[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
[October 19, 2002]
[Pages 1847-1848]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Videotaped Remarks to the People of Australia
 October 19, 2002

    This Sunday is a day of national mourning in Australia, a day in 
which our friends mourn the needless loss of life. You come

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together as a nation to grieve for the victims of those who were killed 
by the murderers in Indonesia. And our country grieves with you, and we 
suffer with you. And we send our prayers to the families who cry, and we 
send our prayers for a speedy recovery for the injured.
    Together we face an enemy which does not value innocent life, an 
enemy which tries to terrorize the free world into inaction. They will 
fail. Together we will hunt down the killers so that there's justice in 
the world. Together we will fight terror so as to keep the peace and to 
make the world more free.
    America and Australia are close friends. We value our friendship. We 
remember so well after September the 11th, 2001, your prayers, your 
sympathies, your strong support. And we will never forget it.
    On this sad day, on this day of mourning, America is with you in 
spirit. May God bless the victims and their families. May God heal the 
injured. And may God continue to bless Australia.

Note: The President's remarks were videotaped at approximately 1 p.m. on 
October 18 in Rochester, MN, for later broadcast, and the transcript was 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary on October 19.