SA210
01-03-2006, 03:03 PM
Bush drops in at BAMC
Web Posted: 01/02/2006 12:00 AM CST
Sonja Garza<
Express-News Staff Writer
Saying he was overwhelmed by the great strength of character of the wounded troops he had just seen, President Bush spent the first morning of 2006 visiting wounded service members and handing out Purple Hearts at Brooke Army Medical Center. During his four-hour stay in the Alamo City on Sunday, Bush also fielded questions from reporters about the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program. The president staunchly defended the program, which allows eavesdropping on people with suspected links to terrorist groups.
Bush called the program vital and necessary to help protect the American people.
"It seems logical to me that if we know there's a phone number associated with al-Qaida and/or an al-Qaida affiliate, and they're making phone calls, it makes sense to find out why," Bush said.
"They attacked us before. They will attack us again if they can."
Questioned about privacy concerns, the president responded in part by saying: "If somebody from al-Qaida is calling you, we'd like to know why."
The president described the program as limited and said it's designed solely to prevent attacks against the United States.
"The fact that somebody leaked this program causes great harm to the United States," he said.
Bush said that while he's cognizant of Americans' civil liberties, he also believes most Americans understand the need to find out what the enemy is thinking.
"We're at war with a bunch of cold-blooded killers," he said.
When asked about the outlook of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in the New Year, Bush said conditions there will dictate the force level.
Bush made Sunday's stop at the military hospital — his first presidential visit to BAMC — while en route to Washington after a stay at his Crawford ranch.
With a minor gash across his forehead, Bush joshed with reporters that he suffered the injury in "combat" with cedar.
"I eventually won" the battle, he joked about clearing brush on his property.
The visit here began at 8:38 a.m. when the presidential helicopter Marine One touched down at Randolph AFB. A motorcade, led by two dozen San Antonio Police Department motorcycle officers, took the president to the trauma center, where more than 2,340 service members have been treated.
Entrances to Loop 1604 and Interstate 35 were temporarily closed along the route, where several interested bystanders parked and waved during the motorcade's return trip.
Outside the north gate of the hospital, about a dozen protesters gathered with signs for a peaceful demonstration, said John Hackett, a member of the San Antonio Coalition for Peace.
Hackett said the group's message was twofold — stop the war and support the troops — bring them home.
The president paid his respects in a closed-door visit to 51 military personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. He awarded nine Purple Hearts.
Bush called the 224-bed facility a hospital full of healers and courageous young soldiers, Marines and airmen.
The commander-in-chief said he was inspired by one military mother who told him she prays every day and believes in the miracle of healing. Bush said he wants the troops to know that their injuries aren't in vain.
The hospitalized members of the various military services didn't speak to reporters after the presidential visit.
The president returned to Randolph AFB in the early afternoon and left on Air Force One.
Moments after the aircraft took off, Paul Villagran, chief of public affairs at Randolph, said he believed the president's visit was "a tremendous morale booster."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA010206.1A.bush.828a6c9.html
Web Posted: 01/02/2006 12:00 AM CST
Sonja Garza<
Express-News Staff Writer
Saying he was overwhelmed by the great strength of character of the wounded troops he had just seen, President Bush spent the first morning of 2006 visiting wounded service members and handing out Purple Hearts at Brooke Army Medical Center. During his four-hour stay in the Alamo City on Sunday, Bush also fielded questions from reporters about the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program. The president staunchly defended the program, which allows eavesdropping on people with suspected links to terrorist groups.
Bush called the program vital and necessary to help protect the American people.
"It seems logical to me that if we know there's a phone number associated with al-Qaida and/or an al-Qaida affiliate, and they're making phone calls, it makes sense to find out why," Bush said.
"They attacked us before. They will attack us again if they can."
Questioned about privacy concerns, the president responded in part by saying: "If somebody from al-Qaida is calling you, we'd like to know why."
The president described the program as limited and said it's designed solely to prevent attacks against the United States.
"The fact that somebody leaked this program causes great harm to the United States," he said.
Bush said that while he's cognizant of Americans' civil liberties, he also believes most Americans understand the need to find out what the enemy is thinking.
"We're at war with a bunch of cold-blooded killers," he said.
When asked about the outlook of withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in the New Year, Bush said conditions there will dictate the force level.
Bush made Sunday's stop at the military hospital — his first presidential visit to BAMC — while en route to Washington after a stay at his Crawford ranch.
With a minor gash across his forehead, Bush joshed with reporters that he suffered the injury in "combat" with cedar.
"I eventually won" the battle, he joked about clearing brush on his property.
The visit here began at 8:38 a.m. when the presidential helicopter Marine One touched down at Randolph AFB. A motorcade, led by two dozen San Antonio Police Department motorcycle officers, took the president to the trauma center, where more than 2,340 service members have been treated.
Entrances to Loop 1604 and Interstate 35 were temporarily closed along the route, where several interested bystanders parked and waved during the motorcade's return trip.
Outside the north gate of the hospital, about a dozen protesters gathered with signs for a peaceful demonstration, said John Hackett, a member of the San Antonio Coalition for Peace.
Hackett said the group's message was twofold — stop the war and support the troops — bring them home.
The president paid his respects in a closed-door visit to 51 military personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. He awarded nine Purple Hearts.
Bush called the 224-bed facility a hospital full of healers and courageous young soldiers, Marines and airmen.
The commander-in-chief said he was inspired by one military mother who told him she prays every day and believes in the miracle of healing. Bush said he wants the troops to know that their injuries aren't in vain.
The hospitalized members of the various military services didn't speak to reporters after the presidential visit.
The president returned to Randolph AFB in the early afternoon and left on Air Force One.
Moments after the aircraft took off, Paul Villagran, chief of public affairs at Randolph, said he believed the president's visit was "a tremendous morale booster."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA010206.1A.bush.828a6c9.html