SPEECHES
FROM THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
George W. Bush
Remarks to
the National Guard Association
September 14, 2004 • Las Vegas, NV
Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome.
I am glad to join you here in Nevada. I'm also honored
to be up here with the Governor. He said to remind you
of an important thing here. He said, what happens in Vegas
-- (laughter) -- stays in Vegas. (Laughter and applause.)
I hope you've enjoyed yourself in this fantastic part of
our country. I'm honored to be invited to the 126th national
conference. It's a pleasure to be with the brave men and
women of the National Guard.
As the General just said, you've had many famous Americans
in your ranks, including men named Jefferson, Madison,
Lincoln and Truman. Nineteen individuals have served both
in the Guard and as President of the United States, and
I am proud to be one of them. (Applause.)
The men and women -- the men and women of the National
Guard are deployed around the world today, fighting the
forces of terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, and helping Americans
threatened with natural disasters, like hurricanes here
at home. I am proud to be their Commander-in-Chief, and
I respect and honor all of those who serve in the United
States Armed Forces -- active, Guard, and Reserve. (Applause.)
I want to thank General Hargett for his leadership. I
appreciate your for your invitation. I want to thank the
Governor. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor. I want
to thank the Attorney General, Brian Sandoval. I want to
thank the Secretary of State, Dean Heller, for joining
us today. It's a pretty important group when you get that
many politicians here in one room. (Laughter.) I thank
General Blum, General Harrison. I thank my fellow Texan,
Danny James, General James. (Applause.) General Schultz.
I want to thank the leadership and convention delegates.
Most of all, thank you for inviting me today.
When I landed, by the way, at the airport, I had the honor
of meeting Theresa Bunker. She is a volunteer with the
Las Vegas National Guard Family Support Center. I met her
brave son -- he just came back from Iraq. I like to tell
people the strength of this country is in the hearts and
souls of our citizens -- people like Theresa, who have
taken time out of her life to volunteer, provide support
for family members, to send care packages overseas. No,
we're going to keep our military strong -- but never forget,
the strength of this country are the great citizens of
America who serve this country one heart and one soul at
a time. (Applause.)
The Guard has been fighting for America since before America
was a nation. From its birth in the 1630s, the Guard protected
the early colonists and helped win the War on Independence.
Today, each of you carries on the great tradition of those
early citizen-soldiers, who picked up muskets to defend
our freedom. Weapons have changed, and so have our enemies,
but one thing remains the same: The men and women of the
Guard stand ready to put on the uniform and fight for America.
Our country is stronger, our freedom more secure because
each of you has volunteered to serve. (Applause.)
You have taken an oath to stand by America in times of
crisis, war and emergency. You're fulfilling that oath
in many ways. Across the state of Florida -- I happen to
know the Commander-in-Chief of the Guard there -- (laughter)
-- thousands of Guard members have mobilized in response
to Hurricanes Charley and Frances. They are helping to
control traffic, provide security, conduct search and rescue
operations, and distribute food and water. One resident
of Punta Gorda, Florida put it, "I don't know what
this town would have done without the National Guard." When
tragedy strikes, Americans can always count on the Guard.
(Applause.)
When tragedy came on September the 11th, 2001, the response
of the Guard was outstanding. A thousand Guard volunteers
came forward to help that day, and by sunrise on September
the 12th, more than 5,000 Guard volunteers were on the
job. In the past three years, Guard units have defended
the American homeland against further attack ?- you've
taken the battle to our enemies abroad. The National Guard
has played a critical role in every aspect of Operation
Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than
185,000 Guard members have been called up to serve on every
front in the war on terror. You are a vital part of our
strategy to defend America. You're fighting terrorist enemies
in Iraq and Afghanistan, and across the globe, so we do
not have to face them here at home. (Applause.) America
is safer because of your service, and we are grateful.
(Applause.)
And we are grateful for your families, who share in your
sacrifice. There are few things more difficult in life
than seeing a loved one go off to war. When the call to
duty comes, your families miss you and they worry about
you. By standing behind you, they also serve our country.
America is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our
Guard families. (Applause.)
Your service would not be possible without the understanding
and support of your employers. In offices, and schools,
and factories, and hospitals across this country, businesses
do without your talents so that you can serve our nation.
Employers across this country are supporting the Guard,
because they know the -- because they know the stakes in
this war are high. These companies are showing their patriotism,
and they, too, have the gratitude of our country. (Applause.)
I know this time of call-ups, and alerts, and mobilizations,
and deployments has been difficult for Guard members and
their families and employers. And when our nation must
call on you, we owe you some things in return. We're working
to provide you at least 30 days notification before you're
mobilized, so you have time to make arrangements. We're
working to give you as much certainty as possible about
the length of your mobilization -- you deserve to know
when you can expect to resume civilian life. We're working
to minimize the number of extensions and repeat mobilizations,
by moving forces out of low-demand specialties, such as
heavy artillery, and increasing the number of available
troops with skills that are in high-demand -- such as military
police, civil affairs, and special operations.
We're improving benefits and the quality of life for our
nation's citizen-soldiers. My administration has spent
almost $14 billion for construction, maintenance and support
for Guard and Reserve facilities across the United States.
We have expanded health care benefits for Guard and Reserve
forces and their family members, giving them access to
the military's TRICARE system for up to 90 days before
they report and 180 days after deactivation -- and I will
ask Congress to make that expansion permanent. (Applause.)
I called upon Congress to increase the monthly educational
benefit for Guard and Reserve forces mobilized for more
than 90 days in the war on terror by 40 to 80 percent,
depending on the length of their mobilization. Congress
must pass this piece of legislation. (Applause.) This administration
stands for the Guard and its family. And we do so because
we need the service of Guardsmen and women, because of
the times we live in. These are dangerous times. My most
solemn duty as the President is to protect the American
people. If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this
decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not
going to happen on my watch. (Applause.)
Since that terrible morning three years ago, America has
been at war. We fought the terrorists across the earth
-- not for pride, not for power, but because the lives
of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear: we're
defending the homeland, we're transforming our military,
we're strengthening our intelligence services. We're staying
on the offensive. We will strike the terrorists abroad
so they can't come here and hurt us. (Applause.) We will
advance liberty in the broader Middle East and around the
world, because freedom will bring a future of hope and
peace we all long for. And we will prevail. (Applause.)
Our strategy is succeeding. Four years ago, Afghanistan
was the home base of al Qaeda, Pakistan was a transit point
for terrorist groups, Saudi Arabia was fertile ground for
terrorist fundraising, Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear
weapons, Iraq was a gathering threat, and al Qaeda was
largely unchallenged as it planned attacks. Because we
acted, the government of a free Afghanistan is fighting
terror, Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders, Saudi
is making raids and arrests, Libya is dismantling its weapons
programs, the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom,
and more than three-quarters of al Qaeda's key members
and associates have been detained or killed. (Applause.)
We have led, many have joined, and America and the world
are safer. (Applause.)
All this progress involved careful diplomacy, clear moral
purpose, and some tough decisions. And the toughest came
on Iraq. We knew Saddam Hussein's record of aggression
and support for terror. Remember, he housed Abu Nidal --
he's the guy that killed Leon Klinghoffer -- housed him
and his associates. Zarqawi was in and out of Baghdad.
He's the fellow who cuts people's heads off and hopes we
cringe and shirk our duty. Saddam paid the families of
suicide bombers. We knew his long history of pursuing,
and even using, weapons of mass destruction. And we know
that after September the 11th, our country must think differently.
We must take threats seriously, before they fully materialize.
(Applause.)
In Saddam Hussein, we saw a threat. So I went to the United
States Congress. Members of both political parties -- including
my opponent and his running mate -- looked at the same
intelligence, remembered the same history we remembered,
and concluded that Saddam Hussein was a threat and they
authorized the use of force. Before the Commander-in-Chief
commits troops into harm's way, we must try all avenues
to deal with the threat. I was hopeful that diplomacy would
work, that why I went to the United Nations.
The U.N. Security Council looked at the same intelligence
we looked at, remembered the same history we remembered,
and came to this conclusion. They said to Saddam Hussein
by a 15 to nothing vote in the U.N. Security Council: disclose,
disarm or face serious consequences. As he had for over
a decade, Saddam Hussein ignored the demands of the world.
Matter of fact, when they sent inspectors into his country,
he systematically deceived them. It was clear to me diplomacy
wasn't working. So I had a choice to make: Do I forget
the lessons of September the 11th and take the word of
a madman -- or take action necessary to defend America?
Given that choice, I will defend America every time. (Applause.)
Because we acted -- because we acted to defend our country,
more than 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq are
free. It wasn't all that long ago that many young girls
weren't allowed to go to school in Afghanistan, because
of the dark vision of the Taliban. Wasn't all that long
ago that the moms were taken to a sports stadium and executed
because they wouldn't toe the line of these barbaric people.
And today, over 10 million Afghanistan citizens -- 41
percent of whom are women -- are registered to vote in
the upcoming presidential elections. (Applause.) Despite
ongoing violence in Iraq, that country now has a strong
Prime Minister, a national council, and national elections
are scheduled in January. The world is changing for the
better. Our nation is standing with the people of Afghanistan
and Iraq, because when America gives its word, America
must keep its word. (Applause.)
We're also serving a vital and historic cause that'll
make our country safer. Free societies in the Middle East
will be hopeful societies, which no longer feed resentments
and breed violence for export. Free governments in the
Middle East will fight terrorists instead of harboring
them, and that helps us keep the peace. So our mission
in Afghanistan and Iraq is clear: We'll help new leaders
to train their armies, move toward elections, and get on
the path of stability and democracy as quickly as possible.
And then our troops will return home with the honor they
deserve. (Applause.)
I have made a pledge to those who wear the uniform that
they will have the resources and the tools they need to
do their jobs. That's why I went to the United States Congress
last September and requested $87 billion for vital funding
-- funding for our troops in harm's way, funding for those
who wear the uniform of America in Afghanistan and Iraq.
I was pleased with the overwhelming bipartisan support
for this important funding request. Matter of fact, the
support was so strong, that only 12 members of the United
States Senate voted against it. Two of whom are my opponent
and his running mate.
They asked him why and he said: Well, I actually did vote
for the $87 billion, before I voted against it. Then they
said, well, they pressed him for it, he said he was proud
of his vote. And finally he said the whole thing was a
complicated matter. There's nothing complicated about supporting
our troops in combat. (Applause.)
Last week -- last week my opponent questioned the cost
of our operations in Iraq, and said the money could have
been better spent elsewhere. The problem is, just last
summer he had a completely different view. Asked whether
he believed we should reduce funding for operations in
Iraq, my opponent at the time replied: No. I think we should
increase it. Asked by how much, he said: By whatever number
of billion dollars it takes to win; it is critical that
the United States of America be successful in Iraq.
What's critical is that the President of the United States
speak clearly and consistently at this time of great threat
in our world, and not change positions because of expediency
or pressure. Our troops, our friends and allies, and our
enemies must know where America stands -- and that America
will stand firm. (Applause.) We cannot waver -- we cannot
waver because our enemies will not waver. As we saw with
such horror on September the 11th, as the people of Russia
saw in the terrible massacre of innocent children there,
we are up against people who show no shame, no remorse,
no hint of humanity -- and we must confront them clearly
and consistently -- not just some of the time, but all
of the time. (Applause.)
Our troops understand the importance of our mission. Sergeant
Bob Kells returned from Iraq a few months ago, where he
was deployed with the Rhode Island National Guard. "We
saw what [Saddam Hussein] did to these people," he
says. "We saw the graves. The people would lead us
to them. [Now] they're free. They never had that before.
And we did it for them." He says of the insurgents
and terrorists we are fighting in Iraq today, "they
want us out. But they're a minority. The Iraqi people want
democracy. The [insurgents] are absolute cowards. They
fight behind women and children -- but better fighting
them there, than over here."
Sergeant Kells is correct. Our mission in Iraq is critical.
And our men and women in uniform -- active, Guard, and
Reserve -- are doing a superb job for America. (Applause.)
Because of your service and sacrifice, we're defeating
the terrorists where they live, and that makes us safer.
Because of you, women in Afghanistan are no longer shot
and whipped in public. Because of you, the people of Iraq
no longer fear being executed and left in mass graves.
Because of you, the world is more just and more peaceful.
(Applause.)
Others are helping us. We put together alliance to help
us in the cause of freedom and peace. There's nearly 40
nations involved in Afghanistan, and some 30 nations involved
in Iraq. I'll continue to work with our allies and friends,
but I will never turn over America's national security
decisions to leaders of other countries. (Applause.)
I believe in the transformational power of liberty. The
wisest use of American strength is to advance freedom.
One of the people with whom I've spent a lot of time is
Prime Minister Koizumi, of Japan. We're friends. We talk
a lot. It's amazing, though, to be having these discussions
with Prime Minister Koizumi, because it wasn't all that
long ago in the march of history that we were at war with
Japan. They were a sworn enemy. My dad, I suspect others'
dads and granddads fought against the Japanese.
But because of people like Harry Truman and other Americans,
after World War II, people who understood that liberty
could transform an enemy into an ally, because they doubted
-- they overcame the doubters, because they worked to build
a democracy in Japan, today I sit down at the table with
Prime Minister Koizumi, talking about the peace. Liberty
is powerful. Liberty can change nations. Some day, an American
President will be sitting down with a duly elected leader
of Iraq, talking about the peace and our children and grandchildren
will be better off for it. (Applause.)
I believe that millions in the Middle East plead in silence
for their liberty. I believe that if given the chance,
they will embrace the most honorable form of government
ever devised by man. I believe this because freedom is
not America's gift to the world -- freedom is the Almighty
God's gift to each man and woman in this world. (Applause.)
For all Americans, these years in our history will always
stand apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation,
when little is expected of leaders. This isn't one of those
times. This is a time when we need firm resolve, clear
vision, and deep faith in the values that make us a great
nation.
None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended
and another began. Three years ago today, on September
the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers.
It's a day I'll never forget. There were workers in hard
hats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs: Whatever
it takes. I was trying to do my best to console and thank
the rescuers. A guy grabbed me by the arm, he looks me
straight in the eye and he says: Do not let me down. I
wake up every morning thinking about how to better protect
America. I will never relent in defending our country,
whatever it takes. (Applause.)
And I know -- and I know that is your commitment, as well.
You've shown it by your commitment to service, your standards
of honor and your performance of duty. America's citizen
soldiers reflect great credit on our military, and on our
country. And I am here to thank you for your service.
May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United
States of America. (Applause.)
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