[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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