President's Un-edited Interview with Richard Engel Today Show NBC VIDEO

Full text transcript follows Counselor Gillespie's statement To View The Edited Version Of NBC News' Interview, Click Here

Statement by Counselor to the President Ed Gillespie on President Bush's Interview with Richard Engel

NBC News responded to our objection to their editorial decision to misleadingly edit the President's interview with Richard Engel as aired on NBC Nightly News and The Today Show by noting it was available in its entirety on the MSNBC website. This misses the point.

While we appreciate that viewers can visit the MSNBC website to see how NBC News edited the interview to completely alter the nature of the President's answer, we know that most will not - it's simply absurd for people to have to log onto the internet and stream video to get accurate information from NBC News.

We also look forward to hearing their response to our additional concerns about their labeling Iraq as a "civil war", and if they have reason not to believe official economic data. # # #

RELATED: A letter from Counselor to the President Ed Gillespie to NBC News President Steve Capus

Interview of the President by Richard Engel, NBC News Hyatt Regency Sharm el Sheikh
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

2:02 P.M. (Local)

Q Mr. President, thank you very much for joining us.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir.

Q In front of the Israeli palm at the Knesset you said that negotiating with Iran is pointless -- and then you went further, you saying -- you said that it was appeasement. Were you referring to Senator Barak Obama? He certainly thought you were.

THE PRESIDENT: You know, my policies haven't changed, but evidently the political calendar has. People need to read the speech. You didn't get it exactly right, either. What I said was is that we need to take the words of people seriously. And when, you know, a leader of Iran says that they want to destroy Israel, you've got to take those words seriously. And if you don't take them seriously, then it harkens back to a day when we didn't take other words seriously. It was fitting that I talked about not taking the words of Adolph Hitler seriously on the floor of the Knesset. But I also talked about the need to defend Israel, the need to not negotiate with the likes of al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas. And the need to make sure Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon.

But I also talked about a vision of what's possible in the Middle East.

Q Repeatedly you've talked about Iran and that you don't want to see Iran develop a nuclear weapon. How far away do you think Iran is from developing a nuclear capability?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, Richard, I don't want to speculate -- and there's a lot of speculation. But one thing is for certain -- we need to prevent them from learning how to enrich uranium. And I have made it clear to the Iranians that there is a seat at the table for them if they would verifiably suspend their enrichment. And if not, we'll continue to rally the world to isolate them.

Q You've been rallying the world. Have you had some success on this Arab tour to try and -- and Israeli tour -- to mobilize this community against Iran? Is that part of your mission?

THE PRESIDENT: No, it's not so much -- actually, the place where I'm spending time, in terms of dealing with serious economic isolation is with our European friends -- they're the ones who have had significant trade with the Iranians. We're dealing with it not only in goods and services, trying to convince them to hold back goods and services until there's verifiable suspension, but also dealing with Iranian finances.

I don't have to spend too much time in the world, in this part of the world creating concerns about Iran -- there is big concern about Iran given the fact that Hezbollah is destabilizing Lebanon, Hamas is trying to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state, and of course Iranian action inside of Iraq.

Q A lot of Iran's empowerment is a result of the war in Iraq. How do you feel that Iran is -- its position in the world is rising because of your actions in Iraq?

THE PRESIDENT: See, I'm not so sure I agree with that. That's a premise I don't necessarily agree with. As a matter of fact, I think Iran is troubled by the fact that a young democracy is growing in Iraq. You know, this notion about somehow if Saddam Hussein were in power everything would be fine in the Middle East is a ludicrous notion. Saddam Hussein was a sponsor of terror -- and can you imagine what it'd be like to see an arms race between Saddam Hussein and Ahmadinejad, in terms of creating instability in the Middle East? As a matter of fact, the way to ultimately defeat those who use terror to destabilize young democracies is to help the young democracies succeed.

Q I've watched Iran's influence grow in Iraq. It's been very steady over the years. What are you going to do to try and counteract Iran's influence?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Basra, for example, we stood by the Prime Minister's decision to move into Basra and to continue to encourage the Prime Minister to go after Shia criminals and Shia armed militias that are doing harm to the average Iraqi -- and at the same time encourage them to use some of the Iraqi wealth to improve conditions of life. And that's what's happening. Basra is -- it's still obviously got work to be done, but it was a successful operation, as you know better than me, he's now heading into Sadr City -- "he," the Iraqi government -- all aiming to protect innocent people from people who are operating outside the law. And to the extent that those are folks who are supported by Iran, it will serve as a defeat to Iran.

Iraq is changing. You know it better than anybody, you've been spending a lot of time there. And it's in the interest of the United States that we help it continue to change to the better.

Q You talked about Iran being a major threat to American policies in the region -- with Hamas, Hezbollah, militia groups in Iraq. Do you intend to finish your term in office with a military action of some kind against Iran?

THE PRESIDENT: Richard, that's highly speculative. I've always made it clear that options are on the table. But, you know, the biggest weapon we have against those who can't stand freedom is the advance of freedom. I'm going to give a speech here in a minute that talks about the need to advance the freedom agenda in the Middle East.

Iran is a threat to people who want to live in peace, that's what they've clearly shown. I mean, the interesting thing in Lebanon is that Hezbollah, which had sold itself as a protector against Israel, all of a sudden turned its weapons on the people of Lebanon -- the true colors. And sometimes in life there needs to be clarity in order for people to rally to solve a problem.

So the best way to deal with the Iranians in the Middle East is to help the young democracy of Lebanon survive, is to stand up a Palestinian state -- obviously subject to the road map, which we intend to do before my presidency [ends], and succeed in Iraq.

Q How are you going to prevent Hezbollah from taking over in Lebanon? They had a small coup, the army didn't do anything, and they proved that they are clearly in control of the streets when they want to be.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's a problem, and obviously one thing to do is to help strengthen the Lebanese army, which I sent General Dempsey to Beirut -- I don't know if he was there when you were there, but he was there precisely to help inventory the Lebanese army -- is to make it clear to Prime Minister Siniora we stand strongly with you. We'll see what happens out of this agreement and whether it sticks or not. But we strongly support the March 14th coalition.

Perhaps one way to help deal with the situation is to get the U.N. tribunal up and running, that's investigating the death of Mr. Hariri. But, you know, no question it's a tough situation. It's not as if Lebanon has been a stable situation forever, either. I mean, this is -- and yet the Lebanese people deserve a peaceful democracy and our aim is to help them.

Q It sounded like when you were addressing the Israeli Knesset you gave a green light to Israel to take action against Hezbollah and Hamas.

THE PRESIDENT: Richard, you can read into it what you want to read into it. That certainly wasn't my intention. My intention was to say that all of us need to understand that radical groups are the threat to peace -- whether it be al Qaeda or Hamas or Hezbollah.

Q Negotiations with Iran -- is that appeasement, is that like appeasing Adolph Hitler?

THE PRESIDENT: My position, Richard, all along has been that if the Iranians verifiably suspend their enrichment -- which will be a key measure to stop them from gaining the know-how to build a weapon -- then they can come to the table, and the United States will be at the table. That's been a position of my administration for gosh, I can't remember how many years, but it's a clear position. We've stated it over and over again.

But I've also said that if they choose not to do that -- verifiably suspend -- we will continue to rally the world to isolate the Iranians. And it is having an effect inside their country. There's a better way forward for the Iranian people than to be isolated. And their leaders just need to make better choices.

Q In Iraq I recently met a soldier. He was medevac'd out on his first tour; he's now back on his second tour -- was already medevac'd to the green zone. How many more tours do these soldiers have to do? Is there an exit strategy for Iraq?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, the fact that this person volunteered again speaks to the great bravery of our troops. And we need to honor them and will honor them. And one way to do so is to have more set tours -- in for 12, out for 12.

The other thing is to take care of their families, and when the veterans take care of the vets. You know, the fact that you told me about a guy who got medevac'd twice only says to me that we've got a courageous military.

In terms of success, we're returning troops on success. You might remember I had to make a difficult choice to put more troops in -- those troops are coming home by July. And then of course, General Petraeus and his successor will assess the situation on the ground and we will end up having the troops necessary to help the Iraqis succeed.

Q So it doesn't sound like there's an end anytime soon. It just sounds like we need to support them as much as we can and keep them there for as long as we can.

THE PRESIDENT: I think the end, Richard, is, I told you, return on success. The more successful Iraq is, the fewer troops we'll need. And there's no question Iraq is becoming successful: the security situation has changed, the political situation is a lot better, the economic situation -- unlike other parts of this world -- are pretty strong. And now the question is are they going to be able to get the resources in an efficient way to the people, so the people see the benefits of democracy -- and they're doing a better job of that.

Q You think -- you still view Iraq as a success? Because on the ground it looks very bleak -- people still want to leave the country, and people are --

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's interesting you said that -- that's a little different from the surveys I've seen and a little different from the attitude of the actual Iraqis I've talked to, but you're entitled to your opinion.

Q The Iraqi government, I think, has one position, which is that it's seeing a lot of progress. But Sadr City has been up in revolt. There's major battles in Mosul. I was just in a major firefight in Sadr City hit by an EFP. It is still very much a war zone.

THE PRESIDENT: Richard, no question it's violent. But there's no question that the Iraqi government are dealing with the violent people. It's like this attitude about Basra. I can remember, you know, a good reporter saying "Basra is a disaster." I'm not suggesting you did, but people said "it's a disaster." And lo and behold, it wasn't. It was successful.

What you're watching is an Iraqi government take care of extremists in their midst so that a democracy can survive. And it's essential that the democracy survive for our own security, as well as the stability of the Middle East.

Q You've talked about having an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of this year.

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q What gives you hope that that is not overly ambitious? Why do you -- why do you think that's possible?

THE PRESIDENT: Because, first of all, people in Israel understand that in order for them to have long-term security there has to be a democratic state. People in Palestine want a democratic state. Now, there are people opposing that -- Hamas, in particular, trying to create the violence and fear to stop the state from progressing.

Secondly, I know their leaders. I spent a lot of time with Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas. They are dedicated to doing the hard work. And thirdly, I've seen the progress being made on issues like --

Q What about Hamas, Hamas was elected --

THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me for a minute, please -- on issues like the border and refugees and security. And yes, Hamas was elected and they=ve done a disaster of running Gaza. And there will be an interesting contrast between the vision of Hamas and their record, and the vision of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad and a Palestinian state. And it's that vision, the competing visions that will be put forth to the Palestinian people at some time. And I believe a state will exist and I know it's necessary for peace in the Middle East.

And I think -- I feel good that we can get it defined during my presidency and implemented subject to road map.

Q Going back to your vision and the message you've been pushing about democracy and supporting moderates across the region -- if you look back over the last several years, the Middle East that you'll be handing over to the next President is deeply problematic: You have Hamas in power; Hezbollah empowered, taking to the streets, more -- stronger than the government; Iran empowered, Iraq still at war. What region are you handing over?

THE PRESIDENT: Richard, those folks were always around. They were here. What we're handing over is a Middle East that, one, recognizes the problems and the world recognizes them. There's clarity as to what the problems are. To say all of a sudden that Hamas showed up is just not factual. They have been around and they have been dangerous. Hezbollah has been around and they are dangerous. That's why we put them on the terrorist list before my presidency.

And what you're beginning to see is new democracies. You'll see a Palestinian state. You'll see Iraq emerging. And it doesn't happen overnight. The freedom movement is not a instant. The freedom movement is a challenge to a system that said the status quo is acceptable --when underneath was brewing all kinds of resentments.

We've taken on al Qaeda in the Middle East. It was from here that they recruited people to launch attacks. And why they're still existing, they've been hurt, and they're going to be hurt even more as liberty advances and freedom advances.

Q Do you believe that Iran is now more of a threat in Iraq than al Qaeda?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, that's an interesting question. I think they've both been seriously hurt in Iraq. You know, al Qaeda thought they were going to have a stronghold in Anbar province, they proudly proclaimed this was going to be their capital from which they were going to launch missions around the world and throughout the region -- and they failed.

And in Iran* [sic], Shia groups funded by Iran tried to take on the government and the government is succeeding -- but it's going to take a while.

Q The war on terrorism has been the centerpiece of your presidency. Many people say that it has not made the world safer, that it has created more radicals, that there are more people in this part of the world who want to attack the United States.

THE PRESIDENT: That theory says by confronting the people that killed us, therefore there's going to be more -- therefore we shouldn't confront them?

Q Or confronting -- creating more people who want to kill us, one could also say.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you can say that, but the truth of the matter is there's fewer al Qaeda leaders, the people are on the run; they're having more trouble recruiting in the Middle East; Saudi Arabia, our partner, has gone after al Qaeda; people now see al Qaeda for what it is, which is a group of extremists and radicals who preach nothing but hate. And no, I just -- it's just the beehive theory -- we should have just let the beehive sit there and hope the bees don't come out of the hive?

My attitude is the United States must stay on the offense against al Qaeda -- two ways. One from --

Q Smash the bees --

THE PRESIDENT: -- two ways --

Q -- in the hive and let them spread?

THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me for a minute, Richard. Two ways. One, find them and bring them to justice -- what we're doing. And two, offer freedom as an alternative for their vision. And somehow to suggest the bees would stay in the hive is naïve -- they didn't stay in the hive when they came and killed 3,000 of our citizens.

Q Thank you very much for your time, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.

END 2:16 P.M. (Local)

* Iraq

Tags: President Bush and Richard Engel or Today Show NBC

White House Press Briefing by Scott Stanzel 05/19/08 VIDEO, PODCAST

Press Briefing by Scott Stanzel FULL STREAMING VIDEO James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 12:40 P.M. EDT. PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE 12:36 P.M. EDT Press Briefing Slides (PDF, 512 KB, 3 pages)

MR. STANZEL: Good afternoon, everyone; let's go right to questions.

Q Scott, when the President talked about the housing legislation, was he talking at all about the Shelby-Dodd proposed compromise, or just about other things that have been up there before?

MR. STANZEL: We haven't seen details of their supposed compromise. We understand that they're coming to some sort of agreement on framework. But those conversations are ongoing on the Hill, so we haven't seen the details of their proposal yet, and that's something that we would look forward to. But as the President talked about today, we want to make sure that the legislation includes good reform of the he GSEs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and also want to note that FHA modernization is certainly a high priority as well.

Q And the bill that's before the Senate know, before the committee would remove one of the objections the administration seems to have -- it wouldn't rest on taxpayers, it would shelter taxpayers. Is that a step in the right direction, that sort of thing?

MR. STANZEL: Well, certainly the administration has said numerous times that we want to help responsible homeowners and we don't want to bail out lenders and speculators with tax dollars from hardworking Americans who pay their bills on time. So that is certainly something that we watch. But obviously the bill, as you noted, is in committee and it has a long ways to go. So we'll keep an eye on it, and obviously it's an important issue to the President.

Q What's the latest on SPR? And you said earlier the President intended to sign off on it -- why, if that's not something he really believes in?

MR. STANZEL: We have -- I said this morning I thought that we had received the bill late last week, but actually we expect to receive it this afternoon. So there's been no action by the President yet on that.

I would note that as we have said numerous times, we don't believe that halting the fill of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will have much of an impact on oil prices, and therefore an impact on gas prices. What you see in this chart is basically the daily fill of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is about 70,000 barrels. What you saw on the President's visit to the Middle East, there was talk of Saudi Arabia increasing their daily production by about 300,000 barrels. Both of those were noted to be somewhat small amounts that would not probably have much of an impact on world oil prices.

I think it's worth noting that if ANWR had come on line 10 years ago, or 13 years ago when it was rejected, we might be seeing a million barrels of daily production out of that here domestically. So we think that it's important for Congress to not get sidetracked with a discussion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We hope that they will move on to those issues that we think will have -- make a difference in the future, like domestic production in an environmentally sensitive way. But the President is not going to stand in their way on this bill.

Q Your chart doesn't show the daily consumption, which is about 20 million barrels --

MR. STANZEL: Right, that's correct.

Q -- which makes all of these numbers relatively insignificant.

MR. STANZEL: Well, but 1 million out of 20 million is, what, 5 percent, Bill? Five percent difference is a difference.

Q Yes, but we can't get there anytime soon.

MR. STANZEL: No, we can't, because Congress keeps putting off the fact with -- going from band-aid to band-aid that they think will have an impact, but really won't. So for many, many years, for decades, we have had an energy policy in this country that hasn't served our needs. The President since the beginning of his administration has talked about increasing domestic production.

At the same time, we do more to increase CAFE standards, do more to increase the use of alternative fuels, and invest money into higher technology -- things like hydrogen fuel cells or battery technology that will take us beyond that in the future. But we can't keep being short-sighted when it comes to our energy needs in this country.

Roger.

Q Shift to foreign affairs for a second. The Venezuelan Foreign Minister says today that Venezuela detected a U.S. military aircraft in Venezuelan airspace on May 16, and the Defense Minister in that country says the U.S. pilot didn't realize he was in Venezuelan airspace. Do you have anything on that?

MR. STANZEL: I do not. I'm aware of that report; however, I would refer you to Defense Department for anything on that.

Q Do you know anything about it --

MR. STANZEL: I am aware of the report, but I don't have any information on it. So I'd refer you to the Defense Department.

Mike.

Q Scott, is the President disappointed that dozens of Republicans in Congress are supporting the farm bill? And what's the latest on timing in terms of presidential action on the farm bill?

MR. STANZEL: We have not yet received the farm bill. That was passed last week, obviously. The President's views on this have been clear throughout. In January 2007, the administration put forward a farm bill that we thought was very reform-minded, made wise use of taxpayers' monies, invested in things like conservation and research. Obviously the farm bill includes things like food aid, as well.

But the President has been disappointed with what came forward -- what came through Congress. We see a bill that is bloated; that asks taxpayers, at a time of record-high farm income, to pay -- and at a time when they're paying more for groceries, to pay even more to wealthy farmers. And we don't think that's the right approach. And the President and the administration will continue to make that case. Like I said, we haven't received the bill yet. We expect that we'll receive it sometime this week, and the President will veto it.

Q Is he particularly, though, disappointed with his own party, members of his own party supporting it?

MR. STANZEL: Well, I think that there are -- certainly members respond to different interests, maybe from their districts. But in the grand scheme of things, the President wanted a bill that would reform our farm laws for the future, that would make wise use of the taxpayers' money, that wouldn't increase subsidies at a time of record-high incomes. There are some things in this bill that are just unconscionable.

There are many earmarks that have been dropped in here. There's programs that would allow government subsidies to go to farmers even when they're receiving record-high incomes, just because the price of a commodity might drop by 10 percent in the third year over the previous two years. Things like that we don't think are really good policy, and not in the best interest of the American taxpayers. So the President will continue to make that case, and obviously members will have to defend their votes to their constituents.

Q Scott, the President, though, reportedly told some of the legislators on the Republican side that it was all right if they -- or signaled that it was okay if they voted their districts, meaning they could support it if their districts supported it.

MR. STANZEL: That is actually a bit of a rumor that came out of the meeting that the President had with the House GOP conference. He did not absolve anybody of their votes. He did indicate that obviously different factors come into weighing on people's votes. But he did not say, go ahead and vote your district. He certainly put forward the reasons why he thought that that bill was bad for the taxpayers, and one that he would veto.

Kathleen.

Q The National Association of Business Economics did a report, and they found 56 percent of the experts they talked to believe the country is in a recession or will be entering one this year. What's your reaction to that? Also, those who did think there would be -- or we're in a recession, though, are saying it would probably be short and shallow.

MR. STANZEL: Well, first thing, I understand that that's an opinion poll that was released today. One, the sort of the short-handed view of what is a recession -- two quarters of negative growth has not occurred, obviously. Last -- fourth quarter of last year, we had growth. The first quarter of this year, we had 0.6 percent growth. We don't think that's enough growth.

Also, the National Bureau of Economic Research is actually the more robust look at whether or not there is a recession. We are not there with them, either. So our economy is continuing to grow, but not at a rate that's fast enough for the President's liking. We're not creating enough jobs at this point. So the President believes what is important is what we do about it.

And at the beginning of the year, we passed a bipartisan stimulus package that provided incentives for businesses and rebate checks for individuals throughout the country. We believe that will have an impact. Our forecast is that growth will return in stronger numbers in the second half of the year. As they indicated this morning, the Treasury Department was able to get out those rebate checks a little bit earlier than originally planned, so we hope that there's potential that that could have an impact in this quarter, the second quarter. But I don't know that we'll know for some time about the full impact of the stimulus package.

Q Scott, Hamas leaders are in Egypt today to talk about the Israeli truce deal. Is the U.S. pushing for the truce deal? Is it -- has it been following that issue? Has it encouraged Israel to go along?

MR. STANZEL: I'm not sure that I'm aware of the specific truce deal that you're talking about. But obviously the President just returned from a good round of meetings in the Middle East, talked to leaders from throughout the greater Middle East -- talked with the Saudis, the Egyptians, Afghan officials, Pakistanis and the Jordanians. All of these parties are very interested in seeing peace in the Middle East and specifically a resolution to the difficulties in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

Unfortunately, what we have seen from Hamas has been counterproductive. It has been not, in our view, in the best interests of the Palestinian people. We think that at some point in the future if President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert can come to a point where they have an agreement on the definition of a contiguous Palestinian state, that that vision can be offered to the Palestinian people -- and that could be a time when there would be a real moment of clarity.

But as to the specifics of your question --

Q Is there any further on the French Minister meeting with Hamas?

MR. STANZEL: I understand that the French have indicated that that's not a government official. And I also understand that Israel has indicated that they've received reassurances from France that that is not a change in their policy. So that's what I have at this point.

Olivier.

Q Scott, a couple for you. One is, will the United States be represented at the Myanmar ASEAN donors conference this weekend? And if so, what level?

MR. STANZEL: I'll have to get back to you on that; I don't know.

Q And Slovenia just announced the President is going to be heading there for the U.S.-EU summit. Can you confirm that? And what other stops are on the trip? (Laughter.)

MR. STANZEL: As you frequently find out about these things from other entities -- we don't have any details on the President's visit in June, but suffice it to say the President will be traveling in June, but we don't have any of those details yet.

Goyal.

Q Thank you, Scott. Two quick questions. One, during President's trip to the Middle East, he spoke about terrorism and terrorism -- also main issue. And as you say, he met with the President of Afghanistan, President Karzai, and also Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Gilani. And now Afghanistan is the focus, especially the FATA area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as far as terrorism and the U.S. interest is concerned. What clear message President had for these two leaders, that they have been not getting along? And plus, as far as the fighting against terrorism and global war on terrorism and U.S. interests and all -- what they had, message for the President?

MR. STANZEL: Well, the President's message has remained consistent -- that we have to work with our allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan to confront the dangers that we all face mutually. Obviously terrorism has struck significant blows in both of those countries, and it's up to us to remain vigilant in confronting terror.

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas that you mentioned -- obviously that's an area of concern, and a NIE last year talked at length about our concerns with terrorism taking root there. And Pakistani troops, Pakistani military have suffered a lot of casualties in their confrontation of people, of terrorists in that area.

So that is the message the President received. And I think what he heard back from the leaders was that we will continue to work together because these are challenges that we face, all three of these nations.

Q And second, as far as earthquake in China and Burma is concerned, one, can you confirm there are some reports now again as far as earthquake in China, their nuclear facility was hit by the earthquake? And as far as Burma is concerned -- as far as referendum is concerned, because the military dictatorship is going ahead with the referendum. Any message the President has for that?

MR. STANZEL: On your first question about China, I can't confirm that. I'd refer you to Chinese officials on that. I'm not aware of what they're indicating on that at this point. And in terms of Burma, obviously the humanitarian crisis is overwhelming there. As I mentioned this morning, we've had about 31 flights of aid that have gone into the country. We want to continue to provide more of that aid. And I think the State Department has talked about the difficulty of having a referendum, given the current situation. So obviously, we remain concerned about the situation in Burma and will continue to follow it.

Q Well, 82 percent of Americans think the country is headed on the wrong track. The President has a pretty low approval rating right now. When he hits the road with John McCain, what's his pitch to voters? Does he think he can actually help this candidate?

MR. STANZEL: Well, I think that, first of all, it would be interesting to note the approval rating of Congress, as well, which is lower than all of those numbers that you cite. The President, when he gets out and talks on the campaign trail, regardless of what candidate he is supporting, will talk about the fact that he believes that Republicans going into this fall have the message that can be supported by voters, and that is one that keeps us strong, keeps us safe as a nation, one that uses -- makes wise use of the taxpayers' money and keeps taxes low, to make sure that the economy continues to grow.

So the President believes very strongly that if we get out and take our message to voters, that we can be successful.

Q Are we going to see a lot of them together?

MR. STANZEL: I think you'll see the President out on the campaign quite -- campaign trail quite a bit. We'll keep you posted on their events that they may have together.

Les.

Q Thank you, Scott. Two questions. The President in Israel said, "As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.'" And my question: Since the President never identified this Senator -- who was Republican Senator William Borah of Idaho -- what is the White House reaction to all those Democrat senators who so strongly in case -- in one case obscenely, denounced the President for daring to mention American history?

MR. STANZEL: Well, I think that as the President -- you've all seen what the President said, and I would just refer you to his remarks in that speech and the fact that we do carry a solemn responsibility in this country to take the words of radicals and terrorist leaders seriously, because we cannot let the mistake of the past century be repeated in the 21st century. So the President made very clear that he doesn't believe that we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, and that view of appeasement has been repeatedly discredited in history.

Q That's a good answer. And my second question -- (laughter) -- nice going, Scott.

MR. STANZEL: Thank you.

Q There have been -- there has been yet another almost nationally uniform raising of gasoline prices to more than $4 a gallon. And my question: Does the President believe that there is no sign whatsoever of any conspiracy in restraint of trade here, and does the White House believe that Election Day in November that the majority of voters will blame him or will they blame members of the majority party on Capitol Hill?

MR. STANZEL: I don't think the President is focused on blame, Lester. He's focused on solutions that will have a difference for the future. Certainly rising demand in oil around the world is having an impact on gasoline prices. You mentioned $4.00 -- the average price is not yet there --

Q It all goes up together. Did you notice that? All of those oil companies --

MR. STANZEL: I certainly did notice that.

Q -- go up together. What about that?

MR. STANZEL: Well, oil is sold on a world market, Lester, so that is a case in point of what we see. But the President believes that we should focus on ways that we can reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil, that we can expand use of alternative fuels, that we can reduce our consumption through raising CAFE standards, and make sure that we take those measures that will help us in the future, like expanding exploration in ANWR, the Outer Continental Shelf, as an example.

Connie.

Q On faith-based, apparently there's a faith-based meeting going on. Do you have any details on that?

MR. STANZEL: Yes, that is a meeting that is taking place today, actually starting here in about five minutes. The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Director Jay Hein and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff are hosting a roundtable to explore the increasing role of faith-based organizations across America in disaster preparedness and response and recovery efforts. Obviously, we think that these organizations have a wonderful role to play in important issues like that. So that is a roundtable discussion that they're having, actually over in the EEOB right now.

Q Can you put out a list? And how are people chosen? Do they volunteer for these --

MR. STANZEL: I'll have Emily Lawrimore get back in touch with you. She's got all the information about that.

Q On the Merida Initiative, the Senate approved some conditions for the Merida Initiative to Mexico, for example, directing the Mexican military in order to use the helicopters and planes. My question: Is the President in favor of that condition? And the Mexican government is already talking about -- say they are going to say, thanks but no thanks (inaudible) these conditions on the Mexican military.

MR. STANZEL: Obviously that is an important initiative for the administration in terms of increasing security and confronting threats. But I'm not aware of the specific back-and-forth that you're talking about. So let me --

Q It was approved by the Senate.

MR. STANZEL: Yes, I can take that question and get back to you.

Go ahead.

Q The White House has denied that it knew about the Pentagon program that used TV military analysts --

MR. STANZEL: We've been through this before. Do you have a question?

Q Yes. There's something new. Last week emails surfaced that showed that Pentagon officials, including Donald Rumsfeld, communicated with White House officials, including Karl Rove and Stephen Hadley, about the program. One email written by a Pentagon official mentioned that Rove was approached about arranging a meeting between the military analysts and the President --

MR. STANZEL: Your question is?

Q My question is, what was the nature and extent of the involvement of Karl Rove, Stephen Hadley and President Bush in the military analyst program?

MR. STANZEL: Well, the idea that people in the administration would brief people who are talking to reporters about our programs and our policies doesn't seem like to be that far-fetched of an idea to me. So in terms of the emails, I haven't been monitoring the staff emails here, so I can't tell you what their conversations were like. But it's not unusual for administration officials to brief people who are talking about our plans and our policies. Much like I'm standing here today, briefing all of you --

Q Right, and why was the program kept secret?

MR. STANZEL: -- and much like I'm standing here answering your question, and you go out on your liberal blog and talk about the way that you see things; we brief people who talk about the President's policies.

Q Why was the program kept secret?

MR. STANZEL: You can talk to the Defense Department. It was their program -- which they've discontinued.

Q Who was in charge at the White House?

Q Just to follow-up on my colleague's question, are you discouraging any contact between the French and Hamas, and with the Europeans to a larger extent? Meanwhile, you encourage them to talk to Iran, which you consider a state sponsor of terrorism. What's the difference between the two? Isn't that contradictory, then?

MR. STANZEL: Well, we have -- the President was talking about, in his speech, not talking with terrorists and radicals. We have -- as the President has made clear, we have contacts through the P5-plus-1 procedures; we have contact with Iran. We have a standing offer to sit down with leaders in Iran if they would renounce their nuclear ambitions and stop their uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.

So the President in his speech was talking about needing to take the words of these people seriously. We cannot disregard what they say. And unfortunately we have seen a growing influence of Iran, who is supporting Hamas in Gaza, supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon, is supporting Jaish al-Mahdi in Iraq, and has indicated that they -- their leaders have said that they would like to see the end of the state of Israel.

So those are things that we have to take seriously, and that's what the President was talking about.

Q Thank you.

MR. STANZEL: Thank you.

END 12:59 P.M. EDT. For Immediate Release May 19, 2008

Tags: President Bush and White House or Scott Stanzel and Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Telemedicine Could Eradicate Many Expensive ED Visits

Ken McConnochie, M.D., M.P.H., leads Health-e-Access, a Rochester-based telemedicine program that provides interactive, Internet-based health care "visits."

A community-wide study in upstate New York found that nearly 28 percent of all visits to the pediatric emergency department could have been replaced with a more cost-effective Internet doctor’s “visit,” or telemedicine, according to investigators from the University of Rochester Medical Center. The Rochester team will present these findings and more at this week’s Pediatric Academic Society Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. the full interview PODCAST with Dr. Kenneth McConnichie

“We learned that more than one in four local patients are using the pediatric emergency department for non-emergencies,” said Kenneth McConnochie, M.D., M.P.H., the study’s lead investigator and a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester’s Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. “This mismatch of needs and resources is inefficient, costly and impersonal for everyone involved.”

McConnochie and colleagues – who direct Health-e-Access, a Rochester-based telemedicine program that provides interactive, Internet-based health care “visits” to diagnose and treat routine childhood symptoms in 19 urban and suburban schools and childcare centers – analyzed data from 2006, tracking all pediatric (younger than 19) visits to the largest emergency department in the city.

Given experience with over 6,000 successfully-managed telemedicine visits that illustrate the extent of technology’s capabilities, unique diagnoses from more than 22,000 pediatric ED visits were coded into various categories – first, ailments that virtually always prove manageable by telemedicine, such as ear infections or sore throats; second problems that are usually treatable through telemedicine, but not always, such as asthma attacks; and finally, conditions that were usually beyond the scope of the technology.

Nearly 28 percent of ED visits fell into that first category; had these same problems been handled by telemedicine, this community would have had at least 12,000 fewer ED visits that year.

“This would’ve not only freed up emergency resources to people who needed them more – it would have afforded smaller co-pays for parents and more timely, personalized care,” McConnochie said. (On average, 87 percent of these telemedicine visits are handled by the child’s own family pediatrician.)

But parents aren’t the only ones who stand to benefit. McConnochie, in related research also being presented at the upcoming meeting, suggests that telemedicine will also serve the ultimate objectives of insurers and the community as well – better quality care at a lower price. Typically, insurers have been wary of embracing the technology, fearing the convenience may lead parents to use medical care more often and drive up costs; but another community study from Rochester suggests the exact opposite – that in the long run, insurers actually would realize cost savings – more than $14 per child per year in that local community.

In that study, researchers analyzed two groups of children that were almost identical – except one had access to their doctor’s office, the emergency department, and telemedicine technology for care, and the second had only the first two options. They tracked how often families used services, and which ones.

“We found that the first group of families, which had access to telemedicine for their children, did in fact access care for illness overall nearly 23 percent more often than the second group,” McConnochie said.

But since emergency department visits among these children with telemedicine access were nearly 24 percent less common – and since these visits cost about 7-times the cost of a doctor office or telemedicine visit – the telemedicine group ultimately still cost the insurers less per child over the course of a year.

“It’s similar to the idea of staying trim by eating healthy. It would be wrong to assume that someone who ate 20 items of food each day – all lean and nutritious – would be less healthy than someone who ate only 12 items – all high-fat, high-calorie, like donuts and fries,” he said. “You can see how the logic of only counting food items (or total visits) falls apart. Clearly cost, as well as frequency, plays a role, whether the ‘cost’ of each unit is measured in calories or dollars.”

Contact: Becky Jones rebecca_jones@urmc.rochester.edu 585-275-8490 University of Rochester Medical Center

Tags: Telemedicine and University of Rochester Medical Center or pediatric emergency department

Freedom Calendar 05/17/08 - 05/24/08

May 17, 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren, three-term Republican Governor (CA) and Republican vice presidential nominee in 1948, wins unanimous support of Supreme Court for school desegregation in Brown v. Board of Education.

May 18, 1896, Republican Justice John Marshall Harlan, dissenting from Supreme Court’s notorious Plessy v. Ferguson “separate but equal” decision, declares: “Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens”.

May 19, 1870, African-American John Langston, law professor and future Republican Congressman from Virginia, delivers influential speech supporting President Ulysses Grant’s civil rights policies.

May 20, 1868 Republican National Convention marks debut of African-American politicians on national stage; two – Pinckney Pinchback and James Harris – attend as delegates, and several serve as presidential electors.

May 21, 1919, Republican House passes constitutional amendment granting women the vote with 85% of Republicans in favor, but only 54% of Democrats; in Senate, 80% of Republicans would vote yes, but almost half of Democrats no.

May 22, 1856, For denouncing Democrats’ pro-slavery policy, Republican U.S. Senator Charles Sumner (R-MA) is beaten nearly to death on floor of Senate by U.S. Rep. Preston Brooks (D-SC).

May 23, 2003, U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduces bill to establish National Museum of African American History and Culture.

May 24, 1900, Republicans vote no in referendum for constitutional convention in Virginia, designed to create a new state constitution disenfranchising African-Americans.

“Every one who shoots down negroes in the streets, burns negro school-houses and meeting-houses, and murders women and children by the light of their own flaming dwellings, calls himself a Democrat. Every New York rioter in 1863 who burned up little children in colored asylums, who robbed, ravished, and murdered indiscriminately in the midst of a blazing city for three days and nights, calls himself a Democrat.”

Governor Oliver Morton (R-IN), whose statue is in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol and also at the entrance to the Indiana State Capitol Building, 1866

Presidential Podcast 05/17/08

Presidential Podcast 05/17/08 . Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring full audio and text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

Tags: President Bush and White House radio address or Middle East

Bush radio address 05/17/08 full audio, text transcript

bush radio address 05/17/08 full audio, text transcript. President's Radio Address In Focus: Middle East Trip

Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online 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. I'm speaking to you from the Middle East, where Laura and I are on a trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

When Air Force One touched down at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, I was greeted by Israel's President and Prime Minister. I joined them in celebrating an historic milestone: Israel's 60th anniversary as an independent nation. And I assured them that Israel could count on America as a strong and steady ally long into the future.

During our visit I had conversations with Israel's leaders about their efforts to forge peace with the Palestinians, and our shared belief that a peace agreement is possible this year. I also had the opportunity to address members of the Knesset, Israel's elected legislature. I reminded these democratic leaders that America was the first nation in the world to recognize Israel's independence. I told them that 60 years later, America is proud to be Israel's best friend in the world. I reaffirmed the principles that make our alliance strong: a love of liberty, a devotion to justice, and a respect for human dignity. And I said that standing firm on these ideals is the surest way to defeat the extremists and build a future of peace for people throughout the Middle East.

For Laura and me, this visit to Israel was an especially moving experience. We toured the Bible Lands Museum, saw the Dead Sea Scrolls, and visited Masada -- an inspiring shrine to Jewish courage and sacrifice in the first century. From the window of our hotel room we had a magnificent view of the Old City of Jerusalem, home to some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. And on our final morning in the city we met some of Israel's young people, talented and hopeful citizens who gave me confidence in Israel's future.

On Friday we visited another of America's friends in the Middle East -- Saudi Arabia. I had a series of productive meetings with King Abdullah at his farm. We celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. We reaffirmed our shared objectives of peace in the Holy Land, a secure and united Iraq and a sovereign, independent Lebanon that is free of outside interference. We talked about oil production and gasoline prices. We discussed the King's efforts to diversify his nation's economy, and the importance of political reform. And I thanked him for Saudi Arabia's strong commitment to fighting terror.

Our final stop is Egypt, where we are visiting the beautiful resort city of Sharm el Sheikh. I am meeting with a number of key leaders from the region, including President Mubarak of Egypt, President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, King Abdullah of Jordan, President Karzai of Afghanistan, Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan, and several senior officials from Iraq's democracy.

I will also address the World Economic Forum in the Middle East. I will stress the importance of building dynamic and diverse economies that unleash the creativity and enterprise of citizens throughout the region -- especially women and young people. I will make clear that the only way to ensure true prosperity is to expand political and economic freedom. And I will urge leaders across the region to reject spoilers such as the regimes in Iran and Syria, move past old grievances and embrace the changes necessary for a day when societies across the Middle East are based on justice, tolerance, and freedom.

Reaching that day will not be easy. But with continued leadership from America and our friends in the region, I am confident that it can happen. And when that day arrives, the Middle East will be more hopeful, the world will be more peaceful, and the American people will be more secure.

Thank you for listening. END

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 17, 2008

Tags: President Bush and White House radio address or Middle East

Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación 05/17/08

forre el audio de la dirección de radio 05/17/08 por completo, transcripción del texto. (nota de los redactores: ninguna lengua española mp3 lanzó esta semana, apesadumbrada) PODCAST

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.

Buenos Días.

Les estoy hablando desde el Medio Oriente, donde Laura y yo estamos viajando por Israel, Arabia Saudita y Egipto.

Cuando el avión Fuerza Aérea Uno aterrizó en el aeropuerto Ben-Gurión de Tel Aviv, fui recibido por el presidente y el primer ministro de Israel. Me uní a ellos para celebrar un hito histórico – el sexagésimo aniversario de Israel como nación independiente. Y les aseguré que Israel podía contar con Estados Unidos como un aliado fuerte y constante por muchos años en el futuro.

Durante nuestra visita, tuve conversaciones con los líderes de Israel sobre sus esfuerzos por forjar la paz con los palestinos, y nuestra convicción compartida que un acuerdo de paz es posible este año. También tuve la oportunidad de hablar ante los miembros del Knesset, la asamblea legislativa electa de Israel. Les recordé a estos líderes democráticos que Estados Unidos fue la primera nación en el mundo que reconoció la independencia de Israel. Les dije que 60 años después Estados Unidos está orgulloso de ser el mejor amigo de Israel en el mundo. Reafirmé los principios que fortalecen nuestra alianza –amor por la libertad, dedicación a la justicia, y respeto por la dignidad humana. Y dije que la mejor forma de derrotar a los extremistas y construir un futuro de paz para todas las personas a lo largo del Medio Oriente es manteniéndose firme en cuanto a estos ideales.

Para Laura y mi, esta visita a Israel fue una experiencia particularmente conmovedora. Visitamos el Museo de las Tierras de la Biblia, vimos los Pergaminos del Mar Muerto, y fuimos a Masada – un santuario inspirador a la valentía y el sacrificio de los judíos del primer siglo. Desde la ventana de nuestro cuarto de hotel, tuvimos una vista magnífica de la Antigua Ciudad de Jerusalén, donde se encuentran algunos de los sitios más sagrados del Judaísmo, la Cristiandad y el Islam. Y en nuestra última mañana en la ciudad, conocimos algunos jóvenes de Israel – ciudadanos talentosos y optimistas que me dieron confianza en el futuro de Israel.

El viernes visitamos otro amigo de Estados Unidos en el Medio Oriente – Arabia Saudita. Tuve una serie de reuniones productivas con el Rey Abdullah en su granja. Celebramos el septuagésimo quinto aniversario de relaciones diplomáticas entre Estados Unidos y Arabia Saudita. Reafirmamos nuestros objetivos compartidos de paz en la Tierra Santa… un Irak seguro y unido… y un Líbano soberano e independiente, que esté libre de interferencias del exterior. Hablamos de la producción petrolífera y de los precios de la gasolina. Discutimos los esfuerzos del Rey para diversificar la economía de su país y la importancia de la reforma política. Y le agradecí por el fuerte compromiso de Arabia Saudita a la lucha contra el terror.

Nuestra última parada es Egipto, donde estamos visitando la linda ciudad vacacional de Sharm el Sheik. Me estoy reuniendo con una serie de líderes de la región, incluyendo el Presidente Mubarak de Egipto, el Presidente Abbas de la Autoridad Palestina, el Rey Abdullah de Jordania, el Presidente Karzai de Afganistán, el Primer Ministro Gilani de Pakistán, y varios oficiales de alto rango de la democracia iraquí. También hablaré ante el Foro Económico Mundial en el Medio Oriente. Haré hincapié sobre la importancia de crear economías dinámicas y diversas que liberen la creatividad y la iniciativa de ciudadanos en toda la región – sobre todo mujeres y jóvenes. Dejaré claro que la única manera de asegurar una verdadera prosperidad es ampliando la libertad política y económica. E instaré a los líderes en toda la región a que rechacen a quienes desestabilizan como los regímenes en Irán y Siria…que dejen atrás antiguos conflictos… y que acojan los cambios necesarios para el día en que las sociedades del Medio Oriente estén basadas en la justicia, la tolerancia, y la libertad.

Alcanzar ese día no será fácil. Pero con el liderazgo continuo de Estados Unidos y nuestros amigos en la región, yo confío en que pueda suceder. Y cuando llegue ese día, el Medio Oriente será más optimista, el mundo será más pacífico, y el pueblo de Estados Unidos estará más seguro.

Gracias por escuchar.

Para su publicación inmediata Oficina del Secretario de Prensa 17 de mayo de 2008

Etiquetas De Technorati: Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación, y Presidente Bush

President Bush Addresses the Knesset PODCAST VIDEO

President George W. Bush receives a standing ovation by members of the Knesset Thursday, May 15, 2008, in Jerusalem. Acknowledging the 60th anniversary of Israel’s independence, the President told the Israeli parliament, “Earlier today, I visited Masada, an inspiring monument to courage and sacrifice. At this historic site, Israeli soldiers swear an oath: "Masada shall never fall again." Citizens of Israel: Masada shall never fall again, and America will be at your side.” White House photo by Shealah Craighead

President Bush Addresses Members of the Knesset FULL STREAMING VIDEO. The Knesset Jerusalem In Focus: Middle East Trip 2:55 P.M. (Local) PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE THE PRESIDENT: President Peres and Mr. Prime Minister, Madam Speaker, thank very much for hosting this special session. President Beinish, Leader of the Opposition Netanyahu, Ministers, members of the Knesset, distinguished guests: Shalom. Laura and I are thrilled to be back in Israel. We have been deeply moved by the celebrations of the past two days. And this afternoon, I am honored to stand before one of the world's great democratic assemblies and convey the wishes of the American people with these words: Yom Ha'atzmaut Sameach. (Applause.)

It is a rare privilege for the American President to speak to the Knesset. (Laughter.) Although the Prime Minister told me there is something even rarer -- to have just one person in this chamber speaking at a time. (Laughter.) My only regret is that one of Israel's greatest leaders is not here to share this moment. He is a warrior for the ages, a man of peace, a friend. The prayers of the American people are with Ariel Sharon. (Applause.)

We gather to mark a momentous occasion. Sixty years ago in Tel Aviv, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel's independence, founded on the "natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate." What followed was more than the establishment of a new country. It was the redemption of an ancient promise given to Abraham and Moses and David -- a homeland for the chosen people Eretz Yisrael.

Eleven minutes later, on the orders of President Harry Truman, the United States was proud to be the first nation to recognize Israel's independence. And on this landmark anniversary, America is proud to be Israel's closest ally and best friend in the world.

The alliance between our governments is unbreakable, yet the source of our friendship runs deeper than any treaty. It is grounded in the shared spirit of our people, the bonds of the Book, the ties of the soul. When William Bradford stepped off the Mayflower in 1620, he quoted the words of Jeremiah: "Come let us declare in Zion the word of God." The founders of my country saw a new promised land and bestowed upon their towns names like Bethlehem and New Canaan. And in time, many Americans became passionate advocates for a Jewish state.

Centuries of suffering and sacrifice would pass before the dream was fulfilled. The Jewish people endured the agony of the pogroms, the tragedy of the Great War, and the horror of the Holocaust -- what Elie Wiesel called "the kingdom of the night." Soulless men took away lives and broke apart families. Yet they could not take away the spirit of the Jewish people, and they could not break the promise of God. (Applause.) When news of Israel's freedom finally arrived, Golda Meir, a fearless woman raised in Wisconsin, could summon only tears. She later said: "For two thousand years we have waited for our deliverance. Now that it is here it is so great and wonderful that it surpasses human words."

The joy of independence was tempered by the outbreak of battle, a struggle that has continued for six decades. Yet in spite of the violence, in defiance of the threats, Israel has built a thriving democracy in the heart of the Holy Land. You have welcomed immigrants from the four corners of the Earth. You have forged a free and modern society based on the love of liberty, a passion for justice, and a respect for human dignity. You have worked tirelessly for peace. You have fought valiantly for freedom.

My country's admiration for Israel does not end there. When Americans look at Israel, we see a pioneer spirit that worked an agricultural miracle and now leads a high-tech revolution. We see world-class universities and a global leader in business and innovation and the arts. We see a resource more valuable than oil or gold: the talent and determination of a free people who refuse to let any obstacle stand in the way of their destiny.

I have been fortunate to see the character of Israel up close. I have touched the Western Wall, seen the sun reflected in the Sea of Galilee, I have prayed at Yad Vashem. And earlier today, I visited Masada, an inspiring monument to courage and sacrifice. At this historic site, Israeli soldiers swear an oath: "Masada shall never fall again." Citizens of Israel: Masada shall never fall again, and America will be at your side.

This anniversary is a time to reflect on the past. It's also an opportunity to look to the future. As we go forward, our alliance will be guided by clear principles -- shared convictions rooted in moral clarity and unswayed by popularity polls or the shifting opinions of international elites.

We believe in the matchless value of every man, woman, and child. So we insist that the people of Israel have the right to a decent, normal, and peaceful life, just like the citizens of every other nation. (Applause.)

We believe that democracy is the only way to ensure human rights. So we consider it a source of shame that the United Nations routinely passes more human rights resolutions against the freest democracy in the Middle East than any other nation in the world. (Applause.)

We believe that religious liberty is fundamental to a civilized society. So we condemn anti-Semitism in all forms -- whether by those who openly question Israel's right to exist, or by others who quietly excuse them.

We believe that free people should strive and sacrifice for peace. So we applaud the courageous choices Israeli's leaders have made. We also believe that nations have a right to defend themselves and that no nation should ever be forced to negotiate with killers pledged to its destruction. (Applause.)

We believe that targeting innocent lives to achieve political objectives is always and everywhere wrong. So we stand together against terror and extremism, and we will never let down our guard or lose our resolve. (Applause.)

The fight against terror and extremism is the defining challenge of our time. It is more than a clash of arms. It is a clash of visions, a great ideological struggle. On the one side are those who defend the ideals of justice and dignity with the power of reason and truth. On the other side are those who pursue a narrow vision of cruelty and control by committing murder, inciting fear, and spreading lies.

This struggle is waged with the technology of the 21st century, but at its core it is an ancient battle between good and evil. The killers claim the mantle of Islam, but they are not religious men. No one who prays to the God of Abraham could strap a suicide vest to an innocent child, or blow up guiltless guests at a Passover Seder, or fly planes into office buildings filled with unsuspecting workers. In truth, the men who carry out these savage acts serve no higher goal than their own desire for power. They accept no God before themselves. And they reserve a special hatred for the most ardent defenders of liberty, including Americans and Israelis.

And that is why the founding charter of Hamas calls for the "elimination" of Israel. And that is why the followers of Hezbollah chant "Death to Israel, Death to America!" That is why Osama bin Laden teaches that "the killing of Jews and Americans is one of the biggest duties." And that is why the President of Iran dreams of returning the Middle East to the Middle Ages and calls for Israel to be wiped off the map.

There are good and decent people who cannot fathom the darkness in these men and try to explain away their words. It's natural, but it is deadly wrong. As witnesses to evil in the past, we carry a solemn responsibility to take these words seriously. Jews and Americans have seen the consequences of disregarding the words of leaders who espouse hatred. And that is a mistake the world must not repeat in the 21st century.

Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history. (Applause.)

Some people suggest if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away. This is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of the enemies of peace, and America utterly rejects it. Israel's population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because the United States of America stands with you. (Applause.)

America stands with you in breaking up terrorist networks and denying the extremists sanctuary. America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapons would be an unforgivable betrayal for future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. (Applause.)

Ultimately, to prevail in this struggle, we must offer an alternative to the ideology of the extremists by extending our vision of justice and tolerance and freedom and hope. These values are the self-evident right of all people, of all religions, in all the world because they are a gift from the Almighty God. Securing these rights is also the surest way to secure peace. Leaders who are accountable to their people will not pursue endless confrontation and bloodshed. Young people with a place in their society and a voice in their future are less likely to search for meaning in radicalism. Societies where citizens can express their conscience and worship their God will not export violence, they will be partners in peace.

The fundamental insight, that freedom yields peace, is the great lesson of the 20th century. Now our task is to apply it to the 21st. Nowhere is this work more urgent than here in the Middle East. We must stand with the reformers working to break the old patterns of tyranny and despair. We must give voice to millions of ordinary people who dream of a better life in a free society. We must confront the moral relativism that views all forms of government as equally acceptable and thereby consigns whole societies to slavery. Above all, we must have faith in our values and ourselves and confidently pursue the expansion of liberty as the path to a peaceful future.

That future will be a dramatic departure from the Middle East of today. So as we mark 60 years from Israel's founding, let us try to envision the region 60 years from now. This vision is not going to arrive easily or overnight; it will encounter violent resistance. But if we and future Presidents and future Knessets maintain our resolve and have faith in our ideals, here is the Middle East that we can see:

Israel will be celebrating the 120th anniversary as one of the world's great democracies, a secure and flourishing homeland for the Jewish people. The Palestinian people will have the homeland they have long dreamed of and deserved -- a democratic state that is governed by law, and respects human rights, and rejects terror. From Cairo to Riyadh to Baghdad and Beirut, people will live in free and independent societies, where a desire for peace is reinforced by ties of diplomacy and tourism and trade. Iran and Syria will be peaceful nations, with today's oppression a distant memory and where people are free to speak their minds and develop their God-given talents. Al Qaeda and Hezbollah and Hamas will be defeated, as Muslims across the region recognize the emptiness of the terrorists' vision and the injustice of their cause.

Overall, the Middle East will be characterized by a new period of tolerance and integration. And this doesn't mean that Israel and its neighbors will be best of friends. But when leaders across the region answer to their people, they will focus their energies on schools and jobs, not on rocket attacks and suicide bombings. With this change, Israel will open a new hopeful chapter in which its people can live a normal life, and the dream of Herzl and the founders of 1948 can be fully and finally realized.

This is a bold vision, and some will say it can never be achieved. But think about what we have witnessed in our own time. When Europe was destroying itself through total war and genocide, it was difficult to envision a continent that six decades later would be free and at peace. When Japanese pilots were flying suicide missions into American battleships, it seemed impossible that six decades later Japan would be a democracy, a lynchpin of security in Asia, and one of America's closest friends. And when waves of refugees arrived here in the desert with nothing, surrounded by hostile armies, it was almost unimaginable that Israel would grow into one of the freest and most successful nations on the earth.

Yet each one of these transformations took place. And a future of transformation is possible in the Middle East, so long as a new generation of leaders has the courage to defeat the enemies of freedom, to make the hard choices necessary for peace, and stand firm on the solid rock of universal values.

Sixty years ago, on the eve of Israel's independence, the last British soldiers departing Jerusalem stopped at a building in the Jewish quarter of the Old City. An officer knocked on the door and met a senior rabbi. The officer presented him with a short iron bar -- the key to the Zion Gate -- and said it was the first time in 18 centuries that a key to the gates of Jerusalem had belonged to a Jew. His hands trembling, the rabbi offered a prayer of thanksgiving to God, "Who had granted us life and permitted us to reach this day." Then he turned to the officer, and uttered the words Jews had awaited for so long: "I accept this key in the name of my people."

Over the past six decades, the Jewish people have established a state that would make that humble rabbi proud. You have raised a modern society in the Promised Land, a light unto the nations that preserves the legacy of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. And you have built a mighty democracy that will endure forever and can always count on the United States of America to be at your side. God bless. (Applause.)

END 3:18 P.M. (Local)

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 15, 2008

Tags: President Bush and Knesset or Prime Minister Olmert

Congressional Republicans Respond to House Vote on Iraq Supplemental VIDEO

Congressional Republicans Respond to House Vote on Iraq Supplemental - FULL STREAMING VIDEO. House Minority. Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and other House Republicans conduct a press conference to respond to a vote in the House defeating legislation that would have provided an additional $162.5 Billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Press Release: From the Office of the House Republican Leader, H-204 The Capitol, Washington, DC 20515 p. (202) 225-4000 f. (202) 225-5117. Boehner: Republicans Will Not Allow Troop Funding to Be Held Hostage for Demrats’ Tax & Spending Scheme

Washington, May 15 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement on the Democrats’ failed attempt to pile billions of unrelated Washington spending and a $54 billion Small Business Tax Hike onto the backs of American troops in the supplemental war funding bill:

“Members voted present today to protest the fact that the exercise that took place on the House floor was nothing more than a cynical scheme to deny our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan the resources they need for success. Our military has told us that we need to pass a troop funding bill by Memorial Day to make sure that happens. Earlier this week, Rep. Jerry Lewis, Ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, introduced a clean troop funding bill that could pass both the House and the Senate – with bipartisan support – right now.

“Unfortunately, the Democratic Majority has instead chosen to play political games with our troops and delay their funding by at least several more weeks. This is unacceptable, and House Republicans will not be party to such a cynical political ploy. A troop funding bill should fund the troops. Period. The exercise today on the House floor would instead hijack the troop funding bill and use it as a vehicle for billions upon billions in unrelated Washington spending and a $54 billion tax hike on small businesses. This is reckless, it is dangerous, and it must not stand.” #####

Tags: John Boehner and Troop Funding or House of Representatives

President Bush Welcomed by President Peres and Prime Minister Olmert VIDEO PODCAST

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are joined by Mrs. Aliza Olmert, wife of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and Israel’s President Shimon Peres as Israeli Prime Minister Olmert delivers remarks Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at arrival ceremonies for President and Mrs. Bush in Tel Aviv. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

President Bush Arrives in Israel, FULL STREAMING VIDEO Welcomed by President Peres and Prime Minister Olmert Ben Gurion International Airport Tel Aviv, Israel Ben Gurion International Airport Tel Aviv, Israel. In Focus: Middle East Trip 11:32 A.M. (Local) PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE PRESIDENT PERES: Our dear friend and President of the United States and Mrs. George Bush, first of all, mazel tov. Your joy is ours. Welcome to the new Israel, 3,000 years old and going on the 60th. We are grateful to you for gracing this occasion.

Mr. President, you have demonstrated toward us a Biblical attitude, which is very rare; a warm friendship; a determined dedication to the promotion of peace and security in the entire region. In those 60 years, we were able to demonstrate that though outnumbered and outgunned, a democracy could still win seven wars during this period. Furthermore, while fighting, we never postponed democracy even for a single day. And even though many times under attack, we never lost our desire for peace.

Miracles happen when dedicated people make them happen. Mr. President, you stood like nobody else on our side in sunny mornings and stormy weather. So thank you, Mr. President. Your presence here permits us something that we really wanted to do, and that is to celebrate a real thanksgiving party to the United States from the depth of our heart, expressing our thanks to you, to the greatest phenomena of freedom in history, the United States of America.

Welcome to Israel, Mr. President and Mrs. Bush.

PRIME MINISTER OLMERT: It's an honor and a privilege to welcome the President of the United States of America, George W. Bush, and Mrs. Bush, in Israel for the second time this year. This is an historic year for the state of Israel, as we mark 60 years of independence. The ideals reflected in America's Declaration of Independence inspired Israel's founding fathers in their quest to shape the character of the state of Israel as a democratic country based on the principles of freedom, justice and equality.

Throughout the years, the strategic alliance with America has become one of the fundamental pillars of our national security. And the bond between our peoples has grown deeper and stronger with time. America has been there at each and every important crossroad in the life of our young country, and stood by us in times of hope and in moments of crisis.

Since assuming office almost eight years ago, President George Bush has been our closest ally and partner. Your decision to celebrate this historic milestone with us is an extraordinary gesture of friendship, and is further evidence of your unending commitment to the security and well being of our country.

I welcome you and Laura to Israel. I thank you for your friendship and decision to come and celebrate this important occasion with us.

Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Olmert, thank you very much for your warm welcome. It's good to be back again. We're proud to reaffirm the friendship of our peoples, and we're delighted to join you in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel.

Our two nations both faced great challenges when they were founded, and our two nations have both relied on the same principles to help us succeed. We've built strong democracies to protect the freedoms given to us by an Almighty God. We've welcomed immigrants, who have helped us thrive. We've built prosperous economies by rewarding innovation and risk-taking and trade. And we've built an enduring alliance to confront terrorists and tyrants.

Americans and Israelis can be proud of our past, and the best way to honor our founders is to continue the work they started. Tomorrow I'm going to address the members of the Knesset and the people of Israel. I look forward to discussing how I believe our two nations can continue to advance our ideals and approach our next 60 years of partnership with confidence and with hope.

Laura and I appreciate your invitation, your kind invitation to share these days of celebration with you. We consider the Holy Land a very special place, and we consider the Israeli people our close friends.

Shalom.

END 11:37 A.M. (Local) For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 14, 2008

Tags: President Bush and President Peres or Prime Minister Olmert

President Bush Visits Jerusalem PODCAST VIDEO

President George W. Bush addresses his remarks during the Israeli Presidential Conference 2008 at the Jerusalem International Convention Center in Jerusalem, Wednesday, May 14, 2008, in celebration of nation's 60th anniversary. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

President Bush Visits Jerusalem FULL STREAMING VIDEO ICC Jerusalem International Convention Center Jerusalem In Focus: Middle East Trip 9:20 P.M. (Local) PODCAST OF THIS ARTICLE THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. President Peres, thank you, sir, for your hospitality. Mr. Prime Minister and Mrs. Olmert, it's great to be with you. We consider you friends. Heads of state, thank you all for coming. I think it's a great tribute to this conference, as well as to Israel that some so many heads of state have come.

Ex-heads of state and ex-leaders, thanks for being here. Save a seat in the ex-leader's club. (Laughter and applause.) Citizens of Israel, Laura and I loved coming to your beautiful country, and thank you for your warm hospitality. Citizens of the United States, my fellow Americans -- (applause) -- spend freely and behave yourselves. (Laughter.)

Distinguished guests, I really appreciate your warm welcome. And we are thrilled to be here with one of America's closest friends. Laura and I are honored to represent the American people on the 60th anniversary of your independence. Happy birthday. (Applause.)

As we celebrate the anniversary, it is useful to look back at the story of your founding. It is the story of how faith guided the Jewish people through centuries of bitter exile. It is a story of how those living behind ghetto walls and barbed wire never lost sight of Jerusalem. And it is a story of how brave pioneers risked everything to redeem the promise of this land. It is a marvelous story.

When Israel's founders gathered in Tel Aviv to sign your declaration of independence, the threat of war loomed. But it could not overshadow the joy of people who had lived to see their prayers answered. Celebrations broke out all across this land, and of course they broke out in America, as well. In New York, young men and women danced the hora in the streets. In Washington, a crowd gathered to watch a flag-raising ceremony outside the building that would become Israel's first embassy. After one man saw the flag bearing the Star of David, he said, "I never thought I'd live to see this day."

Looking back 60 years later, it is important to remember what the founders of Israel had to overcome at every stage of the journey. They established one of the world's great democracies in a region where democracy had few roots. They formed a unified army out of immigrants and refugees from many different countries. They planted the seeds of a modern economy in the sands of an ancient desert. In these accomplishments, we see the visionary leadership of men and women like Herzl and Weizmann and Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir and Rabin and Sharon -- and we honor each of them this evening. (Applause.)

And looking back 60 years later, we've also got to remember the courage of Harry S. Truman. As Israel prepared to declare independence, President Truman faced a tough choice over whether to recognize a new state. The future of Israel hung in the balance. As Chaim Weizmann told the President, he said, "History and providence have placed this issue in your hands." And today we know that the forces of Providence could not have chosen a better man than America's 33rd President. (Applause.)

Eleven minutes after Israel came into existence, the United States became the first nation to recognize its independence. And because Harry Truman did what was right instead of following the conventional wisdom, we can say today that America is Israel's oldest and best friend in the world. (Applause.)

With every passing year, the bonds of friendship between America and Israel have grown stronger. America stands for peace, and so does Israel. And as we stand in peace, we must understand the realities of the world in which we live. We must be steadfast, and we must be strong in the face of those who murder the innocent to achieve their objectives. (Applause.) And in the long run, we share a powerful belief in a powerful weapon against the terrorists. We believe that the surest way to defeat the enemies of hatred is to advance the cause of hope through the cause of freedom; liberty as the great alternative to tyranny and terror. (Applause.)

Mr. President, and Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for inviting me to speak at the Knesset tomorrow. I hear it's a place of many a sharp elbow. (Laughter.) I'm looking forward to giving my speech. (Laughter.) I'm not going to be throwing any elbows. But I will talk about the day when I believe every child in the Middle East can live in peace and live in freedom. (Applause.) With trust in the Rock of Israel, we know that day will come. And when it does, the United States of America will be by at your side.

God bless Israel, and God bless America. (Applause.)

END 9:28 P.M. (Local)

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 14, 2008

Tags: President Bush and Jerusalem or Israel