Robert Zoellick Announces Departure VIDEO, PODCAST, TEXT

Technorati Tags: Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Robert B. Zoellick or State Department and Secretary of State, or President Bush and diplomacy, or global war on terrorism, and Sudan, or Darfur, and Deputy Secretary of State, or VIDEO, and PODCAST,

Remarks With Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick, FULL STREAMING VIDEO. PODCAST, File is MP3 format running time is 10:06

Secretary Rice and Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick announce the Deputy Secretary is stepping down. State Department photo by Michael Gross

Secretary Condoleezza Rice, The Benjamin Franklin Room, Washington, DC, June 19, 2006, (9:05 a.m. EST)

SECRETARY RICE: Good morning, everyone. When I became Secretary of State, our country had fought two wars, we were waging a global war on terrorism and President Bush asked me, using America's diplomacy, to try and help consolidate the gains of the past four years. Immediately, I set about assembling a first-rate team that would help carry out this historic mission, a mission that others have referred to as transformational diplomacy.

The very first decision, really the most important decision, was to find a first-class deputy. I knew that the State Department needed a deputy who was an experienced policymaker, a seasoned diplomat, a masterful strategist and an intellectual leader, someone who was known and respected in every foreign capital around the world.

(Editors Note, Start of VIDEO Transcript)We needed a deputy who would be a full partner for me in the formulation and implementation of our entire foreign policy agenda, someone who would take American diplomacy on the road with a vigorous will to travel and who would serve as my alter ego here in Washington. And of course, we needed a deputy who would get up his courage and roll up his sleeves and occasionally even hug a panda. (Laughter.) The President and I agreed that the only person who fit that bill was Bob Zoellick.

I was deeply honored that Bob accepted the job. And in the past year and a half, Bob has been greater than ever whenever we faced challenges. And today it is not without considerable sadness that I announce that Bob Zoellick will be leaving the Department in the coming weeks. Today America's diplomacy is on track. It is stronger than ever and that is due in no small part to Bob Zoellick.

I first met Bob back in 1989 when we both served another President Bush at another challenging time for American diplomacy. Together we participated in historic events, the unification of Germany, the liberation of Eastern Europe and the peaceful collapse of the Soviet Union. Those were heady times, to be sure. And I remember how well Bob helped to craft and steer America's foreign policy with his characteristic brilliance, his tireless work ethic and his impeccable judgment.

I had the pleasure of serving again with Bob in the first four years of the Administration when I was National Security Advisor and when he was U.S. Trade Representative. What most people don't know, however, is that Bob and I had lunch about every week or two. We talked, of course, about all the vital issues at the nexus of foreign policy and trade, yet we also shared stories and talked about our common passions, like exercise and reading, and we solidified a decades-long friendship.

My close personal relationship with Bob has been the foundation of all of our work together here at the State Department. You know that when you travel as much as I do, you need someone who can step comfortably and confidently into the role of Secretary in your absence, a deputy who can coordinate with the White House and manage the daily work of the Department and make countless decisions about every aspect of foreign policy. Bob has done this and more. He has been one of my closest and most valued advisors on every single international issue from advancing security and democracy in Iraq to checking the nuclear weapons ambitions of Iran, from forging a new partnership with a changing India to expanding our common agenda with old allies in Europe and the Americas.

In particular, Bob has led the way to success on a handful of really difficult challenges. He has been indispensable in our efforts to bring peace to Sudan and to end the violence in Darfur, personally leading the U.S. delegation that helped to secure the Darfur peace agreement last month. Bob has also helped us to launch a wide-ranging strategic dialogue with China and build on the progress that he achieved as our trade representative. Bob has helped our many partners in Central and South America to tackle the twin challenges of democracy and economic development.

Here in this building, Bob has been a leader and an advocate for all of the members of our foreign service, our civil service, and our foreign service nationals. He's been a demanding boss, to be sure, who has been -- everyone who has been exposed to Bob's questioning and his probing will tell you that. And Bob always says, "We have to be relentless in our attention to implementation."

But I know everyone would agree that they appreciate how Bob has held us all to high standards and encouraged us all to succeed. And I know how much everyone appreciates Bob's deep engagement with our daily work, which is hard to deny when your memos consistently return from the Deputy Secretary of State with twice as much writing as you sent him.

Bob, you have helped to guide American diplomacy with principle and prudence at a time when there are few precedents for action. Our nation is stronger and safer because of your work, so on behalf of President Bush, on behalf of all members of the Administration, on behalf of the men and women of the State Department, and on behalf of the American people, I want to thank you for your wise counsel. I want to thank you for your dedicated service to our nation.

And on a more personal level, I want to thank you for your friendship, which I know we will continue to build and enjoy in the many years ahead and I look forward to continuing our tradition of dinners with you and Sherry at your wonderful home. Thanks so much and now, if you would like to say a few words.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK: Well, thank you, Madame Secretary for your extremely gracious small remarks. When the Secretary asked me to join her as Deputy Secretary, I appreciated her confidence and her friendship. I knew that with the guidance of the President, she wanted to give fresh impetus to U.S. diplomacy. And we certainly have done so with the excellent colleagues at State and other departments. I am pleased to have helped to build a first-rate team at the State Department, offer counsel on a number of initiatives, back up the Secretary given her active agenda and travel schedule, and taken personal charge of some issues, especially with China and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Sudan, international economic topics and helping with the Congress.

As the Secretary said when we first talked about this assignment, my experience at the State Department from 1989 to '92 helped give us an inside perspective on the great talent and energy here. We've been colleagues and friends for a long time so we knew we could work well together and we were able to build on the firm foundation laid by Colin Powell and Rich Armitage, two excellent leaders.

I began service with the President as U.S. Trade Representative in early 2001 so I'm now well into six years in public office. I've accomplished what I've set out to do and it's time for me to step down. I am pleased to be joining Goldman Sachs, which will be making an announcement shortly.

I will, of course, miss my very dedicated colleagues at the State Department. I've worked with them over the years during my earlier tour here, when I was in the private sector, during my service at USTR and most recently as Deputy Secretary. They are superb public servants and patriots. Many, many are good friends. Whether presidential appointees, Foreign Service, Civil Service, Foreign Service Nationals, it's been an honor to serve with them.

When I've traveled around the world I try to stop in, even if only quickly, to thank the embassy staffs, like I did so two weeks ago in the Dominican Republic. In these visits to our embassies, big and small, I've seen firsthand the extraordinary service our colleagues provide to the American people. Many risk their lives in dangerous posts. The public can be very proud of their representatives abroad.

And I've certainly learned very much from our colleagues at the Department, not only in policy, but in character, in duty.

The development and execution of foreign policy also depends on the contributions of a host of other departments across the U.S. Government. We get things done together as a team. I've tried to support the President and the Secretary through my work with our partner agencies. So I want to thank those colleagues who have been generous and very cooperative.

Of course the backing of the U.S. Congress is vital for a sustainable and effective American foreign policy. Secretary Rice and I discussed the importance of our relations with the Congress from the very start of our work together. So I'd like to thank the many members of Congress of both parties, who have offered me support, counsel and encouragement in this post and others.

In closing, I'd like to thank this final time both President Bush and Secretary Rice for the opportunity they've afforded me. When the Secretary spoke at her confirmation hearing, she said, "The time for diplomacy is now" and so it has been. The effect of the Secretary's work is evident and I'm pleased to have been able to contribute and I'm confident that she and the Department will have and leave an even stronger mark in the months and years ahead. So thank you very much.
2006/622

Released on June 19, 2006

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Female Sailors first to be deployed forward (PODCAST)

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Two female Sailors are the first to be deployed forward search and seizure to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of operations. Force(s) Involved: Navy Component(s) Involved: Active,Reserve, National Guard. Submitting Unit: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs.

Female Sailors, U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet

Filename: UDIO/DOD_AUDIOtwofemalefirsts.mp3, Size (bytes): 803712 (0.77 MB), Length: 0:50, Date Taken: 06-09-2006

The Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) is provided as a public service operated by Headquarters, U.S. Third Army/Army Forces Central Command (ARCENT) on behalf of the Department of the Army in support of all branches of the U.S. military (Navy, Air Force, Marines) and its Coalition partners serving in the U.S. Forces Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility

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STS-121 Space Shuttle Discovery FULL MISSION COVERAGE (VIDEO)

UPDATE: 02/06/07 - Astronaut charged with kidnap attempt arraigned, FULL STREAMING VIDEO. Photo released by Orange County Sheriff's Department, NASA astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak.

LIVE LAUNCH AND MISSION VIDEO NASATV: REAL MEDIA PLAYER amd WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER

THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED DAILY FOR THE REMAINDER OF MISSION STS-121

Space Shuttle Discovery reached its destination this morning when it docked with the International Space Station at 10:52 a.m. EDT. The STS-121 mission delivered supplies equipment and a third Expedition 13 crew member to the station.

The STS-121 astronauts entered the station for the first time at 12:30 p.m. EDT. They will spend the next week working with the Expedition 13 crew transferring much needed supplies and hardware from the shuttle and the Leonardo multi-purpose logistics module to the station. Then, the two crews will transfer unneeded items from the station to Leonardo for the trip back to Earth. Leonardo is scheduled to be lifted out of Discovery’s payload bay and attached to the station Friday.

European Space Agency Astronaut Thomas Reiter arrived with STS-121. He will become Expedition 13’s third crew member later today.

Prior to docking, STS-121 Commander Steve Lindsey piloted Discovery through a back-flip maneuver to allow the station crew to capture imagery of the orbiter’s heat shield.

FULL STREAMING VIDEO of Backflip maneuver in (Windows Media Format) or in (Real Media Format)

This is a virtual replica of the official countdown clock at the launch site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. It begins 43 hours before launch and mirrors the real clock by pausing during the various built-in holds during the countdown.

Amid the glow of lights from the fixed and rotating service structures, Space Shuttle Discovery rests on the hardstand of Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley. + View High-Res Image

LIVE LAUNCH AND MISSION VIDEO NASATV: REAL MEDIA PLAYER amd WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER

Rolling in the Right Direction - Discovery made its slow but steady journey to the launch pad.

Payloads at the Pad - The STS-121 payloads are packed up and delivered to the launch pad.

The STS-121 patch depicts the Space Shuttle docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in the foreground, overlaying the astronaut symbol with three gold columns and a gold star.

The ISS is shown in the configuration that it will be in during the STS-121 mission. The background shows the nighttime Earth with a dawn breaking over the horizon.

Media Resources + External Tank Risk Assessment Masses (81 kb PDF) and + External Tank-119 Fact Sheet (460 Kb PDF)

NASA Gives 'Go' for Space Shuttle Discovery's Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA senior managers on Saturday cleared the Space Shuttle Discovery for a July 1 flight to the International Space Station.

The decision was announced after a lengthy Flight Readiness Review, a traditional meeting in which top NASA managers and engineers set launch dates, determine whether the shuttle's complex array of equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight and assess any risks associated with the mission.

"We had two full days of an intensive Flight Readiness Review," said Administrator Michael Griffin. "It was spirited and one of the most open, yet non-adversarial meetings I've seen since returning to NASA."

Commander Steve Lindsey and his six-crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 3:48 p.m. EDT to begin a 12-day mission, designated STS-121. Discovery's crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies, make repairs and bring a third crew member to the station.

"We were really careful to evaluate everything as thoroughly as we could," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, who chaired the Flight Readiness Review. "But the review of the ice/frost ramp was one of the most vigorously discussed."

The ice/frost ramps are structures made of insulation foam that cover 34 brackets on the outside of the shuttle's external fuel tank. The ramps have been cited as a potential source of foam loss, which could cause damage to the shuttle. The Flight Readiness Review board decided the current design does not pose sufficient risk to delay the upcoming mission while design improvements for later flights are under way.

Joining Lindsey aboard Discovery will be pilot Mark Kelly, mission specialists Mike Fossum, Piers Sellers, Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson. European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter will launch on Discovery and stay on the station for several months.

Aboard the station, Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, a Russian Federal Space Agency cosmonaut, and Flight Engineer and NASA Station Science Officer Jeff Williams will greet Discovery and its crew. Vinogradov and Williams began their six-month mission on the station March 31.

For more information on the STS-121 mission, including images and interviews with the crew, visit:

Press Contacts - Allard Beutel, Headquarters, Washington, 202-358-4769

Tracy Young, Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468

June 17, 2006, RELEASE: 06-241 NASA Statement on Decision to Launch Shuttle Discovery 06.19.06

The following is a statement from NASA Chief Safety and Mission Assurance Officer Bryan O'Connor and Chief Engineer Chris Scolese on decision to launch the Space Shuttle Discovery in July, despite reservations:

"Crew safety is our first and most important concern. We believe that our crew can safely return from this mission.

"We both feel that there remain issues with the orbiter -- there is the potential that foam may come off at time of launch. That's why we feel we should redesign the ice/frost ramp before we fly this mission. We do not feel, however, that these issues are a threat to safe return of the crew. We have openly discussed our position in the Flight Readiness Review -- open communication is how we work at NASA. The Flight Readiness Review board and the administrator have heard all the different engineering positions, including ours, and have made an informed decision and the agency is accepting this risk with its eyes wide open."

JSC2006-E-22050 (8 June 2006) --- Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson, STS-121 mission specialist, listens to a reporter's question during the preflight press briefing for the scheduled July mission aboard Discovery. high res (1.5 M) low res (68 K) Biographical Data

Biographical Data

Commander Steve Lindsey - Lindsey is assigned to command the crew of STS-121. He flew as a pilot on STS-87 in 1997 and STS-95 in 1998, and was mission commander on STS-104 in 2001.

Pilot Mark Kelly - Kelly flew on STS-108 in 2001, and has logged almost 12 days in space. Kelly is assigned as the pilot on STS-121.

Mission Specialist Mike Fossum - As a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control, Fossum supported several flights. He is currently assigned to the crew of STS-121 as a mission specialist.

Mission Specialist Lisa Nowak - Nowak recently served in the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch and in the CAPCOM Branch. She is assigned to the crew of STS-121 on her first flight.

Mission Specialist Piers Sellers - Sellers completed his first flight on STS-112, including almost 20 EVA hours in three spacewalks. He is assigned to the crew of STS-121 as a mission specialist.

Mission Specialist Thomas Reiter - Representing the European Space Agency (ESA), Reiter will remain on the space station, working with the station crew under a contract between the ESA and the Russian Federal Space Agency.

Discovery Crew Home Safe (Image Gallery)

The crew of mission STS-114 gathered in front of Discovery following landing at Edwards Air Force Base. From left to right: Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson, Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Soichi Noguchi and Charles Camarda, and Pilot James Kelly. (Image Credit: Jim Ross/NASA)

+ Large Image (3000 x 2406, 300 ppi) --- + Medium Image (700 x 558, 72 ppi) --- + Small Image (360 x 263, 72 ppi)

NASA's Crew Transport Vehicle, or CTV, pulls up to the Space Shuttle Discovery to offload the crew after a successful landing August 9, 2005 at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The landing marked the end of the STS-114 mission. (Image Credit: Carla Thomas/NASA)

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The sun rises on the Space Shuttle Discovery as it rests on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base, California, after a safe landing August 9, 2005 to complete the STS-114 mission. (Image Credit: Carla Thomas/NASA)

+ Large Image (3008 x 2000, 300 ppi) --- + Medium Image (530 x 422, 72 ppi) --- + Small Image (361 x 240, 72 ppi)

Mission managers applaud the successful landing of Space Shuttle Discovery at Edwards Air Force Base in California. (Image Credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA)

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Touchdown! Discovery makes a picture-perfect landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 8:11 a.m. EDT. (Image Credit: Carla Thomas/NASA)

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Maj. Gen. Caldwell missing soldiers 06/17/06 (VIDEO)

Video: Maj. Gen. Caldwell FULL STREAMING VIDEO, Sends a message on the news of a Coalition Forces Soldier killed and two others reported duty status and where about unknown

after an explosion and small arms fire erupted at a traffic control point. A quick reaction force was called in to respond to the scene.

Video Location: Baghdad, Iraq, Interviewee(s): Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, Force(s) Involved: Army, Component(s) Involved: Active, Submitting Unit: American Forces Network Iraq,

Filename: 0606/DOD_B06061701.wmv, Size (bytes): 4901730 (4.67 MB), Length: 3:06, Date Taken: 06-17-2006

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Freedom Calendar 06/17/06 - 06/24/06

June 17, 1856, Republican National Convention makes John C. Fremont its first Republican presidential nominee, with slogan 'Free soil, free labor, free speech, and Fremont'.

June 18, 1912, African-American Robert Church, founder of Lincoln Leagues to register black voters in Tennessee, attends 1912 Republican National Convention as delegate; eventually serves as delegate at 8 conventions.

June 19, 1865, On “Juneteenth,” U.S. troops land in Galveston, TX to enforce ban on slavery that had been declared more than two years before by the Emancipation Proclamation.

June 20, 1964, The Chicago Defender, renowned African-American newspaper, praises Senate Republican Leader Everett Dirksen (R-IL) for leading passage of 1964 Civil Rights Act.

June 21, 1832, Birth of U.S. Rep. Joseph Rainey (R-SC), former slave who in 1870 became first African-American member of U.S. House.

June 22, 1870, Republican Congress creates U.S. Department of Justice, to safeguard the civil rights of African-Americans against Democrats in the South.

June 23, 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower meets with Martin Luther King and other African-American leaders to discuss plans to advance civil rights.

June 24, 1940, Republican Party platform calls for integration of the armed forces; for the balance of his terms in office, FDR fails to order it

"We continue to work for an America where individuals are celebrated for their abilities, not judged by their disabilities.”

George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States

SOURCE: Republican Freedom Calendar

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Presidential Podcast 06/17/06

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Presidential Podcast 06/17/06

Subscribe to Our Odeo or podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring real audio and full text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

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bush radio address 06/17/06 full audio, text transcript

Technorati Tags: President Bush and White House or terrorist Zarqawi and Baghdad or Coalition forces and Air Force One or VIDEO and teleconference from Camp David or Iraq and PODCAST or Prime Minister Maliki

bush radio address 06/17/06 full audio, text transcript. PODCAST and In Focus: Renewal in Iraq President's Radio Address

Subscribe to Our Odeo or podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring real audio and full text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Earlier this week, I traveled to Baghdad to visit the capital of a free and democratic Iraq. It was an incredible feeling to stand in the cockpit of Air Force One and watch the pilot steer us in toward Baghdad.

After we landed, I had the pleasure of meeting with our dedicated embassy staff and intelligence officers serving far from home under dangerous circumstances. And I was honored to meet with some of our troops, including those responsible for bringing justice to the terrorist Zarqawi. It was a privilege to shake their hands, look them in the eye, and tell them how much the American people appreciate their daily courage, and how much we appreciate the sacrifices that they and their families are making.

On my trip, I also met with the new Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki, and I was able to see firsthand his strong character and his determination to succeed. We held a joint meeting of our two Cabinets, with members of my Cabinet participating by video teleconference from Camp David. The Prime Minister briefed us on his plan to take immediate steps in three key areas: improving security, building up Iraq's economy so Iraqis can see real progress in their lives, and reaching out to the international community to secure support for Iraq's new government. Then we discussed how my administration can help the Prime Minister accomplish these vital objectives.

His top priority is securing Baghdad, so Coalition and Iraqi forces have launched Operation Together Forward, a joint effort to restore security and the rule of law to high-risk areas of the city. To help the Prime Minister improve security, we will continue embedding Coalition transition teams in Iraqi army and police units, and we will help the new Iraqi Ministers of Defense and Interior improve their command and control, root out corruption, and investigate and punish human rights violations. We will also support the Prime Minister as he works to rein in illegal militias, build a judicial system that will provide equal justice to all, and promote reconciliation among the Iraqi people.

To aid the Prime Minister in revitalizing Iraq's economy, we will send additional experts to help the Iraqi government develop an economic framework that will promote job creation and opportunity for all Iraqis. We will also help the Prime Minister increase oil and electricity production by working together on ways to protect key infrastructure from attacks, and to quickly restore oil and electricity production when attacks do occur.

Finally, America will help the Prime Minister engage the international community in Iraq's success. We will encourage other nations to fulfill the monetary pledges they have already made to help the new Iraqi government succeed. We will also support the Prime Minister's efforts to forge a new international compact. Under this compact, Iraq will take a series of steps in the political, economic, and security areas, and in return, the international community will provide Iraq with more robust political and economic support.

During my trip, I was impressed with the Prime Minister, the team he has assembled, and the plan he has set for his government. I appreciate his determination, and the determination of his Cabinet, to make his agenda work. I told them that the future of Iraq is in their hands. And I told them that America is a nation that keeps its word, and America will stand with them as we work toward our shared goal: a free Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself. By seizing this moment of opportunity, we will defeat our common enemies and build a lasting democracy in the heart of the Middle East, and that will make Americans, Iraqis, and the world more secure.

I traveled to Baghdad to personally show our Nation's commitment to a free Iraq, because it is vital for the Iraqi people to know with certainty that America will not abandon them after we have come this far. The challenges that remain in Iraq are serious. We face determined enemies who remain intent on killing the innocent, and defeating these enemies will require more sacrifice and the continued patience of our country. But our efforts in Iraq are well worth it, the mission is necessary for the security of our country, and we will succeed.

Thank you for listening.

END, For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 17, 2006

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Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación 06/17/06

Etiquetas De Technorati: Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación, y Presidente Bush, o terrorista Zarqawi y al Qaida en Iraq, o Fuerza aérea una, o Primer ministro Maliki y teleconferencia del campo David o La operación junta remite y Coalición

forre el audio de la dirección de radio 06/17/06 por completo, transcripción del texto. PODCAST Discurso Radial del Presidente.

Suscribir a nuestro canal de Podcast de Odeo o del podnova y recibir la dirección de radio presidencial semanal en inglés y español con informes selectos del departamento del estado. Ofreciendo transcripciones audio y con texto completo verdaderas, más fuentes contentas agregaron a menudo así que la estancia templó.

EL PRESIDENTE: Buenos Días. A principios de esta semana viajé a Bagdad para visitar la capital de un Irak libre y democrático. Fue una sensación increíble estar de pie en la cabina del avión Air Force One (Fuerza Aérea Uno) y observar mientras el piloto nos dirigía hacia Bagdad. Luego de aterrizar, tuve el gusto de reunirme con el personal dedicado de nuestra embajada así como oficiales de inteligencia que están sirviendo lejos de sus hogares bajo circunstancias peligrosas. Y tuve el honor de conocer algunos miembros de nuestras tropas - incluyendo aquellos responsables por hacerle justicia al terrorista Zarqawi. Fue un privilegio estrechar sus manos, mirar en sus ojos y decirles lo mucho que el pueblo estadounidense aprecia su valentía diaria - y cuánto les agradecemos por los sacrificios que ellos y sus familias están haciendo.

En mi viaje también estuve con el nuevo Primer Ministro Maliki - y pude ver de primera mano su carácter fuerte y su determinación de salir adelante. Tuvimos una reunión conjunta de nuestros dos Gabinetes, con miembros de mi Gabinete participando por video tele-conferencia desde Camp David. El Primer Ministro nos informó sobre su plan para tomar acción inmediata en tres áreas claves: mejorar la seguridad... fortalecer la economía de Irak a fin de que los iraquíes vean verdadero progreso en sus vidas... y procurar la ayuda de la comunidad internacional para asegurar su apoyo al nuevo gobierno de Irak. Luego discutimos cómo mi Administración puede ayudar al Primer Ministro a cumplir estos objetivos fundamentales.

Su primera prioridad es la de asegurar a Bagdad, por lo cual las fuerzas de Coalición e iraquíes han lanzado la Operación Juntos Adelante - un esfuerzo conjunto para restablecer la seguridad y el imperio de la ley en zonas de alto riesgo de la ciudad. Para ayudar al Primer Ministro a mejorar la seguridad, seguiremos destacando equipos de transición de las fuerzas de Coalición en el ejército iraquí y en unidades policíacas - y seguiremos ayudando a los nuevos Ministros iraquíes de Defensa y del Interior a mejorar su comando y control, erradicar la corrupción, e investigar y castigar a las violaciones de los derechos humanos. También apoyaremos al Primer Ministro en sus esfuerzos por controlar las milicias ilegales... crear un sistema judicial que ofrezca una justicia igual para todos... y promover la reconciliación entre el pueblo iraquí.

Para ayudar al Primer Ministro a revitalizar la economía iraquí, enviaremos expertos adicionales para ayudar al gobierno iraquí a desarrollar un marco económico que promueva la creación de empleos y oportunidades para todos los iraquíes. También ayudaremos al Primer Ministro a aumentar la producción de petróleo y energía, trabajando juntos para proteger a la infraestructura clave contra ataques - y rápidamente restablecer la producción de petróleo y energía cuando los ataques ocurran.

Por último, Estados Unidos ayudará al Primer Ministro a involucrar a la comunidad internacional en el éxito de Irak. Alentaremos a otras naciones a cumplir con las promesas monetarias que ya han hecho para ayudar al nuevo gobierno iraquí a salir adelante. También apoyaremos los esfuerzos del Primer Ministro de forjar un "Pacto Internacional". Bajo este pacto, Irak tomará una serie de medidas políticas, económicas y de seguridad - y a cambio la comunidad internacional le ofrecerá a Irak un apoyo político y económico más robusto.

Durante mi viaje quedé impresionado con el Primer Ministro, con el equipo que ha juntado y con el plan que ha fijado para su gobierno. Me impresiona su determinación y la determinación de su gabinete de implementar su agenda. Les dije que el futuro de Irak está en sus manos. Y les dije que Estados Unidos es una nación que cumple con su palabra - y que Estados Unidos los apoyará en la búsqueda de lograr nuestra meta compartida: un Irak libre que se pueda gobernar, se pueda sustentar y se pueda defender. Si aprovechamos este momento de oportunidad derrotaremos a nuestros enemigos comunes y crearemos una democracia duradera en el corazón del Medio Oriente - y eso traerá mayor seguridad a los estadounidenses, a los iraquíes y al mundo.

Viajé a Bagdad para personalmente mostrar el compromiso de nuestra Nación hacia un Irak libre - ya que es fundamental que el pueblo iraquí sepa con certeza que Estados Unidos no lo abandonará después de llegar tan lejos. Los desafíos que aún quedan en Irak son serios. Nos enfrentamos a enemigos determinados que siguen con la intención de matar a los inocentes - y derrotar a esos enemigos exigirá mayor sacrificio y la paciencia continua de nuestro país. Pero nuestros esfuerzos en Irak bien valen la pena... la misión es necesaria para la seguridad de nuestro país... y la vamos a cumplir.

Gracias por escuchar.

Para su publicación inmediata, Oficina del Secretario de Prensa, 17 de junio de 2006

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President and Mrs. Bush Attend Congressional Picnic (VIDEO)

Technorati Tags: President Bush and White House or Laura Bush and Congressional Picnic or Thaddeus McCotter and Josh Bolten or Riders in the Sky and South Lawn or VIDEO

President and Mrs. Bush Attend Congressional Picnic, FULL STREAMING VIDEO, The South Lawn, 6:50 P.M. EDT

President George W. Bush and Laura Bush welcome guests to the annual Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn of the White House Wednesday evening, June 15, 2006,

hosting members of Congress and their families to the "Rodeo" theme picnic. White House photo by Paul Morse.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Welcome to the South Lawn. Laura and I are thrilled you're here. This is called Rodeo on the South Lawn. (Laughter.) And we've -- first of all, I want to thank all the members of the Congress and the Senate who are here. Thanks for serving the country.

I always take this opportunity to thank your families on your behalf. I know you do it all the time, but I know you couldn't serve without the support of your loved ones. And so, for all the family members who are here, the wives and the husbands and the children and the grandchildren, welcome. Thanks for serving the country, too.

We got some interesting entertainment for you tonight. We got some people who can play music and some people who think they can play music. (Laughter.) We got three bands, one -- the first band will be called The Compassionates. The leader of that band is my Chief of Staff, Josh Bolten. (Applause.) Yes. Then we've got The Second Amendments will be playing tonight. (Applause.) That would be Congressman Collin Peterson, Dave Weldon, Kenny Hulshof, Thaddeus McCotter -- he's that rock and roll dude, Thaddeus McCotter. (Applause.) And Congressman Jon Porter. Once you get through those two bands, then a real group of musicians will be here, and we're fortunate Riders in the Sky will be playing for you tonight. (Applause.)

I hope you enjoy this as much as Laura and I enjoy it. We're really glad you're here. God bless you all, and God bless our great country. (Applause.) Please welcome The Compassionates. (Applause.)

END 7:52 P.M. EDT, For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 15, 2006

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VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 288 on H.R. 861

Technorati Tags: President Bush and White House or House of Representatives and Congress or Roll Call Vote and legislation or Global War on Terror and H. Res. 861 or Iraqi withdrawal and non-binding resolution or redeployment and H.R.+861 or and John Murtha

H RES 861, YEA-AND-NAY, 16-Jun-2006, 11:17 AM QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution.

BILL TITLE: Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

	Yeas	Nays	PRES	NV
Republican	214	3	2	12
Democratic	42	149	3	7
Independent		1
TOTALS	256	153	5	19

U.S. House of Representatives Roll Call Votes, 109th Congress - 2nd Session (2006), as compiled through the electronic voting machine, by the House Tally Clerks under the direction of the Clerk of the House, (Result designators are P for Passed, F for Failed, and A for Agreed To)

Roll	Date	Issue	Question	Result	Title/Description
288	16-Jun	H RES 861	On Agreeing to the Resolution	P	Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary
287	15-Jun	H RES 868	On Agreeing to the Resolution	P	Providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 861) declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

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President Bush Welcomes President Uribe of Colombia (VIDEO)

Technorati Tags: President Bush and White House or Álvaro Uribe Vélez and Colombia, or Colombian and Central American, or South American

President Bush Welcomes President Uribe of Colombia to the White House, Oval Office, 12:06 P.M. EDT, In Focus: Global Diplomacy

President George W. Bush welcomes Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to the Oval Office Wednesday, June 14, 2006. White House photo by Paul Morse.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all for coming. It's my honor to welcome back to the Oval Office mi amigo, el Presidente. Mr. President, we're glad you're here. This is my first chance to be able to congratulate the President for a very strong victory. I asked him what it's like to win with a lot of votes. He was obviously a good campaigner that had a message that the Colombian people appreciated. So first of all, congratulations for a grand victory.

President Uribe is a personal friend. I'm able to talk very frankly with him about a variety of subjects. I told him that one of the things I admire is he's a strong believer in democracy, human rights, human dignity. He's got a tough job in dealing with narco-terrorist groups in his country, but he's committed to dealing firmly with narco-terrorism. He's committed to helping reconcile past differences. He's committed to helping people get back into society. And I appreciate those commitments. He's committed to human rights.

We talked about trade. We negotiated a free trade agreement. We've still got some details to work out, but we committed ourselves to working out those details and try to get this done as quickly as we can. I will submit the agreement to Congress once it gets done, and I would hope members of both political parties understand the importance of a free trade agreement with this vital ally of ours.

We talked about the neighborhood. We talked about -- he came from a meeting with some of the Andean neighbors and he brought messages and he shared some thoughts with me. I appreciate strategizing with the President about how to make sure our neighborhood is a peaceful and hopeful place.

I told President Uribe that one of the things I will do a better job of is communicating to the people of South America and Central America my country's desire to promote justice and education and health. We spend about $1.6 billion a year in Central and South America. I want the people to understand that money is meant to help them, to help improve their lives. I want the people to understand America is a considerate country, that we care about justice.

And so, Mr. President, I am really pleased you're here. It's good to see you again. And, again, congratulations on a great victory.

PRESIDENT URIBE: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to repeat my gratitude to your government, to you personally, to your Congress, to the U.S. public opinion, for the permanent support of my country. I appreciate your friendship, your permanent advice, and we have many challenges before us.

One challenge is that Colombia can overcome this long nightmare of terrorism. I understand the mandate my fellow country citizens have given me to work harder, and with better results, for my country to get peace, and the United States cooperation is necessary.

In the last two years we have not gotten the (inaudible) result in dropping the areas with illegal drugs. One point we have studied this morning with President Bush is how to speed up the eradication of drugs, because we need to show better results in this area.

And of course, as President Bush has informed to you, we spoke about our free trade agreement, and some pending points. And we spoke about the necessity in Colombia and to all the Central American and South American countries to improve social cohesion. For I thank President Bush, he's willing to bring (inaudible) and determination to help us in education, in social issues, because we need to conduct hand-in-hand our fight against terrorism with our fight to create social cohesion, not only in Colombia, but in the whole region, as well.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Gracias, amigo. Thank you very much.

END 12:12 P.M. EDT, For Immediate Release, Office of the Press Secretary, June 14, 2006

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