A Collection Of Images Of President Bush In The Moments And Days After 9/11 Terror Attacks

After he learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center, Bush was ushered out of the classroom with students and into an empty room. He can be seen in one photo on the phone gathering information while his Director of Communications Dan Bartlett points to news footage on a television showing the North Tower burning (above)

Daily Mail: The consoler in chief: Rare and candid collection of images show a solemn President George W. Bush in the moments and days after 9/11 terror attacks

* Today marks the 17th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks that left 2,996 people dead and more than 6,000 others injured in the United States
* Collection of images part of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum focus on Bush’s leadership during the tragic time in America’s history
* In observing the 17th anniversary, Donald Trump is making his first visit as President to the Shanksville, Pennsylvania site today to honor those who died during the terror attack

Today marks the 17th anniversary of the devastating September 11th terrorist attacks that left 2,996 people dead and more than 6,000 others injured in the United States.

The horrific day began when hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into floors 93-99 of the World Trade Center’s North Tower at 8.46am. Minutes later at 9.03am, United Airlines Flight 175 was crashed by hijackers into floors 75-85 of WTC’s South Tower.

Everyone aboard both planes were instantly killed along with those on the affected floors inside both towers.

Read more ....

Presidents Bush And Carter Comment On Syria

George W. Bush: Obama Has 'Tough Call' To Make On Syria -- USA Today

Former president George W. Bush weighed in tentatively on the situation in Syria on Friday, saying President Obama "has to make a tough call" on whether to order a military strike against Bashar Assad's regime.

Bush, who made his comments during an appearance on the Fox News Channel where he also discussed his recovery from a recent heart surgery as well as his charitable works, had his own frustrations with Assad during the eight years of his presidency.

Bush and his aides expressed frustration that Assad tacitly supported the flow of al-Qaeda fighters and arms into Iraq during the height of the anti-American insurgency there.

"I was not a fan of Mr. Assad," Bush said. "He's an ally of Iran, and he's made mischief."

Read more ....

Update: As Obama considers Syria strikes, Bush and Carter weigh in -- CNN

WNU Editor: More details on President Carter's comments are here.

President Bush: Experienced No Pleasure About Bin Laden's Death

Bush: No Sense Of Jubilation About Bin Laden's Death -- CNN

(CNN) -- Former President George W. Bush says he experienced no pleasure when he heard about the death of Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader responsible for orchestrating the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

"He was sitting in a restaurant in Dallas when the Secret Service told him that President (Barack) Obama wanted to speak to him. He then learned about the assassination," documentarian Peter Schnall told CNN in an interview set to air Monday.

Bush "said to us certainly there was no sense of jubilation (and) certainly no sense of happiness," Schnall stressed. "If anything, he felt that finally there was a sense of closure."

Read more ....

My Comment: President Bush's comments remind me of what my father said when I asked him a few years ago on what were his thoughts when he learned that Hitler was dead. He had fought for 4 years against the German Army (he was in the Soviet Army) .... and he was in Germany when news of Germany's surrender reached him. He answered like President Bush .... he felt that there was now a sense of closure, but he wished that Hitler was captured alive and brought to trial.

What were my thoughts when I learned that Bin laden was dead. I got a text from a good intelligence source in Washington who told me that OBL was dead. I turned on the TV, but there was no reporting of this news. My source is "super-reliable", so I then immediately rushed back to my home in Montreal, and on my drive back home the radio station made the announcement. I text-ed my brother and I told him that .... " Special forces found OBL. The f___er is KIA". That night .... I had a good shot of whiskey .... and yes .... I too felt a sense of closure. My only regret .... I wish he was captured alive.

President Bush's Claims On Water Boarding Receives Criticism And Condemnation

George Bush Condemned For Justifying Use Of Waterboarding -- The Telegraph

George Bush is facing international condemnation after claiming that British lives were saved as a result of torture.

The former US president has claimed that waterboarding three al Qaida suspects provided crucial intelligence that prevented attacks on London.

But critics said use of the controversial technique acted as a "recruiting sergeant for extremism" and ultimately "made the world a more dangerous place".

And they questioned the value of information gathered as a result of torture.

Read more ....

More News On President Bush's Comments On Water Boarding, And Reaction To It

Senior Blair figures question George W Bush waterboarding claims -- The Telegraph
George Bush could face arrest over sanctioning torture, says leading human rights lawyer -- The Daily News
George W Bush memoirs spark international outrage over defence of torture -- Mirror
George W Bush memoirs: terror suspect 'welcomed waterboarding' -- The Telegraph
British deny George Bush's claims that torture helped foil terror plots -- The Guardian
Bush under fire over waterboarding claims -- AFP
Britain 'will act on torture intelligence' -- The Telegraph
Does torture save lives? -- Krupa Thakrar Padhy, The BBC
Q&A: Waterboarding -- BBC

Did Water Boarding Save British Lives?

George W Bush: 'waterboarding' saved British lives Photo: NBC/SPLASH

George W Bush: 'Waterboarding' Terrorists Saved British Lives -- The Telegraph

George W Bush, the former United States president, has insisted that the "waterboarding" of terrorist suspects by the CIA saved British lives by stopping Islamist attacks on Heathrow and Canary Wharf.

In an interview publicising his new book “Decision Points”, Mr Bush vigorously defended waterboarding, a kind of simulated drowning that was known as an “enhanced interrogation technique” by the Bush administration but regarded as “torture” by many opponents, some allies and a few internal dissenters.

Read more ....

More News On Waterboarding And Its Impact On Saving British Lives

Bush says he personally authorized waterboarding 9/11 mastermind -- Canadian Press/AP
Bush on torture: Waterboarding helped prevent attacks on London -- The Guardian
George W. Bush: waterboarding saved London from attacks -- The Times
Waterboarding is torture, Downing Street confirms -- The Guardian
UK intelligence 'unaware' of waterboarding interrogation -- BBC
Bush says waterboarding saved UK lives -- Independent
No regrets on waterboarding terror suspects: Bush -- CTV
George Bush is right: Water-boarding terrorists saves innocent lives -- Con Coughlin, The Telegraph

Former President Bush's 'Decision Points' Memoir Is Released -- News Roundup

Global Reaction To Bush's 'Decision Points' Memoir: It's A Page-Turner. -- Christian Science Monitor

George W. Bush's 'Decision Points' memoir is attracting global scrutiny for its views on everything from the Abu Ghraib scandal to Israel's bombing of Syria to rapper Kanye West.

George W. Bush’s appearances this week on NBC, Oprah, and Jay Leno underscore how his memoir "Decision Points" is geared toward an American audience. But the former president is also attracting international attention, with media worldwide focusing on aspects of the book specific to their regions.

Read more ....

More News On Bush's 'Decision Points' Memoir

Bush is back, and eager to help history judge him -- Yahoo News/AP
A New Bush, a Lot Like the Old One -- New York Times
Bush Regrets Few Decisions from Presidency -- CBS News
George W. Bush Expresses Few Regrets About Presidency, Reflects on Eight Years in Power -- ABC News
President Bush and His Memoirs -- FOX News
George W. Bush Returns to Spotlight -- Voice of America
As book tour starts, George W. Bush still confident in his decisions -- L.A. Times
Bush defends legacy in new book -- AFP
Unusually reflective Bush gives his side of the story -- USA Today
Bush defends controversial decisions of presidency on eve of book release -- The Hill
George W Bush initially opposed invading Iraq, former president writes in his memoir -- Herald Sun
President Bush on Afghanistan: 'I badly wanted to bring bin Laden to justice' -- The Guardian
George W. Bush bares family tragedy that changed him forever -- New York Post
George Bush book: 'We paid a colossal bar tab, and went to bed' -- The Guardian
"Decision Points": 8 most interesting revelations -- Christian Science Monitor
Analysis: Why Bush’s record matters less than Democrats would like -- Yahoo News/Slate

Former President George Bush Meeting The Troops

My Comment: I have seen a number of pictures from this meeting, but the video does true justice to how the soldiers felt when meeting him.

President Bush: Gone But Not Forgotten

Photos: USO

George W. Bush Makes Surprise Visit To U.S. Troops -- L.A. Times

Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, made a surprise visit to U.S. troops this afternoon.

They showed up at the USO in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. There they mingled with the returning soldiers, thanked them, chatted and posed for photos as proof of the unexpected encounter for folks back home.

The USO just posted an assortment of the photos on its Facebook page, which quickly drew a growing list of appreciative comments.

Read more ....

My Comment: As a Canadian living in Canada I have always been ambivalent about US Presidents .... but politics aside, through the years I noticed that President Bush always felt comfortable when he was in the presence of other soldiers .... and looking at the pictures from the USO it appears that he has not lost this "touch".

Afghanistan .... What Would President Bush Do If He Was Still In The White House

Phil Waldrep, CEO of Alabama-based Phil Waldrep Ministries, welcomes former President George W. Bush to ministries' three-day conference at the Wilderness Resort and Convention Center in Sevierville. Victor Parkins / Special to the News Sentinel

Bush Tells Ministries Audience He Misses ‘Being Commander ... The Most’ -- Knox News

SEVIERVILLE — Former President George W. Bush addressed a capacity crowd Wednesday night at the Wilderness Resort and Convention Center in Sevierville.

Bush wowed a crowd of more than 9,000 that attended a three-day conference of the Phil Waldrep Ministries based in Decatur, Ala.

Bush gave the enthusiastic crowd a patriotic message of joy, hope and faith in our families.

Each branch of the military was recognized during the 90-minute program.

Read more ....

My Comment: What would President Bush do with the present situation in Afghanistan if he was still President?

I am surprised that no one has asked this question yet .... I guess no one cares. But this question has been running through my mind for the past few days, and I think that it is valid because I am sure that President Bush must have some insights on this issue. As a war President for almost seven and a half years, his experiences and what he learned is probably unmatched by anyone in the current administration and/or any other past administration.

Would he agree with his commanders and give them what they want? Would he pursue a different route with Afghanistan's neighbors? Would he cut and run .... or would he implement a surge that would equal Iraq's? As I said .... I am sure that he has many insights and ideas .... but I am also sure that no one is going to ask him.

President Bush will be speaking at the Montreal Board of Trade on October 22. I already bought my ticket, and if given the chance I will ask him that question. "In regards to Afghanistan ..... what would he do if he was still President".

President Bush's Iraq War Trophy?

Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein after being captured in a
dirt hole under a farmhouse near Tikrit Photo: AP

Saddam Hussein's Gun May Become Centrepiece Of George W Bush Library -- The Telegraph

The gun found in Saddam Hussein's foxhole when he was seized by Delta Force special troops in 2003 could become the centrepiece of an exhibition in George W Bush's presidential library.

The 9mm Glock 18C, presented to then-president Bush by Delta Force agents after their triumphant arrest of the Iraqi dictator, has become one of Mr Bush's most prized possessions.

He would show it off in the Oval Office to visiting military dignitaries, with the boast "The Delta guys pulled it off Saddam".

Read more ....

My Comment: Guns do nothing for me. But I do respect the fact that others have a different point of view. For President Bush .... if this is what he wants in his library .... so be it. It certainly will be a novelty item as time goes on.

How The Mighty Have Fallen

Former President George W. Bush, right, waves as he is introduced to speak at the Manufacturers & Business Association's 104th annual event in Erie, Pa., Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

George W. Bush Warns On Closure Of Guantamano Bay Jail -- ABC News

FORMER US president George W.Bush has issued a warning against Barack Obama's decision to close the Guantamano Bay jail for terrorist suspects, saying "there are people at Gitmo that will kill American people at a drop of a hat".

Effectively ridiculing the President's policy on Guantanamo Bay, Mr Bush said "persuasion" and "therapy" would not cause terrorists to change their minds about the US.

Under Mr Obama's policy, the remaining 200 Guantanamo prisoners could be transferred to the US to stand trial, sent to countries willing to accept them or detained indefinitely in American super-max prisons if they could not be tried but were considered too dangerous.

Read more ....

My Comment: Ex-President George Bush gives his first major speech since leaving office .... and I have to read it in an Australian paper. I guess that says it all.

Full Text of President George W. Bush's Farewell Address

President George W. Bush delivers his farewell address to the nation Thursday evening, Jan. 15, 2009, from the East Room of the White House, thanking the American people for their support and trust. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

From The L.A. Times:

(UPDATE: The President made very few minor changes to the prepared text in his actual delivery. We've made the changes in boldface below. President-elect Obama did not watch the speech live at Blair House, the presidential guest residence across Pennsylvania Avenue where he and his family are residing until they move to the big house Tuesday; Obama went out to dinner just as Bush's remarks were beginning in the East Room.)

Here's the prepared text of the Farewell Address to the nation by the 43rd president to be given in a few minutes from the White House. His audience in the East Room includes family, friends, Cabinet and some selected Americans the President has met in his eight years in office (We'll have a list of them here later. And BTW, we had a fun look at past presidential farewells here earlier today.):

Read more ....

Bush To Give Farewell Address Thursday Night

From Breitbart/AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House says President George W. Bush will deliver a farewell address to the nation on Thursday night.

White House press secretary Dana Perino says Bush's prime-time address from the ornate East Room of the White House will be delivered in prime time. The specific time has not been set.

Perino said the speech is not going to be a "swan song" about Bush's administration, but rather one that looks forward and shows graciousness to President-elect Barack Obama.

President Bill Clinton and other recent past presidents have given goodbye speeches too.

Read more ....

George W Bush: Winning The War On Terror

Criticism of George W Bush is often driven by a dislike of his personality,
not analysis of his achievements Photo: EPA

From the Telegraph:

Europe's political elites are no doubt salivating at the prospect of George W. Bush departing the White House in January.

On much of the world stage, President Bush has been widely reviled as one of the worst U.S. leaders of modern times, and it is hard to think of an American president who has received a worse press since Richard Nixon.

To his critics, who are legion on both sides of the Atlantic, the war in Iraq has been a monumental disaster, at a cost of more than 4,000 American lives and at least $500 billion. They see the war on terror, with the notorious Guantanamo prison camp as its symbol, as a catalyst for radicalizing tens of millions of Muslims that has made the United States a pariah in the Middle East.

The war in Afghanistan, they argue, is going badly in the face of a resurgent Taliban, the cost of Washington pouring most of its resources into Iraq. Bush, the theory goes, failed to keep his eye on the ball, weakening the fight against al-Qaeda through his supposed obsession with Iraq. He is also accused of undermining America's standing in the world, adopting a unilateralist foreign policy and refusing to work with its Allies.

Read more ....

My Comment: His legacy is assured. 9/11, the Afghan invasion, the Iraq war, the war on terror. His policies will be affecting us for the next 20 years, and every President will be measured in relation to him.

President Bush Visits Iraq And Afghanistan

U.S. President George W. Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai review a honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, December 15, 2008. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Bush Touts Alliances on Trip to Iraq
and Afghanistan -- Wall Street Journal

President George W. Bush made surprise visits to Iraq and Afghanistan, seeking to boost support for his responses to the 2001 terrorist attacks and solidify his foreign-policy legacy.

In Iraq, the president highlighted a new security agreement intended to cement recent security gains and form the basis for a long-term alliance. Later, as he headed to Afghanistan, Mr. Bush said the U.S. was putting policies in place there similar to the ones that brought improvements in Iraq, including a troop surge, in response to recent deterioration in military and political conditions.

Read more ....

More News On President Bush's Trip To Iraq And Afghanistan

Bush's Iraq-Afghan farewell tour marred by dissent -- Yahoo News/AP
Bush reaffirms U.S. pledge to Afghanistan -- UPI
Bush in surprise Kabul stop after Iraq visit -- Yahoo News/AFP
Bush Hails Afghan 'Hopeful Gains' -- BBC News
Bush in Iraq Defends the War but Says it's 'Not Over' - Los Angeles Times
Bush Pays Surprise Visit to Afghanistan -- Daily Telegraph
Bush Makes Surprise Stop in Afghanistan -- Toronto Star
Bush in surprise Kabul stop after Iraq visit -- AFP
Bush Warns of Long Struggle in Afghanistan -- Agence France-Presse
On Secret Iraq Trip, Bush Defends War -- Toronto Star
Bush Arrives in Iraq for a Final Visit -- New York Times
Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq -- Washington Times
Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq -- Associated Press
Bush Visits Iraq, Hails Passage of Agreements, Bids Farewell to Troops -- AFPS
Bush on Surprise, Farewell Visit to Baghdad -- Voice of America

Troops Give Bush Tremendous Sendoff In Iraq (Video)

From Gateway Pundit:

Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS) is an excellent source of US military video and photos.
Today DVIDS posted an amazing video of President Bush's visit with the troops in Iraq.
Once again, this is something you will never see in the US mainstream media.
I hope you will enjoy it.
Troops Thank President Bush:

The full video of Bush's speech to the troops is here.

Read more ....

My Comment: Hat Tip to Gateway Pundit for bringing these videos and links.

Who Was The "Reporter" Who Threw His Shoes At President Bush

Iraqi Reporter Throws Shoes At Bush During Press Conference (Video) ...Update: Cairo TV Channel Wants Their Reporter Released -- Gateway Pundit

Iraqi Reporter Throws Shoe At Bush... Perino Gets Hit By Microphone
The reporter works for a Cairo-based Iraqi TV station al-Baghdadiya which tends to be an anti-American channel.
Obviously, he works for a Sunni channel and most likely was upset that the killer Saddam is gone and dead.

Funny. This never happened at a Saddam palace before?
While President Bush was speaking in one Saddam's palaces today an Iraqi reporter threw a shoe at him. The man was dragged from the room screaming.

Here's the video-- If Bush wouldn't have ducked he would have been hit:



Read more ....

My Comment: This particular post does not cover the usual news on our soldiers or on the wars that are being fought. But my first impression when I heard of this story is that if this had happened to Saddam Hussein .... cough cough .... we all know what would have happened to the reporter.

I guess it is a testament to how much Iraq has changed .... when a leader of state can have things thrown at him, and all that will happen to the reporter is him being detained for a day or two.

I guess this is progress.

Now .... I want to see this same reporter have the guts to do the same thing against his own Egyptian President.

BREAKING!!!! -- President Bush Has Arrived In Afghanistan

President George W. Bush speaks with U.S. troops at Camp Victory
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008 in Baghdad. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Bush Makes Stop In Afghanistan To Rally Troops
-- Yahoo News/AP

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – President George W. Bush got a firsthand look Monday at the deteriorating situation in the seven-year-old Afghanistan war, amid preparations in his administration to hand a broad strategy overhaul over to President-elect Barack Obama and to significantly increase the U.S. troop presence.

Bush spoke to U.S. soldiers and Marines stationed in Afghanistan at a hangar on the tarmac at Bagram Air Base. The rally for over a thousand military personnel took place in the dark, cold predawn hours — it was about 5:30 a.m. local time when the president strode into the hangar to loud cheers.

Read more ....

More News On President Bush's Visit To Afghanistan

Bush arrives in Afghanistan on surprise visit -- Yahoo News/AFP
Bush Affirms Commitment to Afghanistan in Surprise Visit -- New York Times
Bush makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Bush Arrives in Afghanistan for Talks With Karzai -- Bloomberg
President Bush Rallies Troops With Surprise Trip to Afghanistan -- FOX News
Bush makes surprise stop in Afghanistan -- International Herald Tribune
Bush stops in Afghanistan -- USA Today

President Bush Is In Iraq -- (Update #2) -- BREAKING!!!! -- PRESIDENT BUSH'S NEWS CONFERENCE INTERRUPTED

Iraq's prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, tried to block President Bush when a man threw his shoes at the president during a news conference in Baghdad on Sunday. Saul Loeb/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images (Photo From The New York Times)

Bush: Iraq War Is Not Over, More Work Ahead
-- Yahoo News/AP

BAGHDAD – On an Iraq trip shrouded in secrecy and dissent, President George W. Bush on Sunday hailed progress in the unpopular war that defines his presidency and got a size-10 reminder of opposition to his policies when a man hurled shoes at him during a news conference.

"This is the end!" shouted the man, later identified as Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Al-Baghdadia television, an Iraqi-owned station based in Cairo, Egypt.

Bush ducked both shoes as they whizzed past his head and landed with a thud against the wall behind him.

Read more ....

More News On President Bush's Trip To Iraq

Analysis: Bush's Iraq trip highlights war -- AP
Shoe attack on Bush mars farewell Iraq visit -- AFP
Bush on farewell visit to Iraq dodges flying shoes -- Yahoo News/Reuters
'A Farewell Kiss, Dog': Bush Dodges Shoes on Surprise Iraq Visit -- ABC News
Dissent Marks Bush's Last Trip To Iraq -- CBS News
Angry Iraqi throws shoes at Bush in Baghdad -- CNN
Touting New Security Deal, Bush Makes Final Iraq Visit -- New York Times
Bush's final Iraq visit marks gains, meets contempt -- Christian Science Monitor
Bush arrives in Iraq, and dodges a shoe -- INternational Herald Tribune
President Bush avoids shoes thrown by an Iraqi journalist -- Times Online
Bush makes surprise trip to Iraq -- L.A. Times
Bush waved off lead Secret Service agent, prevent bigger incident... Developing... -- The Politico
Iraqi journalist hurls shoes at 'dog' Bush -- AFP

Video From MSNBC

President Bush Is In Iraq

U.S. President George W. Bush waves as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House upon his return to Washington December 12, 2008. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Bush Makes Surprise Iraq Visit To Close Out Tenure
-- Yahoo News/AP

BAGHDAD – President George W. Bush on Sunday made a farewell visit to Iraq, a place that defines his presidency, just 37 days before he hands the war off to a successor who has pledged to end it.

Air Force One, Bush's distinctive powder blue-and-white jetliner, landed at Baghdad International Airport in the afternoon local time, after a secretive Saturday night departure from Washington and an 11-hour flight. In a sign of modest security gains in this war zone, Bush was welcomed with a formal arrival ceremony — a flourish that was not part of his previous three trips to Iraq.

Read more ....

More News On President Bush's Visit To Iraq

Bush arrives in Iraq on farewell visit -- AFP
Bush makes farewell visit to Iraq -- Reuters
President Bush in Iraq to Say Goodbye -- ABC News
Bush Makes Farewell Trip To Iraq -- CBS News
Bush to meet with leaders in Iraq -- CNN
Bush Arrives in Iraq on Surprise Farewell Visit -- FOX News
Bush arrives in Baghdad for a final visit -- International Herald Tribune
Bush makes surprise visit to Iraq -- MSNBC
Bush makes surprise Iraq visit to close out tenure -- Newsweek
Bush makes farewell visit to Iraq -- BBC