WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Three key figures in the War on Terror were praised Tuesday for their service to the nation and were awarded the Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.
Singled out for "exceptional merit, integrity and achievement" were retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks, who led the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq invasion; former CIA Director George Tenet; and Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, the man who led initial post-war reconstruction efforts in Iraq and helped pass political authority back to Iraqis themselves.
"These three men symbolize the nobility of public service, the good character of our country and the good influence of America on the world," Bush said during a White House ceremony.
The three, he said, were men who had "played pivotal roles in great events and whose efforts have made our country more secure and advanced the cause of human liberty."
In presenting the awards, Bush made no mention of continuing instability in Iraq or glaring CIA intelligence failures concerning alleged Iraqi WMD stockpiles that were never found following the ouster of Saddam Hussein.
