ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND— At the invitation of the White House, Rep. Mike Pence (IN-6) attended President Bush's address at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, this morning. Pence filed the following blog entry from Annapolis following the speech.

Excerpt

“The President delivered a forceful and effective defense of the strategy and stakes facing our nation in Iraq. From inside the arena, it appeared that the President was both at ease and determined. He pounded the facts about our enemy, their aims and our progress in Iraq into the American debate."

Full Text

Before the speech:
“I am seated in Alumni Hall at the Naval Academy in Annapolis for the President's “Plan for Victory” speech concerning our policy and strategy in Iraq. As a strong supporter of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the White House invited me to attend, along with members of the cabinet and the chairmen of the Intelligence Committee and the Policy Committee in the House of Representatives.

“The room is filled with the finest of the United States. I am surrounded by row upon row of clear-eyed young Americans wearing the characteristic black and gold suits of naval cadets. It is humbling to think that since before the Civil War these grounds have been home to the heroic young men and women who have gone to sea and established the maritime hegemony of the most powerful nation on earth.

“Before the speech I was approached by a Hoosier named Lt. j.g. Joe Slaughter. I first met Joe during my very first trip to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joe was deployed with the USS Harry Truman and I was overwhelmed then, as now, by his faith, confidence and humility. After two tours of duty in Iraq, Joe is now on faculty here at the Naval Academy. He seemed surprised that I remembered him...Lt. j.g. Slaughter should not have been surprised....you never forget heroes.

“With the hum of a helicopter engine passing over the hall, the crowd begins to settle. What was a raucous gymnasium full of exuberant young people begins to assume the posture of the men and women who will very soon be asked to prosecute the war that this Commander in Chief is about to describe.

After the speech:
“The President delivered a forceful and effective defense of the strategy and stakes facing our nation in Iraq. From inside the arena, it appeared that the President was both at ease and determined. He pounded the facts about our enemy, their aims and our progress in Iraq into the American debate.

“From the outset, the President set the tone by defining the war on terror as, the ‘First war of the 21st century.’ His emphatic declaration that, ‘The enemy must be defeated’ was the kind of sobering declaration that is so essential in a time of war.

“The President again emphasized that Iraq is the central front in our enemies ‘war against humanity’ and outlined a clear strategy for victory.

“Reminding the American people that, ‘This is an enemy without conscience and they cannot be appeased,’ the President released a recently declassified National Strategy for Victory which you can read here.

“For me, the central message came when the President said, ‘We will stay as long as necessary to complete the mission.’ The clarion call on ‘the continued determination and resolve of the American people’ to complete the mission was a timely and meaningful charge to a nation that believes in freedom and has demonstrated throughout our history that when the mission is just and clear, Americans complete the mission.

“After the speech, the Secretary Rumsfeld, Sen. Warner, two other colleagues and I were escorted to a small waiting room to meet with the President. As the President walked in he said, ‘Hey Pence, I really appreciate ya bein’ here.’ He seemed moved as I had the first opportunity to tell him, ‘great speech Mr. President.’ As others added their congratulations, we talked of the substance of his remarks. One colleague referred to the President’s challenge that we complete the mission to which the President, becoming suddenly serious, narrowed his eyes and said, ‘Oh, we'll finish it.’

“For a small-town boy from southern Indiana, these moments are hard to describe...the sense of privilege, the sense of history. But as a member of Congress since 9-11, it’s moments like this that make me thank God that this strong, honorable and determined man is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces during such a time as this.”

Rep. Mike Pence (IN-6)
Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland
11:05:28 AM
Wed, Nov 30, 2005
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