    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [April 20, 2002]
    [Pages 644-645]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    April 20, 2002

        Good morning. This week Secretary of State Colin Powell returned from the Middle East and reported on his
    intensive and productive meetings.
        In this region, we are confronting hatred that is centuries old and
    disputes that have lingered for decades. Yet, America has a vision for
    peace, and by calling all the leaders of the Middle East to their
    responsibilities, Secretary Powell made
    progress toward peace.
        To defuse the current crisis, the Palestinian Authority must act on
    its words of condemnation against terror. Israel must continue its
    withdrawals. All Arab nations must confront terror in their own region.
    All parties must stop funding or inciting terror and must state clearly
    that a murderer is not a martyr; he or she is just a murderer.
        All parties must realize that the only long-term solution is for two
    states, Israel and Palestine, to live side by side in security and
    peace. This will require hard choices and real leadership by Israelis
    and Palestinians and their Arab neighbors.
        The time is now for all of us to make the choice for peace. America
    will continue to work toward this vision of peace in the Middle East,
    and America continues to press forward in our war against global terror.
    We will use every available tool to tighten the noose around the
    terrorists and their supporters. And when it comes to the threat of
    terror, the only path to safety is the path of action.
        In the days just after September the 11th, I told the American
    people our war against terrorism would be a different war, fought on
    many fronts. And we are making progress on many fronts. Yesterday the
    United States and the world's other leading industrialized nations
    blocked the financial assets of another 10 terrorists and terrorist
    organizations. This joint action among close allies is an important step
    in choking off the financial pipeline that pays for terrorist training
    and attacks.
        A total of 161 nations around the world have joined together to
    block more than $100 million of suspected terrorist assets. The United
    States also works with our friends and allies around the world to round
    up individual terrorists, such as Abu Zubaydah,
    a top Al Qaida leader captured in Pakistan. From Spain to Singapore, our
    partners are breaking up terrorist cells and disrupting their plans.
    Altogether, more than 1,600 terrorists and their supporters have been
    arrested or detained in 95 foreign nations.
        In Afghanistan, the United States and its partners are pressing
    forward with a military campaign against Al Qaida and the Taliban. More
    than a dozen of our NATO Allies are contributing forces to this fight.
    Right now, hundreds of Royal Marines from Great Britain are leading an
    operation to clear and seal off regions where our enemies are trying to
    regroup to commit murder and mayhem and to undermine Afghanistan's
    efforts to build a lasting peace.
        And we're working with nations such as Yemen, the Philippines, and
    Georgia that seek our help in training and equipping

    [[Page 645]]

    their military forces to fight terror in some of the world's distant
    corners.
        We're making progress. Yet, nothing about this war will be quick or
    easy. We face dangers and sacrifices ahead. America is ready; the morale
    of our military is high; the will of our people is strong. We are
    determined; we are steadfast; and we will continue for as long as it
    takes, until the mission is done.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:10 a.m. on April 19 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on April 20. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    April 19 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office
    of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of
    this address.