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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 7, 2007 -- Vice President Dick Cheney today, in a speech before Veterans of Foreign Wars members and Kansas City-area active-duty troops at the National World War I Memorial, touted the recent military successes in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as chided Congress for failing to end the budget debate for the wartime defense-spending bill.
In a largely military audience, Cheney told the 250 invited guests that it is every American’s duty to recognize the sacrifices made by today’s military in defeating a “ruthless and determined” enemy. The vice president also spoke of the recent successes in Iraq’s Anwar Provence, which until recently, was a hotbed of terrorists activities.
Now, Cheney said, instead of Anwar leaders protecting the terrorists, tribal leaders are now working in conjunction with U.S. authorities to root out the terrorists and return a sense of normalcy and security back to the province.
Cheney, who said he was speaking more as a civilian than the vice president, also scholded Congress for playing partisan politics by not passing a wartime defense-spending bill that is now in its 11th month of debate.
"I don't believe the people of this nation want to use defense appropriations as a bargaining chip in some kind of political debate," he said. “People in the military should be given all the resources they need to do the job with the tools and equipment they need.”
Cheney opened his speech by praising the Veterans of Wars for its advocacy efforts, as well as for advancing patriotism. “I have a lot of admiration for the VFW,” he said noting that he does not have to tell the VFW how important troop funding is “because the VFW keeps Congress in check.”
VFW National Senior Vice Commander Glen Gardner, a Vietnam War veteran from Round Rock, Texas, also echoed Cheney’s harsh words to Congress.
“In wartime, nothing is as important as supporting the troops. Congress has an obligation to the troops to give them what they need-- when they need it,” the combat veteran said.
After the short speech, Medal of Honor recipients Roger Donlon and Donald Ballard expressed their thoughts on an America at war:
“Americans need to wake up because our security is at stake,” Donlon said. Ballard nodded in agreement, adding, that the mission is very clear: “The nation has to get behind the troops with actions and not just words.”
Pearl Harbor survivor Clifton LaMarr, who served with a patrol squadron during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack, summed the congressional and administration squabble up best: “A lot of smart minds will argue one way, and other smart minds will argue the other way. But the important thing is: We just need to bring our troops home safely.”
Read speech, click here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071207-5.html
Watch Cheney's speech
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