    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [November 27, 2002]
    [Pages 2139-2140]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2139]]

    Remarks on Signing the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
    2003
    November 27, 2002

        Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Today I sign an act of
    Congress authorizing intelligence programs vital to our security and
    creating a national commission to investigate the events of September
    the 11th, 2001, and the years that led up to that event. This commission
    will help me and future Presidents to understand the methods of
    America's enemies and the nature of the threats we face.
        Today I'm pleased to announce my choice for commission Chairman, Dr.
    Henry Kissinger. Dr. Kissinger is one of our
    Nation's most accomplished and respected public servants. He worked here
    at the White House as National Security Adviser, represented America
    abroad as the Secretary of State for two Presidents. He is a
    distinguished author, academic, Army veteran, and winner of the Nobel
    Peace Prize. He's also spent much of his life in New York, feels deeply
    the loss that came to that city and to our country. Dr. Kissinger will
    bring broad experience, clear thinking, and careful judgment to this
    important task.
        Mr. Secretary, thank you for returning
    to the service of your Nation.
        Dr. Kissinger and I share the same
    commitments. His investigation should carefully examine all the evidence
    and follow all the facts, wherever they lead. We must uncover every
    detail and learn every lesson of September the 11th. My administration
    will continue to act on the lessons we've learned so far to better
    protect the people of this country. It's our most solemn duty.
        I want to thank the congressional leaders for their work on this
    commission and on the broader legislation as well. The law I sign today
    directs new funds and new focus to the task of collecting vital
    intelligence on terrorist threats and on weapons of mass production--
    weapons proliferation. In a period of rapidly changing dangers, we will
    continue to work with the Congress to get the resources we need to
    gather information so we can better defend America.
        I want to thank the Members of Congress who are with us today, who
    worked hard to make this commission a reality: Senator Joe Lieberman--thank you, Senator; Congressman Porter
    Goss; Tim Roemer;
    Chris Shays; and Chris Smith--all distinguished Members of the United States
    Congress, all who join thousands of Americans who refuse to forget that
    which took place on September the 11th, 2001.
        Above all, I want to thank the family members of the people who were
    killed on September the 11th, family members who are here today and
    others around the country. In working for this commission, you have been
    motivated by a noble goal: You want to spare other Americans the kind of
    suffering you faced. I appreciate that sentiment. America is grateful.
        The Nation's families gather during holidays. You need to know that
    there's a lot of people who continue to pray for you. There's a lot of
    people that you've never seen before--you don't have any ideas of what
    their names are--they share your grief. I hope that provides some
    comfort.
        September the 11th marked a dividing line in the life of our Nation.
    The events of a single morning dramatically demonstrated America's
    vulnerability to the threats of a new era. Oceans that separated us from
    other continents no longer separate us from danger. America's enemies
    are still determined to inflict great harm. We have a duty--a solemn
    duty--to do everything we can to protect this country.
        We've acted to reduce the Nation's vulnerabilities. We're stepping
    up security and transportation systems at port of entries and on our
    borders. We've made important reforms in Federal law enforcement,
    ensuring that the FBI's primary focus now is

    [[Page 2140]]

    the prevention of future attack. We're doing a better job of sharing
    information among agencies. By legislation I signed this week, we've
    created a Department of Homeland Security to involve the largest
    reorganization of the Federal Government in more than a half a century,
    with the goal of protecting America.
        And overseas we're chasing the killers down, one person at a time--
    one at a time. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the Al Qaida
    network. There is no cave dark enough or deep enough to hide from the
    justice of the United States of America. And it doesn't matter how long
    it takes; this Nation will stay on course to find them, to bring them to
    justice, to make sure America's homeland is secure.
        These essential steps do not complete our work, and that's important
    for America to know. In the war against terror, our goal is to take
    every measure that is necessary, to gather all information that is
    available and gain every advantage that is possible. An aggressive
    investigation into September the 11th, with a responsible concern for
    sensitive information that will allow us to win the war on terror, will
    contribute to the security of this country.
        This commission's findings may show a need for further reform in
    intelligence gathering and other areas. I'm confident that under Dr.
    Kissinger's leadership, the commission's
    work will be thorough. The recommendations will be helpful and useful.
        I also hope that the commission will act quickly and issue its
    report prior to the 18-month deadline embodied in the legislation. After
    all, if there's changes that need to be made, we need to know them as
    soon as possible, for the security of our country. The sooner we have
    the commission's conclusions, the sooner this administration will act on
    them.
        And as a people, Americans are always looking forward. As a nation,
    we're working every day to build a future that is peaceful and secure.
    To reach this goal we must learn all about the past that we can. So with
    this commission we have formed today, America will learn more about the
    evil that was done to us, and the understanding we will gain will serve
    us for years to come. This commission is not only important for this
    administration; this commission will be important for future
    administrations, until the world is secure from the evildoers that hate
    what we stand for.
        I ask the Members of Congress that are here today to please come up
    and join me as I sign this important legislation.
        May God bless the families of those who suffered on September the
    11th. May God bless you today. May God bless you for long days to come,
    and may God continue to bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:58 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. H.R. 4628, approved November 27, was assigned Public Law
    No. 107-306.