President Meets with US Military Personnel at Fort Polk, Louisiana
Remarks by the President to Military Personnel
12:37 P.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. What a week. First, NASCAR --
(applause) -- and today, Fort Polk, Louisiana. (Applause.) Thank you
for the warm welcome. It is an honor to be here with the soldiers and
families of Fort Polk. (Applause.) This post is home to some of the
Army's oldest and finest units. All of you are living up to the motto
of our Second Armored Calvary Regiment -- (applause) -- "Always
ready." (Applause.)
The Second Calvary is now deployed in Iraq. So is the mighty
Warrior Brigade from Fort Polk. (Applause.) This post has long been
vital to the defense of America. And today, the men and women of Fort
Polk are serving with skill and bravery in the war on terror. Since
our nation was attacked on September the 11th, 2001, this post has
trained and deployed more than 10,000 troops to fight the terrorist
enemy.
The JRTC Operations Group is providing superb training for
America's soldiers. And with people like you -- (applause) -- people
like you in the fight against terror, there is no doubt that the enemy
will be defeated and freedom will prevail. (Applause.)
In the war, America depends on our military to meet the dangers
abroad and to keep our country safe. The American people appreciate
this sacrifice. And our government owes you more than gratitude. We
must always make sure that America's soldiers are well-equipped and
well-trained to fight this war on terror. (Applause.)
Every person in uniform also depends on the faithful support of
their family. (Applause.) Military families have faced many hardships
in this time of testing, and you have faced them together. Every
military installation is a strong and caring community. You look out
for each other. You accept the sacrifices of service to America. And
I want you to know, our whole nation is grateful to our military
families. (Applause.)
I appreciate General Kamiya for his introduction. When I was
walking here from Marine One, somebody told me he just got promoted.
Congratulations, General. (Applause.) Les Brownlee, the Acting
Secretary of the Army, is with us. General Pete Schoomaker, who is the
Army Chief of Staff, is with us today. General, thank you for coming.
General Ellis, I appreciate you being here. Colonel Woolfrey, Command
Sergeant Major Christian; Command Sergeant Major Savusa is with us, as
well. I'm honored that you men are here.
Today, I had the privilege of traveling with Senator Mary Landrieu,
from the state of Louisiana; Congressman David Vitter, and Congressman
Rodney Alexander. I want to thank all the state and local officials
who are with us today. I appreciate so very much Kevin Sharp and John
Berry, for taking time out to provide the entertainment for the troops
and families today. (Applause.)
I just met Margie Nobles. Margie volunteered more than 1,400 hours
helping families of soldiers during their transition to Fort Polk and
during times of deployment. People often talk about the strength of
America being our military, and it is strong, and I intend to keep it
that way. (Applause.) But the real strength of the country lies in
the hearts and souls of our citizens; people like Margie, who are
willing to help somebody who hurts; people who are willing to take time
out of their busy lives to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be
loved yourself.
For those of you who are soldiers in the army of compassion, I want
to thank you for your service to your community and to your country.
The Fort Polk community is also home to thousands of veterans and
retired military. Our veterans defended our nation and served the
cause of freedom in the great struggles of the 20th century. Many
veterans from the area are with us today, and we honor your faithful
service to America. (Applause.)
Our servicemen and women today follow in a great tradition of
achievement and courage. You're living up to that tradition in hard
missions and decisive victories. This generation of our military has
been called to duty, to fight and to win the first war of the 21st
century. (Applause.)
The struggle began on a September morning, when terrorists murdered
thousands of our fellow citizens. We saw the violence and grief that
terrorists can inflict. We had a glimpse of a far worse harm that the
terrorists intend for us. And on behalf of this nation, I made a
pledge: Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to
our enemies, justice will be done. (Applause.)
Life in America in many ways has returned to normal, and that's a
good thing. And I want every American to know that I understand my job
as your President. I have a duty to protect the American people, and
my resolve is the same today as it was on the morning of September the
12th, 2001. My resolve is the same as it was on the day when I walked
in the rubble of the Twin Towers. I will not relent until this threat
to America is removed. (Applause.) And neither will you. (Applause.)
In the past 29 months, many terrorists have learned the meaning of
justice. Nearly two-thirds of al Qaeda's known leaders have been
captured or otherwise dealt with. (Applause.) The terrorists are on
the run, with good reason to fear what the night might bring.
Thousands of very skilled and determined military personnel are on an
international manhunt, going after remaining killers who hide in caves
and in cities. When they attacked our country, the terrorists chose
their own fate, and they are meeting that fate, one by one.
(Applause.)
Success in the war on terror also requires that we confront regimes
that might arm terrorists with the ultimate weapon. There's no greater
danger before this nation and humanity than the possibility of secret
and sudden attack with a nuclear or chemical or biological weapon. We
must confront this danger with open eyes and unbending purpose. I made
clear the policy of this country: America will not permit terrorists
and dangerous regimes who threaten us with the world's most deadly
weapons. (Applause.)
So to get allies on our side, we have shown this resolve in
decisive action to liberate two nations once ruled by terror regimes.
The first to see our determination was the Taliban, who made
Afghanistan the primary base of al Qaeda. That was where the training
camps operated. That is where the attacks of September the 11th were
conceived. And that's where we first took the fight to the enemy.
Two years after we liberated Afghanistan, our troops continue to
face danger. Our coalition is leading aggressive raids to rout out
surviving members of the Taliban and al Qaeda. The new Afghan army is
adding to the stability of that country. Afghanistan still has
challenge, but that nation is a world away from the nightmare of the
Taliban. (Applause.)
As of last month, Afghanistan has a new constitution, guaranteed
free elections and full participation by women. (Applause.)
Businesses are opening, health care centers are being established, and
the children of Afghanistan are back in school -- boys and girls.
(Applause.) The people of Afghanistan are building a nation that is
free, that is proud, and that is fighting terror. And America is
honored to be their friend. (Applause.)
The former regime in Iraq also witnessed America's resolve to
confront dangers before they fully materialize. My administration
looked at the intelligence information and we saw danger. Members of
Congress looked at the same intelligence, and they saw danger. The
United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw
a danger. We reached a reasonable conclusion that Saddam Hussein was a
danger. We remembered his history: He waged aggressive wars against
neighboring countries and aspired to dominate the Middle East. He
cultivated ties to terrorists. He built weapons of mass destruction.
He used weapons of mass destruction against his own people. He hid
those weapons.
In 1998, the President and the Congress made it the policy of the
United States to change the regime in Iraq. In September of 2001,
America made a decision: We will not live in the shadow of gathering
threats. In 2003, after 12 years of deception by Saddam Hussein, he
was given one final chance. The U.N. Security Council demanded a full
accounting of his weapons programs, or face serious consequences.
Saddam Hussein chose defiance. And we had a choice of our own: Either
take the word of a madman, or take action to defend America and the
world. Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time.
(Applause.)
Having broken the Baathist regime in Iraq, we face a remnant of
violent Saddam supporters. Men who ran away from our troops in battle
are now dispersed and attack from the shadows. These killers are
joined by foreign terrorists. Recently in Iraq, we intercepted a
letter sent by a terrorist named Zarqawi, a man well-known to our
intelligence services. Zarqawi operated in and out of Saddam Hussein's
Iraq. He ordered the murder of an American diplomat in Jordan. He
fought against our troops in Afghanistan. And now, in a letter we
intercepted, Zarqawi is urging al Qaeda members to wage terrorist war
on our coalition in Iraq.
In the document, Zarqawi describes the terrorist strategy, lays it
all out: Tear the country apart with ethnic violence; to undermine
Iraqi security forces; to demoralize our coalition; to prevent the rise
of a sovereign democratic government. This terrorist outlined his
efforts to recruit and train suicide bombers. He boasts of 25 attacks
on innocent Iraqis and coalition personnel.
Zarqawi, and men like him, have made Iraq the central front in our
war on terror. The terrorists know that the emergence of a free Iraq
will be a major blow against the worldwide terrorist movement. And in
this, they are correct. But we've seen this enemy before, and we know
how to deal with them. Fighting alongside the people of Afghanistan,
we are defeating the terrorists in that country. And fighting
alongside the people of Iraq, we will defeat the terrorists there, as
well. Iraq, like Afghanistan, will be free. (Applause.)
We're making good progress against these enemies, by staying on the
defensive, with hundreds of patrols and swift and precision raids every
single day. Thanks to our military, thanks to our brave soldiers, Iraq
citizens do not have to fear the dictator's secret police, or ending up
in a mass grave. The torture chambers are closed. Of the top 55
officials of the former regime, we have captured or killed 46.
(Applause.) And as for the once all-powerful ruler of Iraq, we found
him hiding in a hole. (Applause.)
At the same time, we're helping Iraqis make daily progress toward
democracy. A year ago, Iraq's only law was the whim of one brutal
man. Today our coalition is working with the Iraqi Governing Council
to draft a basic law with a bill of rights. But we're now working with
Iraqis in the United Nations to prepare for a transition to full Iraqi
sovereignty. As democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom
will do all in their power to spread violence and fear. They're trying
to shake the will of our country and our friends. But they don't
understand America. They don't understand the nature of our troops.
This country and our military will never be intimidated by a bunch of
thugs and assassins. (Applause.)
It is the nature of terrorism that a few evil people can bring
grief to many. Here in the Fort Polk community, you have sent brave
men and women to confront this evil, and you have said farewell to some
of your best. One of them was Private First Class Rey David Cuervo,
who was killed in Baghdad. Private Cuervo was born in Mexico and is
one of several non-citizens in the military who have given their lives
in the defense of America. At my direction, each of them has been
posthumously granted a title to which they have brought great honor:
Citizen of the United States. (Applause.)
Last month, PFC Cuervo was laid to rest under a marker with these
words: "All gave some, and some gave all." We do not take freedom for
granted in America, and we do not take for granted the courage of those
who face the danger and do the fighting. May God comfort the families
of the lost. May He keep this nation always grateful for their
sacrifice.
All the men and women we have sent to Iraq and Afghanistan have
given vital service in the war on terror. By liberating these
countries, we and our coalition have delivered more than 50 million
people from cruel oppression. We've removed sources of violence and
instability from the greater Middle East. We've removed from power
enemies of this country. We have made America more secure.
(Applause.)
We face a clear choice in the greater Middle East, either freedom
will advance, or that region will continue to export violence to the
world. The work of building democracies in nations that have endured
decades of tyranny is hard. It's hard work. It will require the kind
of sustained commitment that won the Cold War. We accept that duty.
We accept that duty in our time because our cause is right.
Even governments that did not join in the removal of Saddam's
regime now understand that democracy in Iraq must succeed. And that
work will succeed, because the appeal of freedom is universal. Freedom
is not America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty God's gift
to every man and women in this world. (Applause.)
The will of this country is strong. The will of our coalition is
strong. And what we have begun, we will finish. (Applause.)
For all Americans, the last three years have brought tests we
didn't ask for, and for achievements shared by all. And by our actions
we have shown what kind of nation we are. We're a nation with a
mission, and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We
believe that freedom is the right of every single person in the world.
By the unselfish dedication of Americans in uniform, people in our own
country and in lands far away, people can live in freedom and know the
peace that freedom brings.
America has been given great responsibilities, and they have come
to the right country. We don't shirk from any challenge. We're rising
to the call of history. Now and in the future, this great republic
will lead the cause of freedom and peace.
May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our country.
(Applause.) Thank you all. (Applause.)