much. the speaker pro tempore: members -- the speaker: members of congress, i have the privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you, the president of the united states. the president: thank you. thank you. thank you so much. thank you very much. thank you. please be seated. mr. speaker, mr. vice president, members of congress, distinguished guests, and fellow americans, last month i went to andrews air force base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in iraq. together we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought. and several thousand gave their lives. we gather tonight, knowing that this generation of heroes has made the united states safer and more respected around the world. for the first time in nine years, there are no americans fighting in iraq. for the first time in two decades, osama bin laden is not a threat to this country. most of al qaeda's top lieutenants have been defeated. the taliban's...

much. the speaker pro tempore: members -- the speaker: members of congress, i have the privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you, the president of the united states. the president: thank you. thank you. thank you so much. thank you very much. thank you. please be seated. mr. speaker, mr. vice president, members of congress, distinguished guests, and fellow americans, last month i went to andrews air force base and welcomed home some of our