    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [October 19, 2003]
    [Pages 1359-1361]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters in Bangkok
    October 19, 2003

        Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. Thank you very much. Thank you
    very much. General Thammarak,
    commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, members of the Royal Thai
    Army, veterans, members of the United States military, distinguished
    guests and citizens of Thailand, Mrs. Bush and I
    appreciate your kind welcome to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. We are
    honored to be here.
        We're honored to be in the Kingdom of Thailand. Today I'm pleased to
    convey the respect of the American Armed Forces and the good wishes of
    the American people. I'm grateful to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen
    for inviting us to this ancient and beautiful land.
        Earlier today I met with Prime Minister Thaksin, and I was proud to reaffirm the great friendship
    between our nations. We share a belief in democracy and human rights and
    ethnic and religious tolerance. We also share a willingness to defend
    those values in times of danger. Our alliance of conviction is also an
    alliance of courage.
        The Thai people have proven your commitment to freedom many times.
    With us today are members of the Free Thai Movement, who showed such
    fierce courage during World War II. Other veterans have served in Korea
    and Vietnam, where the Americans and Thais fought and died together, and
    during the cold war, when our partnership was so vital to the stability
    of Asia. All the veterans hold an honored place in a great alliance, and
    I salute your service.
        Today, our nations are challenged once again. We're threatened by
    ruthless enemies unlike others we have faced. Terrorist groups hide in
    many countries. They emerge to kill the innocent. They seek weapons to
    kill on a massive scale. One terrorist camp in the mountains of central
    Asia can bring horror to innocent people living far away, whether
    they're in Bali, in Riyadh, or in New York City. One murderous dictator
    pursuing weapons of mass destruction and cultivating ties to terror
    could threaten the lives of millions.
        We must fight terrorism on many fronts. We must stay on the
    offensive until the terrorist threat is fully and finally defeated. To
    win the war on terror, we must hunt

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    a scattered and resourceful enemy in dark corners around the world. We
    must break up their cells, shut off their sources of money. We must
    oppose the propaganda of hatred that feeds their cause. In the nations
    where resentment and terrorism have taken root, we must encourage the
    alternative of progress and tolerance and freedom that leads to peace.
        Nations that choose to fight terror are defending their own safety
    and securing the peace of all mankind. The United States of America has
    made its choice. The Kingdom of Thailand has made its choice. We will
    meet this danger and overcome this evil. Whatever is asked of us, no
    matter how long it takes, we will push on until our work is done.
        Three months after my country was attacked on September the 11th,
    2001, Prime Minister Thaksin came to
    America and offered Thailand's help in the war on terror. Since then,
    Thailand has committed military forces outside Southeast Asia for the
    first time in more than 50 years. Some of you have just returned from
    Afghanistan, where you gave many months of service. Thai engineers
    rebuilt Afghanistan's national airfield and helped restore much of that
    country's infrastructure. And the Afghan people and the American people
    are grateful for your service. The Thai task force is a vital part of
    the multinational division in Karbala, Iraq, once again helping a
    shattered country rebuild after years of oppression.
        Inside your own country, you are pursuing dangerous terrorists and
    finding them, and America thanks you for ending the lethal career of the
    terrorist Hambali, who
    is suspected of planning the attack on Bali and other acts of terror.
    Thailand pledged to fight the war on terror, and that pledge is being
    honored in full.
        Thailand is also a force of good throughout Southeast Asia. When
    East Timor was torn by violence, Thai forces joined with Americans and
    Australians to bring stability, and they helped establish the world's
    newest nation. This important work has brought dignity to the people of
    East Timor and greater security to this region.
        Together, our two nations are fighting the drug trade by sharing
    intelligence that helps Thai law enforcement officials interdict
    shipments and catch drug traffickers. We're fighting the trafficking in
    human beings to abolish a modern form of slavery.
        America supports your country's humane efforts to find, defuse, and
    dispose of landmines. And having cooperated for decades to fight
    hepatitis and malaria, we're now working together to turn the tide
    against AIDS.
        America and Thailand understand that trade and growth are the only
    sure ways to spread prosperity and lift people and nations out of
    poverty. And this morning I'm pleased to announce that the United States
    and Thailand are planning to launch negotiations toward a free trade
    agreement. This region and our world must one day trade in freedom.
        In all our common efforts, we are confident of the outcome. We're
    confident in the power of freedom to overcome hatred and uplift whole
    nations. We're confident in the strength of our alliance, and I have
    acted to designate Thailand a major non-NATO ally of the United States.
    And we're confident in the character of those who defend us. American
    and Thai forces serve together and train together and study at military
    academies in each other's countries. We have come to know and respect
    one another.
        America remembers and honors a young man named Kemaphoom
    Chanawongse, known to his
    family and friends as Ahn. He was born in Bangkok, the grandson of a
    Royal Thai Air Force veteran. He moved to America when he was 9 years
    old, fulfilled his great ambition to become a United States Marine. Ahn
    was part of the force that defeated the army of Saddam Hussein. He was killed in action near An Nasariyah. This son of
    Thailand, this American patriot, was buried among America's

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    greatest military heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. This brave
    marine brought honor to the Nation he served and honor to the nation of
    his birth.
        Thailand and the United States lie thousands of miles apart. Yet in
    the ideals we serve, we will always be close. America is grateful for
    your friendship. We respect the skill and valor of the Royal Thai
    military, and we're proud to stand by your side in the cause of peace.
    May God bless you.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:40 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Gen. (Ret.) Thammarak Isarangkun an Ayuttha, Thailand's Minister of
    Defense; King Phumiphon Adunyadet, Queen Sirikit, and Prime Minister
    Thaksin Chinnawat of Thailand; Nurjaman Riduan Isamuddin (known as
    Hambali), Al Qaida's chief operational planner in Southeast Asia; and
    former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.