President George W. Bush has likened the war on global terrorism that he initiated to the war fought by the first American president and his namesake George Washington to promote freedom worldwide. He made this comparison while honoring the 275th birthday of Washington whom Bush called ?the father of our country? in Mount Vernon in time for the national Presidents Day holiday on Monday, February 19, 2007. Bush said ?Today, we're fighting a new war to defend our liberty and our people and our way of life. We remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we gained in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone.?



The current president also praised the way General Washington fought his battles and triumphed in the end despite the odds. ?The ragged Continental Army lost more battles than it won, suffered waves of desertions?yet George Washington's calm hand and determination kept the cause of freedom and the principles of our Declaration alive,? Bush said before hundreds of people.

George Washington was instrumental in gaining America's freedom from Britain, initially as a soldier and eventually as the first leader of the United States. Bush described him as a ?firm believer in the universality of freedom throughout his life.? Unfortunately, Washington did the unexpected after winning the war ? he gave up his power.

As the first president of the United States of America, Bush said, Washington ?understood his decisions would shape the future of our nation and set precedent. ? Among his accomplishments included forming the first Cabinet, appointing the first judges and issuing the first veto. George W. Bush believes that America has always been successful owing to the fact that ?we have maintained the decency and honor of our first president.?

Bush made his speech after laying a wreath before Washington's tomb together with the first lady. It was Bush's first visit as president to Mount Vernon, situated 16 miles from the White House. General George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 and died on December 14, 1799 in his home. As he requested in his last will, he was buried on his Mount Vernon estate situated along the Potomac River. The estate is now a tourist attraction and accommodates millions of visitors each year.

With his strong will to defend America from terrorists, Bush shows the same determination as that of Washington when the first president fought his battles. Since the September 11 attacks in 2001, he had been a die-hard anti-terror advocate just to make sure that America and the rest of the world will be protected from criminal elements sowing terror everywhere. He has gained the support of many countries and people from around the world as well. It's true that the 9/11 tragedy was a big blow to his administration but Bush, being the fighter that he is, rose to the challenge and rallied Americans to recover and show to the world what a united people they are. More than five years after the terroristic attacks, Bush has learned not to overreact and has let his intelligence officials do their jobs. And as Bush himself looks up to his country's first president, he himself is optimistic that America will win the war it is fighting today ? that on terrorism.