Bush addressed the world in his farewell address Thursday night. Addressing many things which he had encountered during his Presidency - in what was one of the more holistic of the President’s speeches - of course covering the effect of 9/11 both on the nation and on himself. A spirited defense of his time in office was expected and he delivered.

He argued that we must remember how, “Good and Evil are present in this world and there will always be conflict between them,” and that Americans must, “never let down [their] guard.”

Bush upheld the belief that America must continue the, “expansion of liberty abroad,” and that despite the world entering into an uncertain economic period, saying that America “must reject isolationism and its companion protectionism.” Going on to say that, America would, “never tire, never falter and never fail [due to] the resilience of America’s free enterprise system.”

Of course in all of this, Mr. Bush was sure to assert that, “I followed my conscience and did what I thought was right,” and reminded America on its transition into a new Presidential term, “we must never let down our guard.”

These last words were wise ones considering that Mr. Obama’s administration will be continuing the global war on terror which Mr. Bush’s administration began, a war which has seen a massive increase in terrorist activity worldwide and a collapse in respect for America abroad.

President-elect Obama’s takes office on the official inauguration day: January 20th, 2009.

The entire speech is available online on the White House’s official website.

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