The president delivered a very necessary speech at the Naval Academy defending the war in Iraq. He also paid tribute to Cpl. Jeffrey Starr, whose memory was butchered by the New York Times, and read from his moving letter to his girlfriend.

You read about the NYTimes’ disgrace here first.

Good for the White House for fighting back against MSM bias.

Question: How will the Times report on the president’s remarks?

Watch closely.

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Here’s the excerpt and closing from Bush’s speech (full transcript at JWR):

Before our mission in Iraq is accomplished, there will be tough days ahead. A time of war is a time of sacrifice and we’ve lost some very fine men and women in this war on terror.

Many of you know comrades and classmates who left our shores to defend freedom and who did not live to make the journey home.

We pray for the military families who mourn the loss of loved ones. We hold them in our hearts and we honor the memory of every fallen soldier, sailor, airman, Coast Guardman and Marine.

One of those fallen heroes is a Marine corporal named Jeff Starr (ph) who was killed fighting the terrorists in Ramadi earlier this year. After he died, a letter was found on his laptop computer. Here’s what he wrote.

He said, “If you’re reading this, then I’ve died in Iraq. I don’t regret going. Everybody dies but a few get to do it for something as important as freedom.

“It may seem confusing why we’re in Iraq; it’s not to me. I’m here helping these people so they can live the way we live, not to have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. Others have died for my freedom; now this is my mark.&q uot;

There’s only one way to honor the sacrifice of Corporal Starr (ph) and his fallen comrades. And that is to take up their mantle, carry on the fight and complete their mission.

We will take the fight to the terrorists. We will help the Iraqi people lay the foundations of a strong democracy that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself.

And by laying the foundations of freedom in Iraq, we will lay the foundation of peace for generations to come.

You all are the ones who will help accomplish all this. Our freedom and our way of life are in your hands, and they’re in the best of hands.

I want to thank you for your service to the cause of freedom. I want to thank you for wearing the uniform. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

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President Bush’s Strategy for Victory in Iraq

Update 1115am: John Kerry responds by whining about the president making war-related speeches in front of troops and and with military backdrops. Where would he rather have Bush speak about the war–in front of a Wal-Mart? Next Kerry complains that “No one is talking about running”…and then cites poll results on Americans who want us to withdraw from Iraq.

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NYTimes: Still not sorry
“Others have died for my freedom. Now this is my mark.”
Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr: What the NYTimes left out

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