Several thousand people gathered on a pier in Charleston, South Carolina today for a visit from President Bush. It was a cold and windy day, but he got a very warm greeting from the crowd, including about 400 republicans from Horry County.

The President began his speech talking about the economy, saying it was doing well and improving every day because of tax relief.

But the highlight of his speech was his defense of the decision to go to war with Iraq. President Bush said they have not yet found the stockpiles of weapons they thought were there, but they have found the technology and infrastructure needed to produce weapons of mass destruction. Bush said he knows Iraq was going to make the weapons, because Saddam Hussein kept everything hidden.

President Bush also said September 11th was a lesson to the United States...that we cannot wait to confront the threats of the world until they arrive in our cities. He said "I will not stand by and hope for the best while dangers gather...I will not take risks with the lives of the American people."

The President said he'll protect and defend the country...by taking the fight to the enemy.

 The Bush 2005 budget proposal calls for increased spending for Homeland Security.