Saturday, March 05, 2005

White House Radio Is On The Air

No posting today. The kiddies' basketball teams were both on the road again (more on that tomorrow) and between blogging and other extracurricular diversions, I've reverted to my traditional "nightowl" tendencies. The end result, as I'm finding out in my newfound middle age, is that you crash sooner, and my collapse landed when we got home this afternoon. Went in to lay down at about 3PM and the next thing I knew it was 9PM.

You know what I learned about that? It doesn't make wives with nervous work tendencies very happy, because they're never happy unless everybody around them is as uptight as they are. Not even turning the TV to the Oxygen Channel papered it over. Which is too bad because they're running a When Harry Met Sally marathon tonight, and that movie is a rarity in being one of only two "chick flicks" (the other being While Your Were Sleeping, which makes sense in that Sandra Bullock is my other favorite actress) I actually like, not least of the reasons being that it was, in my opinion, the apex of Meg Ryan's sex appeal, which included far more than the most gorgeous hairdo I've ever seen on a woman.

Not that I would spend the whole picture ogling and raving about Meg Ryan, you understand. Frankly, both her characters and Sandra Bullock's have always reminded me vividly of Mrs. Hard Starboard, which is probably why they're my favorite actresses. Indeed, when I first laid eyes on my wife, she was the brunette version of Meg Ryan in WHMS, and her personality proved to be quite similar as well.

I tell my wife that, but it doesn't ever seem to impress her. But then nothing really does anyway. Maybe it's my breath.

On that seemless segue, I recall something that I used to do every weekend, namely, posting the transcript of the President's Saturday radio address on republicanforum.com. Somehow I got out of that habit, but having been reminded of it on Blogs for Bush just now, I thought I would endeavor to renew that tradition.

Herewith (is that a word?), the President of the United States:

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. In the short time since I returned from my trip to Europe, the world has witnessed remarkable developments in the Middle East. In Lebanon, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in peaceful protest over the brutal assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri. For years, the Lebanese people have suffered from the aftermath of a horrific civil war and occupation by Syria. Lebanese citizens who have watched free elections in Iraq are now demanding the right to decide their own destiny, free of Syrian control and domination. Syria has been an occupying force in Lebanon for nearly three decades, and Syria's support for terrorism remains a key obstacle to peace in the broader Middle East.

Today, America and Europe are standing together with the Lebanese people. The United States and France worked closely to pass U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559. This resolution demands that Lebanon's sovereignty be respected, that all foreign forces be withdrawn, and that free and fair elections be conducted without foreign influence. The world is now speaking with one voice to ensure that democracy and freedom are given a chance to flourish in Lebanon.

French President Chirac, British Prime Minister Blair, and German Chancellor Schr der have all called on Syria to withdraw from Lebanon. A Syrian withdrawal of all its military and intelligence personnel would help ensure that the Lebanese elections occur as scheduled in the spring, and that they will be free and fair.

At the same time, the Lebanese people were demonstrating against terrorism in Beirut, the elected leader of the Palestinian people, President Abbas, declared that his government is committed to chasing down and punishing those responsible for last weekend's terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. Such action is critical, because that attack is a reminder that there are still groups and individuals who will kill to prevent peace in the Middle East.

President Abbas made his remarks in London during an international meeting of world and Arab leaders, hosted by Prime Minister Blair. The leaders attending this meeting expressed their support for the Palestinians' efforts to reform their political institutions, their economy, and their security services. And the first reform must be the dismantling of terrorist organizations. Only by ending terrorism can we achieve our common goal of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and freedom.

Today, people in a long-troubled part of the world are standing up for their freedom. In the last five months, we have witnessed successful elections in Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territory and Iraq; peaceful demonstrations on the streets of Beirut; and steps toward democratic reform in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The trend is clear: In the Middle East and throughout the world, freedom is on the march. The road ahead will not be easy, and progress will sometimes be slow. But America, Europe and our Arab partners must all continue the hard work of defeating terrorism and supporting democratic reforms.

Freedom is the birthright and deep desire of every human soul, and spreading freedom's blessings is the calling of our time. And when freedom and democracy take root in the Middle East, America and the world will be safer and more peaceful.

Thank you for listening.