    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [July 22, 2006]
    [Pages 1434-1435]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    July 22, 2006

        Good morning. This week, I returned from Russia, where I met with
    world leaders at the G-8 summit. The summit was an opportunity for
    important talks with these nations, and it brought progress on key
    issues. We had wide-ranging discussions on the global economy. We agreed
    on new steps to strengthen our collective security, including a United
    Nations Security Council resolution on North Korea. This resolution
    condemned North Korea's recent missile launches, and it urged the North
    Korean regime to abandon its nuclear programs and return to the six-
    party talks.
        Much of our time at the summit was spent discussing the situation in
    the Middle East, especially the recent violence in Israel and Lebanon.
    The recent crisis in the region was triggered by the kidnaping of
    Israeli soldiers by the terrorist group Hizballah and the launch of
    rockets against Israeli cities. I believe sovereign nations have the
    right to defend their people from terrorist attack and to take the
    necessary action to prevent those attacks.
        We're also mindful of the cost to innocent civilians in Lebanon and
    in Israel, and we have called on Israel to continue to exercise the
    greatest possible care to protect innocent lives. Throughout this
    crisis, I have spoken to leaders in the Middle East and around the
    world. Our efforts to resolve this dangerous situation are guided by an
    international framework that is already in place.
        In 2004, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution
    1559, which recognizes the sovereignty of Lebanon, calls for all foreign
    forces to withdraw from Lebanon, and calls for the disbanding and
    disarmament of all militias. Hizballah defied the world's just demands
    by maintaining armed units in the southern region of Lebanon and
    attacking Israel in defiance of the democratically elected Lebanese
    Government.
        I've directed Secretary of State Rice
    to travel to the Middle East in the coming days to discuss the best ways
    to resolve this crisis with leaders in the region. Secretary Rice will
    make it clear that resolving the crisis demands confronting the
    terrorist group that launched the attacks and the nations that support
    it.
        For many years, Syria has been a primary sponsor of Hizballah, and
    it has helped

    [[Page 1435]]

    provide Hizballah with shipments of Iranian-made weapons. Iran's regime
    has also repeatedly defied the international community with its ambition
    for nuclear weapons and aid to terrorist groups. Their actions threaten
    the entire Middle East and stand in the way of resolving the current
    crisis and bringing lasting peace to this troubled region.
        We're also concerned about the impact the current conflict is having
    on Lebanon's young democracy. This is a difficult and trying time for
    the people of Lebanon. Hizballah's practice of hiding rockets in
    civilian neighborhoods and its efforts to undermine the democratically
    elected Government have shown it to be no friend of Lebanon. By its
    actions, Hizballah has jeopardized Lebanon's tremendous advances and
    betrayed the Lebanese people.
        Over the past week, nations like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and the
    United Arab Emirates have stepped forward to offer humanitarian aid and
    assistance to the Lebanese Government. America and our allies will join
    these efforts. We're also working to help American citizens who wish to
    leave Lebanon. American military personnel and Embassy officials are
    working hard to ensure this operation proceeds smoothly and safely. We
    continue to pray for the safety of all people in Lebanon: Americans,
    Lebanese, and citizens of other countries.
        America remains committed to lasting peace in the Middle East. The
    United States and our partners will continue to seek a return to the
    roadmap for peace in the Middle East, which sets out the pathway to
    establishing a viable democratic Palestinian state that will live in
    peace with Israel. We will continue to support moderate leaders like
    Palestinian Authority President Abbas. We will continue to call on Hamas to end its acts of
    terror. And now, more than ever, the Palestinians need leaders who are
    not compromised by terror and who will help the Palestinian people
    provide a future for their children based on regional peace and
    security.
        In the long term, this peace will come only by defeating the
    terrorist ideology of hatred and fear. The world's best hope for lasting
    security and stability across the Middle East is the establishment of
    free and just societies. America and our allies will act decisively
    because we know our security is at stake in this struggle and we know
    the cause of freedom will prevail.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on July 21 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 22. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    July 21 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    address, the President referred to Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev,
    Israeli soldiers captured and held captive by militants in Lebanon since
    July 12; and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.