    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [August 19, 2006]
    [Pages 1527-1529]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    August 19, 2006

        Good morning. This week, I met with my national security,
    counterterrorism, and economic teams. We've set clear goals: We will
    defeat the terrorists and expand freedom across the world; we'll protect
    the American homeland and work tirelessly to prevent attacks on our
    country; and we will continue to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of
    America and build a more prosperous future for all our citizens.
        On Monday, I visited the Pentagon and the State Department, where we
    discussed the war on terror, including the recent conflict in Lebanon, a
    conflict which began with an unprovoked attack by Hizballah on Israel.
    Thanks to the leadership of Secretary Rice
    and Ambassador Bolton at the United Nations,
    the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that will help bring an
    end to the violence and create a foundation for a sustainable peace.
        The resolution calls for a robust international force to deploy to
    the southern part of Lebanon. This force will help Lebanon's legitimate
    armed forces restore the sovereignty of its democratic Government

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    over all Lebanese territory and stop Hizballah from acting as a state
    within a state. The resolution will help make it possible for civilians
    in both Lebanon and Israel to return home in safety and begin rebuilding
    their lives without fear of renewed violence and terror.
        The United States is now working with our international partners to
    turn the words of this resolution into action. The conflict in Lebanon
    is part of a broader struggle between freedom and terror that is
    unfolding across the region. Terrorists and their sponsors recognize
    that the Middle East is at a pivotal moment in its history. Freedom has
    brought hope to millions, and it's helped foster the development of
    young democracies from Baghdad to Beirut.
        Yet these young democracies are still fragile, and the forces of
    terror are seeking to stop liberty's advance and steer newly free
    nations to the path of radicalism. The terrorists fear the rise of
    democracy because they know what it means for the future of their
    hateful ideology.
        It is no coincidence that two nations that are building free
    societies in the heart of the Middle East, Lebanon and Iraq, are also
    the scenes of the most violent terrorist activity. We will defeat the
    terrorists by strengthening young democracies across the broader Middle
    East.
        The way forward will be difficult, and it will require sacrifice and
    resolve. But America's security depends on liberty's advance in this
    troubled region, and we can be confident of the outcome because we know
    the unstoppable power of freedom.
        On Tuesday, I went to the National Counterterrorism Center, where I
    was briefed by the fine professionals who work day and night to protect
    our Nation from terrorist attacks. Their efforts are vital, as we saw
    with the recent terrorist plot to destroy airliners headed for America.
        I thanked the men and women of the intelligence community for all
    they did to help the British Government uncover and disrupt this vicious
    plot. This attempted attack is a reminder to us all: The terrorists
    remain determined to destroy innocent life on a massive scale, and we
    must be equally determined to stop them.
        On Friday, I met with my economic advisers at Camp David, where we
    discussed our efforts to keep our economy growing and creating jobs. Our
    economy has created more than 5.5 million new jobs since August of 2003,
    more jobs than Japan and the 25 nations of the European Union combined.
    The unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. The productivity of America's
    workers is rising, and our economy grew at a strong annual rate of 4
    percent during the first half of 2006.
        To keep this momentum going, we're pursuing a strategy to sustain
    our economic growth and keep our economy competitive for decades to
    come. We will keep taxes low, restrain Federal spending, open new
    markets for American products, invest in new energy technologies, and
    help American workers develop the skills they need to compete for high-
    wage jobs.
        American workers also need affordable, high-quality health care, and
    more transparency in our health care system can help. Next week I will
    travel to Minnesota to discuss ways to ensure patients have access to
    more information about their health care. When patients know the facts
    about the price and quality of their health care options, they can make
    decisions that are right for them.
        With all these steps, we're working to improve the health, security,
    and prosperity of the American people. Our Nation does not fear the
    future because we are determined to shape the future. We will build a
    more peaceful world and leave behind a stronger and better America for
    our children and grandchildren.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on August 18 at Camp David,
    MD, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 19. The transcript was made
    available by the Office of

    [[Page 1529]]

    the Press Secretary on August 18 but was embargoed for release until the
    broadcast. In his address, the President referred to United Nations
    Security Council Resolution 1701. The Office of the Press Secretary also
    released a Spanish language transcript of this address.