[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
[March 24, 2008]
[Pages 411-412]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Following a Briefing at the Department of State
March 24, 2008

    Madam Secretary, thank you very much 
for your hospitality. I just had a very interesting dialogue on how to 
strengthen the State Department's capacity to bring freedom and peace 
around the world, how to make sure the State Department works 
collaboratively with the Defense Department as we deal with some of the 
more difficult areas and really take advantage of some of the great 
opportunities that we're faced with.
    And so I really want to thank you, Madam Secretary, and I thank the folks who work in this building. 
Our citizens have really no idea of how competent, courageous, and 
successful the people here who work at the State Department are. I do. 
After my--now my eighth year as President, I've gotten to know the 
people in the State Department well. And I'm impressed, and so should 
our citizens.
    Obviously, we want to expand the reach of the State Department by 
increasing the size and its efficiencies and to make sure that there's 
interoperability. And along these lines, of course, I'm fully aware that 
folks who have worked in the State Department lost their lives and--in 
Iraq, along with our military folks. And on this day of reflection, I 
offer our deepest sympathies

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to their families. I hope their families know that citizens pray for 
their comfort and their strength. Whether they were the first one who 
lost their life in Iraq or recently lost their lives in Iraq, that every 
life is precious in our sight.
    And I guess my one thought I wanted to leave with those who still 
hurt is that one day people will look back at this moment in history and 
say, ``Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve, because 
they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come.'' That I 
have vowed in the past, and I will vow so long as I'm President, to make 
sure that those lives were not lost in vain; that, in fact, there is a 
outcome that will merit the sacrifice that civilian and military alike 
have made; that our strategies going forward will be aimed at making 
sure that we achieve victory, and therefore, America becomes more 
secure, these young democracies survive, and peace more likely as we 
head into the 21st century.
    So, Madam Secretary, I'm honored to be 
here. And I thank you very much for your hard work and your dedication.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 3:03 p.m.