[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
[September 8, 2007]
[Pages 1190-1191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following a Visit With Wounded Troops and Their Families at 
Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
September 8, 2007

    The President. I appreciate the Governor of 
this beautiful State, Admiral Keating, 
his wife, for their hospitality. The 
Secretary and I have just landed. We've come from Australia; we're on 
our way to DC. And I decided that it was best to stop and say hello to 
some of our wounded soldiers and sailors and marines.
    Every time I have an opportunity to meet people who have sacrificed 
on behalf of the security of the country, I'm amazed at their spirit and 
their resolve. One of the things I look for is to make sure that these 
troops and their families are getting the best possible treatment. If 
they've got any complaints, I'm available for them to air them out.
    And what I heard was encouraging; that people feel like they're 
getting the best possible care. And that makes me feel good. I told 
them, when I was in the room, that I came back from Iraq encouraged by 
what I saw. No question, there's still hard work to do, but my resolve 
is as strong as it's ever been. I believe we're doing the right thing 
there for the security of the country and for the peace of the world.
    General David Petraeus will be 
reporting to the Congress, along with Ambassador Crocker, on Monday and Tuesday. I will then talk about a way 
forward after their report. I ask the Members of Congress just to sit 
back and listen to what we all have to say before they reach the 
conclusions that they're going to reach. But one thing is for certain: 
Now is the time to do the hard work in order to make sure that we can 
have a peaceful world, now is the time to deny the radicals and 
extremists a safe haven, and now is the time to advance democracy in the 
heart of the Middle East. I believe that's the calling of our time, and 
I believe we'll succeed. And I know it's necessary we do.
    Anyway, thank you all for your hospitality.
    Admiral Timothy J. Keating. Yes, sir.
    The President. Admiral said he cooked 
some lunch for us today. I'm looking forward to having it.
    Adm. Keating. Caught the fish and 
then cooked the lunch.
    The President. Governor, proud to be with 
you.
    Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii. Thank you. 
Thank you, Mr. President.
    The President. Thank you very much.

The First Lady

    Q. Did you change any minds, Mr. President, with your trip?
    Q. How is Mrs. Bush?
    The President. She's doing great, thank you. I talked to Laura, 
talked to her twice. I talked to her right before she went in for the 
surgery, in Australia, and then talked to her twice on the airplane. Her 
spirits are good. They feel like the surgery was a success. She's now 
back at the White House. I told her I'm looking forward to having 
breakfast with her. I told her I'd be home soon. And I'm just grateful 
that the doctors did a good job, and I thank God for the fact that it 
came out well.
    Q. Is she going to be released by the time you get home, sir?
    The President. Yes, she's at the White House now.

Note: The President spoke at 12:16 p.m. at the Tradewinds Enlisted Club. 
In his remarks, he referred to Adm. Timothy J. Keating, USN, commander, 
U.S. Pacific Command, and his wife Wanda Lee; and Gen. David H. 
Petraeus, USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq. A portion 
of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was incomplete.

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