...in his opening remarks with the president during the first debate. At least, according to David Olive of the Toronto Star - this from his blog today on the US Election Campaign
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Thank you. I'm going to address these comments to our men and women in uniform around the world, and particularly in Afghanistan, and our 130,000 military personnel in Iraq. I want you to listen carefully. These are probably going to be the most important words I ever say, and the most important you'll ever hear.
I want you home. You've fought great battles is distant lands, upholding our finest military traditions, and you'll never know how grateful we are for your determination, how proud we are of your courage.
The nature of the conflict in Iraq has changed in this past year and a half. We began by going into combat with an army, but now we face a stubborn insurgency. Like many if not most Americans, I expected you to be home by now, or on your way home. But today you fight on. And many of you arent always sure who it is you're fighting, or why, or when it will end. The conditions you face are very difficult. You know it, I know it. But this administration hides the truth about this conflict, fails to give us an honest account of our progress or lack of progress. Believe me, if you feel that the truth has been kept from you, many of us at home feel that same way too - and no one more than your families, with whom we join in praying for your safe and speedy return.
So Mr. Bush, let's make the remainder of this campaign about truth - the truth about how and when we're going to end this conflict, and reunite our military personnel with their families.
This campaign is about war and peace. Its not about my own military record or that of my opponent - proud as we both are of how we served when it was our turn to sacrifice for our country. No, what matters now is peace and stability in Iraq. What matters is peace in Iraq, and building a greater prosperity here at home.
So I challenge Mr. Bush tonight to tell us precisely what he has in mind for you - those of you serving in the field, in the tanks, ducking the mortar rounds from unseen enemies. Its his job as commander-in-chief to level with you. But so far in this long political campaign, now finally drawing to a close, our president still hasnt told you how he means to resolve this conflict. All we've had from Mr. Bush are vague assurances that progress is being made. And yet every day brings news of still more precious American lives being lost, more brave Americans being wounded, while here at home our political debate is consumed too often with trivial affairs.
I repeat, I want you home. The fatality rate of our soldiers is higher today than it was during our great victory in capturing Baghdad and ending the evil regime of Saddam Hussein. A record number of our Reserves and National Guard personnel are serving far from home. Tours of duty have been extended to the breaking point. Reservists who are firefighters and police officers at home, and are drawn from so many other critical functions here in America, are greatly missed in their communities. We need you here.
So I ask Mr. Bush tonight to show the leadership that the office he holds demands of him. Our brave men and women in uniform have the right to know about their future.
Mr. Bush, what exactly are your plans for bringing a rapid, peaceful resolution to the conflict you led us into in March of last year? We need specific answers, Mr. Bush, not more of the misleading assurances that we've heard since Saddam was captured 10 long months ago. Conditions in Iraq have deteriorated since then. I find this incredible. Americans find it unacceptable. We are the greatest fighting force in the world. This administration had ample time to plan for the peace before it committed us to a war. Yet we see few if any signs of genuine progress.
So tonight, Mr. President, on behalf of our soldiers, their families and their communities, I want you to tell us when the fighting and dying will end. We need details, and we're entitled to them. I feel a great urgency about creating jobs here at home, about protecting our environment, about easing the burden our people suffer from spiraling medical costs. But the one crucial issue in this campaign is Iraq.
We've already lost more than one thousand of our sons and daughters in this conflict. As long as American lives continue to be at stake, Iraq is the over-riding issue in this campaign. When we make mistakes in Iraq, the price we pay is unspeakably high. Iraq demands of us nothing less than supreme competence.
So I say, Mr. Bush, that the time for platitudes and glossing over the hard truths is over. We want the truth - truthful answers about what's happening in Iraq and the state of our own union. We deserve those honest answers. I hope and expect to hear them from you tonight. Don?t keep us waiting, Mr. Bush. Our soldiers and their loved ones have waited long enough.
Thank you.