Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2004)
BUSH continued from page 1A work unfinished." On issue after issue, Bush described a nation confronted by challenges — at risk from terrorism, at risk from "thugs" in Iraq, at risk from "activist judges" who have been "redefining marriage" by striking down laws against gay marriage. Declaring that "the people's voice must be heard," he threw his support be hind a proposed constitutional amend ment to outlaw same-sex marriages. "If judges insist on forcing their ar bitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage," Bush said. Although Bush highlighted U.S. ac complishments in Iraq and in the war on terrorism, he said much more needs to be done. He urged Ameri cans to avoid being lulled by the ab sence of attacks on the homeland since Sept. 11, 2001. "That hope is understandable, comforting — and false," he said. "The terrorists continue to plot against America and the civilized world. And by our will and courage, this danger will be defeated." He acknowledged the challenges in Iraq, where more than 500 U.S. troops have died since he came before Congress a year ago to make the case for war. Bush blamed the violence on holdouts from Saddam Hussein's ousted regime. "These killers, joined by foreign terrorists, are a serious, continuing danger," he said. "We are dealing with these thugs in Iraq, just as surely as we dealt with Saddam Hussein's evil regime." He sought to counter critics who questioned the need for the war last spring and who fault Bush for failing to win more international support. And, despite the failure of U.S. troops to find any weapons of mass destruction or Iraqi ties to terrorist groups, he again cited those risks as a justification for war. "Objections to war often come from principled motives. But let us be can did about the consequences of leaving Saddam Hussein in power," he said. "Had we failed to act, the dictator's weapons of mass destruction programs would continue to this day." Turning to domestic issues, Bush expressed confidence that the econ omy would continue to improve, but called on Congress to take addi tional steps that he believes will help encourage job growth. His legisla tive to-do list includes a producer friendly energy policy and a propos al to make temporary tax cuts permanent. He also acknowledged that some of the manufacturing jobs that have disap peared during his term would not come back. The nation has lost nearly 3 mil lion jobs since Bush took office, many of them in the manufacturing sector. He urged Congress to approve a new job training program that would help dis placed workers start new careers. "America's economy is also a chang ing economy," Bush said. "We must re spond by helping more Americans gain the skills to find good jobs." In the Democratic response, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said Bush has bungled key for eign and domestic issues. Daschle said Bush has alienated al lies with a "go-it-alone foreign poli cy," while Pelosi accused him of push ing corporate tax breaks at the expense of American workers. "Instead of borrowing even more money to give more tax breaks to companies so that they can export even more jobs, we propose tax cuts and policies that will strengthen our manufacturing sector and create good jobs at good wages here at home," Pelosi said in advance excerpts. Bush also used this year's State of the Union speech to deliver a progress report on efforts to trans form Iraq and Afghanistan into democracies. He said the fall of Sad dam sent a powerful message to other rogue nations and will en courage the spread of democracy in the Middle East. "Because of American leadership and resolve," he said, "the world is changing for the better." Polls show that most Americans continue to support the war in Iraq, but some national security experts, including some in Bush's own ad ministration, dispute his assertion that it has made America safer. Bush's critics, including some current military, intelligence and Foreign Service officers, say the war diverted resources from the hunt for al-Qaida terrorists, hampered international cooperation in the war on terrorism and fueled more hatred toward America in the Muslim world. (c) 2004, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services. CAMPUS BUZZ Wednesday UO Ensemble concert, 8 p.m., Beall Concert Hall. The 19-voice UO Chamber Choir, directed by Sharon Paul, performs several contrasting madrigals, as well as chamber works from the 16th-19th centuries. UNION continued from page 1A Bush also indirectly criticized Dean, a contender for the Democra tic presidential nomination, saying, "For all who love freedom and peace, the world without Saddam Hussein's regime is a better and r safer place." Dean has been heavily criticized for saying last month that Americans "are no safer today than the day the planes struck the World Trade Center," de spite HusSein's capture. Contact the campus/ federal politics reporter at chuckslothower@dailyemerald.com. Get the www.dailyemerald.com Oregon Daily Emerald/NEWS 017997 More information is available from the Clark Honors College Student Association, Paul Lubliner at 541-683-0698, or the Clark Honors College Cosponsors: Undergraduate Studies, Resident Hail Student Association, Clark Honors College, Environmental Studies Department, Institute for / a Sustainable Environment, Oregon Humanities Center, International Studies Department Werner Fornos, president of the Washington, DC based Population Institute since 1982, has been named the winner in the individual category of the 2003 United Nations Population award. University of Oregon Clark Honors College Student Association presents Concerned about overpopulation? Want a solution? Learn from a world-renowned expert on population sustainability. Ask questions. Get answers. Gaining People, Losing Ground Werner Fornos UN Population Laureate to speak at the University of Oregon i cp
