Reply #31: May 11: Cheney's threats at Iran aboard carrier

[freedomfries]

Remarks by Vice President Cheney at a Rally for the Troops

WASHINGTON, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following are remarks
by Vice President Cheney at a rally for the troops:
USS John C. Stennis
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&S...
2:20 P.M. (Local)
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. A reception like that is almost enough
to make me want to run for office again. (Applause and cheers.) I said
almost, almost. (Laughter.)
But I'm delighted to be here today and it's great to be welcomed aboard
this great American carrier. I've been in the Middle East this week for
meetings with friends and allies, and on a journey like this I always like
to spend some time with the men and women who go to work every day
defending the United States of America. So I'm delighted to be with this
great Battle Group, the crew of the USS John C. Stennis, and the men and
women of Air Wing Nine.
It's good to see all of you, and it's a special privilege to visit the
Stennis. This fine ship's company is comprised of sailors from across the
United States -- from New York to Ohio ... from Florida to Texas ... from
Missouri to California. (Cheers.) Anybody here from Wyoming? (Cheers.)
Well, it's a small contingent, but it's quality, I can tell. (Laughter.)
You think it'd be bigger, given the breadth of Wyoming's coastline and our
maritime traditions. (Laughter.)
While I'm here, I want to thank the individual squadrons of CVW Nine:
Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 154 -- the "Black Knights" (cheers) ... VFA
146, the "Blue Diamonds" (cheers) ... VFA 147, the "Argonauts" (cheers) ...
Marine Strike Fighter 323 -- the "Death Rattlers" (cheers) ... Tactical
Electronic Warfare Squadron 138 -- the "Yellowjackets" (cheers) ... and
Carrier Early Warning Squadron 112 -- the "Golden Hawks" (cheers) ... Sea
Control Squadron 31 -- the "Topcats" (cheers) ... Fleet Logistics Support
Squadron 30 -- the "Providers" (cheers) ... and HS-8 -- the "Eightballers"
(cheers).
As Admiral Quinn noted -- and I've been around for a while -- so long,
in fact, that I even knew Senator John Stennis personally. But I've never
been more proud of the United States military than I am today. It's an
incredibly challenging time for the country, and there's serious work being
done on many fronts. You're doing all that we ask of you, and you're doing
it with skill and with honor. So I'm here to say thank you ... and to bring
greetings from our Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush. (Applause
and cheers.)
The last time I stood on the deck of the Stennis was five years ago,
during Operation Enduring Freedom. There's been a lot of activity in the
five years since, and this warship and the JCS Strike Group have been at
the center of many great events. It's not easy duty to serve in this part
of the world. It's a place of tension and many conflicts. Throughout the
region our country has interests to protect and commitments to honor. With
two carrier strike groups in the Gulf, we're sending clear messages to
friends and adversaries alike. We'll keep the sea lanes open. We'll stand
with our friends in opposing extremism and strategic threats. We'll disrupt
attacks on our own forces. We'll continue bringing relief to those who
suffer, and delivering justice to the enemies of freedom. And we'll stand
with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating
this region. These are important duties, and they must all be done at the
same time. There's no way we could do it all without you, and all those who
have stepped forward to serve our country. America is a nation that keeps
its promises - and for that, we can thank the men and women of the United
States military. (Applause and cheers.)
Our presence here has been vital for many years, but never more than in
the time since September 11th, 2001. The John C. Stennis was in the fight
early, deploying to the Arabian Sea just weeks after 9/11. Since the war on
terror began, this carrier has sailed thousands of nautical miles, and
thousands of sorties have been flown from the deck above us. Thanks in part
to this ship's company and Air Wing Nine, we've struck major blows against
the al-Qaeda network that hit America. (Applause and cheers.) We've removed
two dictatorships that sponsored terror, liberated 50 million people from
tyranny, deterred aggression, and stood by young democracies, as America
always does.
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