[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
[July 9, 2005]
[Pages 1201-1202]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
July 9, 2005

    Good morning. Thursday morning, terrorists struck at the heart of 
one of the world's great cities in a series of bombings that hit 
London's subway and bus system as thousands of commuters headed to work. 
We in America know the sense of loss that our British friends feel at 
this moment. We extend our sympathies to those who suffered terrible 
injuries, and we pray for the families mourning the loss of loved ones. 
In this dark hour, the people of Great Britain can know that the 
American people stand with them.
    These barbaric attacks occurred as world leaders gathered in 
Scotland for the G-8 summit. While terrorists were killing innocent men 
and women in London, leaders at the G-8 were discussing how free nations 
can combat poverty and HIV/AIDS, create a cleaner environment, and 
improve the lives of people everywhere. The contrast could not be more 
vivid between the intentions and the hearts of those who care deeply 
about human rights and human liberty, and the evil intentions and acts 
of those who rejoice in the death and suffering of the innocent.
    We experienced this evil in our own country on a clear September 
morning in 2001. Since that day, terrorists have continued to kill and 
maim in Bali and Casablanca, Riyadh, Jakarta, Istanbul, Madrid, Baghdad, 
London, and elsewhere. The terrorists believe that free societies are 
essentially corrupt and decadent. They believe that with a few hard 
blows and the televised repetition of horrific images of violence, they 
can force us to retreat. They are mistaken.
    On the day of the London attacks, every world leader at the G-8 
summit stood with Prime Minister Blair as he 
said, ``Our determination to defend our values and our way of life is 
greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to 
innocent people.'' The free world is united in its resolve: We will 
never yield to terrorists and murderers. In the face of such 
adversaries, there is only one course of action: We will continue to 
take the fight to the enemy, and we will fight until the enemy is 
defeated.
    We are now waging a global war on terror from the mountains of 
Afghanistan to the border regions of Pakistan to the Horn of Africa to 
the islands of the Philippines to the plains of Iraq. We will stay on 
the offense, fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face 
them at home. We will continue to deny the terrorists safe haven and the 
support of rogue states. And at the same time, we will spread the 
universal values of hope and freedom that will overwhelm their ideology 
of tyranny and hate. The free world did not seek this conflict, yet we 
will win it.
    Here at home, Federal, State, and local officials are doing 
everything possible to protect us from another terrorist attack in 
America. While we have no specific credible information suggesting an 
imminent attack in the United States, in light of the bombings in 
London, we have raised the threat level from elevated to high for our 
passenger rail, subway, and bus systems. I urge all Americans to remain 
alert and to report any suspicious activity to your local authorities.
    This week, there is great suffering in the city of London. Yet the 
British people are resilient, and they have faced brutal enemies before. 
The nation that survived the Nazi blitz will not be intimidated by 
terrorists. And just as America and Great Britain stood together to 
defeat the murderous ideologies of the 20th century, we again stand 
together to defeat the hateful ideologies of the 21st century.
    The terrorists cannot shake our will. America and its allies will 
act decisively,

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because we know that the future of civilization is at stake in this 
struggle, and we know that the cause of freedom will prevail.
    May God bless the people of Great Britain, and may He continue to 
bless America.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:25 a.m. on July 8 at the Gleneagles 
Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 9. 
The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary 
on July 8 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his 
address, the President referred to Prime Minister Tony Blair of the 
United Kingdom. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a 
Spanish language transcript of this address.