Bush's Annapolis Speech

Bush's speech today was awesome. Here are some excerpts. The part where he talks about Corporal Starr was especially moving and inspirational to me.

"These terrorists have nothing to offer the Iraqi people. All they have is the capacity and the willingness to kill the innocent and create chaos for the cameras. They are trying to shake our will to achieve their stated objectives. They will fail. America's will is strong. And they will fail because the will to power is no match for the universal desire to live in liberty. (Applause.)

The terrorists in Iraq share the same ideology as the terrorists who struck the United States on September the 11th. Those terrorists share the same ideology with those who blew up commuters in London and Madrid, murdered tourists in Bali, workers in Riyadh, and guests at a wedding in Amman, Jordan. Just last week, they massacred Iraqi children and their parents at a toy give-away outside an Iraqi hospital.

This is an enemy without conscience -- and they cannot be appeased. If we were not fighting and destroying this enemy in Iraq, they would not be idle. They would be plotting and killing Americans across the world and within our own borders. By fighting these terrorists in Iraq, Americans in uniform are defeating a direct threat to the American people. Against this adversary, there is only one effective response: We will never back down. We will never give in. And we will never accept anything less than complete victory. (Applause.)

To achieve victory over such enemies, we are pursuing a comprehensive strategy in Iraq. Americans should have a clear understanding of this strategy -- how we look at the war, how we see the enemy, how we define victory, and what we're doing to achieve it. So today, we're releasing a document called the "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq." This is an unclassified version of the strategy we've been pursuing in Iraq, and it is posted on the White House website -- whitehouse.gov. I urge all Americans to read it.


Senator Lieberman is right. Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a message across the world that America is a weak and an unreliable ally. Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a signal to our enemies -- that if they wait long enough, America will cut and run and abandon its friends. And setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would vindicate the terrorists' tactics of beheadings and suicide bombings and mass murder -- and invite new attacks on America. To all who wear the uniform, I make you this pledge: America will not run in the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am your Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)



Before our mission in Iraq is accomplished, there will be tough days ahead. A time of war is a time of sacrifice, and we've lost some very fine men and women in this war on terror. Many of you know comrades and classmates who left our shores to defend freedom and who did not live to make the journey home. We pray for the military families who mourn the loss of loves ones. We hold them in our hearts -- and we honor the memory of every fallen soldier, sailor, airman, Coast Guardsman, and Marine.

One of those fallen heroes is a Marine Corporal named Jeff Starr, who was killed fighting the terrorists in Ramadi earlier this year. After he died, a letter was found on his laptop computer. Here's what he wrote, he said, "[I]f you're reading this, then I've died in Iraq. I don't regret going. Everybody dies, but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so they can live the way we live. Not [to] have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators_. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."

There is only one way to honor the sacrifice of Corporal Starr and his fallen comrades -- and that is to take up their mantle, carry on their fight, and complete their mission. (Applause.)

We will take the fight to the terrorists. We will help the Iraqi people lay the foundations of a strong democracy that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself. And by laying the foundations of freedom in Iraq, we will lay the foundation of peace for generations to come.

You all are the ones who will help accomplish all this. Our freedom and our way of life are in your hands -- and they're in the best of hands. I want to thank you for your service in the cause of freedom. I want to thank you for wearing the uniform. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. (Applause.)"

Remembering September 11th

I was a little disappointed at how little attention September 11th got yesterday on only the 4th anniversary. There are so many reasons why it is important not to forget that tragic day and the people who lost their lives. It is why we are still fighting terrorists over in Iraq. I think many have gotten shortsighted and want to give up on the war because they don't remember September 11th. A friend sent me a website that had tributes on it with videos and pictures. As I watched them tears streamed down my face as I remembered that day. I don't ever want to get to a point where I don't cry when I remember.

Even though many did not take the time to remember 9/11, some did. The History channel had documentaries on all day and the Discovery channel had an awesome one on Flight 93 called THE FLIGHT THAT FOUGHT BACK. Kiefer Sutherland was the voice throughout the documentary. Since I am a huge fan of 24 I found him to be the perfect person as he fights terrorists on a consistent basis. I realize thats only in the Hollywood world but he does such a good job he makes you believe he would be W's best man to fight the real terrorists. But I digress. The documentary was very objective and gave you a picture into the lives of the 40 men and women aboard the flight and their genuine heroism. Their lives are another reason we shouldn't forget. I thought of Darryl Worley's moving song, Have You Forgotten? It has always meant a lot to me and it had a renewed special meaning to me as I played it yesterday.

September 11th is the worst terrorist attack in our country's history. It is important to remember the lives that were lost and the meaning behind it. We are now in a War on Terror and it started on 9/11. May we never forget.

Welcome to The Chatterbox Chronicles!

In college, a friend would refer to me as "Little Miss Chatterbox," although, truthfully, the title could equally be applied to her. We would get together and rant about all sorts of subjects, a habit that still stands after nearly 15 years.

Now, though, I wind up sending out emails or placing very long phone calls to my friends and family in order to rant about whatever social or political event has me up in arms.

And so, in the interest of sharing my rants with the world at large, I bring you:

The Chatterbox Chronicles

~ Little Miss Chatterbox