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{{Infobox President
| name=George Walker Bush
| image=George-W-Bush.jpeg
| order=43rd [[President of the United States]]
| term_start=[[January 20]], [[2001]]
| final term ends= [[January 20]], [[2009]]
| vicepresident=[[Dick Cheney]]
| predecessor=[[Bill Clinton]]
| successor= Incumbent
| birth_date={{birth date and age|1946|07|6}}
| birth_place={{flagicon|USA}} [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]], [[Connecticut|CT]], [[United States|USA]]
| party=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse=[[Laura Bush|Laura Welch Bush]]
| religion=[[United Methodist Church|United Methodist]]
| signature=GeorgeWBush Signature.svg
}}'''George Walker Bush''', a member of the politically influential [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Bush family]], was born on [[July 6]] [[1946]]. He was inaugurated on [[January 20]], [[2001]] as the 43<sup>rd</sup> [[President of the United States]], and re-elected as president in the 2004 election. He was the 46th [[List of Governors of Texas|Governor of Texas]] from 1995 to 2000. He is the eldest son of the 41st [[U.S. President]], [[George H. W. Bush|George Bush]], grandson of the former [[U.S. Senator]] from [[Connecticut]], [[Prescott Bush]], and elder brother to [[Jeb Bush]], [[Governor of Florida]].

George W. Bush was president during the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001 attacks]] and responded by declaring a global ''[[War on Terrorism]]''. In early October 2001 he ordered the [[2001-present war in Afghanistan|invasion of Afghanistan]] to overthrow the [[Taliban Movement|Taliban]] and destroy [[Al-Qaeda]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/20/gen.bush.transcript/
|year=September 20, 2001|title=President Bush's address to joint session of Congress}}</ref> In March 2003, Bush ordered the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], asserting that Iraq was in violation of [[UN Security Council Resolution 1441|UN Resolution 1441]] regarding [[weapons of mass destruction]] and had to be disarmed by force.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030205-1.html| year=February 5, 2003| title=U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Addresses the U.N. Security Council|first=Colin| last=Powell| publisher=Whitehouse.gov| accessdate=2006-05-25}}</ref> Following the overthrow of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime, Bush committed the U.S. to establishing [[democracy in the Middle East]], starting with Afghanistan and Iraq.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031106-2.html| year=November 6, 2003| title=President discusses freedom in Iraq and Middle East}}</ref>

A self-described "war president,"<ref name="War President">{{cite web
| url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/
| title = Transcript for Feb. 8th
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| date = [[2004-02-08]]
| publisher = MSNBC
}}</ref> Bush won [[United States presidential election, 2004|re-election in 2004]] after an intense and heated election campaign, becoming the first candidate to win a majority vote in 16 years.<ref name="16 years">{{cite web
| url = http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/11/3/22753.shtml
| title = Bush First President in 16 Years to Win Popular Majority
| accessdate = 2006-10-01
| date = [[2004-11-03]]
| publisher = NewsMax.com
}}</ref> Since his re-election, he has received increasingly heated criticism, even from former allies, on the [[Iraq War]], [[Guantánamo Bay (Cuba)|Guantanamo Bay]] and [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse]] scandals, as well as domestic issues such as federal funding of [[stem cell]] research, [[Hurricane Katrina]], and controversies such as [[NSA warrantless surveillance controversy|NSA warrantless surveillance]] activities and the [[Plame affair]]. According to polls of job [[approval rating]], his popularity has significantly declined from its record heights after the September 11, 2001 attacks, which contributed to what Bush called the "thumping" of the [[United States Republican Party|GOP]] in the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 mid-term elections]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.us.reuters.com/top/news/usnN07478317.html|year=November 8,2006|title=Bush admits Republicans took a "thumping" (Reuters)}}</ref>

==Early life==
{{main|Early life of George W. Bush|Professional life of George W. Bush}}
[[Image:GW-Bush-in-uniform.jpg|thumb|180px|Lt. George W. Bush while in the National Guard.]]

Born in [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]], [[Connecticut]], Bush is the eldest son of [[George H. W. Bush]] and his wife [[Barbara Bush]]. His [[paternal]] ancestors emigrated from [[Somerset]] in the [[West Country]] of [[England]] in the seventeenth century. Bush's parents moved from [[Connecticut]] to [[Texas]] when he was two years old. He was raised in [[Midland, Texas|Midland]] and [[Houston, Texas]], with his four siblings, [[Jeb Bush|Jeb]], [[Neil Bush|Neil]], [[Marvin Bush|Marvin]], and [[Dorothy Bush Koch|Dorothy]]. Another younger sister, [[Robin Bush|Robin]], died in 1953 at the age of three from [[leukemia]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.famoustexans.com/georgewbush.htm
| title = George Walker Bush
| accessdate = 2006-06-27
| date = [[2005-02-03]]
| work = Famous Texans
| publisher = famoustexans.com
}}</ref> Bush's grandfather, [[Prescott Bush]], was a [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]], and his father served as U.S. President from 1989 to 1993. George W. Bush is sometimes mistakenly referred to as George Bush, Jr. Since his father goes by George H. W. Bush, this is not applicable. His brother Jeb is a two-term governor of Florida. The Bush family has a long-standing and strong involvement in the U.S. Republican Party.

Bush attended [[Phillips Academy]] in [[Andover, Massachusetts]] and, following in his father's footsteps, was accepted into [[Yale University]], where he received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in history in 1968. At the same time, he worked in various Republican campaigns, including his father's 1964 and 1970 Senate campaigns in Texas. As a college senior, Bush became a member of the secretive [[Skull and Bones]] society. By his own characterization, Bush was an average student.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,25229,00.html
|title = Self-Deprecating Bush Talks to Yale Grads
|publisher = FOXNews.com
|date = [[2001-05-21]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref>

In May 1968, at the height of the ongoing [[Vietnam War]], Bush was accepted into the Texas [[Air National Guard]]. After training, he was assigned to duty in Houston, flying [[Convair]] [[F-102 Delta Dagger|F-102s]] out of [[Ellington Field|Ellington Air Force Base]].<ref>{{cite news
|first = Byron
|last = York
|url = http://www.hillnews.com/york/090904.aspx
|title = Bush's National Guard Years
|publisher = The Hill
|date = [[2004-09-09]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref> Throughout his political career, Bush has been criticized over his induction and period of service. [[George W. Bush military service controversy|Critics allege]] that Bush was favorably treated due to his father's political standing, and that he was irregular in attendance. Bush took a transfer to the [[Alabama]] Air National Guard in 1972 to work on a Republican senate campaign, and in 1974 he obtained permission to end his six-year service obligation six months early to attend [[Harvard Business School]], receiving an honorable discharge.

There are a number of [[George W. Bush substance abuse controversy|accounts of substance abuse]] and otherwise disorderly conduct by Bush from this time. Bush has admitted to drinking "too much" in those years and described this period of his life as his "nomadic" period of "irresponsible youth".<ref name="Life-changing">{{cite news
|first = Lois
|last = Romano
|coauthors = George Lardner Jr
|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/bush072599.htm
|title = Bush's Life-Changing Year
|publisher = [[The Washington Post]]
|date = [[1999-07-25]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref> On [[September 4]], [[1976]], at the age of 30, Bush was arrested for [[Drunk driving (United States)|driving under the influence]] of [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]] near his family's summer home in [[Kennebunkport, Maine|Kennebunkport]], [[Maine]]. He pleaded guilty, was fined $150, and had his [[driver's license]] suspended until 1978<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bushdmv1.html
| title = 2000 Driving Record
| accessdate = 2006-08-09
| date = [[2000-11-02]]
| publisher = Department of the Secretary of State of Maine
}}</ref> in Maine.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998465,00.html
| title = Fallout From A Midnight Ride
| accessdate = 2006-09-08
| date = [[2000-11-13]]
| work = Time Magazine
}}</ref> Bush was able to keep his drunk driving arrest a secret throughout his years as governor of Texas.<ref name="CNNDUI">{{cite news
|author = Staff and wire reports
|url = http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/02/bush.dui
|title = Bush acknowledges 1976 DUI charge
|publisher = [[CNN]]
|date = [[2000-11-02]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/bushdui1.html
|title = The Smoking Gun: Archive
|publisher = thesmokinggun.com
|accessdate = 2006-06-27
}}</ref>

After obtaining an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from [[Harvard University]] (Bush is the only US President to serve holding a [[Master of Business Administration]] degree<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=3378
| title = GWB: HBS MBA
| accessdate = 2006-10-16
| work = The American Thinker
| publisher = www.americanthinker.com
}}</ref>), Bush entered the [[Oil industry]] in Texas. In 1977, he was introduced by friends to [[Laura Bush|Laura Welch]], a young schoolteacher and librarian. After three months of courting, Bush married Laura and settled in [[Midland, Texas]]. His twin daughters, [[Jenna Bush|Jenna]] and [[Barbara Pierce Bush|Barbara]], were born in 1981. Bush also left his family's [[The Episcopal Church|Episcopal]] Church to join his wife's [[Methodism|Methodist]] Church. Today, they are members of the congregation of the Highland Park United Methodist Church, near Dallas.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/etc/script.html
| title = The Jesus Factor
| accessdate = 2004-05-06
| work = WGBH
| publisher = PBS
}}</ref>

[[Image:Bush daughers.gif|thumb|left|250px|George and [[Laura Bush]] with their daughters, [[Jenna Bush|Jenna]] and [[Barbara Pierce Bush|Barbara]], in 1990.]]

In [[1978]], Bush ran for the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from the [[Texas's 19th congressional district|19th Congressional District of Texas]]. Facing [[Kent Hance]] of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Bush stressed his energy credentials and conservative values in the campaign. Hance, however, also held many conservative views, opposing gun control and strict regulation; he portrayed Bush as being out of touch with rural Texans. Bush campaigned hard and was an effective fundraiser, but lost by 6,000 votes. Hance later became a Republican and donated money to Bush's campaign for [[List of Governors of Texas|Governor of Texas]] in 1993.<ref name= NewsMine>{{cite news
|url = http://newsmine.org/archive/cabal-elite/w-administration/w-bush/bush-loses-congress-election-1978-texas.txt
|title = Bush Wasn't Always a Front-Runner
|publisher = [[Associated Press]]
|date = [[1999-10-17]]
|accessdate = 2006-07-27
}}</ref>

Bush returned to the oil industry, becoming a senior partner or chief executive officer of several ventures, such as [[Arbusto Energy]] ('arbusto' means bush in Spanish), [[Spectrum 7]], and [[Harken Energy]]. These ventures suffered from the general decline of oil prices in the 1980s that had affected the industry and the regional economy, but he remained active through mergers, acquisitions and consolidations of his firms. Bush credits a reinvigorated faith life as helping him abandon alcohol (in 1986), and face other personal and professional difficulties. Bush began studying the [[Bible]] and [[Christian philosophy]], and participating in church and community study groups. Following a personal meeting and exchange with Reverend [[Billy Graham]], he became a [[born again|born-again]] Christian.<ref name="Life-changing"/>

Bush moved with his family to [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1988, to work on his father's campaign for the U.S. presidency. With colleagues [[Lee Atwater]] and [[Doug Wead]], he helped to develop and coordinate a political strategy for courting conservative Christians and [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] voters, who were seen as key to winning the nomination and the election. Delivering speeches at rallies and fundraisers, Bush met with representatives of [[American conservatism|conservative]] and religious organizations on behalf of his father.

Returning to Texas, Bush purchased a share in the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] baseball franchise in April 1989, where he served as managing general partner of the Rangers for five years. He was active in the team's media relations and in securing the construction of a new stadium, which opened in 1994 as [[Ameriquest Field in Arlington|The Ballpark in Arlington]]. Bush actively led the team's projects and regularly attended its games, often choosing to sit in the open stands with fans. Bush's role with the Rangers gave him prominent media exposure and attention, as well as garnering public, business and political support. The Rangers were mostly successful while Bush was a leader of the organization. During his tenure, the Rangers acquired Hall-of-Fame pitcher [[Nolan Ryan]], who was popular with the fans during the last years of his career. The team nearly won its first division title in 1994, before a strike shortened the season. In 1989, Bush presided during the trade of the eventually famous [[Sammy Sosa]] to the [[Chicago]] [[White Sox]]. The eventual sale of Bush's share in the Texas Rangers brought him over $15 million from his initial $800,000 investment.

George W. Bush is the first president to have run a marathon. Before running for governor of Texas he completed the 1993 Houston Marathon in 3:44:52 for a pace of about 8:36/mile. He had been running since he was 26, and before taking office, ran 15 to 30 miles a week.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.runnersworld.com/footnotes/gwbush/20questions.html
| title = 20 Questions for President George W. Bush
| accessdate = 2006-08-15
| work = Runners World
| publisher = runnersworld.com
}}</ref>

He is often referred to by the [[nickname]] "Dubya", playing on a stereotyped and generalized [[Southern American English|Southern pronunciation]] of the letter W.

==Governor of Texas==
{{#if:{{{nosubst|}}}|<div style="display:none;">}} {{#ifeq:{{NAMESPACE}}|| |{{error:not substituted|Infobox Governor}}<div style="display:none;">}}{{#if:{{{nosubst|}}}|</div></div>}}{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 23em; font-size: 90%; text-align: left;" cellpadding="3"
|+ style="font-size: larger;" | '''George W. Bush'''
|- style="text-align: center;"
{{#if: Texasgovbush.jpg|
{{!}} colspan="2" {{!}}<!--Image needed (previous Image:Texasgovbush.jpgwas removed). --> <br style="clear:both" />}}
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" |46<sup>th</sup> [[Governor of Texas]]
|-
! Term of office:
| <span style="white-space: nowrap;">[[January 17]], [[1995]]</span> &ndash; <span style="white-space: nowrap;">[[December 21]], [[2000]]</span>
|-
{{#if: [[Bob Bullock]], [[Rick Perry]]|
! [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Lieutenant Governor]]:
{{!}} [[Bob Bullock]], [[Rick Perry]]}}
|-
! Predecessor:
| [[Ann Richards]]
|-
! Successor:
| [[Rick Perry]]
|-
! Born:
| <span style="white-space: nowrap;">[[July 6]], [[1946]]</span><br>[[New Haven, Connecticut]], [[USA]]
|-
{{#if: |
! Died:
{{!}} <span style="white-space: nowrap;"></span><br>}}
|-
! Political&nbsp;party:
| {{political party w logo|{{ #switch: [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]
| Democratic
| Democratic Party
| [[Democrat]]
| [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]
}}
|-
{{#if: [[businessperson]], [[politician]]|
! Profession:
{{!}} [[Businessman]], [[politician]]}}
|-
{{#if: [[Laura Bush]]|
! Spouse:
{{!}} [[Laura Bush]]}}
|-
{{#if: |
{{!}} colspan="2" style="font-size: smaller; border-top: 1px solid;" {{!}} }}
|}

With his father's election in 1988, speculation had arisen amongst Republicans that Bush would enter the 1990 [[gubernatorial]] election, but this was offset by Bush's purchase of the Rangers baseball team and personal concerns regarding his own record and profile. Following his success as owner and manager of the Rangers, Bush declared his candidacy for the 1994 election, even as his brother Jeb first sought the governorship of Florida. Winning the Republican primary easily, Bush faced incumbent Governor [[Ann Richards]], a popular Democrat who was considered the easy favorite, given Bush's lack of political credentials.

Bush was aided in his campaign by a close coterie of political advisors that included [[Karen Hughes]], a former journalist who was his communications advisor; [[John Allbaugh]], who became his campaign manager, and [[Karl Rove]], a personal friend and political activist who is believed to have been a strong influence in encouraging Bush to enter the election. Bush's aides crafted a campaign strategy that attacked Governor Richards' record on law enforcement, her political appointments, and her support of liberal political causes. Bush developed a positive image and message with themes of "personal responsibility" and "moral leadership". His campaign focused on issues such as education (seeking more accountability for schools over student performance), crime, deregulation of the economy, and [[tort reform]]. The Bush campaign was criticized for allegedly using controversial methods to disparage Richards. Following an impressive performance in the debates, however, Bush's popularity grew. He won with 52 percent against Richards' 47 percent.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Wayne Slater
| first = James Moore
| year = 2003
| title = Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
| publisher = Wiley
| location = USA
| ISBN = 0-471-42327-0
| pages = 210
}}</ref>

As governor, Bush successfully sponsored legislation for tort reform, increased education funding, set higher standards for schools, and reformed the [[criminal justice]] system. Under his leadership, Texas executed 152 prisoners, more than under any other governor in modern American history; critics such as [[Helen Prejean]] argue that he failed to give serious consideration to clemency requests.<ref name="executions">{{cite web|url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17670|title=The New York Review of Books: Death in Texas}}</ref> School finance was considered a sensitive issue at the time by politicians and the press. The state financed its school system through property taxes. Seeking to reduce the high rates to benefit homeowners while increasing general education funding, Bush sought to create business taxes, but faced vigorous opposition from his own party and the private sector. Failing to obtain political consensus for his proposal, Bush used a budget surplus to push through a $2 billion tax-cut plan, which was the largest in Texas history and cemented Bush's credentials as a pro-business fiscal conservative.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Wayne Slater
| first = James Moore
| year = 2003
| title = Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential
| publisher = Wiley
| location = USA
| ISBN = 0-471-42327-0
| pages = 233-36
}}</ref>

Bush also pioneered [[White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives|faith-based welfare programs]] by extending government funding and support for religious organizations providing social services such as education, alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and reduction of domestic violence. Governor Bush signed a memorandum on [[April 17]], [[2000]] proclaiming [[June 10]] to be [[Jesus Day]] in [[Texas]], a day where he "urge[d] all Texans to answer the call to serve those in need."<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/art/pop_jesusday.jpg
| title = Jesus Day
| accessdate = 2006-06-30
| author = Texas State
| date = [[2005-03-11]]
| format = JPEG
| work = Texas State Archives
| publisher = PBS
}}</ref> Although Bush was criticized for violating the constitutional [[separation of church and state]] ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."), his initiative was popular with most people across the state, especially religious and social conservatives.

In 1998, Bush won re-election in a [[landslide victory]] with nearly 69% of the vote, becoming the first Texas governor to be elected for two consecutive four-year terms (before 1975, the gubernatorial term of office was two years).<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/03/election/governors/texas
|title = Texas Gov. George W. Bush wins in landslide
|publisher = CNN
|date = [[1998-11-03]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

==2000 presidential election==
{{main|United States presidential election, 2000}}
[[Image:GoreBush.jpg|frame|left|After a close campaign, [[Al Gore]] greets President-elect Bush at the White House in late December of 2000.]]

As one of the most popular governors in the nation, Bush was seen in the media and the Republican Party as a strong potential contender for the U.S. presidential election in 2000. Bush had personally envisioned running for the presidency since his re-election, and upon announcing his candidacy, he immediately became the Republican front-runner and raised the largest amount in campaign funds.

Bush labeled himself a "[[compassionate conservatism|compassionate conservative]]," a term coined by [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]] professor [[Marvin Olasky]], and his [[political campaign]] promised to "restore honor and dignity to the [[White House]]". Bush proposed lowering taxes in response to a projected surplus, while promising a balanced [[United States budget process|budget]]. He supported participation of [[religion|religious]] [[charitable organization|charities]] in federally funded programs, and promoted [[education voucher]]s, national education reform, [[oil well|oil drilling]] in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]], and structural changes to the [[military of the United States|United States armed forces]]. Bush's [[foreign policy]] campaign platform supported a stronger economic and political relationship with [[Latin America]] and especially [[Mexico]], free trade and reduced involvement in "[[nation-building]]" and other minor military engagements indirectly related to U.S. interests. Bush also pledged to expand the [[National Missile Defense]] initiative and to reform [[Social Security Administration|Social Security]] and [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]].

Bush's campaign was managed by Rove, Hughes and Albaugh, as well as by other political associates from Texas. He was endorsed by a majority of Republicans in 38 state legislatures. After winning the [[Iowa caucus]], Bush was handed a surprising defeat by U.S. Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]] in the [[New Hampshire primary]]. During his campaign, Bush was criticized for visiting the controversial [[Bob Jones University]], which bore a reputation for a [[Anti-Catholicism|bias against Catholicism]] and a ban on [[miscegenation|interracial dating]].<!-- unsourced and ambiguous Bush apologized to the Archbishop while clarifying that he did not endorse the university's controversial measures--><ref>{{cite news
|author = [[Derrick Jackson|Jackson, Derrick]]
|url = http://www.commondreams.org/views/020900-101.htm
|title = At Bob Jones U., A Disturbing Lesson About The Real George W.
|publisher = Common Dreams Newscenter
|date = [[2000-02-09]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush then won the [[South Carolina]] primary, severely crippling the momentum McCain had picked up with his win in New Hampshire. McCain countered by winning in Michigan. However, McCain inexplicably decided to criticize [[Pat Robertson]] and [[Jerry Falwell]] just before the Virginia primary, stirring the ire of religious conservatives. Bush went on to win the Virginia Primary and then, a week later, he captured nine of thirteen [[Super Tuesday]] state primaries, effectively clinching the Republican nomination. He chose [[Dick Cheney]], a former [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] and [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], as his [[running mate]]. His campaign was endorsed by prominent Republicans such as [[Donald Rumsfeld]] and [[Colin Powell]], who assumed roles as advisers on issues of national security and foreign relations. While stressing his successful record as governor of Texas, Bush's campaign attacked the Democratic nominee, incumbent Vice President [[Al Gore]], over [[gun politics|gun control]] and taxation. Bush criticized the [[Kyoto Protocol]](although in 1998 the Senate vote to participate in the treaty was 0 for and 95 against), championed by Gore, citing the decline of the industries in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] states, such as [[West Virginia]], and resulting economic hardships.

In the televised Republican presidential debate held in [[Des Moines, Iowa]] on [[December 13]] [[1999]], all of the participating candidates were asked "What political [[philosophy|philosopher]] or thinker do you most identify with and why?" Unlike the other candidates, who cited former Presidents and other political figures, Bush responded, "[[Jesus|Christ]], because He changed my heart." Bush's appeal to religious values is believed to have aided his election, since those who said they "attend church weekly" gave him 56% of their vote in 2000 (and 63% of their vote in 2004).<ref>{{cite news
|title = How Americans Voted
|publisher = The Gallup Organization
|date = [[2004-11-05]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}The Gallup Organization, "How Americans Voted," 5 November 2004</ref>

On election day, [[November 7]], [[2000]], Bush won key midwestern states such as [[Ohio]], [[Missouri]], and [[Arkansas]]. He also clinched Gore's home state of [[Tennessee]], [[New Hampshire]], and the erstwhile Democratic bastion of [[West Virginia]]. Television networks initially called the state of [[Florida]] for Gore, then withdrew that projection and later called the state, along with the entire election, for Bush. Finally, it was declared that the results were too close to call. Sometime after the networks reported that Bush had won Florida, Gore conceded the election, and then rescinded that concession less than one hour later. The vote count, which favored Bush in preliminary tallies, was contested over allegations of irregularities in the voting and tabulation processes. Because of Florida state law, a state-wide machine recount was ordered. Although it narrowed the gap, the recount still left Bush in the lead. Eventually, four counties in Florida which had large numbers of presidential undervotes began a manual hand recount of ballots. On [[December 8]], the [[Florida Supreme Court]] ruled that every county with a large number of undervotes would perform a hand recount. On [[December 9]], in the ''[[Bush v. Gore]]'' case, the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] stopped the statewide hand recount. The machine recount showed that Bush had won the Florida vote - making it the 30th of the 50 states he carried.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm
| title = 2000 OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS
| accessdate = 2006-06-30
| author = State Elections Offices
| date = [[2001-11-07]]
| publisher = Public Disclosure Division, Federal Election Commission
}}</ref> Despite having lost the nationwide popular contest by more than half a million votes,<ref>[http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm 2000 Presidential General Election Results]</ref> he won 271 [[United States Electoral College|electoral votes]] to Gore's 266. This made him the first President elected despite a popular vote loss since [[Benjamin Harrison]] in 1888.<ref>[http://ap.grolier.com/cgi-bin-unauth/dated_article_news?templatename=/news/news.html&assetid=apn20050223.04&seq=5&assettype=0tdnp "The Electoral College: How It Works" Grolier.com]</ref>

==First term==
{{main|George W. Bush's first term as President of the United States}}

President George W. Bush was regarded by his political opponents and many in the media as lacking a popular mandate, having lost the popular vote. Upon assuming office, Bush appointed [[Andrew Card]] as his [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]], [[Karl Rove]] as his political advisor and [[Karen Hughes]] as White House communications director. He appointed [[Colin Powell]] as [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], [[Paul O'Neill]] as [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]], and [[Donald Rumsfeld]] as the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]].

His appointment of former Senator [[John Ashcroft]] as [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] was intensely criticized by Democrats because of Ashcroft's opposition of [[abortion in the United States|abortion]] and support for social and religious conservative causes concerning [[LGBT social movements|gay rights]] and [[capital punishment in the United States|capital punishment]]. Despite this, Ashcroft was confirmed, and Bush was lauded by conservatives.

===Domestic policy===
{{main|Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
[[Image:No Child Left Behind Act.jpg|thumb|280px|Bush signs the [[No Child Left Behind Act]] into law.]]

On his first day in office, Bush moved to block federal aid to foreign groups that offered counselling or any other assistance to women in obtaining abortions.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Office of the Press Secretary
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/20010123-5.html
|title = Memorandum for Restoration of the Mexico City Policy
|publisher = [[The White House]]
|date = [[2001-01-22]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush also successfully pushed for the [[Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act]], enacted in 2003 with some [[bi-partisan]] support but criticized by [[pro-choice]] groups as incursive on legalized abortion rights.

Days into his first term, Bush announced his commitment to channeling more federal aid to faith-based service organizations. Bush created the [[White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives]] to assist faith-based service organizations. Critics claimed that this was an infringement of the [[separation of church and state in the United States|separation of church and state]].<ref>{{cite news
|first = Thomas E.
|last = Buckley
|url = http://www.americamagazine.org/gettext.cfm?articleTypeID=1&textID=2601&issueID=411
|title = Church, State and the Faith-Based Initiative
|publisher = America, The National Catholic Weekly
|date = [[2002-11-11]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|first = David
|last = Brancaccio
|url = http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/churchandstate2.html
|title = Faith-based Initiatives
|work = God and Government
|publisher = [[NOW (series)|NOW]], [[PBS]]
|date = [[2003-09-26]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

Following a national controversy over the recognition of same-sex marriages in [[San Francisco]] and [[Massachusetts]], Bush announced his opposition to the recognition of same-sex marriage, but supported allowing states to recognize [[civil unions]]. He endorsed the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This amendment failed to gain enough votes to pass.

Bush staunchly opposes [[euthanasia]]. He supported Ashcroft's decision to file suit against the voter-approved [[Oregon Ballot Measure 16 (1994)|Oregon Death with Dignity Act]], which was ultimately decided by the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] in favor of the Oregon law.<ref name=OregonEuthanasia>{{cite news
|first = Kevin
|last = Johnson
|url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/04/17/court-suicide.htm
|title = Federal judge backs Oregon suicide law
|publisher = [[USAToday]]
|date = [[2002-04-18]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> As governor of Texas, however, Bush had signed a law which gave hospitals the authority to take terminally ill patients off of [[life support]] against the wishes of their spouse or parents, if the doctors deemed it medically appropriate.<ref name=RighttoDie>{{cite news
|author = Knight Ridder
|coauthors = Newsday
|url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002215324_texaslaw22.html
|title = As governor, Bush signed right-to-die law
|publisher = [[Seattle Times]]
|date = [[2005-03-22]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> This became an issue in 2005, when the President signed controversial legislation forwarded and voted on by only three members of the Senate to initiate federal intervention in the court battle of [[Terri Schiavo]].<ref name=Schiavo>{{cite news
|first = Charles
|last = Babington
|coauthors = Allen, Mike
|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51402-2005Mar20.html
|title = Congress Passes Schiavo Measure
|publisher = The Washington Post
|date = [[2005-03-21]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

Bush's domestic agenda carried forward themes of increased responsibility for performance from his days as Texas governor, and he worked hard to lobby the adoption of the [[No Child Left Behind Act]], with Democratic Senator [[Ted Kennedy]] as chief sponsor. The legislation aims to close the achievement gap, measures [[student]] performance, provides options to parents with students in low-performing schools, and targets more federal funding to low-income [[schools]]. NCLBA has been a source of ongoing controversy. Critics argue that Bush has underfunded his own program, and Kennedy himself has claimed: "The tragedy is that these long overdue reforms are finally in place, but the funds are not."<ref>{{cite news
|author = W. James Antle III
|url = http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article.html
|title = Leaving No Child Left Behind
|publisher = [[The American Conservative]]
|date = [[2005-08-01]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> Many educational experts are critical of the reforms in question, claiming that NCLB allows some students to flee failing public schools instead of improving those schools.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Harvard Graduate School of Education
|url = http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/features/pierce07012002.html
|title = No Child Left Behind?
|publisher = HGSE News
|date = [[2002-06-01]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> Others contend that NCLBA's focus on "high stakes testing" and quantitative outcomes is counterproductive.<ref> ''Raising Standards or Raising Barriers?'' Edited by Gary Orfield and Mindy L. Kornhaber. The Century Foundation Press. May 1, 2001</ref> Bush increased funding for the [[National Science Foundation]] and [[National Institutes of Health]] in his first years of office, and created education programs to strengthen the grounding in science and mathematics for American high school students. However, funding for NIH failed to keep up with inflation in 2004 and 2005, and was actually cut in 2006, the first such cut in 36 years.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Committee on Appropriations – Democratic Staff
|url = http://www.house.gov/appropriations_democrats/pdf/2006-7-26-NIH-paper.pdf#search=%22bush%20nih%20funding%22
|title = President Bush and House Republicans Undermine Life Saving Health Research
|publisher = U.S. House of Representatives
|date = [[2006-09-12]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref>

Bush promoted increased de-regulation and investment options in social services, leading Republican efforts to pass the [[Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act|Medicare Act of 2003]], which added prescription drug coverage to Medicare and created [[Health Savings Accounts]], which would permit people to set aside a portion of their Medicare tax to build a "nest egg". The elderly group, [[AARP]] worked with the Bush Administration on the program and gave their endorsement. Bush said the law, estimated to cost US$400 billion over the first 10 years, would give the elderly "better choices and more control over their health care".<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031208-2.html
|title = President Signs Medicare Legislation
|publisher = The White House
|date = [[2003-12-08]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

In the wake of the [[Columbia space shuttle disaster]], on [[January 14]] [[2004]] Bush announced a major re-direction for the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]].<ref name=NewVisionNASA>{{cite news
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/01/20040114-3.html
|title = President Bush Announces New Vision for Space Exploration Program
|publisher = The White House
|date = [[2004-01-14]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Known as the [[Vision for Space Exploration]], it calls for the completion of the [[International Space Station]] by 2010 and the retirement of the [[space shuttle]] while developing a new [[spacecraft]] called the [[Crew Exploration Vehicle]] under the title [[Project Constellation]]. The CEV would be used to return American [[astronaut]]s to the [[Moon]] by 2018.

President Bush supports stem cell research, but only to the extent that human embryos are not destroyed in order to harvest additional stem cells.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060719-5.html
|title = President Vetoes H.R. 810, the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005"
|publisher = The White House
|date = [[2006-06-19]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> His supporters see this as a principled stand for the rights of human embryos; one to which the President has remained true despite heavy criticism. In 2004, more than two hundred Republican and Democratic members of Congress sent President Bush a letter<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.house.gov/degette/news/releases/040428.pdf
|title = letter re: August 2001 executive order
|publisher = Congress of the United States
|date = [[2004-04-28]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> asking him to change the August 2001 Executive Order “that has crippled stem cell research in our country.”<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.house.gov/degette/news/releases/040428.html
|title = DeGette: President's Policy Has Chilling Effect on Stem Cells
|publisher = Office of Congresswoman Diana DeGette
|date = [[2004-04-28]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> On February 27, 2004, after expressing disapproval of administration policy, Dr. [[Elizabeth Blackburn]] was removed from the [[President's Council on Bioethics]], prompting allegations that President Bush had violated the [[Federal Advisory Committee Act]] of 1972, which requires committees to be “fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented.” In response to this and other controversies, the [[Union of Concerned Scientists]] released a statement entitled ''Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further Investigation of the Bush Administration’s Misuse of Science''.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.ucar.edu/oga/pdf/Integrity.pdf#search=%22stem%20cell%22
|title = Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further Investigation of the Bush Administration’s Misuse of Science
|publisher = The Union of Concerned Scientists
|date = [[2004-07-01]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref> Meanwhile, the [[National Right to Life Committee]] has commended President Bush’s veto of the [[Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act]], a bill that would have allowed the destruction of human embryos created via ''in vitro'' fertilization.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.nrlc.org/Killing_Embryos/Release071906.html
|title = National Right to Life Commends Sustained Veto of Funding for Research that Kills Human Embryos, Rebukes 154 House Members for Rejecting Ethical Alternatives
|publisher = National Right to Life Committee (NRLC)
|date = [[2004-07-19]]
|accessdate = 2006-10-11
}}</ref>

Bush signed the [[Amber Alert]] legislation into law on [[April 30]] [[2003]], which was developed to quickly alert the general public about [[child abduction]]s using various media sources.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/30/bush.amber/index.html
|title = Bush signs child protection bill
|publisher = [[CNN]] Inside Politics
|date = [[2003-05-01]]
|accessdate = 2006-07-31
}}</ref> On [[July 27]] [[2006]] Bush signed the [[Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act]] which establishes a national database requiring all convicted sex offenders to register their current residency and related details on a monthly instead of the previous yearly basis. Newly convicted sex offenders will also face longer mandatory [[incarceration]] periods.<ref>{{cite news
|first = Davidson
|last = Lee
|url = http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,640198190,00.html
|title = Bush signs, Hatch praises new Child Protection Act
|publisher = DeseretNews
|date = [[2006-07-28]]
|accessdate = 2006-07-31
}}</ref>

====Economic policy====

[[Image:BUSHAIRFORCEONE.jpg|thumb|320px|left|President Bush talks on the phone with Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] while looking out a window of [[Air Force One]], [[September 11, 2001]].]]

Facing opposition in Congress, Bush held town hall-style public meetings across the nation to increase public support for his plan for a $1.3 trillion tax cut. Bush and his economic advisers argued that unspent government funds should be returned to taxpayers. With reports of the threat of recession from Federal Reserve Chairman [[Alan Greenspan]], Bush argued that such a tax cut would stimulate the economy and create jobs. In the end, five Senate Democrats crossed party lines to join Republicans in approving Bush's $1.35 trillion<ref>{{cite news
|first = Kelly
|last = Wallace
|url = http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/06/07/bush.taxes
|title = $1.35 trillion tax cut becomes law
|publisher = [[CNN]] InsidePolitics archives
|date = [[2001-06-07]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> tax cut program &mdash; one of the largest in U.S. history.

During his first term, Bush sought and obtained Congressional approval for two additional tax cuts: the [[Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002]] and the [[Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003]]. These acts increased the [[child tax credit]] and eliminated the so-called "marriage penalty." Arguably, cuts were distributed disproportionately to higher income taxpayers through a decrease in [[marginal tax rate|marginal rates]], but the change in marginal rates was greater for those of lower income, resulting in an income tax structure that was more progressive overall. Complexity was increased with new categories of income taxed at different rates and new deductions and credits, however; at the same time, the number of individuals subject to the [[alternative minimum tax]] increased since it had remained unchanged.

Bush's imposition of a [[United States steel tariff 2002|tariff on imported steel]] and [[U.S.-Canada softwood lumber dispute|on Canadian softwood lumber]] was controversial in light of his advocacy of [[free market]] [[policies]] in other areas; this attracted criticism both from his fellow [[American conservatism|conservatives]] and from nations affected. The steel tariff was later rescinded under pressure from the [[World Trade Organization]]. A negotiated settlement to the softwood lumber dispute was reached in April 2006, and the historic seven-year deal was finalized on [[July 1]] [[2006]].

===Foreign policy===
{{main|Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
[[Image:Red Sea Summit in Aqaba.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Bush, President of the [[Palestinian Authority]] [[Mahmoud Abbas]], and former [[Prime Minister of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Ariel Sharon]] meet at the [[Red Sea Summit]] in [[Aqaba]], [[Jordan]] on [[June 4]], [[2003]].]]

The Bush administration withdrew US support for several international agreements, including the [[Kyoto Protocol]], the [[International Criminal Court]], and the [[Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty]] (ABM) with [[Russia]]. It pursued a [[national missile defense]] which was previously barred by the ABM treaty and was never ratified by Congress.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/news/010501bush.html
|title = President Bush Speech on Missile Defence
|publisher = Federation of American Scientists
|date = [[2001-05-01]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush publicly condemned [[Kim Jong-Il]] of [[North Korea]], naming North Korea one of three states in an "[[axis of evil]]," and saying that "[t]he United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html 2002 State of the Union Address]</ref> Within months, "both countries had walked away from their respective commitments under the [[Agreed Framework between the United States of America and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea|U.S.-DPRK Agreed Framework of October 1994]]."<ref>[http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/2003/Summer/art1-su3.htm Pollack, Jonathan. "The United States, North Korea, and the End of the Agreed Framework." ''Naval War College Review'', Summer 2003, Vol. LVI, No. 3.]</ref> Bush also boldly expressed U.S. support for the defense of [[Taiwan]] following the stand-off in March 2001 with the [[People's Republic of China]] over the crash between an [[EP-3E]] [[Hainan Island incident|American spyplane and a Chinese air force jet]], leading to the detention of U.S. personnel. In 2003-04, Bush authorized U.S. military intervention in [[Haiti]] and [[Liberia]] to restore order and oversee a transition to democracy.

Bush emphasized a "hands-off" approach to the conflict between [[Israel]] and the [[Palestinian]]s in wake of rising violence and the alleged failure of the Clinton Administration's efforts to negotiate. Bush denounced Palestinian leader [[Yasser Arafat]] for his support of the violence and militant groups. But prompted by European leaders, he became the first American President to embrace a two-state solution in which an independent Palestine would exist side-by-side with Israel. Bush sponsored dialogue between Prime Ministers [[Ariel Sharon]] and [[Mahmoud Abbas]] but continued his boycott of Arafat. Bush also supported Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and lauded the democratic elections held in Palestine following Arafat's death.

[[Image:gloria_arroyo_with_bush.jpg|thumb|285px|Philippine President [[Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]] with George W. Bush inspects the [[Malacanang Palace]] Honor Guards during the latter's 8-hour [[State Visit]] to the [[Philippines]] in October 2003]]

In his [[State of the Union Address]] in January 2003, Bush outlined a five-year strategy for global emergency [[AIDS]] relief, the [[President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief]]. Bush announced $15 billion for this effort&mdash;$3 billion per year for five years&mdash;but requested less in annual budgets, though some members of Congress added amendments to increase the requested amounts. The emergency relief effort is led by U.S. Ambassador [[Randall L. Tobias]], former [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Eli Lilly and Company|Eli Lilly]] and [[Global AIDS Coordinator]] at the [[United States Department of State|Department of State]]. At the time of the speech, $9 billion was earmarked for new programs in AIDS relief for the 15 countries most affected by HIV/AIDS, another $5 billion for continuing support of AIDS relief in 100 countries where the U.S. already had bilateral programs established, and an additional $1 billion towards the [[Global Fund|Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]]. Almost one quarter of the $15 billion went to religious groups that tend to emphasize sexual abstinence over [[condom]] use.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/01/29/quarter-of-bushs-15-bil_n_14689.html
|title = Quarter Of Bush's $15 Billion For AIDS Going To Christian Groups
|publisher = [[The Huffington Post]]
|date = [[2006-01-29]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> This budget represented more money contributed to fight AIDS globally than all other donor countries combined.

Bush condemned the [[Darfur conflict|attacks]] by militia forces on the people of [[Darfur]], and denounced the killings in [[Sudan]] as [[genocide]].<ref>{{cite news
|author = Jim VandeHei
|url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/01/AR2005060101725.html
|title = In Break With U.N., Bush Calls Sudan Killings Genocide
|publisher = [[The Washington Post]]
|date = [[2005-06-02]]
|accessdate = 2006-07-25
}}</ref> Bush said that an international [[peacekeeping]] presence was critical in Darfur, but opposed referring the situation in Darfur to the [[International Criminal Court]].

==Wars==
The [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]] were a major turning point in Bush's presidency. Bush was visiting an elementary school in Florida when Chief of Staff [[Andrew Card]] informed him that a plane had crashed into the [[World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]]. Following news of a second collision, Bush remained with the class for seven minutes while they finished reading a story. He then flew to air bases in [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Louisiana]] and [[Offutt Air Force Base|Nebraska]] before returning to [[Washington, D.C.]] in the late afternoon. That evening, he addressed the nation from the [[Oval Office]], promising a strong response to the attacks but emphasizing the need for the nation to come together and comfort the families of the victims. On [[September 14]], he visited the [[World Trade Center site]], meeting with Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] and firefighters, police officers and volunteers. In a moment captured by press and media, Bush addressed the gathering via megaphone from atop a heap of rubble:

[[Image:Bush Ground Zero.jpg|250px|thumb|right|President Bush addresses rescue workers at [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] in [[New York City|New York]], [[September 14]], [[2001]]: "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."]]

{{cquote|I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.}}In a September 20, 2001 speech, President Bush condemned [[Osama bin Laden]] and [[al Qaeda]], and issued the [[Taliban]] regime in Afghanistan an ultimatum to "hand over the terrorists, or ... share in their fate."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People]</ref>

===Afghanistan===
{{main|2001 war in Afghanistan}}

On October 7, 2001, U.S. and British forces initiated bombing campaigns that led to the November 13 arrival of [[Afghan Northern Alliance|Northern Alliance]] troops in [[Kabul]]. By December 2001, the [[United Nations|UN]] had organized both the [[Bonn agreement]], which instated the [[Afghan Interim Authority]] chaired by [[Hamid Karzai]], and the [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]], a multinational fighting force whose numbers and territory have since steadily increased.

In 2003, after it became apparent that the Taliban was amassing new funds and recruits, [[NATO]] assumed ISAF control.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0508/p01s02-wosc.html?related | title = Taliban Appears To Be Regrouped and Well-Funded | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = [[2003-05-08]] | publisher = Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> By 2005, NATO had moved into western and southern parts of the country, and in 2006, requesting increased international cooperation, it announced expansion of operations to eastern Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.un.org/News/dh/latest/afghan/un-afghan-history.shtml#postsept | title = Afghanistan & the United Nations | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = [[2006-01-01]] | publisher = UN News Centre: Afghanistan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2006/p06-117e.htm | title = Statement by the Secretary General on expansion of NATO’s operation in Afghanistan | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = [[2006-10-11]] | publisher = NATO: Press Release}}</ref>

Large-scale offensives such as the 2006 [[Operation Mountain Thrust]] had limited success against a [[Taliban insurgency]] larger, fiercer, and better organized than expected.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=285 | title = World Cannot Give Up on Afghanistan, Coalition Officials Say | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = [[2006-06-28]] | publisher = U.S. Dept. of Defense}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5107816.stm | title = Frustrated Karzai toughens stance | accessdate = 2006-10-23 | date = [[2006-07-22]] | publisher = BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-19-taliban-afghanistan-cover_x.htm?csp=34 | title = Revived Taliban waging 'full-blown insurgency' | accessdate = 2006-06-19 | date = [[2006-07-22]] | publisher = USA Today}}</ref> Bin Laden and the Afghan leader of the Taliban, [[Mohammed Omar]], remained at large as of November 2006. In October 2006, NATO broadened security operations to include every province in the country. Foreign troops in the region numbered more than 41,000 in October 2006.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100601373.html | last = Rumsfeld | first = Donald | title = Afghanistan: Five Years Later | accessdate = 2006-06-19 | date = [[2006-10-07]] | publisher = Washington Post}}</ref> In a September, 2006 address to the UN, President Bush pledged his continuing support for the Afghan people: "We'll help you defeat these enemies and build a free Afghanistan that will never again oppress you, or be a safe haven for terrorists."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/afghanistan/index.html | title = President Bush Addresses United Nations General Assembly | accessdate = 2006-06-19 | date = [[2006-09-26]] | publisher = The White House}}</ref>

===Iraq===
:''Main article: [[Iraq War]]''

Following the overthrow of the Taliban, President Bush also promoted urgent action in Iraq, stating that Iraqi President [[Saddam Hussein]] possessed [[weapons of mass destruction]] (WMD), and that in the post 9/11 world it was too dangerous to allow unstable regimes to possess weapons that could "potentially fall into the hands of [[terrorism|terrorists]]." Bush argued that Saddam, through his continued violation of the [[UN]] Cease Fire Agreement and [[United Nations Security Council Resolution|UN Security Council Resolutions]] [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 687|687]], [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 688|688]], 707, 715, [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 986|986]], 1115, 1134, 1137, [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1284|1284]], and [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373|1373]], was a threat to U.S. security, destabilized the [[Middle East]], inflamed the [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]], and financed various terrorist organizations. [[Central Intelligence Agency]] reports asserted that Saddam Hussein had tried to acquire [[nuclear material]], had not properly accounted for Iraqi [[Biological warfare|biological weapons]] and [[Chemical warfare|chemical weapons]] material in violation of [[Iraq sanctions|U.N. sanctions]], and that some Iraqi missiles had a range greater than allowed by the UN sanctions.<!--Reference no longer online--><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd/Iraq_Oct_2002.htm
| title = Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs
| accessdate =
| year = 2002
| month = October
| publisher = [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]
}}</ref> [[Image:20030501-15 d050103-2-664v.jpg|thumb|left|President Bush, with [[Naval Flight Officer]] Lieutenant Ryan Philips, in the flight suit he wore for his [[Mission Accomplished|televised arrival and speech]] aboard the [[USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)|USS ''Abraham Lincoln'']] in 2003.]]

Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi [[disarmament]] mandates, precipitating a [[Iraq disarmament crisis|diplomatic crisis]]. On [[November 13]] [[2002]], under [[UN Security Council Resolution 1441]], Hans Blix and [[Mohamed ElBaradei]] led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. There was controversy over the efficacy of inspections and lapses in Iraqi compliance. UN inspection teams departed Iraq upon U.S. advisement given four days prior to the U.S. invasion, despite their requests for more time to complete their tasks.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Associated Press
|url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htm
|title = U.S advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq
|publisher = USA Today
|date = [[2003-03-17]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30 }}</ref> The U.S. initially sought a [[UN Security Council]] resolution authorizing the use of military force pursuant to Chapter VII of the [[United Nations Charter]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/chapterVII.htm
| title = Enforcement Measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter
| accessdate = 2006-06-30
| author = United Nations
| date = [[2003-02-13]]
| work = [[United Nations Charter]]
| publisher = United Nations}}</ref> Upon facing vigorous opposition from several nations (primarily [[France]] and [[Germany]]), however, the U.S. dropped the bid for UN approval and began to prepare for war; Benjamin Ferenccz, a former chief prosecutor of the [[Nuremberg Trials]] argued that for these actions Bush, with his Administration, could be prosecuted for [[war crime]]s.<ref>{{cite news
| author = [http://www.alternet.org/authors/6614/ Jan Frel]
| url = http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/38604/
| title = Could Bush Be Prosecuted for War Crimes?
| publisher = [[AlterNet]]
| date = [[2006-07-10]]
|accessdate = 2006-07-10
}}</ref> [[Kofi Annan]], [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]], as well as leaders of several nations made similar statements, implying that the attack constitutes a war crime.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3661134.stm
|title = Iraq war illegal, says Annan
|publisher = BBC
|date = [[2004-09-16]]
|accessdate = 2006-07-11
}}</ref> The war effort was joined by more than 20 other nations (most notably the [[United Kingdom]]) who were designated the "[[Multinational force in Iraq|coalition of the willing]]".<ref>{{cite news
|first = Steve
|last = Schifferes
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm
|title = US names 'coalition of the willing'
|publisher = BBC
|date = [[2003-03-18]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref>

The invasion of Iraq commenced on [[March 20]], [[2003]], ostensibly to pre-empt Iraqi WMD deployment and remove Saddam from power, and was completed on [[May 1]], [[2003]] when U.S. forces took control of [[Baghdad]]. The success of U.S. operations increased Bush's popularity, but the U.S. forces would be challenged by public disorder, as well as increasing insurgency led by pro-Saddam and Islamist groups. The Bush Administration was assailed in subsequent months following the report of the [[Iraq Survey Group]], which, apart from a few stockpiles, did not find the large quantities of weapons that the regime was believed to possess. On [[December 14]], [[2005]], while discussing the WMD issue, Bush stated that "It is true that much of the intelligence turned out to be wrong."<ref>{{cite news
|author = Times Online
|coauthors = agencies
|url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1930698,00.html
|title = Bush: we went to war on faulty intelligence
|publisher = [[Times Online]]
|date = [[2005-12-14]]
|accessdate = 2006-06-30
}}</ref> Bush would nevertheless remain unwavering when asked if the war had been worth it, or whether he would have made the same decision if he had known more. U.S. efforts in Iraq would become the centrepiece of Bush's expressed vision to promote democracy as a means to discourage and defeat terrorists, by removing radical regimes and fostering social and economic development. However a 2006 [[National Intelligence Estimate]] (a consensus report of the heads of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies) asserted that the Iraq war had increased Islamic radicalism and worsened the terror threat.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/washington/25terrorcnd.html
|title = Report Stirs Debate on Terror Fight
|publisher = [[New York Times]]
|date = [[2006-09-24]]
|accessdate = 2006-09-25
}}</ref> Bush and his top officials told early [[October]] [[2006]] that the [[United States]] must press on with war in [[Iraq]]. They accuse critics, including some [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], who call for a U.S. troop pullout or a timetable for withdrawal, of advocating a policy of 'cut-and-run'.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/article_1209492.php/Stay-the-course_not_U.S.s_only_Iraq_option_Baker
| title = Stay-the-course not U.S.'s only Iraq option: Baker
| date = [[2006-10-08]]
| accessdate = 2006-10-08}}</ref>

On [[October 21]], [[2006]], Bush held a video teleconference with Vice President [[Dick Cheney|Cheney]] and military commanders in the Roosevelt Room of the [[White House]], to discuss the [[Iraq War]]. Bush admitted that there were strategic mistakes made in regards to the stability of Iraq and would modify plans but not the overall strategy.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/images/20061021_d-0072-515h.html
| title = President George W. Bush speaks during a video teleconference with Vice President Dick Cheney, on screen, and military commanders.
| date = [[2006-10-21]]
| accessdate = 2006-10-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=at9X1Z7oilgY
| title = Bush Reviews Iraq War Strategy as Violence Mounts (Update1)
| date = [[2006-10-21]]
| accessdate = 2006-10-22}}</ref>

On November 28, 2006, facing mounting criticism for his Iraq war policy, Bush told the [[NATO Summit 2006]] in [[Latvia]] that "We'll continue to be flexible, and we'll make the changes necessary to succeed. But there's one thing I'm not going to do: I'm not going to pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061128-13.html | title=President Bush Discusses NATO Alliance During Visit to Latvia | publisher=The White House | date=November 28, 2006}}</ref>

==Campaign for re-election==
[[Image:Bush 43 10-19-04 Stpete.jpg|thumb|George W. Bush speaks at a campaign rally in 2004.]]
{{main|United States presidential election, 2004}}
Bush commanded broad support in the Republican Party and did not encounter a primary challenge. He appointed [[Kenneth Mehlman]] as campaign manager, and the campaign political strategy was devised by Karl Rove.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec04/rove_9-01.html
| title = An Interview With Karl Rove
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| date = [[2004-08-01]]
| work = NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
| publisher = PBS
}}</ref> Bush outlined a 2004 agenda that included a strong commitment in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act, making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent, cutting the budget deficit in half, promoting education, tort reform, social security and national tax reform. Bush emphasized his [[social conservatism]] by arguing for the Federal Marriage Amendment. In most of his speeches, Bush also stressed a vision and commitment for spreading [[Freedom (political)|freedom]] and democracy across the world.

Having had great success at fundraising, the campaign began running television and radio advertisement campaigns across the nation against Democratic candidates, including Bush's emerging opponent, [[Massachusetts]] Senator [[John Kerry]]. Kerry and other Democrats attacked Bush on the conduct of the war in Iraq, perceived excesses of the USA PATRIOT Act and for allegedly failing to stimulate the economy and job growth, as well as controversies surrounding Bush's service in the National Guard. Bush emphasized his leadership in war and national security challenges, evoking the patriotism and passion aroused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Bush campaign portrayed Kerry as a staunch [[American liberalism|liberal]] who would raise taxes, increase the size of government, and fail to oppose a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The Bush campaign continuously criticized Kerry's allegedly contradictory statements on the war in Iraq, and claimed Kerry lacked the decisiveness and vision necessary for success in the war on terrorism. Popular politicians such as Rudy Guiliani, John McCain, [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], and [[conservative Democrat]] [[Zell Miller]] campaigned actively for Bush, who traveled across the country delivering speeches at three to four different locations on most days. The campaign organized a large group of volunteers and focused its efforts on [[swing state]]s such as [[Ohio]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Florida]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Michigan]] and [[Minnesota]]. Bush carried 31 of 50 states for a total of 286 [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]] votes.

==Cabinet==
{{main|George W. Bush administration}}
[[Image:BUSHCABINET.jpg|thumb|right|325px|President Bush meeting with his Cabinet at the [[White House]].]]

{| class=wikitable
! Office !! Name !! Term
|-
|[[President of the United States|President]] || '''[[George W. Bush]]''' || 2001&mdash;
|-
|[[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] || '''[[Dick Cheney|Richard B. Cheney]]''' || 2001&mdash;
|-
!bgcolor="#000000" colspan="3"|
|-
|[[United States Secretary of State|Sec. of State]] || '''[[Colin Powell|Colin L. Powell]]''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Condoleezza Rice]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Defense|Sec. of Defense]] || '''[[Donald Rumsfeld|Donald H. Rumsfeld]]'''<ref>On November 8, 2006, Rumsfeld tendered his resignation with no set date for his departure. The Senate is expected to hold a confirmation hearing for Rumsfeld's nominated successor, [[Robert Gates]], in December 2006.</ref> || 2001&mdash;
|-
| || '''[[Robert Gates]]''' ||not in office (Secretary-designate)
|-
|[[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Sec. of the Treasury]] || '''[[Paul O'Neill|Paul H. O'Neill]]''' || 2001&ndash;2003
|-
| || '''[[John W. Snow]]''' || 2003&ndash;2006
|-
| || '''[[Henry M. Paulson]]''' || 2006&mdash;
|-
|[[Attorney General of the United States|Attorney General]] || '''[[John Ashcroft|John D. Ashcroft]]''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Alberto R. Gonzales]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of the Interior|Sec. of the Interior]] || '''[[Gale Norton|Gale A. Norton]]''' || 2001&ndash;2006
|-
| || '''[[Dirk Kempthorne]]''' || 2006&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Agriculture|Sec. of Agriculture]] || '''[[Ann Veneman|Ann M. Veneman]]''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Mike Johanns|Michael O. Johanns]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Commerce|Sec. of Commerce]] || '''[[Donald Evans|Donald L. Evans]]''' ||2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Carlos Gutierrez|Carlos M. Gutierrez]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Labor|Sec. of Labor]] || '''[[Elaine Chao|Elaine L. Chao]]''' || 2001&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|Sec. of HHS]] || '''[[Tommy Thompson|Tommy G. Thompson]]''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Michael O. Leavitt]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development|Sec. of HUD]] || '''[[Mel Martinez|Melquiades R. Martinez]]''' || 2001&ndash;2003
|-
| || '''[[Alphonso Jackson|Alphonso R. Jackson]]''' || 2004&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Transportation|Sec. of Transportation]] || '''[[Norman Mineta|Norman Y. Mineta]]''' || 2001&ndash;2006
|-
|-
|| || '''[[Mary Peters (politician)|Mary Peters]]''' || 2006&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Energy|Sec. of Energy]] || '''[[Spencer Abraham|E. Spencer Abraham]]''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Samuel W. Bodman]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Education|Sec. of Education]] || '''[[Rod Paige|Roderick R. Paige]]''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Margaret Spellings]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Sec. of Veterans Affairs]] || '''[[Anthony Principi|Anthony J. Principi]]''' || 2001&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Jim Nicholson (U.S. politician)|R. James Nicholson]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|-
|[[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Sec. of Homeland Security]] || '''[[Tom Ridge|Thomas J. Ridge]]''' || 2003&ndash;2005
|-
| || '''[[Michael Chertoff]]''' || 2005&mdash;
|}

==Second term==
{{main|George W. Bush's second term as President of the United States}}
[[Image:Bush - 2nd inauguration.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Bush sworn into his second term on [[January 20]], [[2005]] by [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] [[William Rehnquist]], watched on by [[First Lady]] Laura Bush and their daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush, as well as Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]] and Speaker of the House [[Dennis Hastert]].]]
Bush was [[Inauguration Day|inaugurated]] for his second term on [[January 20]], [[2005]]. The [[oath of office]] was administered by [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] [[William Rehnquist]]. Bush's inaugural address centered mainly on a theme of spreading freedom and democracy around the world:

''We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world...The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it....From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring credit to that cause?''

For his second term, Bush assembled what is regarded as one of the most diverse U.S. cabinets in history, with the appointments of the first Hispanic American U.S. [[Attorney General]] and [[Commerce Secretary]], as well as making [[Condoleezza Rice]] the first [[African American]] woman to head the U.S. State Department. Bush retained Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whose dismissal had been demanded by many in the U.S. Congress. During a visit to the [[Georgia (country)|Republic of Georgia]] on [[May 10]], [[2005]], [[Vladimir Arutinian]] attempted to assassinate Bush. Arutinian threw a grenade which eventually landed in the large crowd some 18.6 meters (61 feet) from the podium where Bush was delivering a speech, but failed to detonate.

In August 2005, with his nomination of the controversial [[John R. Bolton|John Bolton]] as [[U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations]] filibustered by [[United States Senate|the Senate]], Bush took the rarely-used expedient of installing him via a [[recess appointment]]. [[Senate Minority Leader]] [[Harry Reid]] criticized this action as an abuse of Presidential power.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/01/AR2005080100436.html "Bush Names Bolton U.N. Ambassador in Recess Appointment"], ''The Washington Post''</ref>

In 2006, Bush replaced long-time chief of staff [[Andrew Card]] with [[Joshua Bolten]] and undertook major staff and cabinet changes with the stated intention of revitalizing his Administration.

In November 2006, Bush announced plans to replace Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] with former CIA Director [[Robert Gates]], in response to pressure from the midterm elections and military publications.

===Domestic policy===
[[Image:BushSOU06.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Bush in the U.S. Congress to deliver the [[2006 State of the Union Address]].]]
{{main|Domestic policy of the George W. Bush administration}}

President Bush began his second term by outlining a major initiative to reform Social Security, which was facing record deficit projections beginning in 2005. Bush made it the centerpiece of his agenda despite contrary beliefs in the media and in the U.S. Congress, which saw the program as the "[[Third rail (metaphor)|third rail of politics]]," with the American public being suspicious of any attempt to change it. It was also widely believed to be the province of the Democratic Party, with Republicans in the past having been accused of efforts to dismantle or privatize it. In his 2005 State of the Union Address, Bush discussed the allegedly impending bankruptcy of the program and attacked political inertia against reform. He proposed options to permit Americans to divert a portion of their Social Security tax (FICA) into secured investments, creating a "nest egg" that he claimed would enjoy steady growth. Despite emphasizing safeguards and remaining open to other plans, Bush's proposal was criticized for its high cost, and Democrats attacked it as an effort to partially privatize the system, and for leaving Americans open to the whims of the market. Bush embarked on a 60-day national tour, campaigning vigorously for his initiative in media events ("Conversations on Social Security") in a largely unsuccessful attempt to gain support from the general public.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28120-2005Mar11.html
| title = Social Security: On With the Show
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker
| date = [[2005-02-12]]
| publisher = The Washington Post
}}</ref> According to at least one poll, Bush failed to convince the public that the Social Security program was in crisis.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/2005-02-07-poll-results.htm#socsec
| title = USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll results
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| date = [[2005-05-20]]
| publisher = USA Today
}}</ref>

[[Image:BUSHWTCOVERVIEW.jpg|thumb|310px|left|President George W. Bush and [[Laura Bush]] look over the [[World Trade Center]] site during a visit to [[Ground Zero]] in [[New York City]] to mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.]]

In 2006, Bush somewhat shifted focus to re-emphasize immediate and comprehensive immigration reform. Going beyond calls from Republicans and conservatives to secure the border, Bush demanded that Congress create a "temporary guest-worker program" to allow more than 12 million [[illegal immigration|illegal immigrants]] to obtain legal status. Bush continues to argue that the lack of legal status denies the protections of U.S. laws to millions of people who face dangers of poverty and exploitation, and penalizes employers despite a demand for immigrant labor. On [[May 15]], [[2006]], Bush proposed expanding "Basic Pilot," an online system to allow employers to easily confirm the eligibility of new hires; creating a new identification card for all foreign workers; and increasing penalties for businesses that violate immigration laws. Bush urged Congress to provide additional funding for border security, and committed to deploying 6,000 [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] troops to the [[United States-Mexico border]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/29/bush.immigration/
| title = Bush takes tough talk on immigration to Texas
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = CNN
| date = [[2005-11-29]]
}}</ref>

On [[June 15]], [[2006]], Bush created the 75th, and largest, [[U.S. National Monument|National Monument]] in U.S. history and the largest [[Marine Protected Area]] in the world with the formation of the [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/06/20060615-6.html
| title = President Bush Establishes Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = White House Office of the Press Secretary
| date = [[2006-06-15]]
}}</ref>

On [[July 19]], [[2006]], Bush used the first [[veto]] of his presidency against the [[Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act]]. The [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]] would have granted federal funding to scientists engaging in [[stem cell research]] derived from discarded human [[embryos]], and would have overridden the president's policy of only allowing federal funding of research on 21 [[stem cell]] lines that existed prior to [[2001]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/19/washington/19cnd-stem.html
| title = In First Veto, Bush Blocks Stem Cell Bill
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| author = David Stout
| date = [[2006-07-19]]
| publisher = The New York Times
}}</ref>

In 2005-06, Bush emphasized the need for comprehensive energy reform and proposed increased funding for research and development of renewable sources of energy such as [[hydrogen power]], [[nuclear power]], [[Ethanol fuel|ethanol]] and [[clean coal|clean coal technologies]]. Bush proposed the [[American Competitiveness Initiative]] which seeks to support increasing competitiveness of the U.S. economy, with greater development of advanced technologies, as well as greater education and support for American students.

Bush appointed First Lady Laura Bush to oversee an initiative to improve opportunities and education for inner-city boys.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4492617
| title = Laura Bush: Putting Boys in the Spotlight
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| last = Norris
| first = Michele
| date = [[2005-02-09]]
| publisher = NPR
}}</ref>

On [[August 1]], [[2005]], in response to a question about teaching [[intelligent design]] in public schools, Bush seemed to endorse the [[intelligent design movement]]'s [[Teach the Controversy]] approach. He answered, "I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought."<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/050822ta_talk_hertzberg
| title = Mired
| accessdate = 2006-09-09
| last = Hertzberg
| first = Hendrik
| date = [[2005-08-15]]
| work = The New Yorker
}}</ref> The National Academy of Sciences and the established scientific community regard this stance as politically motivated. These groups point out that [[intelligent design]] is based on the religious concepts found in [[creationism]], and does not constitute valid science.

On [[August 17]], [[2006]] Bush signed the Pension Protection Act, which increased fines for companies that underpay money to [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], making such underpayments unprofitable.<ref>{{cite news
|author = Office of the Press Secretary
|url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060817-1.html
|title = President Bush Signs H.R. 4, the Pension Protection Act of 2006
|publisher = [[The White House]]
|date = [[2001-08-17]]
|accessdate = 2006-09-23
}}</ref>

That same day, a U.S. district court judge in [[Detroit]] ruled that warrantless and otherwise congressionally unauthorized eavesdropping on telephone calls under the Terrorist Surveillance Program were unconstitutional. The judge agreed to place her ruling on hold pending an appeal. A hearing was scheduled for [[September 28]]; the outcome was ???.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/01/AR2006090101410.html
| title = Judge Asked to Suspend Ruling Against Wiretaps
| accessdate = 2006-09-21
| date = [[2006-09-02]]
| work = The Washington Post
}}</ref>

On 28 August 2006 Congress approved a bill that made the detainee [[interrogation]] program legal.<ref name="detainee">{{cite web
| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-09-28-congress-terrorism_x.htm
| title = Bush's detainee interrogation and prosecution plan approved by Senate
| accessdate = 2006-09-29
| author = The Associated Press
| date = [[2005-09-28]]
| publisher = USA Today
}}</ref> The bill was in response to the Supreme Court's decision in June that the program is illegal.<ref name="detainee"/> It was the second time Bush tried to approve it through Congress.<ref name="detainee"/> Bush signed the bill into law on [[October 17]], [[2006]] as the [[Military Commissions Act of 2006]].

====Hurricane Katrina====
{{main|Political effects of Hurricane Katrina}}
One of the worst natural disasters in the nation’s history, [[Hurricane Katrina]], struck early in Bush’s second term. Katrina was the sixth-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the third-strongest landfalling U.S. hurricane on record. Katrina formed in late August during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and devastated much of the north-central [[Gulf Coast]] of the United States, particularly [[New Orleans]]<ref> Knabb, Richard D; Rhome, Jamie R.; Brown, Daniel P (December 20, 2005). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Katrina: 23-30 August 2005 (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-05-30.</ref>

President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi two days before the hurricane made landfall. After the hurricane reached ground, Bush mobilized the Coast Guard and National Guard to help rescue the approximately 60,000 people stranded in New Orleans.

Both local and federal governments were vehemently criticized for their response to Katrina, which was considered insufficient and disorganized. Criticisms of Bush focused on three main issues. First, leaders from both parties attacked the president for having appointed incompetent leaders to positions of power at [[FEMA]], the Federal Emergency Management Agency, most notably [[Michael D. Brown]].<ref>[http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0906Katrina-Brown-ON.html FEMA director Brown singled out by critics of federal response], [[Washington Post]], [[September 6]], [[2005]]</ref> Second, many people argued that the inadequacy of the federal response was the result of the [[Iraq War]] and the demands it placed on the armed forces and the federal budget.<ref name="ArmyTimesDeployment">{{cite web
| url = http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1066780.php
| title = Overseas deployments hinder Guard hurricane presence
| accessdate = 2005-09-29
| author = Pete Yost, AP
| date = [[2005-08-30]]
| publisher = ArmyTimes.com
}}</ref> Third, in the days immediately following the disaster, President Bush denied having received warnings about the possibility of floodwaters overflowing the levees protecting New Orleans.<ref>"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." George W. Bush to Diane Sawyer, ''Good Morning America'', Sept. 1, 2005.</ref> However, the presidential videoconference briefing of Aug. 28 shows [[Max Mayfield]] warning the President that it was "obviously a very, very grave concern."<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/katrinatranscript-0828.pdf Page 6, Transcript. Presidential Videoconference Briefing, Aug. 28, 2005.]</ref> Critics claimed that the President was misrepresenting his administration's role in what they saw as a flawed response.

===Foreign policy===
[[Image:BUSHBLAIR.jpg|330px|thumb|right|President George W. Bush traverses [[Cross Hall (White House)|Cross Hall]] in the [[White House]] with British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] to attend a press conference in the [[East Room]] in 2006 discussing the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon Conflict|Middle east Crisis between Israel and Lebanon]].]]
[[Image:Bush Fox Harper.jpg|250px|thumb|right|President George W. Bush, former President of Mexico, [[Vicente Fox]] and [[Canada]]'s Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] stand in front of the [[Chichen Itza]] archaeological ruins [[March 30]], [[2006]].]]
{{main|Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
Bush began his second term with an emphasis on improving strained relations with [[Europe]]an nations. He appointed long-time advisor [[Karen Hughes]] to oversee a global public relations campaign to improve the image of the U.S. and significantly increased development aid to countries with a focus on encouraging democracy and [[human rights]]. Bush strongly lauded the pro-democracy struggles in [[Republic of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[Ukraine]] and the election of [[Mahmoud Abbas]] as president of the [[Palestinian Authority]]. He led international pressure against [[Syria]] to withdraw troops from [[Lebanon]]. In March 2006, Bush visited India, leading to renewed ties between the two countries, particularly in areas of nuclear energy and counterterrorism cooperation.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060302-5.html
| title = U.S.-India Joint Statement
| accessdate = 2006-09-28
}}</ref>
Bilateral relations between the U.S.A. on the one hand and Germany and Canada on the other also improved following the election of conservative governments in those countries. However, midway through Bush's second term, many analysts observed a retreat from his freedom and democracy agenda, highlighted in policy changes toward some oil-rich former Soviet republics in central Asia.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042301017.html
| title = Retreat From the Freedom Agenda
| accessdate = 2006-09-14
| last = Diehl
| first = Jackson
| date = [[2005-04-24]]
| work = Washington Post
}}</ref>

[[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] of [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Ilham Aliyev]] of [[Azerbaijan]], both undemocratically elected and fiercely [[autocratic]], received official state visits to the White House,<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060428.html
| title = President Bush Welcomes President Aliyev of Azerbaijan to the White House
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = [[2005-04-28]]
| work = Transcript from The Oval Office
| publisher = Office of the Press Secretary
}}</ref> along with increased economic and military assistance.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042301017.html
| title = Retreat From the Freedom Agenda
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = [[2006-04-24]]
| publisher = The Washington Post
}}</ref> The President had encouraged both leaders to hold free and fair elections early on in his second term, but in fact neither leader carried out significant reforms.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/27/world/main1075785.shtml
| title = Azerbaijan Protests Face Crackdown
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = [[2005-11-27]]
| publisher = CBS News
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/08/235340A7-FE24-4C1F-97E5-CEC841B6A0CD.html
| title = Supporters Of Slain Kazakh Oppositionist Open Probe
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = [[2006-08-29]]
| publisher = Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.perspicacityonline.com/Articles/2005/01/Kuzbekistan050118.htm
| title = Setback for Democracy in Kazakhstan
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| date = [[2005-01-12]]
| publisher = Perspicacity Press Online
}}</ref> The democratic election of the Hamas organization in the parliamentary elections of the [[Palestinian Territories]], along with democratic gains in legislatures for the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] in [[Egypt]] and [[Hezbollah]] in [[Lebanon]], all of whom are seen as terrorist organizations by the United States, also contributed to a far less aggressive approach to democratic reform world-wide from the Bush administration. Reports in late 2006 suggested that pro-democracy groups across the [[Middle East]] had become "pessimistic about the prospects for meaningful reform."<ref>{{cite web
| url =
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-10-12T173325Z_01_N12321486_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-DEMOCRACY.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C2-TopNews-newsOne-5
| title = U.S. seen retreating from democracy push
| accessdate = 2006-10-12
| last = Morgan
| first = David
| date = 2006-10-12
| work = Reuters
}}</ref>

Iraqi elections and a referendum to approve a constitution were held in January and December 2005. Initial media reports of high voter turnout were overestimateda<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO501F.html
| title = Iraqi Elections: Media Disinformation on Voter Turnout?
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| last = Chossudovsky
| first = Michel
| date = [[2005-01-31]]
| work = Centre for Research on Globalisation
}}</ref>, and were later estimated at less than 50%.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.markdanner.com/nyreview/042805_Iraq_election.htm
| title = Iraq: The Real Election
| accessdate = 2006-10-23
| last = Danner
| first = Mark
| date = [[2005-04-28]]
| work = The New York Review
}}</ref> Since then, the fighting in Iraq escalated, and the country appeared to be on the brink of, if not already engaged in, civil war. Bush's leadership against global terrorism and in the war in Iraq met increasing criticism, with increasing demands within the United States to set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. Sectarian violence and political deadlock in Iraq, and the deaths of more than 2,700 U.S. soldiers, increased negative impressions of Bush's leadership and the situation in Iraq. Allegations of abuse by U.S. troops accompanied calls from European and Asian leaders to shut down detention centers in [[Guantanamo Bay detainment camp|Guantanamo Bay]] and elsewhere. Bush firmly defended his policies and progress in Iraq. He paid a surprise visit to Iraq following the death of terrorist leader [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] and the appointment of a new government.

====North Korea====

{{main|United States-North Korea relations}}

North Korea's October 9, 2006 [[2006 North Korean nuclear test|detonation]] of a nuclear device further complicated President Bush's foreign policy, which centered for both terms of his presidency on "[preventing] the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html 2002 State of the Union Address]</ref> The reported test, which according to the [[IAEA]] Director General "creates serious security challenges not only for the East Asian region but also for the international community,"<ref>[http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2006/prn200617.html Statement by IAEA Director General]</ref> intensified criticisms that the President took neither military nor diplomatic measures to oppose North Korea's acquisition of [[Weapons of mass destruction|WMD]]. These criticisms date back at least to the 2003 resignation of Special Envoy to North Korea Charles Pritchard, who claimed that "the Bush administration's refusal to engage directly with the country made it almost impossible to stop Pyongyang from going ahead with its plans to build, test and deploy nuclear weapons."<ref>Qtd. in Efron, Sonni. "Ex-Envoy Faults U.S. on N. Korea." ''Los Angeles Times'' Sept. 10, 2003.</ref> On October 11, 2006, in his first extended press conference since the North Korean announcement of a nuclear detonation, President Bush contested the more specific criticism that his endorsement since the test of a policy of attempting "all diplomatic measures before we commit our military" in North Korea is an abandonment of his policy of military force in response to the potential threat of WMD-possession in Iraq. Posing to himself the pre-emptive, follow-up question, "why did you use military action in Iraq," President Bush responded, "And the reason why is because we tried the diplomacy."<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061011-5.html]</ref> President Bush condemned North Korea's claim, reaffirmed his commitment to "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula," and stated that "transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States," for which North Korea would be held accountable.<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061009.html President's Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test]</ref>

==Legislation and programs==
{{main|George W. Bush legislation and programs}}

==References==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
{{reflist|2}}

==See also==
*[[List of Presidents of the United States]]
*[[Fictionalized portrayals of George W. Bush]]
{{GWB}}

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks|George W. Bush}}
*[http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/gwbbio.html Official White House biography]
*[http://www.gop.com/About/Bio.aspx?id=1 Republican National Committee biography]

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{{succession box| before=[[Bob Dole]]| title=[[List of United States Republican Party presidential tickets|Republican Party presidential nominee]]| years=2000 (won), 2004 (won)| after=N/A: Most recent| }}
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title=[[President of the United States|President of the United States of America]]|
start=[[January 20]], [[2001]]|
before=[[Bill Clinton]]|
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{{succession box | before = [[Jacques Chirac]] | title = [[G8|Chair of the G8]] | years = 2004 | after = [[Tony Blair]]}}
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{{USRepPresNominees}}

{{War on Terrorism}}
</div>

{{Persondata
|NAME=Bush, George Walker
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bush, George, Jr.; Bush Jr.
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=43rd [[President of the United States]]
|DATE OF BIRTH=[[July 6]], [[1946]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]], Connecticut
}}

[[Category:George W. Bush| ]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Republican Party (United States) presidential nominees|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Current national leaders|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Governors of Texas|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Neoconservatives|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:American conservatives|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:History of the United States (1988–present)|Bush, George W]]
[[Category:Intelligent design advocates|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Bush family|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Children of Presidents of the United States|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Yale University alumni|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:American Methodists|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Methodist politicians|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Bonesmen|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Rotary Club members|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:American teetotalers|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Americans with Huguenot ancestry|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Time magazine Persons of the Year|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:People from New Haven, Connecticut|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:People from Texas|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:People from Midland, Texas|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Long-distance runners|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:1946 births|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Living people|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:Texas Republicans|Bush, George W.]]
[[Category:United States National Guard officers|Bush, George W.]]

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Revision as of 03:00, 2 December 2006

lol he's dumb

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