Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Bush says War on Terror to end tyranny
By Marlin Caddell
The Crimson White (U. Alabama)
02/01/2006

(U-WIRE) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — As President Bush stressed the need for alternative forms of energy at the annual State of the Union address Tuesday, he also called on members Congress to stay focused on winning the war in Iraq and the War on Terror.

Bush called on Congress to avoid the "broad and inviting" road of isolation and protectionism and to lead the stand against tyranny around the world.

"We are the nation that saved liberty in Europe, and liberated death camps, and helped raise up democracies, and faced down an evil empire," he said. "Once again, we accept the call of history to deliver the oppressed and move this world toward peace."

Bush said as Iraq trains its own security force, American soldiers can start to come home. He also said decreases in troop levels will be dictated by military leaders in Iraq, not by politicians in Washington.

"A sudden withdrawal of our forces from Iraq would abandon our Iraqi allies to death and prison ... put men like [Osama] bin Laden and [Aymen al-] Zarqawi in charge of a strategic country ... and show that a pledge from America means little," he said.

Bush also called on Iran to disarm and said the world cannot allow a country "held hostage by a small clerical elite" to get nuclear weapons.

Bush said the United States "failed to connect the dots" to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and said two of the 9/11 hijackers used cell phones to communicate plans of the attack. He used this example to justify authorizing the federal government to spy on communications by suspected terrorists and people affiliated with al Qaeda.

"This terrorist surveillance program has helped prevent terrorist attacks," he said. "It remains essential to the security of America. If there are people inside our country who are talking with al Qaeda, we want to know about it — because we will not sit back and wait to be hit again."

Bush said the United States has created 4.6 million new jobs in the last two-and-a-half years, which surpasses the combined total of Japan and the European Union.

Bush called on Congress to make his tax cut plan permanent, saying the $880 billion in cuts helped to spur four years of economic growth. He also said he plans to reduce or eliminate 140 programs that are performing poorly. The cuts, he says, will save taxpayers $14 billion and cut the national deficit in half by 2009.

Democratic leaders stood and applauded when Bush said Congress failed to enact his plan to enact a Social Security savings plan, and Republican leaders applauded when Bush said the funding situation with Social Security will get worse every year until Congress does something.

Bush said America has a responsibility to protect its borders and provide humane working policies for immigrants in the country.

To help with the cost of healthcare, Bush wants to create a health savings plan where smaller companies could provide the same level of medical insurance larger corporations can afford.

Bush said technology is the only way for the United States to break its dependence on oil, and he wants Congress to increase funding by 22 percent for fuel alternatives, like ethanol, hydrogen-powered vehicles and nuclear energy.

By 2025, America should cut Middle East oil imports by 75 percent, Bush said.

Bush said he wants to increase funding for math and science by training 70,000 high school teachers to lead advanced-placement courses in math and science and bring 30,000 math and science professionals to teach in classrooms.

University of Alabama College Democrats President Matthew Lewis said he is glad the president talked about more funding to countries suffering with AIDS. He also said he is glad the president mentioned increasing funding for education, but he said there is disconnect with the president cutting funding to Pell grants and other college loans while increasing funding for math and science initiatives.

UA College Republicans President Meghan Stringer said she was impressed by the president's call for more civil discussions in Washington and also said she was glad the president called for more funding for math and science classes.

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