Grinder
19 August 2003, 14:57
By K.L. Vantran
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2003 - U.S. troops providing support
to ensure people in Liberia get the supplies they need
should leave by Oct. 1, said President Bush.
"Their job is to help secure an airport and a port so food
can be offloaded and the delivery process begun," he added
during an exclusive interview at Marine Corps Air Station
Miramar, Calif., Aug. 14 with American Forces Radio and
Television Service. The president addressed an estimated
15,000 sailors, Marines and their families during his visit
that day.
"We have a special obligation to Liberia to help with
humanitarian aid and therefore we will," he stressed.
However, "we will have a limited mission of limited
duration and limited scope. We'll be out of there by Oct.
1." The president said the plan was for U.N. troops to be
in place to take over operations by then.
While the situation in Iraq continues to be difficult, Bush
said conditions "are getting better." He attributed this to
the "routing out" of former terrorists. Citing Iraq as "an
integral part of the war on terror," the president said a
free Iraq is "integral to winning the war on terror."
A free Iraq, he added, will have a positive effect on
neighbors and will not be a threat to the United States and
its allies. Maintaining that U.S. forces will stay in Iraq
until the job is done, Bush noted there would be some
relief from other nations, such as Poland.
When asked about North Korea and its nuclear weapons, the
president said he'd like to solve it diplomatically. The
strategy, noted Bush, is to get other countries such as
China, Japan and South Korea involved to persuade the North
Korean leader to change his behavior.
"Let's speak with one voice and convince this man that
developing a nuclear weapon is not in his best interest,"
he added.
Acknowledging the sacrifices service members and their
families make every day, the president talked about
benefits -- pay, housing and medical care.
"Pay is going up," he said, adding that when he talks with
troops in the field they say they do feel the pay
increases. This, coupled "with two significant tax cuts,"
gives service members more "money in their pocket" than
ever before.
Improving housing and maintaining quality health care are
ongoing projects. "The key is to continue the progress
we've made about making sure the human condition in the
military is excellent," he maintained.
While separations due to deployment are difficult, the
president reminded families that what their loved ones are
doing "is the right thing for the country."
On Sept. 11, 2001, "our world changed," he added. "We
realized this country is vulnerable and we better do
something about it. The best way to secure the homeland is
to get the enemy before he gets us."
The president said his job is to ensure the volunteer force
gets "the best equipment, the best pay and the best
training possible."
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2003 - U.S. troops providing support
to ensure people in Liberia get the supplies they need
should leave by Oct. 1, said President Bush.
"Their job is to help secure an airport and a port so food
can be offloaded and the delivery process begun," he added
during an exclusive interview at Marine Corps Air Station
Miramar, Calif., Aug. 14 with American Forces Radio and
Television Service. The president addressed an estimated
15,000 sailors, Marines and their families during his visit
that day.
"We have a special obligation to Liberia to help with
humanitarian aid and therefore we will," he stressed.
However, "we will have a limited mission of limited
duration and limited scope. We'll be out of there by Oct.
1." The president said the plan was for U.N. troops to be
in place to take over operations by then.
While the situation in Iraq continues to be difficult, Bush
said conditions "are getting better." He attributed this to
the "routing out" of former terrorists. Citing Iraq as "an
integral part of the war on terror," the president said a
free Iraq is "integral to winning the war on terror."
A free Iraq, he added, will have a positive effect on
neighbors and will not be a threat to the United States and
its allies. Maintaining that U.S. forces will stay in Iraq
until the job is done, Bush noted there would be some
relief from other nations, such as Poland.
When asked about North Korea and its nuclear weapons, the
president said he'd like to solve it diplomatically. The
strategy, noted Bush, is to get other countries such as
China, Japan and South Korea involved to persuade the North
Korean leader to change his behavior.
"Let's speak with one voice and convince this man that
developing a nuclear weapon is not in his best interest,"
he added.
Acknowledging the sacrifices service members and their
families make every day, the president talked about
benefits -- pay, housing and medical care.
"Pay is going up," he said, adding that when he talks with
troops in the field they say they do feel the pay
increases. This, coupled "with two significant tax cuts,"
gives service members more "money in their pocket" than
ever before.
Improving housing and maintaining quality health care are
ongoing projects. "The key is to continue the progress
we've made about making sure the human condition in the
military is excellent," he maintained.
While separations due to deployment are difficult, the
president reminded families that what their loved ones are
doing "is the right thing for the country."
On Sept. 11, 2001, "our world changed," he added. "We
realized this country is vulnerable and we better do
something about it. The best way to secure the homeland is
to get the enemy before he gets us."
The president said his job is to ensure the volunteer force
gets "the best equipment, the best pay and the best
training possible."