of America, the United States Senator from New York, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Applause.)

Perhaps the Clintons' greatest achievement is their daughter, who moved into the White House as a young girl, and left as an accomplished young lady. It's not easy to be a teenager in the White House, but it's a lot easier when you have a loving mother and a loving father that Chelsea Clinton had.

This magnificent presidential library, and the American life it celebrates, would not have been possible without the love and sacrifice of a special lady. Among his heroes, President Clinton always includes his mother, Virginia Kelley, "a working woman and a widow." Virginia was there when her son took the oath of office, and we know that she would be incredibly proud of this day.

The story that began in a little house on Hervey Street in Hope, Arkansas is the kind of story that inspires people from every background, all over America. In this great nation, it is always possible for a child to go as far as their talent and vision can take them. Visitors to this place will be reminded of the great promise of our country, and the dreams that came true in the life of our 42nd President. The William J. Clinton Presidential Library is a gift to the future by a man who always believed in the future. And today, we thank him for loving and serving America.

God bless. (Applause.)

END 12:26 P.M. CST

The Clinton Presidential Center

Margaret Spellings Secretary of Education

President Bush Nominates Margaret Spellings as Secretary of Education The Roosevelt Room 11:07 A.M. EST FULL STREAMING VIDEO

Margaret Spellings

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. Good morning. I'm proud to announce my nomination of Margaret Spellings to be the Secretary of Education.

I've known Margaret Spellings for more than a decade. I have relied on her intellect and judgment throughout my career in public service. As governor of Texas, I called on her to serve the children of our state as my chief education advisor, a job she carried out with conviction and great results.

When I was elected President, I asked her to serve as Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. I've benefited from her knowledge and experience on many issues -- from health care to immigration to job training. I'm now calling on this energetic reformer to serve the children of America by continuing our vital work of improving our nation's public schools.

Margaret Spellings has a special passion for this cause. She believes that every child can learn, and that every school can succeed. And she knows the stakes are too high to tolerate failure. She believes in high standards and improving the resources necessary -- and providing the resources necessary to meet those standards. In Margaret Spellings, America's children, teachers and parents will have a principled, determined ally in my Cabinet. She has my complete trust and she will be an outstanding Secretary of Education.

With the Senate's approval, Margaret Spellings will continue the work of a fine educator and leader, Secretary Rod Paige. As Secretary of Education, this humble and decent man inspired his department and implemented the most significant federal education reform in a generation. Today, thanks to the No Child Left Behind Act, students of every background are making hopeful progress in reading and math. The nation's schools are stronger because of Rod Paige's leadership. I'm grateful for his friendship; I'm grateful for his years of service.

We've made great progress in our schools, and there is more work to do. Margaret Spellings and I are determined to extend the high standards and accountability measures of the No Child Left Behind Act to all of America's public high schools. We must ensure that a high school diploma is a sign of real achievement, so that our young people have the tools to go to college and to fill the jobs of the 21st century. And in all our reforms, we will continue to stand behind our nation's teachers, who work so hard for our children.

The issue of education is close to my heart. And on this vital issue, there is no one I trust more than Margaret Spellings. Two decades ago, as a young aid in the Texas state legislature, Margaret dedicated herself to strengthening public schools. She went on to help lead the Texas Association of School Boards, to advise two governors on school reform, and to serve four years as my top domestic policy advisor right here in the White House. And now her talent and idealism have brought her to the highest education office in the land. Through it all, she has kept her good humor and her perspective on life. She is a devoted, loving mother to Mary and Grace, and Laura and I are proud to count her and Robert as good friends.

I urge the Senate to promptly confirm Margaret Spellings as America's eighth Secretary of Education. And I look forward to having her in my Cabinet. Congratulations. (Applause.)

MS. SPELLINGS: Thank you, Mr. President. I am joined today, as you said, by my husband, Robert, and our -- two of our four children, my daughters Mary and Grace LaMontagne, who get to miss school to be here. (Laughter.) On behalf of myself and my family, thank you, Mr. President for this opportunity not only to serve you and our country, but the children of America. I am humbled and honored by your confidence.

More than 10 years ago, you gave me the opportunity to work with you on improving Texas schools. You said then that the government should do a few things and do them well, and that one of those few things is educating all children. I share your passion for education and your commitment to seeing that each and every child has the skills and qualities necessary to realize the American Dream. Our schools must keep their promise to all our children. And I pledge to do all I can to ensure that no child is left behind.

It has been a privilege to serve as your domestic policy advisor for these past four years. I have mixed feelings about leaving this White House and will miss all of my wonderful friends and colleagues here: our great Chief of Staff, my wonderful Domestic Policy Council staff, and of course, all the great Texans who have been at your side for more than a decade.

One of those great Texans is, of course, Secretary Rod Paige, who distinguished himself as an educator and has served admirably as your Secretary of Education. He has laid the foundation for leaving no child -- leaving no child behind, and I pledge to honor his lifelong commitment to children by continuing the good work he started.

To you, Mr. President, and to Mrs. Bush, who shares your commitment to education, thank you. I am a product of our public schools. I believe in America's schools, what they mean to each child, to each future President or future domestic policy advisor, and to the strength of our great country. If confirmed by the Senate, I commit to work alongside America's educators and my new colleagues at the Department of Education to make our schools the finest in the world.

Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity and for your continued trust and confidence in me.

THE PRESIDENT: Good job. (Applause.)

END 11:13 A.M. EST

RNC Chair Ed Gillespie Statement

Current RNC Chair Ed Gillespie announced on Friday that he will not seek another term, but will serve until the winter meeting.

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 15, 2004 Statement by the President

Ed Gillespie has done an outstanding job as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. He helped bring many new people to our cause by sharing our vision of a safer world and more hopeful America. His successful efforts in outreach, registration, and voter turnout will be an enduring legacy on which to build a long-lasting governing coalition.

Republicans now hold the Presidency, majorities in both houses of Congress, and the majority of Governorships and state legislatures. That's due to a lot of hard work by many people, and one of the most important contributions has been the personal commitment, creativity, and leadership of Ed Gillespie these past years.

I thank Ed for his exceptional service and friendship and wish him and Cathy all the best.

###

Republican National Committee Ken Mehlman

President Bush To Ask Republican National Committee To Pick Ken Mehlman As New Chair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Jones 703-647-2964

Ken Mehlman

WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush today announced he will ask the Republican National Committee (RNC) to elect Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman as its chairman at the RNC’s winter meeting in Washington, DC, January 18-19, 2005. Current RNC Chair Ed Gillespie announced on Friday that he will not seek another term, but will serve until the winter meeting.

“Ken Mehlman has served the Republican Party and the Administration with honor and distinction. As Campaign Manager, he helped us achieve our historic 2004 election night gains. Ken has a clear vision for making our gains durable while continuing to help expand the message and reach of the Republican Party. He’ll be a great success at the RNC with his boundless energy and commitment to continue growing Republican majorities,” said President Bush of Mehlman.

Ken Mehlman most recently served as the campaign manager for the President’s historic re-election. Prior to joining the campaign, Mehlman worked as the White House Director of Political Affairs for President Bush’s first two and a half years, during which he oversaw and executed the President and the Administration’s political strategy with state parties, national committees, candidates, and state and local elected officials in support of the President’s agenda.

Mehlman served as National Field Director for Bush-Cheney 2000, where he worked with the campaign leadership in all fifty states and the Republican National Committee to execute winning political plans and mobilize strong grassroots.

Before joining President Bush, Mehlman was Congresswoman Kay Granger’s (TX-12) Chief of Staff and Congressman Lamar Smith’s (TX-21) Legislative Director. He practiced environmental law in Washington and assisted campaigns in Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, and Georgia, as well as the 1992 and 1996 Presidential campaigns.

Ken is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland

Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 16, 2004

President Announces Nomination of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State
FULL STREAMING VIDEO The Roosevelt Room 12:33 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Dr. Condoleezza Rice to be America's Secretary of State. Condi Rice is already known to all Americans, and to much of the world.

During the last four years I've relied on her counsel, benefited from her great experience and appreciated her sound and steady judgment. And now I'm honored that she has agreed to serve in my Cabinet. The Secretary of State is America's face to the world. And in Dr. Rice, the world will see the strength, the grace and the decency of our country.

Both Condi and I have been proud to serve with our friend, Secretary of State Colin Powell. He has been one of the most effective and admired diplomats in America's history. Secretary Powell has helped to rally the world in a global war, has helped to resolve dangerous regional conflicts; he's helped to confront the desperate challenges of hunger, poverty and disease. He has been tireless and selfless and principled, and our entire nation is grateful for his lifetime of service.

I'm also grateful that Steve Hadley has agreed to become my new National Security Advisor. Steve served Presidents Nixon, Ford and Bush before me, and he has done a superb job as Dr. Rice's deputy during these past four years. Steve is a man of wisdom and good judgment. He has earned my trust and I look forward to his continued vital service on my national security team.

When confirmed by the Senate, Condoleezza Rice will take office at a critical time for our country. We're a nation at war; we're leading a large coalition against a determined enemy; we're putting in place new structures and institutions to confront outlaw regimes, to oppose proliferation of dangerous weapons and materials, and to break up terror networks.

The United States has undertaken a great calling of history to aid the forces of reform and freedom in the broader Middle East so that that region can grow in hope, instead of growing in anger. We're pursuing a positive direction to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, an approach that honors the peaceful aspirations of the Palestinian people through a democratic state, and an approach that will ensure the security of our good friend, Israel.

Meeting all of these objectives will require wise and skillful leadership at the Department of State, and Condi Rice is the right person for that challenge. She's a recognized expert in international affairs, a distinguished teacher and academic leader, and a public servant with years of White House experience. She displays a commitment to excellence in every aspect of her life, from shaping our strategy in the war on terror, to coordinating national security policy across the government, to performing classical music on stage. Above all, Dr. Rice has a deep, abiding belief in the value and power of liberty, because she has seen freedom denied and freedom reborn.

As a girl in the segregated South, Dr. Rice saw the promise of America violated by racial discrimination and by the violence that comes from hate. But she was taught by her mother, Angelina, and her father, the Reverend John Rice, that human dignity is the gift of God, and that the ideals of America would overcome oppression. That early wisdom has guided her through life, and that truth has guided our nation to a better day.

I know that the Reverend and Mrs. Rice would be filled with pride to see the daughter they raised in Birmingham, Alabama, chosen for the office first held by Thomas Jefferson. Something tells me, however, they would not be surprised. (Laughter.)

As many of you know, Condi's true ambition is beyond my power to grant. (Laughter.) She would really like to be the commissioner of the National Football League. I'm glad she's put those plans on hold once again. The nation needs her. I urge the Senate to promptly confirm Condoleezza Rice as America's 66th Secretary of State.

Congratulations. (Applause.)

DR. RICE: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. It has been an honor and a privilege to work for you these past four years, in times of crisis, decision and opportunity for our nation. Under your leadership, America is fighting and winning the war on terror. You have marshaled great coalitions that have liberated millions from tyranny, coalitions that are now helping the Iraqi and Afghan people build democracies in the heart of the Muslim world. And you have worked to widen the circle of prosperity and progress in every corner of the world.

I look forward, with the consent of the Senate, to pursuing your hopeful and ambitious agenda as Secretary of State. Mr. President, it is an honor to be asked to serve your administration and my country once again.

And it is humbling to imagine succeeding my dear friend and mentor, Colin Powell. He is one of the finest public servants our nation has ever produced. Colin Powell has been a great and inspirational Secretary of State. It was my honor to serve alongside him, and he will be missed.

It will, of course, be hard to leave the White House, and especially to leave behind the terrific NSC staff who have served their President and their country so ably in this most challenging of times. Yet, I can leave confident in the knowledge that they will be led by the consummate professional, a man I know and admire, my colleague and friend, Steve Hadley.

Finally, let me say that in my 25 years of experience in foreign affairs, both in and out of government, I have come to know the men and women of the Department of State. I have the utmost admiration and respect for their skill, their professionalism and their dedication. If I am confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to working with the great people of the Foreign Service and the Civil Service. And one of my highest priorities as Secretary will be to ensure that they have all the tools necessary to carry American diplomacy forward in the 21st century.

Mr. President, thank you again for this great opportunity, and for your continued confidence in me.

THE PRESIDENT: Good job. Thank you all.

END 12:40 P.M. EST

Secretary of State Colin Powell resigns

Secretary of State Colin Powell resigns streaming video from foxnews.com

Secretary of State Colin Powell's resignation document more from c-span.org

Secretary of State Colin Powell

Colin L. Powell was nominated by President Bush on December 16, 2000 as Secretary of State. After being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he was sworn in as the 65th Secretary of State on January 20, 2001.

Prior to his appointment, Secretary Powell was the chairman of America’s Promise - The Alliance for Youth, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing people from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of young people.

Secretary Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years, during which time he held myriad command and staff positions and rose to the rank of 4-star General. His last assignment, from October 1, 1989 to September 30, 1993, was as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. During this time, he oversaw 28 crises, including Operation Desert Storm in the victorious 1991 Persian Gulf war.

Following his retirement, Secretary Powell wrote his best-selling autobiography, My American Journey, which was published in 1995. Additionally, he pursued a career as a public speaker, addressing audiences across the country and abroad.

Secretary Powell was born in New York City on April 5, 1937 and was raised in the South Bronx. His parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. Secretary Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.

Secretary Powell is the recipient of numerous U.S. and foreign military awards and decorations.

Secretary Powell’s civilian awards include two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the President’s Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. Several schools and other institutions have been named in his honor and he holds honorary degrees from universities and colleges across the country.

Secretary Powell is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. The Powell family includes son Michael; daughters Linda and Anne; daughter-in-law Jane; and grandsons Jeffrey and Bryan.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor

Dr. Condoleezza Rice became the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, on January 22, 2001.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice

In June 1999, she completed a six year tenure as Stanford University's Provost, during which she was the institution's chief budget and academic officer. As Provost she was responsible for a $1.5 billion annual budget and the academic program involving 1,400 faculty members and 14,000 students.

As professor of political science, Dr. Rice has been on the Stanford faculty since 1981 and has won two of the highest teaching honors -- the 1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 1993 School of Humanities and Sciences Dean's Award for Distinguished Teaching.

At Stanford, she has been a member of the Center for International Security and Arms Control, a Senior Fellow of the Institute for International Studies, and a Fellow (by courtesy) of the Hoover Institution. Her books include Germany Unified and Europe Transformed (1995) with Philip Zelikow, The Gorbachev Era (1986) with Alexander Dallin, and Uncertain Allegiance: The Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Army (1984). She also has written numerous articles on Soviet and East European foreign and defense policy, and has addressed audiences in settings ranging from the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Moscow to the Commonwealth Club to the 1992 and 2000 Republican National Conventions.

From 1989 through March 1991, the period of German reunification and the final days of the Soviet Union, she served in the Bush Administration as Director, and then Senior Director, of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council, and a Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. In 1986, while an international affairs fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, she served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1997, she served on the Federal Advisory Committee on Gender -- Integrated Training in the Military.

She was a member of the boards of directors for the Chevron Corporation, the Charles Schwab Corporation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the University of Notre Dame, the International Advisory Council of J.P. Morgan and the San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors. She was a Founding Board member of the Center for a New Generation, an educational support fund for schools in East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park, California and was Vice President of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. In addition, her past board service has encompassed such organizations as Transamerica Corporation, Hewlett Packard, the Carnegie Corporation, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Rand Corporation, the National Council for Soviet and East European Studies, the Mid-Peninsula Urban Coalition and KQED, public broadcasting for San Francisco.

Born November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama, she earned her bachelor's degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her master's from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been awarded honorary doctorates from Morehouse College in 1991, the University of Alabama in 1994, the University of Notre Dame in 1995, the Mississippi College School of Law in 2003, the University of Louisville and Michigan State University in 2004. She resides in Washington, D.C.

May 2004
source: whitehouse.gov and national security council

National Security Advisor Discusses President's Trip to Europe and the G8

Gonzales and the Question of Torture

NEW YORK, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- NEWSWEEK item:

The confirmation hearings of White House counsel Alberto Gonzales to replace John Ashcroft as attorney general will spotlight long-running disputes within the president's legal team over the conduct of the war on terror. Gonzales's precise position was often a mystery. "When everybody else in the room was arguing, he's sitting there silently," says one former colleague. But Gonzales ultimately signed off on all of the administration's most controversial legal moves -- including declaring U.S. citizens "enemy combatants" without permitting them to see lawyers and authorizing unorthodox interrogation techniques that critics say set the stage for the Abu Ghraib
scandal.

One legal issue that worried Gonzales from the start, sources tell NEWSWEEK, was that U.S. officials -- even those inside the White House -- might one day be charged with "war crimes" as a result of some of the new measures. Gonzales first raised the issue in a Jan. 25, 2002, memo to
President George W. Bush arguing against granting Geneva Convention protections to Taliban and Qaeda prisoners captured in Afghanistan. He noted that a 1996 U.S. law permitted prosecution for violating Geneva Convention bans on "inhumane treatment." A determination by Bush that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to the Afghan prisoners "substantially reduces the threat of domestic criminal prosecution under the War Crimes Act" by future "prosecutors and independent counsels" who might view administration actions in a different light, Gonzales wrote.

The same concern later prompted Gonzales -- at the request of the then CIA Director George Tenet -- to seek a memo from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel concluding the president could authorize the use of torture as a wartime interrogation technique (thereby immunizing CIA agents from being charged with violating a federal antitorture law). The disclosure of the Aug. 1, 2002, memo to Gonzales set off a firestorm, and top Justice officials demanded the White House repudiate the far-reaching legal claim. Gonzales later seemed to do that at a White House press briefing. But privately, some associates say, Gonzales was very much involved in the torture memo from the start. "The White House got exactly what it wanted," says one Justice official. Since then, NEWSWEEK has learned, the Justice Department's internal watchdog unit has quietly opened an inquiry into whether the lawyers who sent the memo to Gonzales breached their ethical obligations by seeming to condone torture.

Senate Democrats are expected to press for full disclosures on these and related matters. But privately, even they acknowledge his confirmation is all but assured.

-- Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman

(Periscope item in the November 22 issue of Newsweek, on newsstands Monday, Nov. 15.)

SOURCE Newsweek Web Site: http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/ and msnbc.msn.com/id/6479334/site/newsweek

bush radio address 11/13/04 full audio, text transcript

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 13, 2004

President's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Allawi of Iraq authorized military operations to rid the city of Fallujah of Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists. American Marines and soldiers, alongside Iraqi security forces, are on the offensive against the killers who have been using Fallujah as a base of operations for terrorist attacks, and who have held the local population in the grip of fear.

Fighting together, our forces have made significant progress in the last several days. They are taking back the city, clearing mosques of weapons and explosives stockpiled by insurgents, and restoring order for law-abiding citizens.

In the course of this operation, Iraqi troops have discovered new evidence of the enemy's brutality. An Iraqi general has described hostage slaughter houses, where terrorists have killed innocent victims and proudly recorded their barbaric crimes. The terrorists have shown once again the stakes of this struggle. They seek to spread fear and violence throughout Iraq, throughout the Broader Middle East and throughout the world, and they will fail. The terrorists will be defeated, Iraq will be free, and the world will be more secure. Our commitment to the success of democracy in Iraq is unshakable and we will prevail.

Ultimately, Iraq must be able to defend itself, and Iraqi security forces are taking increasing responsibility for their country's security. As we see in Fallujah, and as we saw in Najaf and elsewhere, Iraqi security forces are standing and fighting and risking their lives for the future of their nation. As terrorists have targeted these forces, still more brave Iraqis have come forward as volunteers. Today, nearly 115,000 trained and equipped Iraqi soldiers, police officers and other security personnel are serving their country. The Iraqi government is on track to meet its goal of fielding more than 200,000 security personnel by the end of next year.

In January, the Iraqi people will elect a transitional national assembly, which will draft a new constitution to prepare the way for the election of a permanent Iraqi government. The Iraqi people, like the people of Afghanistan before them, are embracing a democratic future, even in the face of threats and intimidation. Throughout the country, Iraqi men and women are registering to vote, political parties are forming, candidates for office are stepping forward.

International support for the Iraqi election is essential, and that support continues to grow. Military forces from some 30 nations are working alongside Iraqi forces, helping to establish stability and security. A U.N. team is providing critical technical support to Iraq's independent electoral commission. Other diplomatic personnel are helping the Iraqi people prepare for those elections, to be held on schedule in January.

As those elections draw near, the desperation of the killers will grow, and the violence could escalate. The success of democracy in Iraq would be a crushing blow to the forces of terror, and the terrorists know it. The defeat of terror in Iraq will set that nation on a course to lasting freedom, and will give hope to millions, and the Iraqi people know it. And a free, democratic Iraq will inspire reformers throughout the Middle East and make America more secure.

The United States and our allies have shown our determination to help Iraqis achieve their liberty. We will continue to stand by our friends, and we will finish the job.

Thank you for listening.

END

karl rove

Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the President

Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950 in Denver, Colorado) is as of 2004 U.S. President George W. Bush's Senior Advisor and chief political strategist.

staff portraits of karl rove

Karl Rove began his political career with the College Republicans, which he chaired from 1973 to 1974. For the next few years, he worked in various Republican Party circles and assisted George H. W. Bush's 1980 presidential campaign.

In 1981, Rove founded a direct mail consulting firm, Karl Rove & Co., based out of Austin, Texas. This firm's first clients included Republican Governor Bill Clements and Democratic Congressman Phil Gramm, who later became a Republican. In 1993, Rove began advising George W. Bush's gubernatorial campaign. He continued, however, to operate his consulting business until 1999, when he sold the firm to focus his efforts on Bush's bid for the presidency.

Karl Rove served as chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2000 Presidential campaign. He previously served as a member of the Board of International Broadcasting, which oversees operations of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, and served on the board of the McDonald Observatory. Karl also taught at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and in the Journalism Department at the University of Texas at Austin.

After Bush became the 43rd president, Karl Rove became a Senior Advisor to the President. Rove is generally considered one of the most influential advisors in the Bush administration, and he has earned a reputation as an aggressive campaigner

contact: 202-456-2369

more: Karl Rove -- White House, and karl rove

Al Gonzales Attorney General

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 10, 2004

President Nominates Judge Al Gonzales as Next Attorney General

Remarks by the President and Attorney General Nominee Judge Alberto Gonzales The Roosevelt Room 3:40 P.M. EST

President Nominates Judge Al Gonzales as Next Attorney General full streaming video

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Al Gonzales to be the Attorney General of the United States. This is the fifth time I have asked Judge Gonzales to serve his fellow citizens, and I am very grateful he keeps saying "yes."

A decade ago, when I was elected governor of Texas, I asked Al to be my general counsel. He went on to distinguished service as Texas's Secretary of State and as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court.

Since I arrived in Washington four years ago, he has served with skill and integrity in the White House as Counsel to the President. I have counted on Al Gonzales to help select the best nominees for the federal courts, one of the President's most important responsibilities.

His sharp intellect and sound judgment have helped shape our policies in the war on terror -- policies designed to protect the security of all Americans, while protecting the rights of all Americans. As the top legal official on the White House staff, he has led a superb team of lawyers and has upheld the highest standards of government ethics. My confidence in Al was high to begin with; it has only grown with time.

Over the past decade, I've also come to know the character of this man. He always gives me his frank opinion. He is a calm and steady voice in times of crisis. He has an unwavering principle, a respect for the law, and he and Becky are dear friends of Laura and my -- of me, and I'm also very friendly with Graham and Gabriel Gonzales.

My newest Cabinet nominee grew up in a two-bedroom house in Texas with his parents and seven siblings. Al's mother and dad, Pablo and Maria, were migrant workers who never finished elementary school, but they worked hard to educate their children and to instill the values of reverence and integrity and personal responsibility. These good people lived to see their son, Al, study at Rice University and Harvard Law School. Maria still lives in humble Texas in the house her husband built, and I can only imagine how proud she is today of her son, Al.

Serving as Attorney General is one of the most challenging duties in our government. As the nation's chief law enforcement officer, Al will continue our administration's great progress in fighting crime, in strengthening the FBI, in improving our domestic efforts in the war on terror. As a steward of civil rights laws, he will ensure that Americans are protected from discrimination so that each person has the opportunity to live the American Dream, as Al himself has done.

With the Senate's approval, Judge Gonzales will succeed another superb public servant, Attorney General John Ashcroft. Attorney General Ashcroft has served with excellence during a demanding time. In four years, he's reorganized the Department of Justice to meet the new threat of terrorism. He's fairly and forcefully applied the Patriot Act and helped to dismantle terror cells inside the United States. During his watch, violent crime has dropped to a 30-year low, and prosecutions of crimes committed with guns have reached an all-time high. Drug use amongst our students is down. Confidence in the financial markets has been restored because the Attorney General aggressively prosecuted corporate fraud. And thanks to John Ashcroft's leadership, America has stepped up its efforts to prosecute the cruel exploitation of children by Internet pornographers. The nation is safer and more just today because John Ashcroft has served our country so well.

I'm committed to strong, principled leadership at the Department of Justice, and Judge Al Gonzales will be that kind of leader as America's 80th Attorney General. I urge the Senate to act promptly on this important nomination. I look forward to welcoming my great friend to the Cabinet.

Congratulations. (Applause.)

JUDGE GONZALES: Thank you, Mr. President. I am joined today, as the President said, by my beautiful wife, Rebecca, and two of our three sons, Graham and Gabriel. And on behalf of my family, including my mom, Maria, and our other son, Jared, thank you, Mr. President, for this extraordinary opportunity.

This has been a day of conflicting emotions for me -- obviously, great humility and gratitude, but also some sadness, that, if confirmed, I will no longer drive to work every day to the White House, nor interact as closely with this remarkable White House staff, including my great team in the Counsel's Office, all led ably by my friend and inspiration, Chief of Staff Andy Card.

But I do look forward, if confirmed, to continuing to work with my friends and colleagues in the White House in a different capacity on behalf of our President, as we move forward to make America better, safer and stronger.

As a former judge, I know well that some government positions require a special level of trust and integrity. The American people expect and deserve a Department of Justice guided by the rule of law, and there should be no question regarding the Department's commitment to justice for every American. On this principle, there can be no compromise.

I am indebted to General Ashcroft, who, as the President just acknowledged, has served well during an historic time for our country. I appreciate John Ashcroft's courage and friendship, and I will work hard to build upon his record.

Finally, to our President, when I talk to people around the country I sometimes tell them that within the Hispanic community there is a shared hope for an opportunity to succeed. "Just give me a chance to prove myself" -- that is a common prayer for those in my community. Mr. President, thank you for that chance. With the consent of the Senate, God's help and the support of my family, I will do my best to fulfill the confidence and trust reflected in this nomination. Thank you, sir. (Applause.)

END 3:47 P.M. EST

Veterans Day, 2004

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom to protest. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom to abuse and burn that flag." Zell Miller

By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary November 9, 2004

Americans live in freedom because of our veterans' courage, dedication to duty, and love of country. On Veterans Day, we honor these brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces and defended our Nation.

Across America, there are more than 25 million veterans. Their ranks include generations of citizens who have risked their lives while serving in military conflicts, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and the war on terror. They have fought for the security of our country and the peace of the world. They have defended our founding ideals, protected the innocent, and liberated the oppressed from tyranny and terror. They have known the hardships and the fears and the tragic losses of war. Our veterans know that in the harshest hours of conflict they serve just and honorable purposes.

Through the years, our veterans have returned home from their duties to become active and responsible citizens in their communities, further contributing to the growth and development of our Nation. Their commitment to service inspires all Americans.

With respect for and in recognition of the contributions our service men and women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2004, as Veterans Day and urge all Americans to observe November 7 through November 13, 2004, as National Veterans Awareness Week. I urge all Americans to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans through ceremonies and prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States and to encourage and participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I invite civic and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses, unions, and the media to support this national observance with commemorative expressions and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

source:whitehouse.gov

MORE in focus veterans

The Honorable Alberto R. Gonzales

Judge Al Gonzales was commissioned as Counsel to President George W. Bush in January of 2001. Prior to serving in the White House, he served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.

alberto r. gonzales

Before his appointment to the Texas Supreme Court in 1999, he served as Texas' 100th Secretary of State from December 2, 1997 to January 10, 1999. Among his many duties as Secretary of State, Gonzales was a senior advisor to then Governor Bush, chief elections officer, and the Governor's lead liaison on Mexico and border issues.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary of State, Gonzales was the General Counsel to Governor Bush for three years. Before joining the Governor's staff, he was a partner with the law firm of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. in Houston, Texas. He joined the firm in June 1982. While in private practice, Gonzales also taught law as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center.

Among his many professional and civic activities, Gonzales was elected to the American Law Institute in 1999. He was a board trustee of the Texas Bar Foundation from 1996 to 1999, a board director for the State Bar of Texas from 1991 to 1994, and President of the Houston Hispanic Bar Association from 1990 to 1991. He was a board director of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast from 1993 to 1994, and President of Leadership Houston during this same period. In 1994, Gonzales served as Chair of the Commission for District Decentralization of the Houston Independent School District, and as a member of the Committee on Undergraduate Admissions for Rice University. Gonzales was Special Legal Counsel to the Houston Host Committee for the 1990 Summit of Industrialized Nations, and a member of delegations sent by the American Council of Young Political Leaders to Mexico in 1996 and to the People's Republic of China in 1995.

Among his many honors, in 2003 Gonzales was inducted into the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Alumni Hall of Fame, was honored with the Good Neighbor Award from the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and received President's Awards from the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the League of United Latin American Citizens. In 2002, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of Rice University by the Association of Rice Alumni and was honored by the Harvard Law School Association with the Harvard Law School Association Award. Gonzales was recognized as the 1999 Latino Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association, and he received a Presidential Citation from the State Bar of Texas in 1997 for his dedication to addressing basic legal needs of the indigent. He was chosen as one of the Five Outstanding Young Texans by the Texas Jaycees in 1994, and as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas by the Texas Young Lawyers Association in 1992. Gonzales was honored by the United Way in 1993 with a Commitment to Leadership Award, and received the Hispanic Salute Award in 1989 from the Houston Metro Ford Dealers for his work in the field of education.

Gonzales was born in San Antonio, Texas and raised in Houston. He is a graduate of Texas public schools, Rice University, and Harvard Law School. Gonzales served in the United States Air Force between 1973 and 1975, and attended the United States Air Force Academy between 1975 and 1977. He is married to Rebecca and is the father of three sons.

source: whitehouse.gov

osama bin laden's speech

bin ladin

this from aljazeera Following is the full English transcript of Usama bin Ladin's speech in a videotape sent to Aljazeera. In the interests of authenticity, the content of the transcript, which appeared as subtitles at the foot of the screen, has been left unedited.

"In conclusion, I tell you in truth, that your security is not in the hands of Kerry, nor Bush, nor al-Qaida. No.

Your security is in your own hands. And every state that doesn't play with our security has automatically guaranteed its own security.

And Allah is our Guardian and Helper, while you have no Guardian or Helper. All peace be upon he who follows the Guidance."
full text aljazeera translation osama bin laden's speech

and from the middle east media research institute:

The following is the full version of Osama bin Laden's speech released on October 29, 2004, as broadcast by Al-Sahab Institute for Media Production, which is known to produce Al-Qa'ida's video messages. A link to the video was posted on the Islamist Al-Islah message forum, frequented by Al-Qa'ida supporters.

"Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or Al-Qa'ida. Your security is in your own hands, and any [U.S.] state [wilaya] that does not toy with our security automatically guarantees its own security.

"Allah is our guardian but you have none.

"Peace be upon whoever follows the true guidance."
full text middle east media research institute translation osama bin laden's speech

bush radio address 11/6/04 full audio, text

For Immediate Release
November 6, 2004
president bush's Radio Address

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, the voters of America set the direction of our nation for the next four years. I am honored by the support of my fellow citizens. I commend Senator John Kerry for a spirited campaign.

Now the election is behind us, and our country is ready to move forward. Our nation is fighting a continuing war on terror, and every American has a stake in the outcome. Republicans and Democrats and independents love our country, and together, we will protect the American people. We will persevere until the enemy is defeated and our nation is safe from danger. Every civilized country also has a stake in the outcome of this war. Whatever our past disagreements, we share a common enemy and common duties to confront disease and hunger and poverty in troubled regions of our world.

I will continue reaching out to friends and allies, including our partners in NATO and the European Union, to promote development and progress, to defeat the terrorists, and to encourage freedom and democracy as the alternatives to tyranny and terror.

Here at home, we have serious responsibilities and historic opportunities. To accelerate the momentum of this economy, and to keep creating jobs, we must take practical measures to help the small business sector. We must confront the junk and frivolous lawsuits that are driving up the cost of health care and hurting doctors and patients. We must continue to work on education reform, to bring high standards and accountability, not just to elementary schools, but to the high schools as well.

We must reform our complicated and outdated tax code, to get rid of needless paperwork and make our economy more competitive in the world. And we must show our leadership by strengthening the Social Security system for our children and grandchildren. This is more than a problem to be solved. It is an opportunity to help millions of our fellow citizens find the security and independence of ownership.

Reaching these goals will require the broad support of Americans. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need the support of Republicans and Democrats and independents, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.

A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one constitution, and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.

In the election of 2004, large issues were set before the country and discussed every day of the campaign. Now Americans are expecting bipartisan effort and results. My administration will work with both parties in Congress to achieve those results, and to meet the responsibility we share.

With the campaign over, the United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith. I see a great day coming for our country, and I'm eager for the work ahead.

Thank you for listening.

source: whitehouse.gov

exit polls national election pool

ABC, AP, CBS, CNN, Fox, and NBC, created the National Election Pool to provide tabulated vote counts and exit poll surveys for the 2004 major presidential primaries and the November general election.

These organization, have appointed Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International as the sole provider of exit polls for the political races of 2004. The AP will tally the vote

The exit poll data is available for purchase by TV-affiliates, newspapers, internet sites and other news outlets. The polling data will be delivered through a secure web application directly to subscribers on primary and election days. Political candidates may subscribe as well, but the data is available one week past voting day.

source and website:

Exit Polls From Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International: The Exclusive Source for Election Day Information

these are the numbers from the late afternoon update provided to customers on election day november 2 2004

Florida Kerry 51 Bush 49	Ohio Kerry 51 Bush 49	Michigan Kerry 52 Bush 46 Nader 1	Pennsylvania Kerry 53 Bush 46
Iowa Kerry 50 Bush 49	Wisconsin Kerry 51 Bush 48 Nader 1	Minnesota Kerry 52 Bush 46 Nader 2	New Hampshire Kerry 54 Bush 44 Nader 1
New Mexico Kerry 50 Bush 48 Nader 1	Colorado Kerry 49 Bush 50 Nader 1	Arkansas Kerry 45 Bush 54 Nader 1	Missouri Kerry 47 Bush 52
New York Kerry 62 Bush 36 Nader 2	Nevada Kerry 49 Bush 48 Nader 1	New Jersey Kerry 54 Bush 44 Nader 1	West Virginia Kerry 45 Bush 54 Nader 1

and the final counts for these same states

Florida bush 52 kerry 47	Ohio bush 51 kerry 49	Michigan bush 48 kerry 51 Nader 1	Pennsylvania bush 49 kerry 51
Iowa bush 50 kerry 49 nader 1	Wisconsin bush 49 kerry 50 Nader 1	Minnesota bush 48 kerry 51 Nader 2	New Hampshire bush 49 kerry 50 Nader 1
New Mexico bush 50 kerry 49 Nader 1	Colorado bush 52 kerry 47 Nader 1	Arkansas bush 54 kerry 45 Nader 1	Missouri bush 54 kerry 46
New York bush 40 kerry 58 Nader 2	Nevada bush 51 kerry 48 Nader 1	New Jersey bush 46 kerry 53 Nader 1	West Virginia bush 56 kerry 43 Nader 1

cnn final electoral electorial county state results

electoral results by counties 2004

U.S. presidents are elected to four-year terms by 538 Electoral College voters, one per senator and representative from each state, plus three from the District of Columbia. In 38 states, the voters are required by law to vote for the candidate who won the popular voter in their state, although all electors usually cast a ballot for the popular vote winner. A candidate must receive a majority of 270 votes to win the election.

Presidential results by state:
Pick state: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut D.C. Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Bush News Conference streaming video, full text

bush press conference 11/4/04 full text, full streaming video

C-SPAN (C) 2004 National Cable Satellite President Bush News Conference streaming video

President Holds Press Conference

President's Remarks 11:17 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Please be seated. Yesterday I pledged to reach out to the whole nation, and today I'm proving that I'm willing to reach out to everybody by including the White House press corps.

This week the voters of America set the direction of our nation for the next four years. I'm honored by the support of my fellow citizens, and I'm ready for the job.

We are fighting a continuing war on terror, and every American has a stake in the outcome of this war. Republicans, Democrats and independents all love our country, and together we'll protect the American people. We will preserve -- we will persevere until the enemy is defeated. We will stay strong and resolute. We have a duty, a solemn duty to protect the American people, and we will. bush press conference 11/4/04 full text