The Chief of State

"The Chief of State"

What must it be like

to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders;

to go to bed each night knowing that the decisions

you make may affect the lives of millions.

We cannot begin to fathom the complexity

of the Man who would

undertake such responsibility,

the wisdom,

the strength,

the tenderness,

the faith in God.

Such burdens are placed

where best they may be carried

by the Hand of Providence.

"Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Out grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done..."

"Our enemies are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions, by abandoning every value except the will to power, they follow in the path of fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way to where it ends in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies. We will direct every resource at our command -- every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war -- to the destruction and to the defeat of the global terror network."

-- President George W. Bush, speech to Congress declaring war against international terrorism, September 20, 2001.

"Accomplishing a goal is not as important as the person you become accomplishing it."

--- Author Unknown ---

" The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. It is the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."

Thomas Paine -