The Republican National Convention’s shortened schedule, due to Hurricane Gustav earlier in the week, forced the cancellation of a speech Wednesday night by U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.

In a statement, Pence said, “While I am disappointed that I will not be given an opportunity to address the Republican National Convention, I was honored to have been asked to speak, and I wholeheartedly supported the decision to cancel convention activities as Hurricane Gustav advanced to the Gulf Coast.

“Despite the fact that those schedule changes necessitated my removal from the program, I believe that convention officials made the right decision in putting the interests of the country ahead of the interests of our party.

“As Hoosiers learned firsthand this summer, when devastating weather approaches, we must place the focus on our neighbors and I am proud the Republican Convention did just that.”

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Speech excerpts

Pence was scheduled to speak at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday, about three hours before the keynote speech by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is Sen. John McCain’s choice for vice president.

A spokesman for Pence’s office released a copy of the speech as it had been prepared for delivery to convention delegates. Excerpts follow:

“Tonight we speak of prosperity, but, as every American learned on that terrible day in September 2001, there can be no prosperity without security. Tonight, I want to tell you how I believe we can achieve security and prosperity.

“Let me tell you about my friend, Sen. John McCain.  

“I believe John McCain’s background and life experience make him just the right man to lead our nation to a future of security and prosperity in the 21st century.

“On security: our friends and enemies know John McCain will protect this nation.

“This became clear when I traveled with John McCain to Iraq in the spring of 2007. We took a meeting with a Sunni Sheik, Abdul Satter Abu Risha, the courageous founder of the Anbar Awakening Movement, a movement that helped transform that province and all of Iraq from hostility toward U.S. forces to the extraordinary cooperation that set the stage for the historic handover of Anbar Province to the Iraqi military that took place this week.

“I’ll never forget that meeting.

“As we entered the room, the sheik greeted us one by one. He lowered his head, took my hand, and said through his interpreter, ‘It is an honor to meet you.’