    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [November 21, 2006]
    [Pages 2114-2116]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Troops at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii
    November 21, 2006

        Thank you all. Admiral, thanks for the
    introduction. Thanks for the warm breakfast, and thanks for the good
    view. I appreciate the tight ship you run here. And I thank you all very
    much for serving our country.
        Laura and I are honored to be with you. We're
    honored to say thanks on behalf of a grateful nation. And I'm pleased to
    tell you that the work you're doing will lead to peace for generations
    to come.
        You serve at a time when we witness an ideological struggle between
    those who

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    love freedom and those who hate freedom. And the outcome of this
    struggle will determine how your children and grandchildren live. And
    I'm determined, like you are determined, that freedom prevails.
        Today we saw again the vicious face of those who oppose freedom. We
    strongly condemn the assassination today in Lebanon of Pierre
    Gemayel, who was a minister in the Government
    of Prime Minister Siniora. We support the
    Siniora Government and its democracy, and we support the Lebanese
    people's desire to live in peace. And we support their efforts to defend
    their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran, and allies to foment
    instability and violence in that important country.
        I call for a full investigation of the murder to identify those
    people and those forces behind the killing. We call on the international
    community to support Prime Minister Siniora's
    Government. And one clear way to do so is for the United Nations
    Security Council to take all remaining steps needed to establish a
    special tribunal concerning the assassination of former Prime Minister
    Hariri and to assure that those behind that killing, and others that
    followed, are brought to justice. I strongly believe the United Nations
    Security Council ought to act today. For the sake of peace, the free
    world must reject those who undermine young democracies and murder in
    the name of their hateful ideology.
        I want to thank our Secretary of State
    for joining us. You know, one of the jobs of the President is to
    surround himself with smart, capable, strong people, and I have done so
    in Condoleezza Rice.
        I also did so at the altar. [Laughter] And I'm pleased Laura is here as well. We're on our way back home after a
    trip in Southeast Asia. I had meetings in Singapore and Indonesia, as
    well as a meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Vietnam.
    And they're important meetings. It gave me a chance to discuss with
    leaders from the Pacific region about our common threats: the common
    threat of terrorism; the common threat of pandemic outbreaks; and the
    common threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
        I told them that the United States of America remains committed to
    Asia because we have key economic and national security interests in the
    region. It's in our national interests that we be involved in the Asia-
    Pacific region. And the Pacific Command bares the primary responsibility
    for defending our interests in that part of the world. You represent the
    oldest and largest unified command in the United States military. You
    cover an area that spans more than half of the surface area of the
    Earth. You've got a really important job, and I'm here to thank you for
    doing a good job.
        You serve freedom's cause in a lot of ways. When you help deliver
    humanitarian relief to victims of natural disasters, you serve freedom's
    cause. When you fight terrorists wherever we find them, you serve
    freedom's cause. Every branch of our military is playing a vital role.
    The Army and Marine Corps have deployed thousands of soldiers and
    marines to Afghanistan and to Iraq. You've been joined by units from
    Hawaii's Army and Air National Guard.
        Earlier this year, the Pacific fleet conducted one of the largest
    multinational maritime exercises in the world, involving 8 nations, 35
    ships, 180 aircraft, and 19,000 personnel. You serve freedom's cause
    when you help others to be able to defend themselves. You serve
    freedom's cause when you help young democracies fight off the extremists
    who try to impose their hateful vision of the world. What happens in
    Asia-Pacific matters to America's security here at home.
        The Air Force has brought humanitarian aid to victims in earthquakes
    and typhoons. You provided airlift support to places like East Timor.
    The Coast Guard works closely with China as part of an effort to improve
    enforcement of laws against maritime drug traffickers.

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        Some of the troops from this command who were deployed to combat
    operations in Iraq and Afghanistan didn't come home. We remember their
    courage. We pray for their families and loved ones left behind, and we
    resolve to honor their sacrifice by completing the missions for which
    they gave their lives.
        The men and women who wear the uniform are the best that America has
    to offer. You belong to the finest Armed Forces the world has ever
    known. I appreciate the fact that you have volunteered to wear our
    uniform in these troubled times, that you have volunteered knowing the
    dangers into which you might be sent. It's an incredible country when
    people of character stand up and say, ``I want to serve something
    greater than my self-interests.''
        I want to thank you for your sacrifice. I particularly thank your
    families for joining you in this noble cause. We'll succeed, and when we
    do, generations of Americans will look back on this period and say,
    ``Thank God the United States had such men and women of character at the
    beginning of the 21st century.''
        God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 7:45 a.m. in the Officers Club. In his
    remarks, he referred to Adm. William J. Fallon, USN, commander, U.S.
    Pacific Command; and Prime Minister Fuad Siniora of Lebanon.