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
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cp