    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [September 26, 2001]
    [Pages 1165-1166]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1165]]

    Remarks to Central Intelligence Agency Employees in Langley, Virginia
    September 26, 2001

        Thank you all very much. Well, George,
    thank you very much, and thanks for inviting me back. [Laughter] There
    is no question that I am in the hall of patriots, and I've come to say a
    couple of things to you.
        First, thanks for your hard work. You know, George and I have been spending a lot of quality time together.
    [Laughter] There's a reason. I've got a lot of confidence in him, and
    I've got a lot of confidence in the CIA, and so should America.
        It's important for America to realize that there are men and women
    who are spending hours on the task of making sure our country remains
    free; men and women of the CIA who are sleeping on the floor, eating
    cold pizza--[laughter]--calling their kids on the phone, saying, ``Well,
    I won't be able to tuck you in tonight,'' because they love America. And
    I'm here to thank everybody who loves America in this building. And I
    want to thank you for what you're doing.
        We are on a mission to make sure that freedom is enduring. We're on
    a mission to say to the rest of the world, ``Come with us--come with us;
    stand by our side to defeat the evildoers who would like to rid the
    world of freedom as we know it.'' There is no better institute to be
    working with than the Central Intelligence Agency, which serves as our
    ears and our eyes all around the world.
        This is a war that is unlike any other war that our Nation is used
    to. It's a war of a series of battles that sometimes we'll see the
    fruits of our labors, and sometimes we won't. It's a war that's going to
    require cooperation with our friends. It is a war that requires the best
    of intelligence. You see, the enemy is sometimes hard to find; they like
    to hide. They think they can hide, but we know better.
        This is a war that not only says to those who believe they can
    disrupt American lives--or for that matter, any society that believes in
    freedom lives--it's also a war that declares a new declaration, that
    says, if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist;
    if you provide safe haven to a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the
    terrorist; if you fund a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a
    terrorist.
        And in order to make sure that we're able to conduct a winning
    victory, we've got to have the best intelligence we can possibly have.
    And my report to the Nation is, we've got the best intelligence we can
    possibly have, thanks to the men and women of the CIA.
        The cooperation with Capitol Hill is unique and, I hope, lasting. I
    can't tell you how much I appreciate the work of Senator
    Daschle and Senator Lott, Speaker Hastert and
    Leader Gephardt. There's deep concern
    amongst Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to do what's right for
    America--is to come together to provide the necessary support for an
    effective war.
        And that includes making sure that the CIA is well funded, well
    staffed, has got the latest in technology. I believe we can work
    together to make sure that that's the case. After all, as America is
    learning, the CIA is on the frontline of making sure our victory will be
    secure.
        I intend to continue to work with Congress to make sure that our law
    enforcement officials at home have got the tools necessary--obviously,
    within the confines of our Constitution--to make sure the homeland is
    secure, to make sure America can live as peacefully as possible, to make
    sure that we run down every threat, take serious every incident. And
    we've got to make sure as well that those who work for the Nation
    overseas have got the best available technologies and the best tools and
    the best funding possible.

    [[Page 1166]]

        There is a good spirit in Capitol Hill because Americans want to
    win. They want to win the first war of the 21st century. And win we
    must. We have no choice; we can't relent.
        Now, there's going to be a time, hopefully in the near future, where
    people say, ``Gosh, my life is almost normal. September 11th is a sad
    memory, but it's a memory.'' But those of us on the frontlines of this
    war must never forget September 11th. And that includes the men and
    women of the CIA. We must never forget that this is a long struggle,
    that there are evil people in the world who hate America. And we won't
    relent.
        The folks who conducted the act on our country on September 11th
    made a big mistake. They underestimated America. They underestimated our
    resolve, our determination, our love for freedom. They misunderestimated
    the fact that we love a neighbor in need. They misunderestimated the
    compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and
    determination of the Commander in Chief, too.
        So anyway, I was sitting around having coffee with George and Michael--[laughter]--I said, ``I think I'd like
    to come out to thank people once again. I'd like to come out to the CIA,
    the center of great Americans, to thank you for your work.'' I know how
    hard you're working. And I hope all the Americans who are listening to
    this TV broadcast understand how hard you're working, too. You're giving
    your best shot, long hours, all your brainpower, to win a war that we're
    going to win. And I can't thank you enough on behalf of the American
    people.
        Keep doing it. America relies upon your intelligence and your
    judgment. America relies upon our capacity to work together as a nation
    to do what the American people expect. They expect a 100-percent effort,
    a full-time, no-stop effort, on not only securing our homeland but to
    bringing to justice terrorists, no matter where they live, no matter
    where they hide. And that's exactly what we're going to do.
        Thank you very much. May God bless your work, and may God bless
    America. Go back to work.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:23 p.m. in the headquarters building
    lobby at the George Bush Center for Intelligence. In his remarks, he
    referred to George J. Tenet, Director of Central Intelligence. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks.