We repeatedly hear people say that the President hasn’t spent enough time "selling" the war. I have said it fairly often myself. I had the opportunity to speak with a high level administration official recently and mentioned precisely that point. "Why doesn’t the President speak to the people? You know, explain the situation so that they’ll understand it." I said. His answer reminded me that the President, in fact, does- every week in his "Weekly Radio Address". Like Roosevelt’s famous "Fireside Chats", President Bush has taken time every Saturday to speak to the nation. You probably missed them because other than the occasional mention as part of some news blurb, the MSM virtually ignores them. He suggested I make it a point to either listen to it or read it every week.
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This is what the President said this past Saturday, September 2nd:
Good morning. This week, I spoke to the American Legion in Salt Lake City. I thanked the military veterans for their lifetime of service to our country. And I gave them an update on the war that America is now fighting in defense of freedom in our time..We’re approaching the fifth anniversary of the September the 11th attacks — and since that day, we have taken the fight to the enemy. Yet this war is more than a military conflict; it is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation — the right of all people to speak, worship, and live in liberty. On the other side are those driven by tyranny and extremism — the right of a self-appointed few to impose their fanatical views on all the rest. We did not ask for this war, but we’re answering history’s call with confidence — and we will prevail..We are using every element of national power to defeat the terrorists. First, we’re staying on the offense against the terrorists, fighting them overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. Second, we made it clear to all nations, if you harbor terrorists, you’re as guilty as the terrorists, you’re an enemy of the United States, and you will be held to account. And third, we have launched a bold new agenda to defeat the ideology of the enemy by supporting the forces of freedom and moderation in the Middle East and beyond.