For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 19, 2003
President Discusses War on Terror in Thailand
Remarks by the President to Thai Troops
Royal Thai Army Headquarters
Bangkok, Thailand
In Focus: APEC
12:40 P.M. (Local)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister, thank you very
much. (Applause.) Thank you very much. General Thammarak, commanders
of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, members of the Royal Thai Army,
veterans, members of the United States military, distinguished guests
and citizens of Thailand, Mrs. Bush and I appreciate your kind welcome
to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. We are honored to be here.
We're honored to be in the Kingdom of Thailand. Today I'm pleased
to convey the respect of the American armed forces and the good wishes
of the American people. I'm grateful to His Majesty, the King, and Her
Majesty, the Queen, for inviting us to this ancient and beautiful
land.
Earlier today I met with Prime Minister Thaksin, and I was proud to
reaffirm the great friendship between our nations. We share a belief
in democracy and human rights and ethnic and religious tolerance. We
also share a willingness to defend those values in times of danger.
Our alliance of conviction is also an alliance of courage.
The Thai people have proven your commitment to freedom many times.
With us today are members of the Free Thai Movement, who showed such
fierce courage during World War II. Other veterans have served in
Korea and Vietnam, where the Americans and Thais fought and died
together, and during the Cold War, when our partnership was so vital to
the stability of Asia. All the veterans hold an honored place in a
great alliance, and I salute your service.
Today, our nations are challenged once again. We're threatened by
ruthless enemies unlike others we have faced. Terrorist groups hide in
many countries. They emerge to kill the innocent. They seek weapons
to kill on a massive scale. One terrorist camp in the mountains of
central Asia can bring horror to innocent people living far away,
whether they're in Bali, in Riyadh or in New York City. One murderous
dictator pursuing weapons of mass destruction and cultivating ties to
terror could threaten the lives of millions.
We must fight terrorism on many fronts. We must stay on the
offensive until the terrorist threat is fully and finally defeated. To
win the war on terror, we must hunt a scattered and resourceful enemy
in dark corners around the world. We must break up their cells, shut
off their sources of money. We must oppose the propaganda of hatred
that feeds their cause. In the nations where resentment and terrorism
have taken root, we must encourage the alternative of progress and
tolerance and freedom that leads to peace.
Nations that choose to fight terror are defending their own safety
and securing the peace of all mankind. The United States of America
has made its choice. The Kingdom of Thailand has made its choice. We
will meet this danger and overcome this evil. Whatever is asked of us,
no matter how long it takes, we will push on until our work is done.
Three months after my country was attacked on September the 11th,
2001, Prime Minister Thaksin came to America and offered Thailand's
help in the war on terror. Since then, Thailand has committed military
forces outside Southeast Asia for the first time in more than 50
years. Some of you have just returned from Afghanistan, where you gave
many months of service. Thai engineers rebuilt Afghanistan's national
air field and helped restore much of that country's infrastructure.
The Afghan people and the American people are grateful for your
service. The Thai task force is a vital part of the multinational
division, once again helping the shattered country rebuild after years
of oppression.
Inside your own country, you are pursuing dangerous terrorists and
finding them -- and America thanks you for ending the lethal career of
the terrorist Hambali, who is suspected of planning the attack in Bali
and other acts of terror. Thailand pledged to fight the war on terror,
and that pledge is being honored in full.
Thailand is also a force of good throughout Southeast Asia. When
East Timor was torn by violence, Thai forces joined with Americans and
Australians to bring stability, and they helped establish the world's
newest nation. This important work has brought dignity to the people
of East Timor and greater security to this region.
Together, our two nations are fighting the drug trade by sharing
intelligence that helps Thai law enforcement officials interdict
shipments and catch drug traffickers. We're fighting the trafficking
in human beings, to abolish a modern form of slavery.
America supports your country's humane efforts to find, defuse and
dispose of land mines. And having cooperated for decades to fight
hepatitis and malaria, we're now working together to turn the tide
against AIDS.
America and Thailand understand that trade and growth are the only
sure ways to spread prosperity and lift people and nations out of
poverty. And this morning I'm pleased to announce that the United
States and Thailand are planning to launch negotiations toward a free
trade agreement. This region and our world must one day trade in
freedom.
In all our common efforts, we are confident of the outcome. We're
confident in the power of freedom to overcome hatred and uplift whole
nations. We're confident in the strength of our alliance and I have
acted to designate Thailand a major non-NATO ally of the United
States. And we're confident in the character of those who defend us.
American and Thai forces serve together and train together and study at
military academies in each other's countries. We have come to know and
respect one another.
America remembers and honors a young man named Kemaphoom
Chanawongse, known to his family and friends as Ahn. He was born in
Bangkok, the grandson of a Royal Thai Air Force veteran. He moved to
America when he was nine years old, fulfilled his great ambition to
become a United States Marine. Ahn was part of the force that defeated
the army of Saddam Hussein. He was killed in action near An
Nasariyah. This son of Thailand, this American patriot, was buried
among America's greatest military heroes at Arlington National
Cemetery. This brave Marine brought honor to the nation he served and
honor to the nation of his birth.
Thailand and the United States lie thousands of miles apart. Yet
in the ideals we serve, we will always be close. America is grateful
for your friendship. We respect the skill and valor of the Royal Thai
military. And we're proud to stand by your side in the cause of
peace. May God bless you. (Applause.)
END 12:49 P.M. (Local)
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