RIO RANCHO, N.M., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush Friday spread the gospel of freedom as he argued against allowing the United States to withdraw from the world stage.
At a conference on competitiveness at Intel headquarters in Rio Rancho, N.M., the president acknowledged competition from China and India, and job turnover at home has made Americans nervous, prompting some to look toward isolationism as an answer.
"I strongly reject that notion ..." Bush said.
"If we were to withdraw from the world it would be a missed opportunity to lay the foundation of peace for generations to come by spreading liberty and freedom."
Repeating themes from his State of the Union address, Bush said the U.S. economy must be flexible, and the government must insist that other countries open their markets to U.S. products the way U.S. markets are open to theirs.
Bush said education is the key to keeping America on top but admitted junior high school education is lagging and called on Congress to shore up supplemental services funding. He also repeated his call for 30,000 math and science professionals to come into high school classrooms as adjunct professors to teach advanced placement courses.
