Bush Says U.S. Faces 'Time of Great Challenge'

[Dreamer128]

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush said on Saturday the United States faced a "time of great challenge" amid efforts to quell guerrilla attacks in Iraq and keep the peace in Afghanistan.

His remarks came as Iraq faced fresh violence with insurgents attacking government buildings and bases of foreign troops in the southern city of Kerbala, leaving at least six of the soldiers and seven Iraqi police and civilians dead.

Bush, who is spending the week after Christmas at his Texas ranch with his family, used his weekly radio address to offer a holiday wish for Americans facing hardships, such as poverty and unemployment. But he gave particular emphasis to those serving abroad in the military.

"We are grateful for the courage and commitment of our troops, and we are safer because of their skill and sacrifice," Bush said.

"This Christmas season comes at a time of great challenge for our country," he added.

Ahead of the November 2004 election, Bush has come under criticism from Democrats for his decision to go to war in Iraq. Although the main reason cited for the war was a charge that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, none have been found in the war's aftermath.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, considered the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination next year, has made his anti-war stance a major theme in his campaign.

While casualties stemming from guerrilla attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq eroded some of Bush's support, the capture earlier this month of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein gave Bush a lift in the polls.

In their own radio address, Democrats criticized Bush for his economic policies, saying his tax cuts and spending on the mission in Iraq have drained money away from domestic programs, including education.

"If we have enough money to provide a huge tax cut to the wealthiest in this country, if we have enough resources to rebuild a country far away, to put resources in their schools and their education system, surely -- surely -- we can find resources for our own," said Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack.

Vilsack, delivering the radio address on behalf of Democrats, also faulted Bush for not taking action to extend emergency benefits for unemployed workers.

[Source: Reuters.com]

[Timber Loftis]

Good to see Bush getting a well-deserved break at Crawford. Did you know he has taken more vacation than any other president in history?

Really? whered you get that data?
Not that being on vacation for the president is actually a vacation....he still gets national security updates daily, he still has hours of meetings each day....but I am interested in the numbers.

[Timber Loftis]

In his first year of office, GWB took more vacation than any president ever had taken over 4 years. Remember that month of August when he returned to be steeped in 9/11?? I found online references to it, but none from an actual news source. I even found an impressive resume, but decided against posting it due to Trollishness.

Anyway, he took real vacations -- I saw the interviews and videos of him working around the ranch during the August 01 vacation. I mean, of course the President still has daily duties while on vacation, but so do we all. I mean, compared to his normally rigorous schedule, a few hours a day dedicated to work really IS a vacation.

Regarding that one long vacation, ABC News said:
________________________________
ABC World News Tonight
August 3, 2001

ELIZABETH VARGAS, anchor:

At the White House today, President Bush gathered his Cabinet to mark what he called "six months of accomplishments." The president starts a month-long vacation tomorrow, the longest of any president since Richard Nixon. ABC's Terry Moran reports now from the White House......