    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [March 31, 2003]
    [Pages 312-316]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Port of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    March 31, 2003

        Thank you very much for that warm welcome. It is an honor to be here
    at one of our Nation's busiest ports and one of our country's greatest
    cities.
        Philadelphia and its port shows the hardworking spirit of this
    country. It speaks to our economic might. Most importantly, Philadelphia
    talks about a proud history. After all, it was in this place that we
    first declared our dedication to liberty. We still believe that all men
    are created equal and have the right to be free. And that is true for
    Americans, and that is true for men and women in Iraq.
        We know that liberty must be defended by every generation. Today, in
    the Middle

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    East and on other fronts in the war on terror, this generation of
    Americans is fighting bravely in the cause of freedom. And that includes
    the good people of the United States Coast Guard.
        The men and women of our Coast Guard are showing once again that you
    are ``always ready.'' You're always ready to serve with courage and
    excellence. You are always ready to place your country's safety above
    your own. You shield your fellow Americans from the danger of this
    world, and America is grateful.
        It's my honor to be here with Tom Ridge, the
    first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. People of
    Pennsylvania trained him well. [Laughter] He's doing a fabulous job, and
    I appreciate his service.
        I'm honored to be with the leadership of the United States Coast
    Guard: Admiral Tom Collins; Vice Admiral
    Jim Hull. Most importantly, I'm glad to be
    with the men and women who proudly wear the uniform of the United States
    Coast Guard.
        I appreciate the Members of the United States Congress who have
    joined us here: Senator Arlen Specter--thank
    you for coming, Senator Specter; Members of Congress Robert Brady and Jim Gerlach, Jim
    Greenwood, Don Sherwood, and Joe Hoeffel. Thank you
    all very much for being here. I appreciate you coming.
        Members from the statehouse, the State government, are here: the
    Lieutenant Governor Baker Knoll, Attorney
    General Fisher  Michael are with us today. Thank
    you both for coming. And the mayor came, Mayor Street. Thank you, I'm honored you're here, Mr. Mayor. I
    appreciate you coming.
        I also want to thank employees of the Bureau of Customs and Border
    Protection for being here, as well as my Federal employees, Federal
    workers of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs. I'm honored to have
    you here. I want to thank you for your dedication and hard work for our
    Government.
        Today I had the honor of meeting John Susanin. John is a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He, like
    thousands of our fellow citizens all across the country, are willing to
    dedicate time to help in this cause of making sure our homeland is
    secure. The Red Cross, American Red Cross, plays a vital role. And I
    want to thank John for his service to our community.
        There's a lot of room for opportunity for our fellow citizens,
    people who want to do something for America. You can volunteer. You can
    volunteer to help watch neighborhoods. You can volunteer to help
    neighborhoods become better prepared. You can volunteer for the Red
    Cross. You could love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved
    yourself. It's happening all across America. And John, thank you for
    coming.
        And I also want to thank Manny Greenwald
    for being here as well. Manny is of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. I
    was briefed today by Admiral Hull, who told me there's auxiliarists all
    across the country who are helping the Coast Guard achieve their vital
    mission. I want to thank all the Mannys across America who are helping
    our Coast Guard do its job. Manny's only 92 years old--[laughter]--and
    he's still working hard.
        This is a time of great consequence for our country. Right now, men
    and women from every part of America, supported by a strong coalition,
    are fighting to disarm a dangerous regime and to liberate an oppressed
    people.
        It has been 11 days since the major ground war began. In this short
    time, our troops have performed brilliantly, with skill and with
    bravery. They make us proud. In 11 days, coalition forces have taken
    control of most of western and southern Iraq. In 11 days, we've seized
    key bridges, opened a northern front, achieved--nearly achieved complete
    air superiority, and are delivering tons of humanitarian aid. By quick
    and decisive action, our troops are preventing Saddam Hussein from destroying the Iraqi

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    people's oilfields. Our forces moved into Iraqi missile launch areas
    that threatened neighboring countries. Many dangers lie ahead, but day
    by day, we are moving closer to Baghdad. Day by day, we are moving
    closer to victory.
        Our victory will mean the end of a tyrant who rules by fear and
    torture. Our victory will remove a sponsor of terror armed with weapons
    of terror. Our victory will uphold the just demands of the United
    Nations and the civilized world. And when victory comes, it will be
    shared by the long-suffering people of Iraq, who deserve freedom and
    dignity.
        The dictator's regime has ruled by fear and continues to use fear as
    a tool of domination to the end. Many Iraqis have been ordered to fight
    or die by Saddam's death squads. Others are pressed into service by
    threats against their children. Iraqi civilians attempting to flee to
    liberated areas have been shot and shelled from behind by
    Saddam's thugs. Schools and hospitals have
    been used to store military equipment. They serve as bases for military
    operations. Iraqis who show friendship toward coalition troops are
    murdered in cold blood by the regime's enforcers.
        The people of Iraq have lived in this nightmare world for more than
    two decades. It is understandable that fear and distrust run deep. Yet,
    here in the city where America itself gained freedom, I give this pledge
    to the citizens of Iraq: We're coming with a mighty force to end the
    reign of your oppressors. We are coming to bring you food and medicine
    and a better life. And we are coming, and we will not stop. We will not
    relent until your country is free.
        In Operation Iraqi Freedom, our Coast Guard is playing a critical
    role. We have sent many Coast Guard cutters and over 1,000 of our finest
    active duty and reserve members to the Persian Gulf and surrounding
    waters. Coast Guard personnel are protecting key ports and Iraqi oil
    platforms. They're detaining prisoners of war. Members of the Coast
    Guard are performing their duties with bravery and excellence, and
    America appreciates your fine service.
        In this time of war, the Coast Guard's service in America's waters
    is more important than ever. We still count on you to rescue fishermen
    and others at sea. We still count on you to enforce maritime law and to
    fight drug smuggling. Yet now, as part of the Department of Homeland
    Security, you have taken on a new and vital mission, a mission as
    important as any in your 213-year history, the mission of defending our
    country against terrorist attack. In the finest traditions of the Coast
    Guard, you are rising to the challenge.
        This is a vital task and a massive undertaking. More than 90 percent
    of our combat materials and our trade moves by sea. At this port alone,
    thousands of cargo containers arrive every day. Your job of protecting
    our Nation's port is essential to our economic security and to our
    national security.
        The appropriations bill I signed into law earlier this year
    increased Coast Guard funding to over $6 billion, the highest level
    ever. We're directing new resources to pay for better intelligence
    capabilities, new technologies to monitor and safeguard our ports, a
    more modern fleet of Coast Guard cutters and aircraft, and up to 700 new
    smaller, faster response boats that will further protect America's
    shorelines. By giving the Coast Guard new resources, we are supporting
    the men and women who defend us all.
        All Americans understand that we face a continuing threat of
    terrorism. We know that our enemies are desperate. We know that they're
    dangerous. The dying regime in Iraq may try to bring terror to our
    shores. Other parts of the global terror network may view this as a
    moment to strike, thinking that we're distracted. They're wrong.

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        We are meeting threats and acting to prevent dangers. The United
    States and allied troops are shattering the Al Qaida network. We're
    hunting them down, one at a time. We're finding them. We're
    interrogating them, and we're bringing them to justice. We will end the
    Iraqi regime, an ally of terrorist groups and a producer of weapons of
    mass destruction.
        And here at home, we're acting. Shortly before we began the
    liberation of Iraq, we launched Operation Liberty Shield to implement
    additional measures to defend the American homeland against terrorist
    attacks.
        This nationwide effort is focused on five specific areas. First, we
    are taking even greater security measures at our borders and ports. We
    have relocated hundreds of security personnel on our borders. We've
    added additional reconnaissance aircraft patrols at our borders. And the
    Coast Guard is monitoring ports for suspicious activity. This Nation is
    determined: Friends and immigrants will always be welcome in this land.
    Yet we will use all our power to keep out the terrorists and the
    criminals so they can't hurt our citizens.
        Second, we are strengthening protections throughout our national
    transportation system. We're enforcing temporary flight restrictions
    over some of our major cities. We've stepped up surveillance of
    hazardous material shipments within our country and taken measures to
    keep them away from places where large numbers of people gather. This
    Nation is determined: We will do all in our power to make sure our skies
    and rails and roads are safe from terror.
        Third, we've increased surveillance of suspected terrorists. Certain
    individuals with ties to Iraqi intelligence services have been ordered
    out of this country. We're interviewing Iraqi-born individuals on a
    voluntary basis for two reasons, to gain information on possible
    terrorist plans and to make sure they've not experienced discrimination
    or hate crimes. This Nation is determined: Iraqi Americans will be
    protected, and enemy agents will be stopped.
        Fourth, under Operation Liberty Shield, we are guarding our Nation's
    most important infrastructure with greater vigilance. Under the
    direction of our Governors, thousands of National Guardsmen and State
    police officers are protecting chemical facilities and nuclear power
    sites, key electrical grids, and other potential targets. This country
    is determined: We will keep up our guard and do all we can to protect
    our fellow citizens.
        And finally, we're strengthening the preparedness of our public
    health system. The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human
    Services have increased field inspections of livestock and crops. Public
    health officials have increased medical surveillance in major cities.
    This Nation is determined: We will stand watch against the dangers of
    the new era.
        After our Nation was attacked on September the 11th, 2001, America
    made a decision: We will not wait for our enemies to strike before we
    act against them. We're not going to permit terrorists and terror states
    to plot and plan and grow in strength while we do nothing.
        The actions we're taking in Operation Liberty Shield are making this
    Nation more secure. And the actions we're taking abroad against a terror
    network and against the regime in Iraq are removing a grave danger to
    all free nations. In every case, by acting today, we are saving
    countless lives in the future.
        America has many advantages in this war on terror. We have resolute
    citizens. We're vigilant and know that freedom must be defended. We have
    a just cause to guide us, and we have the strength and character of the
    men and women who serve our country.
        You in the Coast Guard take rightful pride in the uniform you wear
    and the mission you have accepted. You and all who

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    serve in our military are ready for any challenge. And by your skill and
    by your courage, we will prevail.
        May God bless you, and may God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:50 p.m. at the U.S. Coast Guard Marine
    Safety Office. In his remarks, he referred to Adm. Thomas H. Collins,
    commandant, and Vice Adm. James D. Hull, Atlantic Area commander, U.S.
    Coast Guard; Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll and State Attorney General
    D. Michael Fisher of Pennsylvania; Mayor John F. Street of Philadelphia;
    and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary
    also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.