[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.