    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [September 23, 2006]
    [Pages 1695-1697]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    September 23, 2006

        Good morning. This week, I traveled to New York City to address the
    United Nations General Assembly. In my speech to the leaders gathered
    there, I spoke about a more hopeful world that is within our reach, a
    world beyond terror, where ordinary men and women are free to determine
    their own destiny, where the voices of moderation are empowered, and
    where the extremists are marginalized by the peaceful majority.
        I said that every nation must make a choice: We can support the
    moderates and reformers working for change across the broader Middle
    East, or we can yield the future to the terrorists and extremists.
    America has made its choice: We're standing with the moderates and
    reformers.
        In New York, I met with two such leaders, President
    Talabani of Iraq and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. In my
    meeting with President Talabani, I told

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    him that America will continue to support Iraq's democratic Government
    as it makes the tough decisions necessary to bring security and
    prosperity to the Iraqi people. I assured President Talabani that
    America will not abandon the Iraqi people in their struggle to defeat
    the terrorists and build a free society in the heart of the Middle East.
        In my meeting with President Abbas, I told him that America remains committed to the
    vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by
    side in peace and security. President Abbas shares this goal. He's
    working hard to oppose violent extremists and build a society in which
    the Palestinian people can raise their children in peace and hope. By
    supporting moderate leaders such as President Abbas, the United States
    can help Israelis and Palestinians build a more hopeful future and
    achieve the peace we all want in the Holy Land.
        Next week I will host a meeting at the White House with two
    courageous leaders, President Karzai of
    Afghanistan and President Musharraf of
    Pakistan. These two leaders are working to defeat the forces of
    terrorism and extremism. Under President Musharraf, Pakistan is siding
    with the forces of freedom and moderation and helping to defend the
    civilized world. Many Pakistani forces have given their lives in the
    fight against terrorists. President Musharraf understands the stakes in
    the war on terror because the extremists have tried more than once to
    assassinate him. They know he's a threat to their aspirations because
    he's working to build modern democratic institutions that could provide
    an alternative to radicalism. And it is in America's interest to help
    him succeed.
        In Afghanistan, President Karzai continues
    the work of building a safer and brighter future for his nation. Today,
    forces from more than 40 countries, including members of the NATO
    alliance, are bravely serving side by side with Afghan forces. These
    forces are fighting the extremists who want to bring down the free
    Government that the people of Afghanistan have established. America and
    its allies will continue to stand with the people of Afghanistan as they
    defend their democratic gains. Working with President Karzai's
    Government, we will defeat the enemies of a free Afghanistan and help
    the Afghan people build a nation that will never again oppress them or
    be a safe haven for terrorists.
        In the broader Middle East, the world faces a straightforward
    choice: We can allow that region to continue on the course it was headed
    before September the 11th, and a generation from now, our children will
    face a region dominated by terrorist states and radical dictators armed
    with nuclear weapons; or we can stop that from happening by confronting
    the ideology of hate and helping the people of the Middle East build a
    future of hope. All civilized nations, especially those in the Muslim
    world, are bound together in this struggle between moderation and
    extremism. By working together, we will roll back this grave threat to
    our way of life, we will help the people of the Middle East claim their
    freedom, and we will leave a safer and more hopeful world for our
    children and grandchildren.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on September 22 in the
    Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on September
    23. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary on September 22 but was embargoed for release until the
    broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of this address.

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