President Bush Meets with Military Personnel at Fort Campbell
Remarks by the President to Military Personnel
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
11:10 A.M. CST
THE PRESIDENT: I'm glad to be back. (Applause.) Thanks for
having me. (Applause.) Thanks for inviting Laura. (Applause.) I am
proud to be here once again with the Screaming Eagles of the 101st.
(Applause.) With the Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces group.
(Applause.) And with the Night Stalkers. (Applause.)
Many of you have seen action in the global war on terror. Some of
you have just returned to Fort Campbell from your deployments. Thank
you for a job well done. Welcome home. (Applause.)
Laura and I are honored to be with all the personnel at Fort
Campbell, and with all the family members who live here. Each one of
you serves our nation by giving your love and support to our soldiers.
Here, at one of America's vital military bases, you've built a strong
community of people who care about each other, and share the challenges
and rewards of army life. America is grateful. America is proud of
our military families. (Applause.)
All who serve at Fort Campbell, and all who wear the uniform of the
United States are serving at a crucial hour in the history of freedom.
In the first war of the 21st century, you're defending your fellow
citizens against ruthless enemies, and by your sacrifice, you're making
our country more secure. (Applause.) You have delivered justice to
many terrorists, and you're keeping the rest of them on the run.
(Applause.) You've helped to remove two of the most violent regimes on
Earth. With daring and skill and honor, you've held true to the
Special Forces motto: To liberate the oppressed. (Applause.)
America is indebted to you. And we're also indebted to the men and
women of the National Guard and the Reserves who are serving abroad,
and those called up for homeland security assignments. Hundreds of
Guard and Reserve units across America have been activated in this time
of war. These fine citizens and their families and their employers
have put duty first. And our nation is grateful to them, as well.
(Applause.)
We've got a lot of veterans with us today, veterans who have served
our Armed Forces worldwide and who now live near Fort Campbell. Thank
you for the great example you've set for today's soldiers. Thank you
for your service to our nation.
I want to thank General Petraeus for being such a strong leader and
a good man. (Applause.) I want to thank General Ellis for being with
us today -- oh, I forgot. I want to thank Holly Petraeus, as well.
She has done a -- (applause.) She deeply cares about the men and women
from this base. It's clear when you talk to her, she's got a lot of
love in her heart.
General Ellis is with us, Commanding General of the U.S. Armed
Forces Command. General Ellis, thank you for being here. Today I
traveled down from Washington with two members of the United States
Congress who care a lot about the people stationed at Fort Campbell and
who live around the Fort Campbell area. That would be Congressman Ed
Whitfield from Kentucky and Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn from
Tennessee. Thank you all for coming. (Applause.)
Laura and I regret the fact we didn't get here in time for the
entertainment. We want to thank Lane Brody and Mark Wills and Darryl
Worley and Jaci Velasquez, for your work, your care, and your support
of the United States military. (Applause.)
I had the privilege of saying hello to a fellow named Billy
Colwell. Billy has, by the way, served for 20 years in the 101st. He
served our nation during two tours of duty in Vietnam. You're probably
wondering why I'm bringing up Billy. I'll tell you why. A lot of
times, people say, well, America is strong because of our military.
And that's one reason we're strong, and by the way, we're going to keep
our military strong. (Applause.) Or they say, well, we're strong
because we've got a great economy. And the economy is strong and it's
getting stronger. But the true reason we're strong is because of the
hearts and souls of the American people. That's why we're strong.
We're a compassionate, decent country, where neighbors care for
neighbors.
Billy volunteers at the Fort Campbell YMCA. He takes time out of
his life to help junior enlisted officers, or people who are getting
deployed. Billy is there to help welcome people home, and to wish
people well as they leave. Billy takes time out of his life to love a
neighbor, just like you would like to be loved yourself. No, the
strength of this country is the fact that we've got citizens from all
walks of life who care deeply about our fellow citizens.
Billy, thank you for your service. Thank you for what you do.
(Applause.)
Fort Campbell was the first army post I visited in the weeks after
our country was attacked. It was around Thanksgiving. I will never
forget eating turkey with the Screaming Eagles. (Applause.) I
remember telling you that the men and women of Fort Campbell -- that
you once again had a rendezvous with destiny. That's what I said when
I was here last. And when the orders came, you carried out your
missions. You made history once again.
Since we last met, you deployed over 5,000 vehicles, 254 aircraft,
and 18,000 soldiers in Kuwait, in the fastest deployment in the history
of the 101st. (Applause.) Since we last met, the 101st liberated the
cities of Najaf, Karbala, and Hilla. You secured southern Baghdad, and
sent 1,600 soldiers by helicopter to Mosul, in the longest air assault
in military history. (Applause.)
Since we last met, the sons of the dictator went into hiding, until
they were found and dealt with by the 101st and Special Operations.
(Applause.) Since we last met, soldiers from Fort Campbell have helped
to organize the first truly free local election in Iraq in 30 years.
(Applause.) Since we last met, you helped to build medical clinics and
to rebuild schools. By your decency and compassion, you are helping
the Iraqi people to reclaim their country. Because you care, you're
helping the Iraqis live as free people. (Applause.)
One year ago tomorrow, the Armed Forces of the United States
entered Iraq to end the regime of Saddam Hussein. After his years of
defiance, we gave the dictator one final chance. He refused. And so
in one year's time, Saddam Hussein has gone from a palace, to a bunker,
to a spider hole, to jail. (Applause.)
Because America and our allies acted, one of the most evil, brutal
regimes in history is gone forever. The dictator of Iraq committed
many atrocities and he had many more in mind. This was a regime that
tortured children in front of their parents. This was a regime that
used chemical weapons against whole villages. This was a country in
which millions of people lived in fear, and many thousands disappeared
into mass graves. That was the life in Iraq for more than a
generation, until the Americans arrived. (Applause.) Because America
and our allies acted, a state sponsor of terror was put out of
business. The Iraqi regime gave cash rewards to the families of
suicide bombers and sheltered terrorist groups. But all that's over.
When Saddam Hussein went down, the terrorists lost an ally forever.
(Applause.) Because America and our allies acted, an aggressive threat
to the security of the Middle East and to the peace of the world is now
gone.
September the 11th, 2001 taught a lesson I will never forget.
America must confront threats before they fully materialize. In Iraq,
my administration looked at the intelligence information, and we saw a
threat. Members of Congress looked at the intelligence, and they saw a
threat. The United Nations Security Council looked at the
intelligence, and it saw a threat. I had a choice to make, either take
the word of a madman, or take such threats seriously and defend
America. Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time.
(Applause.)
Because America and our allies acted, it is clear to everyone, when
America makes a pledge, we keep our word. By speaking clearly, by
speaking consistently, and by meaning what we say, it is more likely
the world will be more peaceful. Because America and our allies acted,
all the world is now seeing democracy rising in the heart of the Middle
East. A year ago, Iraq was ruled by the whims of one cruel man.
Today, Iraq has a new interim law that guarantees basic rights for
all: freedom of religion, the right to cast a secret ballot, and
equality under the law. And these historic changes are sending a
message across the region from Damascus to Tehran: Freedom is the
future of every nation. (Applause.)
The Iraqi people are achieving great things and serving and
sacrificing for their own future. Today, more than 200,000 Iraqis,
including 78,000 new police, are protecting their fellow citizens.
They're building a country that is strong and free, and America is
proud to stand with them. All over Iraq today, as that nation moves
closer to self-government, Iraqis can be certain that in the United
States of America, they have a faithful friend. And our military --
and in our military, they're seeing the good heart of America.
They see people like PFC Amanda Thompson Cummings, who volunteered
to serve in Iraq. She's an Army cook who also works on security
patrol. She said this to a reporter: "They know I can shoot. I'm one
of the best in my battalion. But, hey, I'm a redneck, what do you
expect?" (Laughter and applause.) Those are her words, not mine.
(Laughter.)
This soldier also describes how the children of Iraq look at her,
especially the young girls. As Amanda puts it, "When those girls look
at a female soldier, they think, maybe I can be something, too." PFC
Cummings says, "We made a difference in their lives. And their faces,
when they look at us, that made it all worthwhile right there."
Soldiers of Fort Campbell, every one of you is making a
difference. You've seen hard duty, and the defense of freedom is
always worth it. Because of your service, because of your bravery,
because of your dedication, the world is better off and the American
people are more secure. (Applause.)
You have done your duty. America owes those who do their duty, our
military, our gratitude. We owe you more than gratitude. We also owe
you the material support you need to do your job. As
Commander-in-Chief, I've been proud to sign into law three pay
increases for the military. (Applause.) You deserved every one.
We've increased support for base housing and schools. We have a duty
in Washington, D.C. to make sure our families are taken care of.
(Applause.)
Our military has had strong supporters in the House and the
Senate. I want to thank the Congress for standing up. I want to thank
every member of Congress who voted in favor of the $87 billion
supplemental that is meeting the needs of our troops in the field right
now. (Applause.) When your government gives you a mission, we must
accept serious responsibility of our own. And here's my pledge: I'll
work to make sure you have every resource and every tool you need to
fight and win the war on terror. (Applause.)
The war continues. It's a different kind of war, but it goes on.
As we saw again yesterday, the terrorists are fighting desperately to
undermine Iraq's progress toward freedom. That attack showed once
again the cruelty of our enemies. The terrorists and Baathist holdouts
know that a free and stable Iraq will be a major defeat to the cause of
hatred and terror. They can't stand the thought of a free society.
They know that the rise of democracy and hope in the Middle East will
mean the decline of their appeal and influence. So the terrorists
understand that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.
They're testing our will. And, day by day, they are learning, our will
is firm, their cause will fail. We will stay on the offensive.
Whatever it takes, we will seek and find and destroy the terrorists, so
that we do not have to face them in our own country. (Applause.)
Not long ago, we intercepted a planning document being sent to the
leaders of al Qaeda by a terrorist named, Zarqawi. He's in Iraq.
Along with the usual threats, he had a complaint. "Our enemy," said
Zarqawi, "is growing stronger, and his intelligence data are increasing
day by day. This is suffocation." Zarqawi is getting the idea. For
the terrorists in Iraq, we're making sure there is less oxygen every
day. (Applause.)
The terrorists hate and target a free Afghanistan and a free Iraq.
They also hate and target every country that stands for democracy and
tolerance and freedom in the world. The murderers in Madrid have
revealed once again the agenda and the nature of the terrorist enemy.
They kill the innocent; they kill children and their mothers on a
commuter train, without conscience, without mercy. They cause
suffering and grief and they rejoice in it. This terrorist enemy will
never be appeased, because death is their banner and their cause.
There's no safety for any nation in a world that lives at the mercy
of gangsters and mass murderers. Eventually, there's no place to hide
from the planted bombs, or the far worse, weapons that terrorists
seek. For the civilized world, there's only one path to safety: We
will stay united, and we will fight until this enemy is broken.
(Applause.)
The United States is committed to defeating terrorism around the
world. It's a solemn commitment. We lead in this cause; we're
fighting in this cause; and we are sacrificing in this cause. The
101st Airborne has known greater losses than any other division-sized
unit. Each of these Americans brought pride to our country. We pray
for their families. We will honor their names forever. (Applause.)
The 101st Airborne Division has earned its place in the history of
our country. Sixty years ago, on the night before D-Day, General
Eisenhower went down to the airfield where the 101st was loading into
C-47s for their flight to Normandy. Eisenhower told the men not to
worry because they had the best leaders and equipment. One of them
looked at him and said, "Hell, General, we ain't worried. It's
Hitler's turn to worry." (Applause.) That spirit carried the American
soldier across Europe to help liberate a continent. It's the same
spirit that carried you across Iraq to set a nation free. (Applause.)
Like your fathers and grandfathers before you, you have liberated
millions from oppression. You've added to the momentum of freedom
across the world. You have helped keep America safe. You make us all
proud to be Americans, and you have made me proud to be your
Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)
May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United
States. Thank you all. (Applause.)