The New Strategy For Winning Olympic Medals

Bush Says Would Be Mistake To Pull Out Olympic Team

"Needs Time To Grow; Better To Win Medals Over There, Then Win Them Here";

President George Bush used his weekly radio address on Saturday to say that he will not pull the U.S. Olympic Team out of Torrino, Italy, announcing "The New Strategy For Winning Olympic Medals" initiative.

"We'd be sending the wrong signal," said the President. "It is better to win the medals over there, then winning them here … They need time to grow … Those brave Olympians have many chances, but their competition can be right only once."

"Our men and women in uniform are making sacrifices and showing a sense of duty stronger than all fear. We are grateful to all who volunteer to wear our Olympics uniform. And so we move forward optimistic about our country, faithful to its cause and confident of the victories to come.

Paid Journalists Probed

Source tell The Garlic that this may be an attempt by the White House, to get out in front of stories that may break soon, being that the Bush Administration paid journalists, as well as planting items in other media outlets, to write pro-U.S. Olympic Team articles and editorials.

There is growing reports and speculation that the Bush Administration has been running a "No U.S. Olympic Athlete Left Behind" program, paying conservative journalist and television commentator Armstrong Williams, Time Magazine's Matthew Cooper and former New York Times reporter Judith Miller hundreds-of-thousands of dollars to write, report and talk about pro-American Olympic efforts.

The President briefly touched on this, criticizing "those that would give aid and comfort to our competition."

"Members of Congress, and the media, feel about the decisions and debates of the past, that our nation has only one option: We must keep our word, defeat our competition and stand behind the American Olympic Team in its vital mission. There is no honor in retreat."

"As we look at these challenges, we must never give in to the belief that the American Olympic Team is in decline or that our competitiveness is doomed to unravel."

Washington Post reporter and author Bob Woodward is reported to be on the list of paid journalists, however, it's not clear when he intends to file his stories.

"We're in these games for the long haul," added the President. "Fellow citizens, we are in these games to win, and we are winning. The road of victory is the road that will take our Olympians home."

The International Olympic Committee was stunned by the announcement, and expressed concern on the impact of the 2010 Games.

"This is nearly unprecedented," said an Olympics spokesperson. "We've had Games with strong competition, throughout our history. To see a country aggressively, and proactively, declare a campaign for Gold Medals, and take unprovoked actions towards that goal, we haven't seen that since the 1936 Games, in Berlin. This could severely impact our 2010 Games."

Coalition Building and New Contracts Awarded

There was a flurry of action on Capital Hill following the President's announcement.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a mission to build a coalition of countries to join the United States in "The New Strategy For Winning Olympic Medals" initiative, Early reports indicate that Great Britain and the tiny nation of Qatar are said to be on-board, with the French and Germans possibly adding some logistically support.

A $400-Million bill was quickly ushered through Congress and awarded to Halliburton, for the reconstruction of the Olympic Village in Torrino.

"Our work in the Olympics is difficult, because our competition is brutal, " said the President in his radio address.

"Viewing videotape alone is not wisdom. And waiting for the 2010 Games is not a strategy. Keeping America competitive requires us to open more Games. And to keep America competitive, one commitment is necessary above all: We must continue to lead the world in human talent. Our greatest advantage in the world has always been our educated, hardworking, ambitious people, and we are going to keep that edge."

Rumsfield Says We Have Enough Athletes; No Games For Cheney

Despite criticism, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield said that "we have more than enough athletes on the ground over there" and has no intentions of sending in more competitors.

"Goodness gracious, no," said the Secretary, to questions about adding more support. "These athletes are game-hardened and more than capable of doing the job."

The White House quickly denied reports that Vice President Dick Cheney was going to be added to the Biathlon team, wryly saying that "we know he can shoot, we're just not sure how well he can ski."















Following the announcement on his weekly radio address, saying that he will not pull out of Torrino, Italy the U.S. Olympic Team, President Bush, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke about "The New Strategy For Winning Olympic Medals" initiative