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Text of the President's Address — Following is the prepared text of President Bush's address on Iraq, as provided by the White House: — THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. In the life of all free nations, there come moments that decide the direction of a country and reveal the character of its people.
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Bush speech to the nation: advance excerpts — Here are excerpts of the prepared text of President Bush's 9 p.m. Iraq address from the Oval Office, as released by the White House for use on dinnertime newscasts: — On keeping us safe here at home: — In Iraq, an ally of the United States is fighting for its survival.
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The Moderate Voice, The Huffington Post, Taylor Marsh, Think Progress, FP Passport, New York Times, AMERICAblog, Truthdig and Sister Toldjah

Sunni World — The cheerleaders for the surge have constructed a Disney-esque fantasy of Iraq which might as well be in Orlando for all it has to do with the grim reality on the ground. And Abu Risha's assassination isn't likely to dim that fantasy. — During his visit to Iraq last week …


Bush to Order 5,700 Troops Home from Iraq by End of Year — WASHINGTON — President Bush plans to reduce troop levels in Iraq by 5,700 by the end of December, and wants to draw down from 20 combat brigades there now to 15 brigades there by next summer, Bush said in a preview of his speech with network anchors Thursday.


Bush Appeals to Nation on Iraq — President Bush Attempts to Shore Up Support for Iraq War — President Bush appealed to the nation in a prime time address on Iraq Thursday night — his latest effort to buy time for his Iraq war strategy and shore up support among wavering Republicans …

As Bush Prepares for 'Surge' Address Tonight: Here Is What He Promised …
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The Carpetbagger Report, Comments From Left Field, Think Progress, Sadly, No!, Nitpicker and D-Day

Senator Jack Reed Responds To President Bush's Address On Iraq
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MyDD


COMPLAINT FILED WITH FEC OVER BETRAY US AD — Guess what I did at lunch? That's right, I petitioned my government for redress of grievances, specifically illegal political advertising practices by the New York Times and MoveOn.org. We are all well aware of the sorry political advertisement calling the General a traitor.
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Liberal Values, Flopping Aces, The Democratic Daily, The Carpetbagger Report, The Politico, NewsBusters.org, rubber hose, The Nose On Your Face, Gateway Pundit, Rook's Rant, New York Post, Political Punch, The Huffington Post, Oliver Willis, Heading Right, Balloon Juice, TPM Election Central, Hot Air, Redstate, Blue Crab Boulevard, Wake up America, baldilocks and Jules Crittenden
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The Other Iraq Surge — A sharp increase in contributions from the military to Democrats suggests the Republican commander-in-chief and his party are losing the troops' support. — Assessed favorably this week by the war's lead general, the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq appears to be causing …

Thompson gives no opinion on Schiavo — THE VILLAGES, Fla. - Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson gave no opinion Thursday when asked about efforts by President Bush and Congress to keep Terri Schiavo alive, saying he does not remember details of the right-to-die case that stirred national debate.
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Boehner hammered over Iraq 'small price' comment — Democrats, anti-war groups and liberal bloggers are pounding on House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) for saying U.S. military deaths in Iraq are "a small price" to pay to stop al Qaeda from carrying out more terrorist attacks and stabilizing the Middle East.
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Clinton, Pelosi, Greenspan, Bloomberg, Gates, Annan Also Say Interviews 'Fakes' — Brian Ross Reports: — Former President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates …
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War and Piece, CANNONFIRE, On Deadline, NYT, Right Wing Nut House, The Newshoggers, TVNewser, Attytood, MoJoBlog and Romenesko

BUSH TAKES HIS CASE TO THE PEOPLE — I was not able to watch President Bush's speech tonight, but have read it. It was, I think, a great speech. Once again, the President, instead of retreating in the face of his enemies, has upped the ante and taken his case to the people.
Discussion:
Sadly, No!
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WOULD-BE TERRORIST CAPTURED IN DEARBORN — In a story that has gotten amazingly little national publicity, a medical student at Wayne State University named Houssein Zorkot was arrested in Dearborn Saturday night, dressed for combat and armed with an AK-47: … This report by a local television station is also interesting:


A Tale of Two Maps — I've lifted both of the graphics you'll see below and the core of the argument from this Ilan Goldenberg post, so all credit for the work is due to him, I just don't think he made the point as clearly as he should have. To get to the heart of the matter …


U.S. develops 14-ton super bomb, bigger than Russian vacuum bomb — The U.S. has a 14-ton super bomb more destructive than the vacuum bomb just tested by Russia, a U.S. general said Wednesday. — The statement was made by retired Lt. General McInerney, chairman of the Iran Policy Committee …
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Op For

Al-Qaida in Iraq takes heavy losses … Al-Qaida militants in Iraq have taken heavy losses in two joint U.S.-Iraqi raids north of Baghdad, the U.S. military reported Thursday. — In one operation involving more than 1,000 U.S. troops and Iraq Special Forces in the Hemreen mountain area …