    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
    [September 14, 2004]
    [Pages 2055-2060]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the General Conference of the National Guard Association of
    the United States in Las Vegas, Nevada
    September 14, 2004

        Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. I am glad to join you
    here in Nevada. I'm also honored to be up here with the Governor. He said to remind you of an important thing here. He
    said, ``What happens in Vegas''--[laughter]--``stays in Vegas.''
    [Laughter] I hope you've enjoyed yourself in this fantastic part of our
    country. I'm honored to be invited to the 126th national conference.
    It's a pleasure to be with the brave men and women of the National
    Guard.
        As the General just said, you've had many famous Americans in your
    ranks, including men named Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, and Truman.
    Nineteen individuals have served both in the Guard and as President of
    the United States, and I am proud to be one of them.
        The men and women of the National Guard are deployed around the
    world today, fighting the forces of terror in Afghanistan and Iraq and
    helping Americans threatened with natural disasters, like hurricanes
    here at home. I am proud to be their Commander in Chief, and I respect
    and honor all of those who serve in the United States Armed Forces,
    active, Guard, and Reserve.
        I want to thank General Hargett for his
    leadership. I appreciate you for your invitation. I want to thank the
    Governor. I want to thank the Lieutenant
    Governor. I want to thank the attorney
    general, Brian Sandoval. I want to thank the
    secretary of state, Dean Heller, for joining us
    today. It's a pretty important group when you get that many politicians
    here in one room. [Laughter] I thank General Blum, General Harrison. I
    thank my fellow Texan, Danny James--General James, General Schultz. I want to
    thank the leadership and convention delegates. Most of all, thank you
    for inviting me today.
        When I landed, by the way, at the airport, I had the honor of
    meeting Theresa Bunker. She is a volunteer
    with the Las Vegas National Guard Family Support Center. I met her brave
    son. He just came back from Iraq. I like to tell people the strength of
    this country is in the hearts and souls of our citizens, people like
    Theresa, who have taken time out of her life to volunteer, provide
    support for family members, to send care packages overseas. No, we're
    going to keep our military strong, but never forget, the strength of
    this country are the great citizens of America who serve this country
    one heart and one soul at a time.
        The Guard has been fighting for America since before America was a
    nation. From its birth in the 1630s, the Guard protected the early
    colonists and helped win the War for* Independence. Today, each of you
    carries on the great tradition of those early citizen-soldiers who
    picked up muskets to defend our freedom. Weapons have changed, and so
    have our enemies, but one thing remains the same: The men and women of
    the Guard stand ready to put on the uniform and fight for America. Our
    country is stronger, our freedom is more secure because each of you has
    volunteered to serve.
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        *White House correction.
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        You have taken an oath to stand by America in times of crisis, war,
    and emergency. You're fulfilling that oath in many ways. Across the
    State of Florida--I happen to know the Commander in Chief of the Guard
    there--[laughter]--thousands of Guard members have mobilized in response
    to Hurricanes Charley and Frances. They are helping to control traffic,
    provide security, conduct search and rescue operations, and distribute
    food and water. One resident

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    of Punta Gorda, Florida, put it, ``I don't know what this town would
    have done without the National Guard.'' When tragedy strikes, Americans
    can always count on the Guard.
        When tragedy came on September the 11th, 2001, the response of the
    Guard was outstanding. A thousand Guard volunteers came forward to help
    that day, and by sunrise on September the 12th, more than 5,000 Guard
    volunteers were on the job.
        In the past 3 years, Guard units have defended the American homeland
    against further attack--you've taken the battle to our enemies abroad.
    The National Guard has played a critical role in every aspect of
    Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than
    185,000 Guard members have been called up to serve on every front in the
    war on terror. You are a vital part of our strategy to defend America.
    You're fighting terrorist enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the
    globe, so we do not have to face them here at home. America is safer
    because of your service, and we are grateful.
        And we are grateful for your families, who share in your sacrifice.
    There are few things more difficult in life than seeing a loved one go
    off to war. When the call to duty comes, your families miss you, and
    they worry about you. By standing behind you, they also serve our
    country. America is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our Guard
    families.
        Your service would not be possible without the understanding and
    support of your employers. In offices and schools and factories and
    hospitals across this country, businesses do without your talents so
    that you can serve our Nation. Employers across this country are
    supporting the Guard, because they know the stakes in this war are high.
    These companies are showing their patriotism, and they too have the
    gratitude of our country.
        I know this time of call-ups and alerts and mobilizations and
    deployments has been difficult for Guard members and their families and
    employers. And when our Nation must call on you, we owe you some things
    in return. We're working to provide you at least 30 days' notification
    before you're mobilized, so you have time to make arrangements. We're
    working to give you as much certainty as possible about the length of
    your mobilization. You deserve to know when you can expect to resume
    civilian life. We're working to minimize the number of extensions and
    repeat mobilizations by moving forces out of low-demand specialties such
    as heavy artillery and increasing the number of available troops with
    skills that are in high demand, such as military police, civil affairs,
    and special operations.
        We're improving benefits and the quality of life for our Nation's
    citizen-soldiers. My administration has spent almost $14 billion for
    construction, maintenance, and support for Guard and Reserve facilities
    across the United States. We have expanded health care benefits for
    Guard and Reserve forces and their family members, giving them access to
    the military's TRICARE system for up to 90 days before they report and
    180 days after deactivation, and I will ask Congress to make that
    expansion permanent.
        I called upon Congress to increase the monthly educational benefit
    for Guard and Reserve forces mobilized for more than 90 days in the war
    on terror by 40 to 80 percent, depending on the length of their
    mobilization. Congress must pass this piece of legislation. This
    administration stands for the Guard and its family. And we do so because
    we need the service of guards men and women, because of the times we
    live in. These are dangerous times. My most solemn duty as the President
    is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and
    weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is
    not going to happen on my watch.
        Since that terrible morning 3 years ago, America has been at war. We
    fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power,
    but because the lives of

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    our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We're defending the
    homeland. We're transforming our military. We're strengthening our
    intelligence services. We're staying on the offensive. We will strike
    the terrorists abroad so they can't come here and hurt us. We will
    advance liberty in the broader Middle East and around the world, because
    freedom will bring a future of hope and the peace we all long for, and
    we will prevail.
        Our strategy is succeeding. Four years ago, Afghanistan was the home
    base of Al Qaida; Pakistan was a transit point for terrorist groups;
    Saudi Arabia was fertile ground for terrorist fundraising; Libya was
    secretly pursuing nuclear weapons; Iraq was a gathering threat; and Al
    Qaida was largely unchallenged as it planned attacks. Because we acted,
    the Government of a free Afghanistan is fighting terror; Pakistan is
    capturing terrorist leaders; Saudi is making raids and arrests; Libya is
    dismantling its weapons programs; the army of a free Iraq is fighting
    for freedom; and more than three-quarters of Al Qaida's key members and
    associates have been detained or killed. We have led. Many have joined,
    and America and the world are safer.
        All this progress involved careful diplomacy, clear moral purpose,
    and some tough decisions. And the toughest came on Iraq. We knew Saddam
    Hussein's record of aggression and support
    for terror. Remember, he housed Abu Nidal--he's the guy that killed Leon
    Klinghoffer--housed him and his associates. Zarqawi was in and out of Baghdad. He's the fellow who cuts
    people's heads off and hopes we cringe and shirk our duty. Saddam paid
    the families of suicide bombers. We knew his long history of pursuing
    and even using weapons of mass destruction. And we know that after
    September the 11th, our country must think differently. We must take
    threats seriously, before they fully materialize.
        In Saddam Hussein, we saw a threat. So I
    went to the United States Congress. Members of both political parties,
    including my opponent and his
    runningmate, looked at the same intelligence,
    remembered the same history we remembered, and concluded that Saddam
    Hussein was a threat, and they authorized the use of force.
        Before the Commander in Chief commits troops into harm's way, we
    must try all avenues to deal with the threat. I was hopeful that
    diplomacy would work; that's why I went to the United Nations. The U.N.
    Security Council looked at the same intelligence we looked at,
    remembered the same history we remembered, and came to this conclusion:
    They said to Saddam Hussein by a 15-to-
    nothing vote in the U.N. Security Council, ``Disclose, disarm, or face
    serious consequences.''
        As he had for over a decade, Saddam Hussein ignored the demands of the free world. Matter of fact,
    when they sent inspectors into his country, he systematically deceived
    them. It was clear to me diplomacy wasn't working. So I had a choice to
    make: Do I forget the lessons of September the 11th and take the word of
    a madman, or take action necessary to defend America? Given that choice,
    I will defend America every time.
        Because we acted to defend our country, more than 50 million people
    in Afghanistan and Iraq are free. It wasn't all that long ago that many
    young girls weren't allowed to go to school in Afghanistan, because of
    the dark vision of the Taliban. Wasn't all that long ago that the moms
    were taken to a sports stadium and executed because they wouldn't toe
    the line of these barbaric people. And today, over 10 million Afghan
    citizens, 41 percent of whom are women, are registered to vote in the
    upcoming Presidential elections. Despite ongoing violence in Iraq, that
    country now has a strong Prime Minister, a
    National Council, and national elections are scheduled in January. The
    world is changing for the better. Our Nation is standing with the people
    of Afghanistan and Iraq, because when America gives its word, America
    must keep its word.

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        We're also serving a vital and historic cause that'll make our
    country safer. Free societies in the Middle East will be hopeful
    societies which no longer feed resentments and breed violence for
    export. Free governments in the Middle East will fight terrorists
    instead of harboring them, and that helps keep the peace. So our mission
    in Afghanistan and Iraq is clear. We'll help new leaders to train their
    armies, move toward elections, and get on the path of stability and
    democracy as quickly as possible. And then our troops will return home
    with the honor they deserve.
        I have made a pledge to those who wear the uniform that they will
    have the resources and the tools they need to do their jobs. That's why
    I went to the United States Congress last September and requested $87
    billion for vital funding, funding for our troops in harm's way, funding
    for those who wear the uniform of America in Afghanistan and Iraq. I was
    pleased with the overwhelming bipartisan support for this important
    funding request. Matter of fact, the support was so strong that only 12
    Members of the United States Senate voted against it, 2 of whom are my
    opponent and his runningmate.
        They asked him why and he said, ``Well, I
    actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.'' Then
    they said, well, they pressed him for it; he said he was proud of his
    vote. And finally he said, ``The whole thing was a complicated matter.''
    There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.
        Last week my opponent questioned the cost of
    our operations in Iraq and said the money could have been better spent
    elsewhere. The problem is, just last summer he had a completely
    different view. Asked whether he believed we should reduce funding for
    operations in Iraq, my opponent at the time replied, ``No. I think we
    should increase it.'' Asked by how much, he said, ``By whatever number
    of billion dollars it takes to win. It is critical that the United
    States of America be successful in Iraq.''
        What's critical is that the President of the United States speak
    clearly and consistently at this time of great threat in our world and
    not change positions because of expediency or pressure. Our troops, our
    friends and allies, and our enemies must know where America stands and
    that America will stand firm. We cannot waver, because our enemies will
    not waver. As we saw with such horror on September the 11th, as the
    people of Russia saw in the terrible massacre of innocent children
    there, we are up against people who show no shame, no remorse, no hint
    of humanity, and we must confront them clearly and consistently, not
    just some of the time but all of the time.
        Our troops understand the importance of our mission. Sergeant Bob
    Kells returned from Iraq a few months ago, where
    he was deployed with the Rhode Island National Guard. ``We saw what
    Saddam Hussein did to these people,'' he
    says. ``We saw the graves. The people would lead us to them. Now they're
    free. They never had that before. And we did it for them.'' He says of
    the insurgents and terrorists we are fighting in Iraq today, ``They want
    us out, but they're a minority. The Iraqi people want democracy. The
    insurgents are absolute cowards. They fight behind women and children,
    but better fighting them there than over here.''
        Sergeant Kells is correct. Our mission in Iraq
    is critical, and our men and women in uniform, active, Guard, and
    Reserve, are doing a superb job for America. Because of your service and
    sacrifice, we're defeating the terrorists where they live, and that
    makes us safer. Because of you, women in Afghanistan are no longer shot
    and whipped in public. Because of you, the people of Iraq no longer fear
    being executed and left in mass graves. Because of you, the world is
    more just and more peaceful.

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        Others are helping us. We put together alliance to help us in the
    cause of freedom and peace. There's nearly 40 nations involved in
    Afghanistan and some 30 nations involved in Iraq. I'll continue to work
    with our allies and friends, but I will never turn over America's
    national security decisions to leaders of other countries.
        I believe in the transformational power of liberty. The wisest use
    of American strength is to advance freedom. One of the people with whom
    I've spent a lot of time is Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan. We're friends. We talk a lot. It's
    amazing, though, to be having these discussions with Prime Minister
    Koizumi, because it wasn't all that long ago in the march of history
    that we were at war with Japan. They were a sworn enemy. My dad, I suspect others' dads and granddads, fought
    against the Japanese.
        But because of people like Harry Truman and other Americans, after
    World War II, people who understood that liberty could transform an
    enemy into an ally, because they doubted--they overcame the doubters,
    because they worked to build a democracy in Japan, today I sit down at
    the table with Prime Minister Koizumi,
    talking about the peace. Liberty is powerful. Liberty can change
    nations. Someday, an American President will be sitting down with a duly
    elected leader of Iraq, talking about the peace, and our children and
    grandchildren will be better off for it.
        I believe that millions in the Middle East plead in silence for
    their liberty. I believe that if given the chance, they will embrace the
    most honorable form of government ever devised by man. I believe this
    because freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom is the
    Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world.
        For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand
    apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when little is
    expected of leaders. This isn't one of those times. This is a time when
    we need firm resolve, clear vision, and deep faith in the values that
    make us a great nation.
        None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another
    began. Three years ago today, September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the
    ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day I'll never forget. There were
    workers in hardhats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs,
    ``Whatever it takes.'' I was trying to do my best to console and thank
    the rescuers. A guy grabs me by the arm, he looks me straight in the
    eye, and he says, ``Do not let me down.'' I wake up every morning
    thinking about how to better protect America. I will never relent in
    defending our country, whatever it takes.
        And I know that is your commitment as well. You've shown it by your
    commitment to service, your standards of honor, and your performance of
    duty. American citizen-soldiers reflect great credit on our military and
    on our country. And I am here to thank you for your service.
        May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States
    of America.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:13 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention
    Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Kenny C. Guinn and Lt. Gov.
    Lorraine T. Hunt of Nevada; Nevada State Attorney General Brian
    Sandoval; Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller; Maj. Gen. Gus L.
    Hargett, adjutant general, Tennessee National Guard, and chairman of the
    board, National Guard Association of the U.S.; Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum,
    Chief, National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. Ronald O. Harrison, (Ret.),
    former adjutant general, Florida National Guard, and immediate past
    president, National Guard Association of the U.S.; Lt. Gen. Daniel James
    III, Director, Air National Guard; Lt. Gen. Roger C. Schultz, Director,
    Army National Guard; Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida; senior Al Qaida associate
    Abu Musab Al Zarqawi; Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of the Iraqi Interim
    Government; and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.

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