    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [May 22, 2008]
    [Pages 714-719]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Division Review Ceremony at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
    May 22, 2008

        The President. I want to thank you for the warm welcome to Fort
    Bragg. It is good to be at the home of the Airborne and Special
    Operation Forces. This is my fourth visit to Fort Bragg since I have
    been honored to be the President. Somehow I always find my way back to
    the ``center of the universe.'' And every time I come, I look forward to
    saying, ``Hooah!''
        Audience members. Hooah!
        The President. I'm pleased to be with the paratroopers of the all-
    American 82d Airborne Division. You know, you and my dad have something in common: You both enjoy jumping out of
    airplanes. [Laughter] He's jumped with the Golden Knights at Fort Bragg
    six times. Dad is America's only skydiving President, and that's a
    distinction he's going to keep as far as I'm concerned. [Laughter]
    Speaking of which, he has a message for all of you--of those of you
    jumping tomorrow: ``Airborne, all the way!''
        This is the first time since 2006 that five brigades from your
    division have assembled together. Most of you recently returned from
    extended 15-month deployments to the frontlines in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    We've asked a lot of you. You've achieved difficult objectives in a new
    kind of war. You've performed with skill and valor, and on behalf of a
    grateful nation: Welcome home.
        I thank General Dave Rodriguez for his
    service to our country. I thank Pete Geren, Secretary of the Army, for joining us today. I appreciate
    Brigadier General Art Bartell,

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    Colonel Victor Petrenko. I want to thank
    Sergeant Major Tom Capel.
        I'm honored to be here with the military families. I particularly
    want to say hello to Maureen McNeill, wife
    of General Dan McNeill. I know he'll be
    pleased that I recognized you here at this event when I see him.
    [Laughter]
        I want to thank all the families of the paratroopers from the 82d
    Airborne Division who are here today. I welcome the families of the
    fallen heroes here today. It's such an honor to see the veterans of the
    82d Airborne Division and other veterans who have joined us today.
        I want them--to pay a special tribute to the wounded warriors from
    the 82d Airborne. Thank you for your courage.
        I welcome the State and local elected officials and members of the
    Fort Bragg community. Thank you for supporting these troops.
        Looking out on the units this morning, I see why the 82d Airborne is
    known as America's Guard of Honor. In your ranks, I see the strength of
    the greatest military the world has ever known. And in the families of
    Fort Bragg, I see the love and support that makes your service possible.
    The United States of America owes our troops in uniform a debt of
    gratitude, and we owe our military families the strong support necessary
    to make sure that they understand that we appreciate their sacrifices.
        Every trooper in the 82d is a triple volunteer. You volunteered to
    join the Army, you volunteered to attend jump school, and you
    volunteered to undertake some of our military's most difficult missions
    by joining this elite division. Each of you is proud to wear the all-
    American patch of the 82d. And I am incredibly proud to be the Commander
    in Chief of such noble, courageous men and women.
        As members of the 82d Airborne Division, you belong to a storied
    military tradition. When Allied forces landed in Normandy, their
    paratroopers of the 82d were among the first boots on the ground. When
    Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, this division was among the first
    units to deploy to Operation Desert Shield. When our Nation announced
    that the 82d Airborne was flying toward Haiti in 1994, the country's
    oppressive leader began to make plans to fly
    out. Across the world, the 82d has come to represent the vanguard of
    freedom. And we salute all the brave veterans with us today who have
    ever marched in your ranks.
        At the beginning of a new century, the men and women of the 82d
    Airborne have once again stepped forward to advance the cause of
    liberty. Since the attacks of
    9/11, you have deployed on more missions than any other division in the
    United States Army. You've taken the battle to the terrorists abroad so
    we do not have to face them here at home. And you've shown the enemies
    of freedom that the 82d Airborne will never give any ground and will
    always fight all the way.
        From the frontlines in Afghanistan, we welcome home the 4th Brigade
    Combat Team, which brought ``Fury from the Skies'' to America's enemies.
    We welcome home units of the Combat Aviation Brigade, which flew on
    ``Pegasus Wings.'' We welcome home your Division Headquarters, your
    Special Troops Battalion, your commander, Major General Dave Rodriguez--``All-American Six.''
        During your deployment in Afghanistan, you served under NATO
    commander and longtime Fort Bragg resident General Dan McNeill. Under his leadership, and because of your courage, you
    took the fight to the enemy. And thanks to you, the Taliban no longer
    controls the Sangin Valley. And thanks to you, the Taliban's stronghold
    in the town of Musa Qala has fallen and a flag of a free Afghanistan has
    risen. Thanks to you, hundreds of insurgents have been captured in
    eastern Afghanistan; many others have been killed. And thanks to you, a
    nation where Al Qaida once plotted the attacks of 9/11 is now a
    democracy and an ally in the war against these extremists.

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        From the frontlines in Iraq, we welcome home the ``Falcons'' of the
    2d Brigade, the ``Panthers'' of the 3d Brigade, the ``Providers'' of the
    82d Sustainment Brigade, and units of the Combat Aviation Brigade.
        When Operation Iraqi Freedom began, members of the 82d Airborne
    helped remove Saddam Hussein from power. The decision to remove Saddam
    Hussein was the right decision at the time, and it remains the right
    decision today.
        With Saddam gone, our job was to help the Iraqi people defend
    themselves against the extremists and to build a free society. In 2006,
    that mission was faltering. I knew a victory was essential to our
    security, so we implemented a new strategy. Instead of retreating, we
    sent in more troops. And the first troops in as part of that surge were
    the troops of the Falcon Brigade of the 82d Airborne. Together with the
    Panther Brigade and other units of the 82d Airborne, you pursued the
    enemy in its strongholds; you denied the terrorists sanctuary; you
    brought security to neighborhoods that had been in the grip of terror.
    And across Iraq, violence is down, civilian deaths are down, sectarian
    killings are down, and attacks on American forces are down. You did the
    job we sent you to do. You have returned home on success. And all of
    America is proud of the 82d Airborne.
        When I was looking for a commander to lead the surge, I turned to a
    former commander in the 82d Airborne, General David Petraeus. He's done a brilliant job leading our troops in
    Iraq. And when it came time to name a new leader for Central Command, he
    was my first and only choice. The United States Senate must give him a
    fair hearing, and they must confirm him as quickly as possible.
        General Petraeus has reported that
    security conditions have improved enough in Iraq to return by the end of
    July to the pre-surge level of 15 combat brigade teams. So far, three
    brigades, including the Falcon Brigade, have redeployed without
    replacement as part of this drawdown. Two more brigades will follow in
    the months ahead. When we complete this drawdown, we will have reduced
    our combat brigades in Iraq by 25 percent from the year before. General
    Petraeus and our commanders will continue to analyze the situation on
    the ground and report back to me with their recommendations for future
    troop levels. But my message to our commanders is this: You will have
    all the troops, you will have all the resources you need to win in Iraq.
        Often I've been asked, ``What will success look like in Iraq?'' So I
    want to share some thoughts with you. Success will be when Al Qaida has
    no safe haven in Iraq, and Iraqis can protect themselves. Success will
    be when Iraq is a nation that can support itself economically. Success
    will be when Iraq is a democracy that governs itself effectively and
    responds to the will of its people. Success will be when Iraq is a
    strong and capable ally in the war on terror. And when our country
    succeeds in Iraq, generations of Americans will be more secure.
        The first condition for success in Iraq is a country that can
    protect its own people. Paratroopers gathered here have seen the Iraqis
    in action. They're brave people. They're courageous people. And with our
    training, they're becoming better soldiers. They're assuming greater
    responsibility for fighting the terrorists and policing the streets and
    defending their territory. And as a sign of their commitment to this
    mission, the Government in Baghdad launched a surge of 100,000 new
    troops.
        In Mosul and other areas in northern Iraq, Iraqi forces have
    launched operations to drive Al Qaida from one of its few remaining
    major strongholds in the country. In Basra and Sadr City, Iraqi forces
    have led operations to clear out Iranian-backed special groups, illegal
    militias, and criminal gangs. The capability of the Iraqi security force
    is improving. They're winning battles.
        In this fight, they have been joined by about 100,000 Iraqis who
    belong to citizens

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    groups bearing the proud name of Sons of Iraq. Many of these groups are
    Sunni; some are Shi'a; some are mixed. But whatever their makeup, these
    groups are determined to expel the enemies of freedom and secure their
    communities and build a more hopeful future.
        The enemies of free Iraq are determined to deny that future, and
    that means we can expect more violence. We can also expect the Iraqi
    security forces to be better equipped, better trained, and better able
    to take the fight to the enemy. And as they do, they can count on the
    United States of America.
        The second condition for success in Iraq is a country that can
    support itself economically. Iraq's economy has made tremendous strides
    since the beginning of the surge. Inflation is declining. Economic
    growth is increasing. Investment in the energy and telecom industries is
    increasing. Energy production is on the rise. Listen, there are many
    challenges that remain, and there is work to be done to overcome decades
    of oppression and mismanagement. Yet Iraqis can take pride in the
    economic progress their country has made.
        And they can take pride in the fact that they're paying a greater
    share of their own expenses. The--we provided critical help to Iraq
    early on. And now that the economy expands, the Government in Baghdad
    has a solemn responsibility to invest in its people, pay for its
    infrastructure, and pay for its own security.
        The third condition for success in Iraq is a democracy that governs
    itself effectively and responds to the will of its people. Security has
    improved, and Iraqis have realized they don't have to rely on militias
    or other extremists for protection. And they're taking a growing
    interest in their country's political future.
        In local communities, Iraqis are increasingly demanding
    reconciliation. They're demanding a better life for their families. In
    the Provinces, the tribes that rose up to cast off Al Qaida now look
    forward to casting votes and rebuilding their neighborhoods.
        And in Baghdad, the Government is responding to these developments
    with an impressive string of legislative achievements. They passed a
    pension law, de-Ba'athification reform, a new budget, an amnesty law,
    and Provincial powers law. And while there's still a distance to travel,
    they have come a long way. Their legislative accomplishments would be
    notable in any country, but they're even more impressive considering the
    conditions the Iraqis have had to overcome.
        As we look ahead, we cannot expect Iraq to suddenly put aside all
    their political differences. Sometimes we have a few of our own in the
    United States. We can't expect them to reach agreement on every issue.
    But we can expect Iraqis of all backgrounds to take an increasingly
    active role in the democratic process, share power, and settle disputes
    by debating in the halls of government rather than fighting in the
    streets.
        The fourth condition of success in Iraq is a country that is an ally
    in the war on terror. The people of Iraq have seen the dark vision the
    enemy offers; they've rejected it. The Iraqis understand firsthand how
    the terrorists murder and maim with no respect for innocent life. It is
    no coincidence that a nation that has suffered mightily at the hands of
    terror is becoming a strong ally in the war against the terrorists.
        And now the leaders of Iraq want to solidify their country's
    relationship with the United States. Last year, America and Iraq agreed
    to sign a long-term strategic partnership. This partnership would
    support future cooperation between our countries, without establishing
    permanent bases or without binding a future President to specific troop
    levels. Part of this agreement would provide legal protection for
    American troops in Iraq similar to those in other countries where our
    forces are deployed. And it would show our friends across the world that
    America will stand with them as they stand against terror.

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        The vision for success in Iraq that I just outlined will not come
    easily. There will be tough fighting ahead. But the progress is
    undeniable. Because of your bravery and your courage, the terrorists and
    extremists are on the run, and we are on our way to victory.
        I know there have been some disagreements on the war on terror. But
    whenever--whatever--wherever Members of Congress stood on the decision
    of--to remove Saddam Hussein, we should be able to agree that our troops
    deserve America's full support. And that means the United States
    Congress needs to pass a responsible war funding bill that does not tie
    the hands of our commanders and gives our troops everything they need to
    complete and accomplish the mission.
        Some of our fellow citizens wonder whether the mission in Iraq is
    worth the cost. I strongly believe it is. And here is why: The enemy has
    made clear that Iraq is the central battleground of the great
    ideological struggle of our time. This is a struggle between those who
    murder the innocent to advance their hateful objectives and those of us
    who love liberty and long for peace. We saw that these enemies--what
    these enemies intend for our country on September the 11th, 2001, and we
    must do everything in our power to stop the enemy from attacking us
    again.
        Withdrawal from Iraq before we have achieved success would embolden
    Al Qaida and give them new safe havens from which to plot attacks on the
    American homeland. Withdrawal before success would embolden Iran in its
    nuclear weapons ambitions and its efforts to dominate the region.
    Withdrawal before success would send a signal to terrorists and
    extremists across the world that America is weak and does not have the
    stomach for a long fight. Withdrawal before success would be
    catastrophic for our country. It would more likely--be more likely that
    we would suffer another attack like the one we experienced on September
    the 11th. It would jeopardize the safety of future generations. And we
    must not, and we will not, allow that to happen.
        By contrast, success in Iraq would deny Al Qaida a safe haven and
    hand Usama bin Laden a strategic defeat in
    the land where his terrorist movement has chosen to make a stand.
    Success in Iraq would deal a devastating blow to Iran's ambitions to
    dominate the region. Success in Iraq would show the people of the Middle
    East that democracy and freedom can flourish in their midst. And success
    in Iraq would send a signal to the world that America does not withdraw,
    does not retreat, does not back down in the face of terror. And that
    will make us safer here in the United States of America.
        America is fortunate to have courageous men and women who volunteer
    to protect us during these dangerous time. We've seen that courage in
    the story of Sergeant First Class Benjamin Sebban of the 82d Airborne.
    As a senior medic in his squadron, Ben made sacrifice a way of life.
    When younger medics were learning how to insert IVs, he would always
    offer up his own arm for practice. And when the time came, Ben did not
    hesitate to offer his fellow soldiers far more.
        On March 17, 2007, in Diyala Province, Ben saw a truck filled with
    explosives racing toward his team of paratroopers. He ran out in the
    field to warn them, exposing himself to a blast. Ben received severe
    wounds, but this good medic never bothered to check his own injuries.
    Instead, he devoted his final moments on Earth to treating others. This
    morning, it was such a great honor to be able to present Ben's
    mom the Silver Star.
        We pray that a loving God comforts his family. We pray that a loving
    God comforts the families of all the fallen. We will always honor their
    memory. And we pledge that their sacrifice shall not be in vain.
        Our mission in Iraq has been long and trying. But when the history
    books are written, they will show that this generation of heroes was as
    great as any in the history

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    of our Nation. They will show that America refused to shrink in the face
    of terror. They will show that freedom prevailed.
        Thank you for who you are. Thank you for what you do. Yesterday,
    today, and tomorrow, you are America's Guard of Honor. May God bless
    you, and may God bless America.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:54 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, USA, commander, Col. Victor Petrenko, USA,
    chief of staff, and CSM Thomas Capel, USA, command sergeant major, 82d
    Airborne Division; Brig. Gen. Arthur M. Bartell, USA, deputy commanding
    general, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg; Gen. Dan K. McNeill, USA,
    commander, NATO International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan;
    former leader Raoul Cedras of Haiti; Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA,
    commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; Usama bin Laden, leader
    of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; and Barbara Filik Walsh, mother
    of Sfc. Benjamin L. Sebban, USA.