    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 21, 2005]
    [Pages 843-845]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    May 21, 2005

        Good morning. Today I can report to you that we are making good
    progress in advancing the cause of freedom, defeating the forces of
    terror, and transforming our military so we can meet the emerging
    threats of the 21st century. As I speak,

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    Laura is in the Middle East to help advance the
    freedom agenda, and her message is a powerful one, that by working
    together for liberty, we will create a future of peace and opportunity
    for women and men worldwide.
        On Monday, I will meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the White House to discuss freedom's remarkable
    progress in his nation. Afghanistan now has a constitution and an
    elected President, and its citizens will return to the polls this
    September to elect provincial councils in the lower house of the
    National Assembly. We're helping Afghanistan's elected government
    solidify these democratic gains and deliver real change. A nation that
    once knew only the terror of the Taliban is now seeing a rebirth of
    freedom, and we will help them succeed.
        Terrorists know that there is no room for them as freedom takes root
    in the broader Middle East, so they are fighting to stop its progress.
    But in recent weeks, we have dealt them a series of devastating blows.
    In Afghanistan, we have brought to justice dozens of terrorists and
    insurgents. In Pakistan, one of Usama bin Laden's senior terrorist leaders, a man named al-Libbi, was brought to justice. In Iraq, we captured
    two deputies of the terrorist Zarqawi, and our forces have killed or captured hundreds of
    terrorists and insurgents near the Syrian border.
        Our strategy is clear: We will fight the terrorists abroad so we do
    not have to face them here at home. While some difficult days still lie
    ahead, these recent victories are making America safer and the world
    more secure.
        As we make progress against today's enemies, we are also
    transforming our military to defeat the enemies we might face in the
    decades ahead. On Friday, I will speak to future leaders of our military
    who are graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy about how we are making
    our Armed Forces faster, more agile, and more lethal.
        To deal with the emerging threats of the 21st century, we are
    building a military that can deploy rapidly and deliver more firepower
    with fewer forward-deployed forces. However, much of our military is
    still deployed in ways that reflect the threats of the cold war. So last
    summer, I announced a plan to reposition our forces over the next
    decade. This shift will bring home 60 to 70,000 uniformed personnel,
    while still maintaining a significant overseas presence. It will also
    allow us to reduce the stress on our military families and make the best
    overall use of our resources. In the months and years ahead, we will
    continue to do what is necessary to prepare our Armed Forces to protect
    the American people in this new century.
        The war on terror continues, and we are making solid progress, but
    we must not become complacent. We will continue to pursue terrorists
    abroad. We will continue to support democratic change throughout the
    world, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the broader Middle East. And
    we will do whatever it takes to support our men and women in uniform and
    give them the tools they need to prevail.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:35 a.m. on May 20 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 21. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    May 20 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    address, the President referred to President Hamid Karzai of
    Afghanistan; Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist
    organization; Abu Faraj al-Libbi, senior Al Qaida associate arrested in
    Pakistan on April 30; and senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al
    Zarqawi. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.

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