President Bush Meets with Troops in Fort Carson, Colorado
Remarks by the President to the Troops
Butts Army Air Field
Fort Carson, Colorado
1:28 P.M. MST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.
AUDIENCE: U-S-A, U-S-A! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thank you for the warm
welcome. I'm honored to be in the Rocky Mountain state. I'm honored
to be in Fort Carson. (Applause.) More importantly, I'm honored to be
in the presence of so many fine Americans, so many great citizens who
proudly wear our nation's uniform. (Applause.)
The soldiers of Fort Carson are now engaged in the largest
deployment from this post since World War II. You reflect tremendous
credit to the United States Army. You bring great pride to the people
of the United States of America. (Applause.) The people of our armed
forces are serving at a crucial period for America and for all free
nations. We're at war with terrorists who hate what we stand for:
liberty, democracy, tolerance and the rights and dignity of every
person. We're a peaceful nation, yet we are prepared to confront any
danger. (Applause.)
We are fighting the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and in other
parts of the world so we do not have to fight them on the streets of
our own cities. (Applause.) And we will win. (Applause.) In this
war, America depends on our people in uniform to protect our freedom
and to keep our country safe. And all who serve depend every day on
the support of your families. These are challenging times for military
families. You in the Pikes Peak community know that very well.
Military life makes many demands on wives and husbands and sons and
daughters. You have faced hardships, and you have faced them together.
And I want you to know, our whole nation is grateful to our military
families. (Applause.)
America is also indebted to the men and women of the Guard and
Reserve who are serving abroad. (Applause.) And to those who are
called for homeland security assignments. Hundreds of reserve units
across America have been activated in this time of war. Our country
thanks these fine citizens, and we thank their employers for putting
duty first.
I want to thank Major General Bob Wilson for his leadership and his
strength of character. I want to thank General Larry Ellis, as well,
for greeting me here today. It's my honor to have met General Lance
Lord, Commander of the Air Force Space Command. I appreciate Colonels
Orr, Terry, Wininger and Resty for being such strong leaders and for
greeting me here. It was my privilege to have lunch with Sergeant
Major Mac McWilliams. (Applause.) He's the kind of guy you don't want
to cross. (Laughter and applause.) He's the kind of guy you want on
your side. (Applause.) I'm glad he's on my side, and I'm glad you're
on my side. (Applause.)
I appreciate Bill Hybl, who is the Civilian Aide to the Secretary
of the Army. I want to thank the families of the fallen soldiers who
are here with us today. Our prayers are with you. We ask for God's
strength and God's guidance. (Applause.) I'm honored that the great
governor of the great state of Colorado is with us today, Governor Bill
Owens. (Applause.)
We've got some members of the United States Congressional
delegation here who are strong supporters of our military and our
military families: Congressman Hefley and McInnis, Tancredo, Beauprez
and Musgrave, thank you all for coming. I'm honored you're here.
(Applause.) The Speaker of the House is here. Madam Speaker, thank
you for coming, Lola Spradley. The Mayor of Colorado Springs and the
Mayor of Fountain, Mayor Rivera and Mayor Barela are with us, as well.
Thank you all for coming. I thank all state and local officials for
being here. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. It's
my honor to be here. (Applause.)
When I landed, and I got off that magnificent bird, Air Force One,
I was greeted by a lady named Diane Campbell. (Applause.) She brought
her family with her. (Laughter.) She's an active volunteer with the
Army Family Team Building program. (Applause.) As I said, she brought
her family with her. (Laughter.)
The reason I bring up Diane Campbell is, oftentimes, people measure
the strength of America based upon the number of tanks and airplanes we
have, or the size of our wallets. No, the strength of America lies in
the hearts and souls of our citizens. You see, people like Diane
Campbell are providing training and information to military spouses and
families to help them adjust to the life in the Army. See, they're
reaching out. They've heard the universal call to love a neighbor just
like they would like to be loved themselves. The true strength of
America is the American people, because we're a compassionate, decent,
caring, loving people, just like Diane Campbell. (Applause.)
I want to thank Diane and all the Army Family Team Building members
for your service. I ask you all to reach out a hand to somebody who
hurts. I ask you to help us change our country one lonely soul at a
time.
For more than 60 years, the units of Fort Carson have been known
for training hard and being prepared at all times. Men and women have
gone forth from this base to make history. From the Pacific Theater in
World War II, to Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. Many thousands who
served in these causes still live here in this area. I don't blame
you. (Laughter.) It's a beautiful part of our country.
Our veterans and military retirees play their part in maintaining
the greatest fighting force in the world. They kept our country free,
and we are grateful to the veterans who are with us here today.
(Applause.) Today a new generation has been called to great
challenges. The soldiers of the Mountain Post have been called to
serve in the first war of the 21st Century.
This war began more than two years ago, on September the 11th,
2001, when America was attacked, and thousands of our fellow citizens
were murdered. The events of that morning changed our nation. We
awakened to new dangers and we accepted new responsibilities. That day
we saw the harm that our enemies intend for us. And last week, we saw
their cruelty again, in the murders in Istanbul. Today America,
Britain and Turkey and all responsible nations are united in a great
cause: We will not rest until we bring these committed killers to
justice. (Applause.)
These terrorists will not be stopped by negotiations, or by appeals
to reason, or by the least hint of conscience. We have only one
option: We must, and we will continue to take the fight to the enemy.
(Applause.)
We fight this war against terror on many fronts. Terrorists hide
and strike within free societies, so we're draining their bank
accounts, disrupting their plans. We're hunting them down one by one
until they can no longer threaten America and other free peoples.
Terrorists need places to hide, to plot, and to train, so we're
holding their allies, the allies of terror to account. (Applause.)
Working with a fine coalition, our military went to Afghanistan,
destroyed the training camps of al Qaeda, and put the Taliban out of
business forever. (Applause.)
In Iraq, where a dictator defied the world, cultivated ties to
terror, armed with deadly weapons, America led a mission to make the
world safer, and to liberate the Iraqi people. And that brutal
dictator's regime is no more. (Applause.) Thanks to our great
military, Iraqi citizens do not have to fear the dictator's secret
police or ending in a mass grave. Thanks to our military, the torture
chambers are closed, and the prison cells for children are empty.
Thanks to our military, we have captured many members of the former
regime, and the rest of them have a lot to worry about. (Applause.)
Recently, in Operation Iron Hammer, our coalition worked with the
Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and police to strike hard against the forces
of murder and chaos. We countered attacks, we seized weapons, we
brought cold-blooded killers to justice. We're proud of all who
participated in these forceful and successful operations. And we're
sending a clear message: Anyone who seeks to harm our soldiers can
know that our great soldiers are hunting for them. (Applause.)
Our mission in Iraq and Afghanistan is clear to our service
members, and it's clear to our enemies. America's military is fighting
to secure the freedom of more than 50 million people who recently lived
under two of the cruelest dictatorships on earth. America's military
is fighting to help democracy and peace and justice rise in a troubled
and violent region. And because we're fighting terrorist enemies
thousands of miles away, in the heart and center of their power, we are
making the United States of America more secure. (Applause.)
Units from this base have been vital to our campaigns in
Afghanistan and Iraq. The 7th Infantry Division has done fine work
preparing guard brigades for combat duty overseas, with one battalion
in Iraq from the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom; preparing a brigade
to deploy and a brigade now in Afghanistan; helping to train the Afghan
National Army. We're grateful for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team --
(applause) -- the 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment -- (applause) -- the
10th Special Forces Group -- (applause) -- the 43rd Area Support
Group. (Applause.) These and other units are showing the skill and
the discipline that define Fort Carson, and you're showing the courage
that defines the United States Army. (Applause.)
Today, American forces in Iraq are joined by about 24,000 troops
from 32 other countries. Together, we're helping the Iraqi people move
steadily toward a free and democratic society. Economic life is being
restored to cities of Iraq. A new Iraqi currency is circulating.
Local governments are up and running. Iraq will soon begin the process
of drafting a constitution, with free elections to follow. As Iraq
joins -- rejoins the world, it will demonstrate the power of freedom
and hope to overcome resentment and hatred. And this transformation
will help make America more secure. (Applause.)
The work we are in is not easy, yet it is essential. The failure
of democracy in Iraq would provide new bases for the terrorist network
and embolden terrorists and their allies around the world. The failure
of democracy in those countries would convince terrorists that America
backs down under attack. Yet democracy will succeed in Iraq, because
our will is firm and our word is good. Democracy will succeed because
every month, more and more Iraqis are fighting for their own country.
People we have liberated will not surrender their freedom. Democracy
will succeed because the United States of America will not be
intimidated by a bunch of thugs. (Applause.)
This community knows firsthand that the mission in Iraq is
difficult and the enemy is dangerous. Saddam loyalists and foreign
terrorists are attacking the symbols of order and freedom, from
international aid workers to coalition forces to innocent Iraqi
citizens. Terrorists have chosen to make a stand and test our
resolve. Our resolve will not be shaken. (Applause.)
It is the nature of terrorism that a small number of people can
inflict terrible grief. And here, you felt loss. Every person who
dies in the line of duty leaves a family that lives in sorrow, and
comrades who must go on without them. The Fort Carson community said
farewell to some of your best. One of them was Staff Sergeant Daniel
Bader. This good man left behind his wife, Tiffany, and their
14-month-old daughter. Tiffany Bader said this to a reporter recently,
"I'm going to wait until she is old enough to realize what happened,
and I will tell her exactly what her daddy did for her. He died
serving his country so that my little girl could grow up free."
(Applause.)
The courage of that soldier, and the courage of that wife, show the
spirit of this country in the face of great adversity. And all our
military families that mourn can know this: Our nation will never
forget the sacrifice their loved one made to protect us all.
(Applause.)
By the unselfish dedication of Americans in uniform, children in
our own country and in lands far away will be able to live in freedom,
and know the peace that freedom brings. As Americans, we believe that
freedom is not America's gift to the world, freedom is the Almighty
God's gift to every person who lives in the world. (Applause.)
As men and women who served the cause of freedom, each one of you
has answered a great calling. You live by a code of honor, in service
to your nation, for the safety and security of your fellow citizens.
You and I have taken an oath to defend America. We're meeting that
duty together, and I'm proud to be the Commander-in-Chief of the
greatest military, full of the finest people on the face of this
earth.