    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [November 21, 2001]
    [Pages 1439-1442]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Community at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
    November 21, 2001

        The President. Thank you all very much. At ease. Thank you all very
    much. Laura and I are proud, really proud, to be with the men and women
    of the finest army in the whole world. This Thanksgiving, Americans are
    especially thankful for our freedom, and we are especially thankful to
    you, the people who keep us free.
        I want to thank your general,
    ``Commander Cody,'' for his hospitality and for his leadership. I took a
    good look at him. I'm glad he's on my side, and I'm glad you are, as
    well. I want to thank General Ellis. General
    Ellis has got a huge job. We've called upon a good man to accomplish
    that job.
        I want to thank Sergeant Major Clifford West. I want to thank the Governors from the States represented
    here at Fort Campbell: Governor Paul Patton
    and Governor Don Sundquist, from Kentucky and
    Tennessee.
        I want to thank the Senators who are here with us from the two
    States: Senator Mitch McConnell, my good
    friend--I hope to see him in DC for a lot of years coming; and I want to
    thank Jim Bunning. He was telling me he thought
    my fastball, when I threw it at Yankee Stadium, had a little zip on it.
    Nothing like his fastballs. [Laughter] I want to thank Senator Fred
    Thompson and Senator Bill Frist, two fine United States Senators from Tennessee. I want
    to thank Congressman Ed Bryant from Tennessee for
    being here, as well. All of these men respect and support the United
    States military, and they represent the best of our country in the Halls
    of our Congress.
        Congressman Ed Whitfield, who represents
    this district, wanted to be here today, but he's spending the holiday
    with the U.S. service men and women from Kentucky who are stationed in
    Kosovo. They're in our prayers this Thanksgiving, as are all the troops
    overseas. And I want to thank Congressman Whitfield's dad, Mr. E.O.
    Whitfield, for coming here in his stead.

    [At this point, a woman cheered.]

        The President. Sounds like E.O. brought
    his wife. [Laughter]
        We're honored to be at the home of the 101st Airborne. I've got two
    words I

    [[Page 1440]]

    want to say to you: ``Air assault!'' I met some of you all when I
    visited Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, and some of you invited me to your
    home. I came, and I'm glad I'm here. I will always remember this as the
    day I ate turkey with the Screaming Eagles.
        More than 3,000 soldiers from this post have been deployed to Kosovo
    for 6-month rotations. They kept supplies away from rebels in Macedonia,
    made the recent election in Kosovo possible. I'm glad to report that all
    of them from this base will be home by Thanksgiving.
        And there are other fine units that call Fort Campbell home: the
    160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment; the 5th Special Forces
    Group; other essential groups that shall remain nameless. [Laughter]
        All Americans are especially grateful--especially grateful--for the
    sacrifice of our military families, the husbands and wives, the sons and
    daughters, the mothers and dads. Some of you have loved ones that are
    deployed or will be deployed far from home in a war against terror and
    evil. And our Nation and the world are counting on your loved ones.
    They're making us secure, and they are making us proud.
        Men and women of Fort Campbell, your country and your President are
    proud of you, as well. The 101st Airborne--the 101st Airborne is living
    out its motto; once again, you have a ``rendezvous with destiny.'' And
    so does our country. We're freedom's home and defender. And today, we're
    the target of freedom's enemies.
        Our enemies are evil, and they're ruthless. They have no conscience.
    They have no mercy. They have killed thousands of our citizens and seek
    to kill many more. They seek to overthrow friendly governments to force
    America to retreat from the world. They seek weapons of mass
    destruction. But we're seeking them. We're fighting them, and one by
    one, we're bringing them to justice.
        We fight now--this great Nation fights now to save ourselves and our
    children from living in a world of fear. We fight now because we will
    not permit the terrorists, these vicious and evil men, to hijack a
    peaceful religion and to impose their will on America and the world. We
    fight now, and we will keep on fighting until our victory is complete.
        We cannot know every turn this war will take. But I'm confident of
    the outcome. I believe in the strong resolve of the American people. I
    believe good triumphs over evil, and I believe in the fearless hearts of
    the United States military.
        We fight the terrorists, and we fight all of those who give them
    aid. America has a message for the nations of the world: If you harbor
    terrorists, you are terrorists; if you train or arm a terrorist, you are
    a terrorist; if you feed a terrorist or fund a terrorist, you're a
    terrorist, and you will be held accountable by the United States and our
    friends.
        The Taliban know that. Our military forces and the forces of our
    allies, and many Afghans seeking a better future, are liberating
    Afghanistan. And the Afghan people are celebrating. Today 27 of 30
    Afghanistan provinces are no longer under Taliban control. We've cut the
    Taliban and terrorists' lines of communications, and they're on the run.
        We've made a good start in Afghanistan; yet, there is still a lot to
    be done. There are still terrorists on the loose in Afghanistan, and we
    will find and destroy their network, piece by piece. The most difficult
    steps in this mission still lie ahead. Our enemies hide in sophisticated
    cave complexes, located in some of the most mountainous and rugged
    territory. These hideouts are heavily fortified and defended by fanatics
    who will fight to the death. Unlike efforts to liberate a town or
    destroy Taliban equipment, success against these cells may come more
    slowly. But we'll prevail. We'll prevail with a combination of good
    information, decisive action, and great military skill.
        The enemy--the enemy hopes they can hide until we tire. But we're
    going to prove

    [[Page 1441]]

    them wrong. We will never tire, and we will hunt them down.
        The Afghan people deserve a just and stable government. And we will
    work with the United Nations to help them build it. Our diplomats in the
    region, in Europe, in New York, and in Washington, are in communications
    with all parties. We're urging them to move quickly toward a government
    that is broadly based, multiethnic, and protects the rights and dignity
    of all Afghan citizens, including women.
        Winter is coming, and years of drought and Taliban misrule have
    placed many Afghans on the brink of starvation. We will work with the
    world to bring them food and medicine. While we fight evil, this great
    country will help those who suffer.
        Afghanistan is just the beginning on the war against terror. There
    are other terrorists who threaten America and our friends, and there are
    other nations willing to sponsor them. We will not be secure as a nation
    until all of these threats are defeated. Across the world and across the
    years, we will fight these evil ones, and we will win.
        Great causes are not easy causes. It was a long way from Bunker Hill
    to Yorktown. It was a long way for the 101st from Normandy to final
    victory over fascism in Europe. When wronged, our great Nation has
    always been patient and determined and relentless, and that's the way we
    are today. We have defeated enemies of freedom before, and we will
    defeat them again.
        And this struggle must be won at home, in our own cities, on our own
    soil. A lot of good people--police officers, FBI agents, intelligence
    agents, and health officials--are working hard to protect Americans from
    new threats. And Americans are being vigilant, themselves. No matter
    what lies ahead, we'll be alert; we'll be careful; and we'll never be
    intimidated. We're proud Americans, and we'll live like Americans: We'll
    travel; we'll build on our prosperity; we'll live the lives of free
    people.
        Yet, make no mistake about it: Wars are not won on the homefront
    alone. Wars are won by taking the fight to the enemy. America is not
    waiting for terrorists to try to strike us again. Wherever they hide,
    wherever they plot, we will strike the terrorists.
        This mission will require sacrifice by our men and women in uniform.
    America appreciates that sacrifice. And I make a promise in return: Our
    military will have everything you need to win in the long battle that
    lies ahead. You'll have every resource, every weapon, every possible
    tool to ensure full victory for the cause of freedom.
        These have been hard months for Americans. Yet, this Thanksgiving we
    have so much to be thankful for. We're thankful for the love of our
    families. We're thankful for the goodness and generosity of our fellow
    citizens. We're thankful for the freedoms of our country. And we're so
    very thankful to you, the men and women who wear our uniform.
        Thanks to you, the people of Afghanistan have the hope of a better
    life. Thanks to you, many Afghan women are walking in public again and
    walking with dignity. Thanks to you,
    eight humanitarian
    aid workers,
    including two
    Americans, are free today, instead of
    sitting in a Taliban jail. Thanks to you, every nation is seeing what
    will happen if you cast your lot with the terrorists. Thanks to you,
    there is less fear in the world and more freedom and more hope and a
    better chance for peace.
        Every one of you is dedicated to something greater than yourself.
    You put your country ahead of your comfort. You live by a code, and you
    fight for a cause. And I'm honored to be your Commander in Chief.
        Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
        The President. I want to thank you all for such a warm greeting. I
    want to thank your service to a great nation.
        May God bless the men and women who wear our uniform, and may God
    bless America.

    [[Page 1442]]

    Note: The President spoke at 12:48 p.m. at the parade grounds. In his
    remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. Richard A. Cody, USA, commanding
    general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Clifford R. West, USA, 101st Airborne
    Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell; Gen. Larry R. Ellis,
    commanding general, U.S. Army Forces Command; and rescued humanitarian
    aid workers Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry of the United States, Peter
    Bunch and Diana Thomas of Australia, and George Taubmann, Margrit
    Stebnar, Kati Jelinek, and Silke Duerrkopf of Germany.