President Bush Affirms War Effort
Remarks by President Bush and President Kwasniewski of Poland to the Michigan Polish American Community
Oakland University
Rochester, Michigan
11:05 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you very much. So I was telling the
President of Poland, I said, there's a lot of smart people in
Washington, but not all the brains are in Washington -- why don't we
get on the airplane and come out and see some other smart Americans.
(Applause.)
It's an honor to be here. I want to thank you for coming. I
appreciate the warm hospitality that you've shown me and my friend. We
had a heck of a dinner last night. It was a black-tie dinner, and I
had the honor of sitting next to the First Lady of Poland. And it
dawned on me after the dinner that he share a lot, starting with the
fact that we both married really well. (Laughter and applause.) The
First Lady of Poland sends her best, and so does the First Lady of
America, my great wife, Laura Bush. (Applause.)
I appreciate John and Michelle Engler. John mentioned that she is
of Polish heritage. He forgot to say she's got some Texas blood in
her, too. (Applause.) But I'm proud to call John and Michelle
friends. I'm happy that Aleksander got to meet my friends here who
have been doing such a fine job of running this state.
I want to thank Gary Russi, the host, the President of Oakland
University. I know it's not easy to host an entourage, choppers and
all the things that fly in here. But I want to thank you for providing
this fantastic forum, a chance for us to talk about our mutual visions
for a peaceful world. So I want to thank all those who helped here at
Oakland to make this a successful trip. (Applause.)
I want to thank the Lalewiczs. That would be the lady -- the
fantastic young lady who sand the Star Spangled Banner, and her
brother, Peter. I told the President he's going to see a budding star
singing our National Anthems, and she didn't let us down. I want to
thank you, Olivia, very much for being here. (Applause.)
I appreciate some of the good folks who work here in Michigan --
the Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus is here. (Applause.) Candice Miller
is supposed to be here somewhere. I appreciate Candice is the Michigan
Secretary of State.
I want to thank the Polish delegation. We've got a lot of the
leadership who are involved in the President's government. They've
traveled with us from Washington today. I want to thank you all for
coming. I'm honored you're here. (Applause.) Our Ambassador from
Poland is here, Chris Hill. Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. You're doing a
fine job. I appreciate you coming. (Applause.)
I mean, when the President of Poland shows up, all the officials
show up. We've got not only federal officials and state officials,
we've got L. Brooks Patterson, the Oakland County Executive.
(Applause.) We've got the Mayor of Detroit, Mayor Kilpatrick, thank
you for coming. (Applause.) I want to thank the Mayor of Rochester
for being here, as well. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. I'm honored
you're here. (Applause.) And the Mayor of Rochester Hills is here, as
well.
And I want to thank you all for coming. It's an honor that you're
here. We're thrilled you're here. It gives us a chance to talk about
our vision for a peaceful world. There's a lot of war talk these days,
as there should be, but it's all aimed at making sure the world is
peaceful. Peaceful not only for children here in America, but peaceful
for children in Poland, as well. And it's kind of you all to give us a
chance to come to visit.
When we landed our chopper out there on the playing fields -- or
some kinds of field -- (laughter) -- I know it was a field --
(laughter) -- we were met by two really fine Americans, Helen Suchara
and Erin Chekal. Now they're here, and I want them to stand up here in
a minute. But I want to describe to you their hearts.
First, you'll see that Helen has lived a full life. But in the
early '90s, she decided to go to Poland as a Peace Corps volunteer.
She decided to take American values to her -- the homeland of her
ancestry, to talk about democracy and freedom, those very same values
which the country embraces today.
And Erin Chekal wanted to do the same thing. And so we've got two
generations of Americans with us today who have volunteered their time
to make not only America a better place, but to help the country they
love, Poland, become a better place. And I want you to welcome them.
Thank you all for coming. (Applause.)
Mr. President, the strength of our nation is not our balance sheet,
it's not our military. The strength of our nation is the American
people. The American people are generous people, they're kind people,
they're courageous people. The true strength of America lies in the
hearts and souls of Americans from all walks of life. (Applause.)
It has been such an honor to welcome the President here to
America. Laura and I went to Warsaw, by the way, as his guest and had
a fantastic experience. We were -- the people were great, and it was a
wonderful time for us to begin a friendship that's an important
friendship today.
And the friendship, though, between Poland and America goes back a
long way. As Governor Engler mentioned, Poles fought for American
independence. And in the century past, we had the privilege and honor
of helping Poland fight for her independence. We had the honor of
repaying the favor, because we love freedom, and so do the Polish
people. (Applause.) America is proud to call Poland a friend, a
partner, and an ally. (Applause.)
The people of Poland and the people of America share strong bonds
of kinship and culture and commerce. The sons and daughters of Poland,
many of whom I'm pleased we have here today, Mr. President, have been
enriching America throughout our entire history. (Applause.) There's
one or two sons there. (Applause.) Listen, they've contributed to
every walk of life. Jan Karski, Ed Muskie, Bronko Nagurski. We had
dinner last night with one, a great Polish American, Stan Musial.
(Applause.)
All throughout our society, Polish Americans have made a tremendous
contribution, Mr. President, and we're proud of that contribution. As
a matter of fact, it's the contributions from people from all walks of
life which make America not only a unique nation, but a strong nation.
Poland has given a lot to America, and Poland has given a lot to
the world. For 50 years, the people of Poland waged an heroic struggle
for freedom. For 50 years, they set an example of what it means to
love freedom. It was Polish courage and conscience that caused an evil
empire to fear freedom and eventually bring down the evil empire.
(Applause.)
And Poland has given the world one of the greatest figures of the
last century: The moral authority and iron integrity of a Polish Pope
have stirred -- (applause) -- have stirred the forces of freedom
throughout the world. Everyone who believes in human rights and human
life and human dignity owes a great debt to Pope John Paul II.
(Applause.) And I want to thank one of his most distinguished
representatives here in America, His Eminence Cardinal Maida, for being
with us today, as well. (Applause.)
Poland is an example to all of Europe. After all, it's a strong
democracy with a market economy. It's a force for stability within
Europe. And it's a nation prepared to play an influential role on the
world stage.
Five years ago, the United States proudly supported Poland's bid to
join NATO. This year, Poland and the United States will meet in Prague
and support NATO membership for all of Europe's democracies ready to
share in NATO's responsibilities. (Applause.)
In this age, in this era, America needs allies who share the same
views about the world's opportunities. We need allies who understand
the world's dangers. When America was attacked, NATO and Poland, led
by this good man, immediately declared that an attack on one of us was
an attack on all of us. (Applause.) You need to know that Poland is
standing strong -- I mean, strong -- alongside America in the war on
global terror. (Applause.)
Poland has -- Poland --
AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Stop the war! Stop the war!
PRESIDENT BUSH: Poland has deployed troops to Afghanistan, has
shared intelligence, and cracked down on terrorist financing. You need
to know that the United States of America will track the terrorists
down, one by one, and bring them to justice. (Applause.)
Mr. President, the people of America are deeply grateful for your
support and the support of the people of Poland. See, a lot of people
in our country, and perhaps yours, wonder why would, why would an enemy
-- by the way, nothing bunch of -- nothing but a bunch of cold-blooded
killers -- strike America. And, Mr. President, it's because they fear
freedom. See, we believe in freedom of speech. We believe in freedom
of the press. (Applause.) Like you, we love freedom. And if somebody
attacks our freedoms, we'll stand tough and strong. (Applause.)
No, we're bound together in this war on terror. This President
understands what I know, that we've entered a new type of war. We're
hunting down people that will hide in a cave, but send youngsters to
their death -- that's what they'll do. These are international
criminals, and we're going to treat them like international criminals.
(Applause.) We going to get 'em on the run, and we're going to keep
them on the run until we bring them to justice. (Applause.)
We owe it to history, we owe it to our children and our
grandchildren, any time anybody wants to affect the freedom of our
people, they must pay a price -- not because we seek revenge, but
because we seek justice. (Applause.)
I was explaining to the President yesterday that I've submitted a
mighty hefty increase in our defense spending. I did so because any
time an American President commits one of our troops into battle or
into harm's way, that person deserves the best training, the best pay,
the best equipment possible. (Applause.) And, Mr. President, the
significant increase, the largest since Ronald Reagan was the
President, shows the world, shows our friends, and as importantly,
shows the enemy, that the United States is a determined, resolved
nation. It doesn't matter how long it takes. There are no calendars
on our desks in Washington that say, by such and such a moment we've
got to quit. That's not how we think, Mr. President, and you know
that. The increase in the defense budget says that we're in this for
the long haul, that we owe it to a lot of people to be patient and
resolved.
Mr. President, I'm telling you that this country is united. We
understand this isn't a Republican war, a Democratic war. This is a
war that will test the soul and conscience and strength of the American
people. And, Mr. President, America will meet the test. (Applause.)
We are united. We're a united country and we're united with
Poland. We will not permit the future to be defined by fear and chaos
and hatred. We will define a future of greater development of
democracy and a future of tolerance. We'll stand together, and, make
no mistake about it, we will defeat global terror. (Applause.)
When I spoke to the faculty and students at Warsaw University last
year, I said the question no longer is what others can do for Poland,
but what America, Poland and all of Europe can do for the rest of the
world. (Applause.) Working together, we will build greater prosperity
and greater hope to people of our respective nations and people all
across the globe.
Poland has a leader it can trust. He's a good man. He's a man I'm
proud to call friend. I'm proud to bring him to the great state of
Michigan. I'm proud to introduce him to you. Ladies and gentlemen,
President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Thank you. Mr. President, Governor, Mayor,
ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, my countrymen -- (speaks in
Polish.) (Applause.) I want to thank Governor for nice words, and
especially I want to express my gratitude to President Bush for such
words, so important for you and for all of us everywhere in the world.
(Applause.)
The first time I was here in Michigan, in Detroit, many years ago,
26 years ago, I spent some days in Hamtramck, and during this period,
26 years, everything changed -- changed the world, changed Poland. I
came from Poland, which is today different country and better country.
And I see and I feel same atmosphere, same friendship. And I would
like to thank you that you keep this friendship for Poland and for all
of us. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
But honestly speaking, something changed more, because 26 years
ago, I was here as a student. Today I am President of Poland. And
what is more important, my host and my friend is President of the
United States, George W. Bush. (Applause.)
It is a historic moment. Here, President of the United States, and
President of independent Poland are meeting in Troy to express the
admiration and respect to achievements of Polish community in the
United States, to tell you that America of today would not be America
without this community.
Americans of Polish origin are the America salt of the earth, they
are co-creators of American success. And I would like to say, Poland
is proud of you. (Applause.) We also remember everything Polish
community has done for the country on the Vistula. We remember its
support in difficult times, and happiness of us all when Polish people
regain sovereignty. There would be no free Poland without you; without
your help and your involvement.
I emphasize it especially in the presence of the leader of the
words, the work of liberty and justice, George W. Bush. (Applause.)
During his last year's visit to Poland, and yesterday, he says very
highly the achievements of Polish people and heritage of our country.
He's a man whose opinion I value very much. Largely thanks to him, the
world recovered from the shock after the tragedy of the September 11th,
and has become even stronger after passing this trial.
Ladies and gentlemen, about 10 million of U.S. citizens today can
be proud of their Polish roots. (Applause.) It is the most numerous
concentration of Polish immigration and people of Polish origin in the
world, and, at the same time, the 6th largest ethnic group in the
United States. The level of education in this group is higher than
U.S. average. It is the 5th wealthiest group. When I think about it,
I'm proud, as it's the best testimony of how strong and enterprising
you are, how hard-working and full of aspirations. I think you know
how to use your opportunities. I congratulate you from the bottom of
my heart. (Applause.)
Good Polish American relations are a never-ending story. Poles
have been part of the U.S. history from the very beginning. They were
among the founders of the first colony in Jamestown. They fought in
the War of independence and in the War of Secession. We are proud of
the role Americans of Polish origin have played in every stage of the
development of this country. They built its economic power, created
open society, participated in everything that caused that the United
States is today a symbol of freedom and democracy. (Applause.)
Polish community in America has always combined two patriotisms --
loving the new country, they have never forgot their roots. In moments
most trying for the state and the nation, our countrymen from America
have lent us their helping hand. It was so not only at the time of
partition and national uprisings, but also during the second world war
and Nazi occupation, and later, in times of the Iron Curtain. We
cannot forget the role of this community for Polish accession to NATO.
Its charity work also deserves respect. I mean here, the
assistance Americans of Polish origin are providing for a Polish
community in the East, or collections for the victims of flood in
Poland.
As President of independent, free and democratic Poland, I wish to
pay tribute and thank all the countrymen in America for their
contribution in bringing our country back to a place it deserves in the
family of free states. (Applause.)
Ladies and gentlemen, countrymen, the presence of President George
W. Bush reminds me that here, in Hamtramck, a district of Detroit
inhabited mainly by Polish community, his father, President George
Bush, in April of 1989, proposed a plan of assistance for Poland in her
economic and political transformations. I wish to emphasize that both
he, himself, as well as his predecessor, Ronald Reagan, won the special
gratitude of Poles. We remember well what their successor, Bill
Clinton, did.
The present President of the United States is also close to Polish
hearts. He has successfully continued and expanded this mission.
Thank you, thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.) Today we too, can,
as the words of a song known to the Republicans go, be happy that happy
days are here again. (Applause.)
Americans have never left us in need. The United States has been
supporting the system transformation of our country with an enormous
commitment. It has also played a fundamental role in the creation of a
new security system in Europe, providing an unequivocal support to the
first since the end of the Cold War enlargement of NATO. Today, Poland
and the United States are joined by friendship, political partnership
and military alliance. (Applause.)
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Poland is steadfast ally of
America. Whether in the Balkans or in Afghanistan, Polish and American
soldiers cooperate everywhere where the peace is threatened and human
rights are violated. Together we have undertaken a decisive fight
against global terror. We shall not allow madmen to threaten our
values.
Poland has been constantly building her international position. We
have good relations with all our neighbors. We facilitate political
cooperation of all Central and Eastern European countries. We are
striving to delete once for all the divisions left by the 20th century
in the map of our continent. Further enlargement of NATO, in which
both Poland and the United States are deeply involved will be favorable
to -- This enlargement will be an important contribution to stability
and peace in Europe, as well as creation of a platform for the fight
against terror. (Applause.)
The vision President Bush outlined during his visit to Warsaw, that
all of Europe's new democracies from the Baltic to the Black Sea should
have the same chance for security and freedom and the same chance to
join the institutions of Europe. Poland is happy and proud that soon we
will welcome new NATO members, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania. America, accused of unilateralism, once
again is showing that it is ready to cover by its security guarantees
the states of new democracies far from the U.S. borders. (Applause.)
America understands today very well that America's and our common
security begins in Warsaw, in Vilnius, in Bratislava and Bucharest.
Dear friends, most recent history of relations between Poland and
America shows how much we need each other, and it is the Polish
community here that is the living bridge that strengthens our
friendship of cooperation, to remember that both our countries
continuously need your support, goodwill and involvement. We count on
you. Let us be together in thoughts and in deeds, as ever.
I wish you, dear countrymen, all success. May your dreams, dreams
of your families and your beloved ones come true. May Poland and
America be always proud of you. Thank you. (Applause.)