[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.