Bush Delivers Commencement Address at Merchant Marine Academy

On Monday, June 19, 2006, President George bush made the first commencement speech at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy by a sitting U.S. President, mixing levity with praise for the new graduates, while delivering a clear message on U.S. foreign policy. After opening salutations and a bit of humor, he launched directly into his political agenda, especially with his concerns on Iran, and to a lesser extent, Iraq. On the eve of his European summit, Bush was only on Long Island for just under three hours, but he made them count.

While the focus of his remarks centered on foreign policy, Bush did not touch upon the fate of the two missing soldiers in Iraq or the potential showdown with North Korea over their planned long-range missile test. Stressing the importance of America’s relationship with Europe, he asserted that "America's alliance with Europe is a key pillar of our strategy for victory" against terror.

The President was received warmly by the 202 graduates and 5,000 guests on a hot, sweaty day in Brooks Stadium. In contrast, about 300 anti-war activists protested Bush's visit from nearby Great Neck, New York.

“Maritime TV” covered the Monday morning event, with a pre-ceremony program featuring representatives from the academy and the maritime industry prior to the ceremony. Viewers will be able to see the event on-line at TV Worldwide's Maritime Industry Internet TV Channel, http://www.MaritimeTV.com, where it will be archived for one year within 24 hours after the event. TV networks and local affiliates will be able to obtain the live feed via satellite.