Bush lists veterans, security successes

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- The United States has provided greater support for veterans and modernized military tactics for the war on terror, U.S. President George Bush said Wednesday.

"When the history of the last eight years is written, it will show how closely and effectively my administration and the (Veterans of Foreign Wars) have worked together on behalf of America's veterans," Bush said in remarks prepared for delivery to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Orlando, Fla.

He said his budget includes nearly $94 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly double the funding the department received when he took office.

Bush also pointed to the new GI Bill he signed this year.

"This legislation will expand education benefits for our nation's veterans," he said, and make it easier to transfer the benefits to spouses and children.

Concerning transforming the U.S. military to fight the war on terror, Bush said Special Operations funding has more than doubled "so our forces can hunt down terrorists where they hide."

In addition, "We are increasing the size of our ground forces and making our troops more lethal and more agile," Bush said.

Bush also touched on creating a more integrated intelligence community. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counter-terrorism Center were created and the nation's intelligence-gathering community overhauled, among other things.

"Our intelligence and law enforcement professionals have worked with our allies to stop major al-Qaida attacks," he said.