[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 48 (Monday, November 30, 1998)]
[Pages 2370-2371]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

November 21, 1998

    Good morning. Today I'm speaking to you from Korea. From the time 
our administration took office in 1993, we have believed it is vital to 
the future of the United States to look not only to the west, but also 
as a Pacific power to the east. First in Tokyo, and now here in Seoul, I 
have reaffirmed America's commitment to our alliances with Japan and 
Korea and our resolve to build a safer, better world with our Asian 
allies.
    My confidence that such a world is within our grasp springs in no 
small measure from my faith in the strength and skill of a remarkable 
group of Americans, the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.
    Last week, when Saddam Hussein agreed to let international weapons 
inspectors return to Iraq, he backed down because we backed our 
diplomacy with force. In Bosnia, where the peace brokered at Dayton is 
taking hold, American troops are helping to preserve stability. And here 
on the Korean Peninsula, the last fault line of the cold war, nearly 
40,000 Americans are helping Korea defend its freedom.
    Tomorrow I'll visit with U.S. troops and their Korean counterparts 
at the Osan and Yongsan Air Force bases and the Korea Training Center. I 
always welcome the opportunity to meet with America's service men and 
women stationed overseas, especially around holiday time.
    Back in Washington, we're working hard to make sure our forces have 
the resources

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they need to remain the best in the world. Every time we face a 
challenge, our Armed Forces deliver for America. It is imperative that 
we deliver for them by giving our military the support they need and 
deserve, from cutting-edge technology to the most basic parts, from the 
best training in the world to a good quality of life.
    On Veterans Day I was pleased to release $1.1 billion in readiness 
funding authorized by Congress. With the support of Congress, we've also 
obtained nearly $2 billion to support peacekeeping and shifted another 
billion dollars within the Defense budget for additional readiness. Now, 
this money will help to ensure that we preserve a high state of 
readiness for our forward-deployed and first-to-fight forces, while we 
continue to fund other important initiatives such as quality of life, 
recruiting, and pay raises.
    And we can't rest there. We must also plan for tomorrow's challenges 
as well as today's. That's why I've ordered a thorough review of our 
long-term readiness. It will generate budget and policy proposals to 
preserve readiness, to support our troops, to modernize our equipment 
well into the next century.
    Next week Americans at home and around the world will give thanks 
for the countless blessings we enjoy today. I'd like to offer particular 
thanks to those of you serving our country overseas. Thanksgiving week 
is also Military Family Week. We must never forget that for every 
individual stationed abroad, an entire family is also serving our 
country.
    On Thanksgiving I will be back in the United States. Like thousands 
of Americans, I will offer a prayer of gratitude for our troops at home 
and overseas and their indispensable contribution to freedom. Even when 
you are far from home, you are close to our hearts. And especially here 
in Korea, let me thank our troops. I'm honored to be here representing 
the United States on a mission of peace and prosperity, with a strong 
congressional delegation representing many parts of our country. We all 
wish you the very best. And again, we thank you for your service to 
America.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 10:10 p.m., local time, on November 20 
in the Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m., 
e.s.t., on November 21. The transcript was made available by the Office 
of the Press Secretary on November 21 but was embargoed for release 
until the broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to President 
Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Due to the 14-hour time difference, the radio 
address was broadcast after completion of all other Presidential 
activities for November 21.