For Immediate Release
Office of the Vice President
March 26, 2004
Remarks by the Vice President at a Rally for the Troops
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
10:15 A.M. EST
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you all very much. Thank
you. (Applause.) I appreciate that warm welcome today. I never got
treated like that when I was just Secretary of Defense. (Laughter.)
But I've been to Wright-Patt before, and I know what a fantastic job
you all do.
I appreciate the warm welcome. It's a special honor to be with the
members of the Air Force Material Command, the 445th Airlift Wing,
178th Tactical Fighter Group from Springfield Air Guard Base, and the
dedicated civilians that are with us here today as well.
I want to thank all the family members in the audience, too.
Military life is a family commitment and our men and women in uniform
depend upon their families above all else. America is proud of each
and every one of our military families.
Let me also thank General Martin, as well as Congressman Mike
Turner, Rob Portman, and our other distinguished guests. This is a
great base and an outstanding community. Our nation counts on the
23,000 men and women of Wright-Patt, military and civilian, and you
have always come through for us. You play a critical role in the
defense of our country. And I'm here to express the gratitude of your
fellow citizens and of your Commander-in-Chief, President George W.
Bush. (Applause.)
In this place which is so rich in aviation history, you are helping
our country keep that vital edge in aerospace technology. For example,
the Global Hawks, the Predators developed here were absolutely
essential to locating and defeating our enemies in Iraq and
Afghanistan. When we needed quick improvements in the F-15E Strike
Eagle and the C-17, you got the job done in record time. You're one of
the reasons that we're winning the war on terror. You're the finest
air force in the world.
Doctors and specialists on this base care for the wounded. The
pilots and crews of the 445th Wing carried out medical evacuations.
Your C-141s brought troops and equipment to the Afghan and Iraqi
theaters, and B-1 Bombers, supported from Wright-Patt, helped to bring
down the regime of Saddam Hussein. (Applause.)
Today's military is fighting the first war of the 21st century, a
war that began on September 11th, 2001, when enemies struck the United
States and murdered thousands of our fellow citizens. That day changed
everything. In the space of a few hours, we saw the violence and the
grief that terrorists can inflict. And we had a glimpse of the even
greater harm they wish to do to us. The terrorists hate our country,
they hate our freedom, they hate everything we stand for in the world.
They seek even deadlier weapons and they would use them against us if
they could.
In the face of this danger, we have only one option. We are taking
this fight to the enemy. We are breaking up cells and disrupting
plots. We're staying on offense, tracking al Qaeda around the world.
Many skilled and determined military personnel are in the hunt.
They've delivered justice to many terrorists and they're keeping the
rest on the run.
Our campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq were essential victories in
the war on terror. The men and women of Wright-Patt helped to liberate
more than 50 million people from regimes that brutalized them while
cultivating ties with terror.
And now we're helping the people of Afghanistan and Iraq to
establish free and stable societies in a troubled region of the world.
Freedom still has enemies in those countries, and these enemies are
using the tactics of terror against American and coalition forces and
against innocent civilians. We've lost brave Americans. We honor
their memory and we will carry on in the cause they served.
We understand what is at stake in this fight. We will confront and
defeat the terrorists at the heart and center of their power so we do
not have to face them on the streets of our own cities.
As a former Secretary of Defense, I've been honored to know and to
work with the men and women of our armed forces. I've seen firsthand
your devotion to duty, your character, your regard for one another, and
your commitment to this great country of ours.
In this time of testing, we've asked a lot of you. And I want you
to know, on behalf of the President and all your fellow Americans, this
nation has confidence in your abilities and we're certain of your
success and we're grateful for your service to the United States of
America.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
END 10:20 A.M. EST
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