    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [June 30, 2007]
    [Pages 831-833]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    June 30, 2007

        Good morning. Next week, Americans will gather with friends and
    family to celebrate the Fourth of July. I look forward to spending this
    Independence Day in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with the men and women
    of the West Virginia Air National Guard.
        On the Fourth of July, we celebrate the courage and convictions of
    America's founders. We remember the spirit of liberty that led men from
    13 different colonies to gather in Philadelphia and pen the Declaration
    of Independence. In that revolutionary document, they proclaimed our
    independence based on the belief that freedom was God's gift to all
    mankind.
        To defend that freedom, the 56 signers of the Declaration pledged
    their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Their sacrifices
    built a new nation and created a future of freedom for millions yet to
    be born.
        Today, a new generation of Americans has stepped forward and
    volunteered to defend the ideals of our Nation's founding. Around the
    world, our brave men and women in uniform are facing danger to protect
    their fellow citizens from harm. In Afghanistan, our military and NATO
    forces are hunting down the Taliban and Al Qaida and helping the Afghan
    people defend their young democracy. And in Iraq, American

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    and Iraqi forces are standing with the nearly 12 million Iraqis who
    voted for a future of peace and opposing ruthless enemies who want to
    bring down Iraq's democracy and turn that nation into a terrorist safe
    haven.
        This week, I traveled to the Naval War College in Rhode Island to
    give an update on the strategy we're pursuing in Iraq. This strategy is
    being led by a new commander, General David Petraeus, and a new Ambassador, Ryan Crocker. It recognizes that our top priority must be to help the
    Iraqi Government and its security forces protect their population,
    especially in Baghdad. And its goal is to help the Iraqis make progress
    toward reconciliation and build a free nation that respects the rights
    of its people, upholds the rule of law, and is an ally in the war on
    terror.
        So America has sent reinforcements to help the Iraqis secure their
    population; go after the terrorists, insurgents, and militias that are
    inciting sectarian violence; and get the capital under control. The last
    of these reinforcements arrived in Iraq earlier this month, and the full
    surge has begun. One of our top commanders in Iraq, General Ray
    Odierno, put it this way: ``We are beyond
    a surge of forces. We're now into a surge of operations.''
        Recently, we launched Operation Phantom Thunder, which has taken the
    fight to the enemy in Baghdad as well as the surrounding regions. We're
    still at the beginning of this offensive, but we're seeing some hopeful
    signs. We're engaging the enemy and killing or capturing hundreds. Just
    this week, our commanders reported the killing of two senior Al Qaida
    leaders north of Baghdad. Within Baghdad, our military reports that
    despite an upward trend in May, sectarian murders in the capital are
    significantly down from what they were in January. We're also finding
    arms caches at more than three times the rate of a year ago. The enemy
    continues to carry out sensational attacks, but the number of car
    bombings and suicide attacks has been down in May and June. And because
    of our new strategy, U.S. and Iraqi forces are living among the people
    they secure, with the result that many Iraqis are now coming forward
    with information on where the terrorists are hiding.
        The fight in Iraq has been tough, and it will remain difficult.
    We've lost good men and women in this fight. One of those lost was a
    marine lance corporal named Luke Yepsen. In the spring of 2005, Luke
    withdrew from his classes at Texas A&M to join the United States
    Marines. And in October 2006, he deployed to Iraq, where he manned a 50-
    caliber machine gun on a Humvee. Six months ago, Luke was killed by a
    sniper while on patrol in Anbar Province. Luke's father describes his son's sacrifice this way: ``Luke died
    bringing freedom to an oppressed people. My urgent request is, finish
    the mission. Bring freedom to the Iraqi people.''
        On this Fourth of July, we remember Luke Yepsen and all the men and
    women in uniform who have given their lives in this struggle. They've
    helped bring freedom to the Iraqi people. They've helped make Americans
    more secure. We will not forget their sacrifice. We remember their loved
    ones in our prayers. And we give thanks for all those from every
    generation who have defended our Nation and our freedoms.
        Laura and I wish you a safe and happy Fourth
    of July. Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on June 29 in Kennebunkport,
    ME, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on June 30. The transcript was made
    available by the Office of the Press Secretary on June 29, but was
    embargoed for release until the broadcast. In the address, the President
    referred to Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, commanding general, Multi-
    National Force--Iraq; and Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA, commanding
    general, Multi-National Corps--Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary
    also

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    released a Spanish language transcript of this address.