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Bush delivers holiday message in Morgantown, urges resolve in Iraq war

By Josh Krysak 6 min read

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In the hot July sun, thousands gathered Monday to celebrate the nation’s independence and hear President George W. Bush deliver a Fourth of July speech to help shore up confidence in the cause for war in Iraq. At 10 a.m. at Woodburn Circle on the West Virginia University campus, Bush, with billowing red white and blue flags fluttering on the colonial-style Woodburn Hall behind him, delivered the steely speech that further entrenched the nation’s position in the ongoing war on terror.

“At this hour, our men and women in uniform are defending America against the threats of the 21st century,” Bush said. “The war we are fighting came to our shores on September the 11th, 2001. After that day, I made a pledge to the American people (that) we will not wait to be attacked again. We will bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies.

“By advancing the cause of liberty in a troubled part of the world, we will remove a source of instability and violence, and we will lay the foundation of peace for our children and our grandchildren.”

Walking onto the stage with the casual swagger that has captivated and also aggravated millions, Bush spoke to the cheering throng, his lavender shirtsleeves rolled up, as protesters chanted a few blocks away.

Hours before the rally, dozens of state troopers lined the route from the Morgantown airport to the campus, with bomb-sniffing dogs searching the grounds and officers in police helicopters and snipers on rooftops keeping a watchful eye on the growing crowd.

Bush told the audience that there is no better time for them to show their support for the troops overseas than on Indepedence Day.

“Across our great land, families will gather to fly the flag, to watch the fireworks and count our blessings as Americans. We are grateful for the bounty and opportunity of our land,” Bush said. “We are grateful for our liberty, and we are grateful for the men and women in uniform who keep our country safe.”

Michael Phillips, who lived in Morgantown for more than two decades, made the trek down to see the president from Mercer County, and the Vietnam veteran said after Bush’s remarks that he was glad he did.

“I love our country and I wanted to see our president,” Phillips said. “Right now we have to take care of our troops.”

And while he said he supports the president completely on the war in Iraq, Phillips admitted that the price is sometimes tough to bear.

“It is hard, but it has to be this way,” Phillips said. “It is always a blood sacrifice.”

Bush admitted as much in his brief remarks, but vowed to stay the course in the war-torn country.

“The terrorists tried to intimidate the Iraqi Governing Council, and they failed. They tried to delay the transfer of sovereignty to Iraq, and they failed. They tried to stop the free Iraqi elections, and they failed. They continue to kill in the hope that they will break the resolve of the American people, but they will fail,” Bush said to raucous appaluse.

Sara Bishop and her husband, Cliff, of Morgantown said that while they don’t necessarily support the president’s policies toward Iraq, they do support the troops and recognized the significance of Bush’s visit and wanted to be a part of history.

“I thought the speech was appropriate and uplifting,” Sara Bishop said. “I think it will raise the spirits of the troops.”

Army Capt. Ed Luzadder of Huntington, W.Va., who shook the president’s hand after the speech, agreed with Bishop about the tone of the message, one the Gulf War and Iraq war veteran said better reflects the day-to-day morale and success of the troops in Iraq.

“I think it laid out the war on terror, and right now that is very important,” Luzadder said, as he continuously shook hands with people thanking him for his service to the country after the speech had concluded. “What people don’t see are the successes: the villages that get a visit from a doctor for the first time in decades, the old and worn tents being given by soldiers to Bedouins. There are great things every day.”

Outside the rally, about 400 protesters, many of whom were bused in for the event, lined the roadway near the assembly, hoisting signs reading everything from “Frodo failed, W has the ring” to campaign signs for John Kerry from the 2004 presidential race.

Bill Perry of Morgantown said he joined the protest because “the president lied to the American people about weapons of mass destruction” and should be considered “a war criminal.”

“Now our poor kids are over there fighting a war under false pretenses,” Perry said. “I feel sorry for the young kids who always pay the price.”

Jay DeHart, 21, of Huntington, W.Va., also said he is against keeping troops in Iraq, and just wants the president to tell the truth.

“I don’t think we have any reason to be in Iraq,” DeHart said. “I think it all goes back to oil.”

One student, holding a sign that read “Jail Karl Rove,” directed his diatribe at the television station Fox News rather than the president or his supporters, shouting down a reporter trying to interview protesters after the event.

“Fox News sucks. Unfair, unbalanced, biased propaganda – fascists,” he yelled.

Behind the news crew, Daniel Adamski of Waynesburg, holding a sign that read “Draft Jenna,” repeated the mantra, “Fox news spins lies for George Bush,” as the camera rolled.

Even with the protesters’ shouts audible in the background, West Virginia State Police Sgt. Jay Powers, who was working to escort the White House press corps to and from the event, said the state pulled together quickly for the last-minute visit and said that every safeguard was in place for the speech.

“We take it very seriously when the president comes in for a visit,” Powers said as he tried to catch a little shade in the shadow of a dorm building after the president’s address. “We call in all our special units and do everything to ensure safety.”

And, according to Bush, that same kind of assurance that Powers described about the state’s efforts for the visit – that everything necessary will be done – is what he hopes the United States can offer around the world.

“Defending the ideals of our founding fathers has required the service and sacrifice of every generation, and the men and women of our armed forces have always answered our nation’s call,” Bush said. “With their courage, they have crossed oceans, defeated murderous ideologies and liberated the oppressed. And today, on this Fourth of July, our grateful nation thanks our 25 million veterans for their service to our country.”

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