BUSH, CHENEY VISIT PENTAGON

Left to right, Vice President Dick Cheney, President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates meet with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, right, and the Joint Chiefs at the Pentagon, Aug. 31, 2007. Defense Department photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

GREETING THE CHIEFS

Adm. Mike Mullen, center, chief of Naval Operations, looks on as President Bush greets Marine Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, at the Pentagon on Aug. 31, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

GREETING THE TROOPS

President Bush greets servicemembers at the Pentagon on Aug. 31, 2007. The president met with top leaders to discuss their commitment to providing troops with all they need “to meet the challenges of this new century,” Bush said following the meeting. Defense Department photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

ON THE STEPS

With President Bush in the lead, and followed by Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks to Vice President Richard Cheney as they depart the Pentagon on Aug. 31, 2007. Defense Department photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

THE ARRIVAL

Marine Gen. Peter Pace, left, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, await the arrival of President Bush and Vice President Cheney as their limousine arrives at the Pentagon, Aug. 31, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

SALUTING THE CHAIRMAN

President Bush salutes Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following a meeting at the Pentagon on Aug. 31, 3007. Bush said he met with top leaders at the Pentagon to discuss their commitment to providing servicemembers with "all they need to meet the challenges of this new century. Defense Department photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

THE MEETING

From left to right: Vice President Cheney, President Bush, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael G. Mullen. Defense Department photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

FLIGHT FORMATION

Several F-15 Eagle aircraft and an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft take flight after a refueling on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 28, 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald