In Final Weeks as Commander in Chief,
Bush Cites Military's Valor, Sacrifice
(January 7, 2009) | 
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| | WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2009 – With 15 days left in office,
President George W. Bush today reflected on a list of “lasts” that includes his
final weeks as the commander of U.S. military forces. Bush told the audience at
an armed forces farewell ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., that he recently took his
final overseas flight on Air Force One and delivered his last college
commencement address as president. “These have
all been wonderful experiences,” he said. “But nothing compares to the honor of
standing before you today and addressing America's armed forces as your
commander in chief.”
Bush described his role as the top military commander over a two-term legacy
marked early on by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, followed by a broadly
defined global war on terror that included the sometimes controversial invasion
and ongoing occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.
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| Left to right, U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen,
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, first lady Laura Bush,
President George W. Bush and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates
render honors at the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute Ceremony at Conmy
Hall, Fort Myer, VA. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class
Molly A. Burgess |
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The president cited servicemembers' courage in responding to
the Sept. 11 attacks that killed some 3,000 people, in the ensuing Operation
Enduring Freedom, concentrated mainly in Afghanistan, and in Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
“I saw your valor in the days after the attack, when Americans crowded into
recruiting centers, across our country, raised their hands to serve and pledged
to defend our people and our freedom,” said Bush, referring to the hijacked
airplane attacks in New York, on the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.
The president touted the U.S. military's role in toppling
the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, in which troops “closed down the terrorist
training camps and ... drove the Taliban from power” within weeks of the invasion.
He also praised servicemembers who volunteered for multiple tours in Iraq in
support of the 33,000-troop surge launched in early 2007. Bush characterized the
surge, which military officials credit as one factor leading to increased
security and a drop in violence in Iraq, as “one of the great successes in
American military history.”
The president said the cause that troops have served “has always been right and
just,” but he conceded that his decisions as commander in chief have “not always
been popular.”
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| President George W. Bush inspects the troops
at the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute at Conmy Hall on Fort Myer,
Va., Jan. 6, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Molly A. Burgess |
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Bush acknowledged sacrifices paid by those killed and wounded
in battle, and the families who survive and support them. To date, 4,850
Americans have died in post-9/11 operations, and another 15,327 have been
wounded without returning to duty.
The president highlighted the story of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A.
Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who died in September 2006 in Iraq when he used his body to
absorb a grenade blast that likely would have killed two nearby SEALs and
several Iraqi soldiers.
In April, Bush presented a posthumous Medal of Honor to Monsoor's parents.
“On that day, I saw the deep sadness that is familiar to anyone who has lost a
loved one in the line of duty,” Bush said. “But I also saw the pride that comes
with such noble sacrifice and the recognition that our freedom and our security
only endure because of the acts of bravery like Michael Monsoor's.
“That kind of courage, character and devotion defines our armed forces,” he
continued. “So this morning, I cannot accept your kind tribute unless I'm
allowed to return the favor to the men and women of the Army, the Navy, the Air
Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and all those who serve in the Department of
Defense.” |
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| President George W. Bush inspects the troops
at the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute at Conmy Hall on Fort Myer,
Va., Jan. 6, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison
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As Bush relinquishes his post as commander in chief, President-elect Barack
Obama is slated to take over the role Jan. 20. But a familiar face will remain
at the helm of the Pentagon amid the transition.
Bush expressed confidence in Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, whom he
appointed to replace former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, and whom the
president-elect has retained as Pentagon chief.
“I am pleased that President-elect Obama has asked you to stay on, and I am
confident that you will continue to be a strong leader as the secretary of
defense,” Bush said. He also praised Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his “strong advice, clear thinking and years of
service to our country.” | |
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2009
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