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June 28, 2007

President, aboard Air Force One, bids RI good-bye

NORTH KINGSTOWN -- President Bush has left Rhode Island.

Air Force One took off from Quonset Point around 3:30 p.m. after the president shook the hands, and signed hats for, some of the 100 or so Air and Army National Guard personnel gathered at Quonset, where the president landed about 10:30 this morning.

Mr. Bush spent the day in Newport, addressing about 500 or so people at the Naval War College, where the Naval Command College is celebrating its 50th reunion.

The president defended his Iraq, Middle East and foreign policies in a speech before a supportive audience at the college.

Chanting "What do we want? The troops out," about 200 protesters -- other estimates put it at 100 and 150 -- walked to the intersection with Third Street, but could not go any farther, as they were met by the police and told not to block the street.

The president apparently never saw the protestors. They had wanted to leave a list of demands, including immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, but indicated they would have to mail the list.

Inside the college, Bush was embraced by a much more welcoming group, getting three standing ovations.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 3:38 PM | Permalink

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JW | June 28, 2007 7:39 PM link

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