President Bush Signs $401 Billion Defense Bill

By DEB RIECHMANN

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush signed a $401.3 billion defense authorization bill Monday, saying members of the U.S. armed forces are facing “a great and historic task” in confronting and defeating the forces of terrorism.

“The stakes for our country could not be higher,” the president said at a Pentagon ceremony. “We face enemies that measure their progress by the chaos they inflict, the fear they spread and the innocent lives they destroy.”

“America’s military is standing between our country and grave danger,” he proclaimed.

Bush spoke before leaving town for a holiday week at his ranch.

On the way to Texas, Bush was stopping in Colorado at Fort Carson, home to four of the 16 soldiers killed Nov. 2 when a helicopter was shot down in the dangerous Sunni Triangle near Fallujah, Iraq.

Fort Carson has sent 12,000 troops to Iraq, its largest deployment since World War II.

“We’re standing for order and hope and democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq,” the president said.

“We’re standing up for the for security of all free nations and for the advance of freedom. The American people and your commander in chief are grateful,” he said, “and we will support you in all your central missions.”

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