[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.