For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 13, 2003
President's Radio Address
Audio
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Two years ago this week, America
suffered a brutal attack. We will never forget the burning towers and
the smoke over Arlington Cemetery, and the passengers who rushed the
hijackers. Yet history asks for more than memory. On September the
11th, 2001, we began a war on global terror that continues to this
hour.
In the decades before that terrible day, the terrorists conducted a
series of bolder and bolder attacks in the Middle East and beyond.
They became convinced that free nations were decadent and weak, and
would never offer a sustained and serious response. They now know
otherwise.
Together with a coalition of nations, we have struck back against
terror worldwide, capturing and killing terrorists, and breaking cells
and freezing assets. In Afghanistan we removed the Taliban regime that
harbored al Qaeda. In Iraq, we defeated a regime that sponsored
terror, possessed and used weapons of mass destruction, and defied the
United Nations Security Council for 12 years. We have helped to
liberate people from oppression and fear.
Today, with our help, the people of Iraq are working to create a
free, functioning and prosperous society. The terrorists know that if
these efforts are successful, their ideology of hate will suffer a
grave defeat. So they are attacking our forces, international aid
workers, and innocent civilians. Their goal is to drive us out of Iraq
before our work is done. They are mistaken, and they will fail. We
will do what is necessary to win this victory in the war on terror.
We are following a clear strategy with three objectives: Destroy
the terrorists, enlist international support for a free Iraq, and
quickly transfer authority to the Iraqi people. Through a series of
ongoing operations, our military is taking direct action against Saddam
loyalists and foreign terrorists. One major effort underway right now,
called Operation Longstreet, is seeking and finding our enemies
wherever they hide and plot. Already, this operation has yielded
hundreds of detainees and seized hundreds of weapons, and we will
remain on the offensive against the terrorists.
We are expanding international cooperation in rebuilding Iraq.
Today in Geneva, Secretary of State Powell is meeting with Secretary
General of the United Nations and representatives of the five permanent
members of the Security Council. They are discussing ideas for a new
resolution to encourage wider participation in this vital task.
And we're moving forward on a specific plan to return sovereignty
and authority to the Iraqi people. We have created a governing council
made up of Iraqi citizens. The council has selected a committee that
is developing a process through which Iraqis will draft a new
constitution for their country. Day to day operations of many
government tasks have been turned over to ministers appointed by the
Governing Council. And when a constitution has been drafted and
ratified by the Iraqi people, Iraq will enjoy free and fair elections,
and the coalition will yield its remaining authority to a free and
sovereign Iraqi government.
We have a strategy in Iraq and a mission. We will fight and defeat
the terrorists there, so we don't have to face them in America. And we
will help transform Iraq into an example of progress and democracy and
freedom that can inspire change and hope throughout the Middle East.
Thank you for listening.
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