Quack!

Memorializing

Agence France Presse reports: "President George W. Bush vowed to honor those US service members who have died or gone missing in Iraq and Afghanistan by defeating insurgencies in both countries, as he addressed veterans, dignitaries and military families at Memorial Day observances outside Washington."

Here's a transcript of Bush's speech, in which he said that "America has always been a reluctant warrior."

We're Winning ?

Michael A. Fletcher writes in The Washington Post: "President Bush offered an upbeat assessment of the war on terrorism yesterday, saying the United States is on the road to victory after toppling brutal governments in Afghanistan and Iraq, dismantling a nuclear arms network, routing terrorists and encouraging democratic reformers across the world. . . .

"Despite the high spirits, the mood underlying the event was undeniably different than during Bush's last commencement speech to Naval Academy graduates, in 2001. Then, war seemed a remote prospect, not a daily reality. Bush, his face smoother, and his hair less gray, told the 2001 graduates that they were inheriting 'a safer and more peaceful world.' "

Here's the text of his speech.

CNN reports: "The insurgency in Iraq is 'in the last throes,' Vice President Dick Cheney says, and he predicts that the fighting will end before the Bush administration leaves office."

Here's the transcript of Cheney's appearance with CNN's Larry King, during which he was also joined by his wife.

"KING: When do we leave?

"D. CHENEY: We'll leave as soon as the task is over with. We haven't set a deadline or a date. It depends upon conditions. We have to achieve our objectives, complete the mission. And the two main requirements are, the Iraqis in a position to be able to govern themselves, and they're well on their way to doing that, and the other is able to defend themselves, and they're well on their way to doing that. They just announced that in the last day or two here, there've been stories about a major movement of some 40,000 Iraqi troops into Baghdad to focus specifically on the problem there.

"KING: You expect it in your administration?

"D. CHENEY: I do.

"KING: To be removed. It's not going to be -- it's not going to be a 10-year event?