Archive for January 12th, 2009
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Obama team to review Afghanistan conflict: paper (Reuters)
Reuters – U.S. President-elect Barack Obama intends to sign off on Pentagon plans to send up to 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan to help buy time for the new administration to reappraise the war effort, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday. -
Fighting AIDS was bright spot of Bush presidency (AFP)
AFP – Much of President George W. Bush’s legacy may come under withering fire but in one area at least, it will be viewed positively: his contribution to fighting AIDS. -
President Bush Holds Last Cabinet Meeting – January 13, 2009
President Bush on Tuesday said, “I want to thank an extraordinary group of American citizens who have served our country as members of my Cabinet. Everybody around this table here could have taken the easy road and stayed home and worried about their own comforts, but instead they answered the call to service. And the country is lucky to have folks like this step up and serve.”
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President Bush Meets with President Calderón of Mexico – January 13, 2009
President Bush on Tuesday said, “It has been a true pleasure to work with President Calderón. He’s a man of conviction, he is a man of principle, and he is a man who’s willing to take on tough challenges. I appreciate every meeting I’ve had with him.”
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President Bush Honors Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients – January 13, 2009
President Bush on Tuesday said, “Each of these gentlemen we honor today has his own style and personality, and each has amassed distinctions and achievements that belong to him alone. Yet all of them have shown a firm adherence to the principles of freedom and democratic values, and a willingness to face problems squarely instead of passing them on to others. They’re the sort of guys who look you in the eye and tell you the truth and keep their word. In lengthy service they proved to be leaders of character and fortitude. They are warm friends of the United States of America. The opportunity to know them and work with them has been among the great satisfactions of my time as President. I respect them and I admire them. And now I ask the military aide to read the citations, and it will be my honor to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tony Blair, John Howard, Alvaro Uribe.”
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Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for the District of Columbia
The President today declared an emergency exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal aid to supplement the District’s response efforts in support of the 56th Presidential Inauguration.
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Religious Freedom Day, 2009
Religious freedom is the foundation of a healthy and hopeful society. On Religious Freedom Day, we recognize the importance of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. We also celebrate the first liberties enshrined in our Constitution’s Bill of Rights, which guarantee the free exercise of religion for all Americans and prohibit an establishment of religion.
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Message to the Cuban People by the President
As much of the world celebrates the dawning of a new year, Cuba marks 50 years of one of the cruelest dictatorships this hemisphere has witnessed. To those who yearn for liberty, all is not lost. The world has witnessed other instances of dictatorship but has ultimately seen those regimes fall and formerly enslaved countries embrace their birthright of freedom. One day, the people of Cuba will enjoy this same blessing.
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President Bush Meets with President Calderón of Mexico
President Bush on Tuesday said, “It has been a true pleasure to work with President Calderón. He’s a man of conviction, he is a man of principle, and he is a man who’s willing to take on tough challenges. I appreciate every meeting I’ve had with him.”
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President Bush Honors Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients
President Bush on Tuesday said, “Each of these gentlemen we honor today has his own style and personality, and each has amassed distinctions and achievements that belong to him alone. Yet all of them have shown a firm adherence to the principles of freedom and democratic values, and a willingness to face problems squarely instead of passing them on to others. They’re the sort of guys who look you in the eye and tell you the truth and keep their word. In lengthy service they proved to be leaders of character and fortitude. They are warm friends of the United States of America. The opportunity to know them and work with them has been among the great satisfactions of my time as President. I respect them and I admire them. And now I ask the military aide to read the citations, and it will be my honor to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tony Blair, John Howard, Alvaro Uribe.”
