AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of
remarks by President Bush on the War on Terror:
Thank you for the warm welcome. Laura and I were in the neighborhood ...
so we thought we would drop in on our Nation's "Arctic Warriors." We are
proud to stand with the courageous airmen of Elmendorf Air Force Base ... the
soldiers of Fort Richardson ... the men and women of the Alaskan Command ...
and all those who wear the uniform in this great state. Thanks for coming out
to say hello.
It is great to be back in Alaska. This is a homecoming for me -- I
believe that I am the only President to have ever lived in Alaska. I worked
in Fairbanks in the summer of 1974. This is a vast and beautiful state -- the
mountains, sea, and sky are a great reminder of America's boundless frontiers
and limitless potential. And here at Elmendorf Air Force Base, you are
defending our Nation's frontiers -- and securing freedom for future
generations of Americans. Servicemen and women have departed this base to
help liberate Iraq and Afghanistan ... assist tsunami victims in Indonesia ...
and help those hit by the recent earthquake in Pakistan. Your courage and
commitment are saving lives each day. And I have come to Alaska to tell you:
The American people are grateful for your service -- and so is your Commander
in Chief.
I also want to thank all the military families here today. I know that
for many of you Alaska is a long way from home -- and it can get especially
lonely when your loved ones are deployed on dangerous missions in distant
lands. You have built a strong and close-knit community here. You support
each other -- and you support your loved ones who stand in harm's way. I am
proud of our men and women in the Armed Forces -- and I am grateful to the
military families who stand behind them.
In the 20th century, the men and women of Elmendorf Air Force Base and
Fort Richardson stood guard on the frontlines of freedom -- serving in the
shadow of the Soviet Union. From here, you gave our Nation "Top Cover" --
standing ready to defend America at a moment's notice. And because of the
courage of men and women like those who served here, the cause of liberty
prevailed in the Cold War -- and millions who once lived in chains now live in
freedom.
On September 11th, 2001, history called on our Nation to defend freedom
once again. On that morning more than four years ago, Americans witnessed the
violence and hate of a new enemy. We saw the terrorists' destructive vision
for us and for all who love freedom. And in the face of this threat, our
Nation has made a clear choice: We will confront this mortal danger. We will
stay on the offensive. We will not wait to be attacked again. We will press
on until this war is won.
You are helping to carry out this vital mission. Since September 11th,
2001, thousands of men and women from Elmendorf, Fort Richardson, U.S. Army
Alaska, and the Alaska National Guard have served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and
other fronts in the war on terror. The 517th Airlift Squadron has served for
over a year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Crews from the 68th
Medical Company have saved the lives of our injured and wounded in
Afghanistan. The 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team is taking the fight to the
enemy with Task Force Freedom in Mosul. Soldiers of the 95th Chemical Company
are in Kuwait dealing with port de-contamination and hazardous material
operations. And the Fourth Battalion of the 123rd Aviation Regiment has been
flying support missions throughout Iraq and Kuwait. From the deserts of Iraq
to the mountains of Afghanistan, America's Arctic Warriors are leaving their
mark -- and a legacy of freedom.
Each of you is a volunteer. You stepped forward and took an oath to
defend America. And every day you put on your uniforms, you reflect our
Nation's highest values and our greatest hopes. Through your hard work and
dedication to duty, you are sacrificing to build a better and safer world for
all Americans. And as you defend our freedom, the American people stand
behind you.
Every man and woman who volunteers to defend our Nation deserves an
unwavering commitment to the mission -- and a clear strategy for victory. And
a clear strategy begins with a clear understanding of the enemy we face. For
more than four years, we have seen the brutal nature of the terrorists. They
have targeted the innocent in a host of countries from almost every walk of
life. In Casablanca, they killed diners enjoying their evening meal. In
Bali, they killed tourists on holiday. In Beslan, they killed Russian school
children. They have murdered workers in Riyadh ... commuters in Madrid ...
hotel guests in Jakarta ... guests at a wedding celebration in Amman ... and
Iraqi children in Baghdad.
The tragic images of innocent victims can make it seem like these
terrorist attacks are random, isolated acts of madness. While these killers
choose their victims indiscriminately, their attacks flow from an ideology and
a terrifying vision for the world. Their acts are evil, but they are not
insane.
Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant Jihadism; still
others, Islamo-fascism. Whatever we choose to call this enemy, we must
recognize that this ideology is very different from the tenets of the great
religion of Islam. This form of radicalism exploits Islam to serve a violent,
political vision: the establishment -- by terrorism, subversion, and
insurgency -- of a totalitarian empire that denies all political and religious
freedom.
We know the vision of the radicals because they have openly stated it --
in videos, audiotapes, letters, declarations, and websites.
These extremists want to end American and Western influence in the broader
Middle East, because we stand for democracy and peace and stand in the way of
their ambitions. The tactics of al-Qaida and other Islamic extremists have
been consistent for a quarter-century: They hit us, and expect us to run. The
terrorists witnessed our response after the attacks on American troops in
Beirut in 1983 and Mogadishu in 1993, and they concluded that America can be
made to run again -- only this time on a larger scale, with greater
consequences. The terrorists are mistaken. America will never run. We will
stand ... we will fight ... and we will win the war on terror.
The terrorists want to use the vacuum that would be created by an American
retreat to gain control of a country -- to build a base from which to launch
attacks and conduct their war against non-radical Muslim governments. Over
the past few decades, radicals have specifically targeted Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan, and Jordan for potential takeover. And for a time, they achieved
their goal in Afghanistan -- until they came face to face with the men and
women of our Armed Forces.
In Afghanistan, we put the terrorists on the run -- and now they have set
their sights on another country. They are trying to turn Iraq into what
Afghanistan was under the Taliban -- a terrorist sanctuary from which they can
plan and launch attacks against our people. The terrorists regard Iraq as the
central front in their war against humanity. And we must recognize Iraq as
the central front in our war on terror.
These militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim
masses, enabling them to overthrow moderate governments in the region -- and
establish a radical Islamic empire that reaches from Spain to Indonesia. If
they are not stopped, the terrorists will be able to advance their agenda: to
develop weapons of mass destruction ... to destroy Israel ... to intimidate
Europe ... to break our will and blackmail our government into isolation. I
make you a solemn commitment: This will not happen on my watch.
Some might be tempted to dismiss the terrorist goals as fanatical or
extreme. They are fanatical and extreme -- but we cannot afford to dismiss
them. Evil men, obsessed with ambition and unburdened by conscience, must be
taken very seriously. Against such an enemy, there is only one effective
response: We will never back down, never give in, and never accept anything
less than complete victory.
We did not ask for this global struggle, but we are answering history's
call with confidence -- and with a comprehensive strategy to win the war on
terror:
First, we are determined to prevent attacks by terrorist networks -- by
protecting the homeland, and working with our allies to destroy the terrorist
networks and incapacitate their leaders. Together with our coalition
partners, we have disrupted a number of serious al-Qaida terrorist plots since
September 11th -- including several al-Qaida plots to attack inside the United
States. Our coalition against terror has killed or captured nearly all those
directly responsible for the September 11th attacks ... several of bin Laden's
most senior deputies ... and al-Qaida managers and operatives in numerous
countries. And we will stay on the hunt. We will not relent until the terror
networks that threaten us are exposed and broken -- and their leaders held to
account for their acts of murder.
Second, we are determined to deny weapons of mass destruction to outlaw
regimes, and to their terrorist allies who would use them without hesitation.
Working with Great Britain, Pakistan, and other nations, we exposed and
disrupted a major black-market operation in nuclear technology led by A.Q.
Khan. Libya has abandoned its chemical and nuclear weapons programs -- as
well as its long-range ballistic missiles. And in the last year, America and
our partners in the Proliferation Security Initiative have stopped more than a
dozen shipments of suspect weapons technology -- including equipment for
Iran's ballistic missile program. And so long as I am your President, we will
continue to deny the world's most dangerous men the world's most dangerous
weapons.
Third, we are determined to deny radical groups the support and sanctuary
of outlaw regimes. So I have laid out a clear doctrine: The United States
makes no distinction between those who commit acts of terror and those who
support and harbor the terrorists -- because they are equally guilty of
murder. Any government that chooses to be an ally of terror has also chosen
to be an enemy of civilization -- and the civilized world will hold those
regimes to account.
Fourth, we are determined to deny the militants control of any nation,
which they would use as a home base and launching pad for terror. This
mission has brought new and urgent responsibilities to all of you who wear the
uniform. American troops are fighting beside our Afghan partners against
remnants of the Taliban and their al-Qaida allies. And you are fighting
alongside courageous Iraqis against the remnants of a regime and a network of
terrorists who want to stop the advance of a free Iraq. Our goal is to defeat
the terrorists and their allies at the heart of their power -- and so we will
defeat the enemy in Iraq.
As we pursue the terrorists, our military is helping to train Iraqi
security forces so that they can defend their people and take the fight to the
enemy. We are making steady progress. With every passing month, more and
more Iraqi forces are standing up, and the Iraqi military is gaining new
capabilities and new confidence. At the time of our Fallujah operations a
year ago, there were only a few Iraqi army battalions in combat. Today, there
are nearly 90 Iraqi army battalions fighting the terrorists alongside our
forces. American and Iraqi troops have conducted several major assaults to
clear out enemy fighters in Baghdadand other parts of Iraq. Iraqi police and
security forces are helping clear the terrorists from their strongholds ...
hold onto areas we have cleared ... and prevent the enemy from returning. Our
strategy can be summed up this way: As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand
down. And when our commanders on the ground tell me that the Iraqi forces can
defend their freedom, our troops will come home with the honor they have
earned.
Iraqis are also making inspiring progress toward building a democracy. A
month ago, millions of Iraqis turned out to vote for a constitution that
guarantees fundamental freedoms and lays a foundation for lasting democracy.
In a few weeks, Iraqis will vote again -- to choose a fully constitutional
government to lead them for the next four years. With their votes, the Iraqi
people are proving their determination to build a future founded on democracy
and hope -- and we will help them succeed.
The fifth element of our strategy in the war on terror is to deny the
militants future recruits -- by replacing hatred and resentment with democracy
and hope across the broader Middle East. If the Middle East is left to grow
in bitterness ... if countries remain in misery, while radicals stir the
resentments of millions ... then that part of the world will be a source of
endless conflict and mounting danger. If the peoples of that region are
permitted to choose their own destiny ... and advance by their own energy and
participation as free men and women ... then the extremists will be
marginalized -- and the flow of violent radicalism to the rest of the world
will slow, and eventually end. History has proven that free nations are
peaceful nations, and that democracies do not fight their neighbors. By
advancing the hope of freedom and democracy for others, we will make our own
freedom more secure.
The work ahead involves great risk. A time of war is a time of sacrifice
-- and the greatest burden falls on our military families. We have lost some
of our Nation's finest men and women in the war on terror. Each of these men
and women left grieving families and loved ones back home. Each loss of life
is heartbreaking. The best way to honor the sacrifices of our fallen troops
is to complete the mission and lay the foundation of peace for our children
and our grandchildren.
The outcome of this war will affect every American. That makes it a
subject of vital debate -- and it is important to be clear about the facts.
When our Nation was attacked on September 11, leaders of both parties
recognized a new reality -- if we wait for threats to fully materialize, we
will have waited too long. We had to take a hard look at every threat to
America -- and when we did, one stood apart -- ... Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
Under Saddam's dictatorship, Iraq was the only country in the world where
American military pilots faced regular attack. Iraq was the only country that
had used chemical weapons on its own people ... invaded its neighbors ... and
fought a war against the United States and a great coalition. Iraq was one of
only seven countries listed as a state sponsor of terror -- and it was judged
by intelligence agencies around the globe to possess weapons of mass
destruction. After more than a decade of diplomacy, we gave Saddam Hussein a
final chance to comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions
ordering him to disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences. When he
refused, we had a choice: Do we take the word of a madman and forget the
lessons of September the 11th - or do we take action to defend our country?
Given that choice, I will defend America every time.
Combat forces of the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Poland, and
other countries enforced the demands of the United Nations -- and put an end
to Saddam's regime. Because we acted, the Iraqi people now live in freedom --
and the American people are safer.
Reasonable people can disagree about the conduct of the war -- but it is
irresponsible for Democrats to now claim that we misled them and the American
people. Leaders in my Administration and members of Congress from both
parties looked at the same intelligence on Iraq -- and reached the conclusion
that Saddam Hussein was a threat. Let me give you quotes from three senior
Democrats: First, quote, "There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein
is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons." End quote. Here's
another one, quote, "The war against terrorism will not be finished as long as
[Saddam Hussein] is in power." End quote. And here's the way another
Democratic leader summed it up, quote, "Saddam Hussein, in effect, has thumbed
his nose at the world community. And I think that the President's approaching
this in the right fashion."
The truth is that investigations of the intelligence on Iraq have
concluded that only one person manipulated evidence and misled the world --
and that person was Saddam Hussein. In early 2004, when weapons inspector
David Kay testified that he had not found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,
he also testified that, quote, "Iraqwas in clear material violation of UN
Security Council Resolution 1441. They maintained programs and activities,
and they certainly had the intentions at a point to resume their programs. So
there was a lot they wanted to hide because it showed what they were doing
that was illegal." Eight months later, weapons inspector Charles Duelfer
issued a report that found, quote, "Saddam Hussein so dominated the Iraqi
Regime that its strategic intent was his alone. He wanted to end sanctions
while preserving the capability to reconstitute his weapons of mass
destruction when sanctions were lifted."
Some of our elected leaders have opposed this war all along. I disagree
with them, but I respect their willingness to take a consistent stand. Yet
some Democrats who voted to authorize the use of force are now rewriting the
past. They are playing politics with this issue and sending mixed signals to
our troops and the enemy. That is irresponsible.
As our troops fight a ruthless enemy determined to destroy our way of
life, they deserve to know that their elected leaders who voted to send them
to war continue to stand behind them. Our troops deserve to know that this
support will remain firm when the going gets tough. And our troops deserve to
know that whatever our differences in Washington, our will is strong, our
nation is united, and we will settle for nothing less than victory.
Thanks to our men and women in uniform, the Iraqi and Afghan people are
building democracies and inspiring people across the broader Middle East -
and freedom's advance has only just begun. In our lifetime, we have seen the
power of freedom to conquer evil, and take root in previously unfamiliar soil.
Freedom is the mightiest force of history -- because the desire for liberty is
embedded in the soul of every man, woman, and child on earth. If we are
steadfast, if we do our duty, this young century will be freedom's century --
and we will lay the foundations of peace for generations to come.
Thank you for your service in freedom's cause. God bless all those who
serve our Nation, and all those who love them.
SOURCE White House Press Office
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