[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 41 (Monday, October 14, 2002)]
[Pages 1742-1745]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan

October 11, 2002

    Welcome. Please be seated. Thanks for coming. Laura and I appreciate 
you coming today, and it's a chance to talk about our vision for our 
friends in Afghanistan.
    It was a year ago that American forces were just beginning the 
liberation of Afghanistan. And on this date last year, a year ago today, 
I asked the children of America to contribute one dollar to provide food 
and medical help to the children of Afghanistan. In a year's time after 
making that request, we've really accomplished a lot. We have. We have 
seen, of course, the tremendous skill and character of a United States 
military. We have seen the courage of our allies and our Afghan friends. 
We have seen the spirit of the Afghan people, who long for freedom. 
We've seen the great generosity of our fellow Americans extended to men, 
women, and children on the other side of the Earth.
    And yet today I want you all to know and our fellow citizens to know 
there's still a lot left to do. There's still a lot of work to do in 
Afghanistan to achieve our dreams and, more importantly, the dreams of 
the Afghan people. Today America affirms its full commitment to a future 
of progress and stability for the Afghan people.
    I appreciate so very much the Ambassador for being here. Mr. 
Ambassador, I want to thank you for your service. The Ambassador is a--
was an American citizen until recently. He decided he wanted to serve 
his country, the land of his birth, renounced his citizenship so he 
could become the official Ambassador from Afghanistan to the United 
States. And Ambassador Shahryar is a--is a great man who serves a 
wonderful example of putting your country above yourself.
    And so, Mr. Ambassador, we're honored you're here. I want to thank 
you--where is he? Oh, Ambassador, you'd think they'd have given you a 
better seat. [Laughter] I'm proud of you. I really am.
    I'm also proud of Andrew Natsios, who is our Administrator of USAID. 
I want to thank him. I'll talk about some of Andy's fellow employees 
here in a minute and what they're doing on behalf of the American people 
to help Afghanistan children.
    Sharif Faez is the Minister of Education--Higher Education. He too 
used to live in America. He's now serving his country. He shares our 
vision and understanding of the need to make sure the educational 
systems are strong and available, so that people can have hope in his 
country. Mr. Minister, thank you for your service, and I'm honored 
you're here with us.
    I appreciate the Members of the Congress being here. Dana, thanks 
for coming. Members of my national security team who are working hard on 
Afghan policy, whether it be Condi Rice, who's the boss, or Zal--where 
are you, Zal? Thank you, Zal. He knows a lot about Afghanistan. After 
all, he was from there. Elliott Abrams, members of my team who care 
deeply about our policy to make sure that our policy is complete.
    The--it's very important for our fellow Americans to remember that--
keep in mind about the Taliban. They were the most brutal and oppressive 
Governments--one of the most brutal and oppressive Governments in modern 
times. It's hard for us to understand in America, but these are people 
who attempted to control every mind and every soul in the country. They 
obviously had a vast network of terrorist camps available to train 
extremists from around the world. Thanks to America and thanks to our 
friends, thanks to people who love freedom for everybody, the oppressive 
rule has been lifted. They're no longer in power. They're on the run 
along with a bunch of other ones over there, too. Afghanistan has 
entered a new era of hope. And we want to be a continued part of the new 
era of hope in Afghanistan.
    One of our dear values, one of the values we hold close to our 
heart, is the respect and beliefs of all peaceloving people, no matter 
what their faith may be. Islam is a vibrant faith. Millions of our 
fellow citizens are Muslim. We respect the faith. We honor its 
traditions. Our enemy does not. Our enemy don't follow the great 
traditions of Islam. They've hijacked a great religion.

[[Page 1743]]

    But it's important, as we lift that veil, to remember that they are 
nothing but a bunch of radical terrorists who distort history and the 
values of Islam. Islam is a faith that brings comfort to people. It 
inspires them to lead lives based on honesty and justice and compassion.
    We've also got a great tradition not only of recognizing freedom of 
religion and respecting religion; we've got a great tradition of 
liberating people, not conquering them. It's very important for our 
citizens to remember that as we upheld that doctrine that said, ``If you 
harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists,'' that we 
went into Afghanistan to free people, because we believe in freedom. We 
believe every life counts; everybody has worth; everybody matters, 
whether they live in America or in Afghanistan.
    And so we are helping the people to now recover from years of 
tyranny and oppression. We're helping Afghanistan to claim its 
democratic future, and we're helping that nation to establish public 
order and safety, even while the struggle against terror continues in 
some corners of that country. There's still Al Qaida killers roaming 
around Afghanistan. We're working closely with the Government to rout 
them out, not only to make sure that Afghanistan is more safe but also 
to make sure America is safe as well.
    A year ago, it was really hard to find security and safety anywhere 
in Afghanistan. Just ask the citizens who were there. Now, America is 
helping to form a new Afghan national army. We are committed to an 
Afghan national army. The idea is to train 18 battalions of over 10,000 
soldiers and finish the task by the end of next year.
    I'm proud that Germany is helping as well to bring civil order by 
helping to build a police force. The International Security Assistance 
Force, what they call the ISAF, led by coalition countries, is helping 
to keep the streets safe in the city of Kabul. Security is a requirement 
for recovery and development--can't have recovery and development unless 
there is a secure society. America and other nations will continue 
working with the Afghan Government to build security, so the Afghan 
people can live their lives without violence and without fear.
    A year ago, Afghans were living under history's first-ever 
terrorist-sponsored regime. These people had found a parasite. And in 
June of 2002, history will show that Afghanistan reversed its history by 
having a loya jirga and created the most broadly representative 
government in Afghanistan's history. There are two women serving in 
President Karzai's cabinet. The institutions of free debate and free 
press are taking hold. New commissions on human rights and the drafting 
of a new constitution will lay the groundwork for democracy and for the 
rule of law. The institutions necessary for the development of a 
peaceful, hopeful country are going to be put in place soon. We will 
stay the course to help that country develop--in their image, not in 
ours.
    A year ago, millions of Afghans lived in fear of famine and disease. 
In the time since, America has delivered food and medicine to the Afghan 
people. We are committed to the health of the Afghan people. Over the 
last year, U.N. World Food Programme, with the support of the United 
States, has provided 575,000 metric tons of food to nearly 10 million 
Afghans. The United States has also provided seed and fertilizer in time 
for the spring planting season. The United States joined with other 
nations to support UNICEF's vaccination of more than 8 million children 
against measles. American health care officials are helping with other 
efforts to improve public health, including the fight against polio and 
malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis. These relief efforts have put hunger and 
disease on the retreat. We got the Taliban gone. We'd like to get 
disease and hunger gone as well.
    More than 2 million Afghan refugees have returned back to the 
country since November. That is a positive sign. It's a good sign that 
people are sensing their country is a better place to live and more 
secure, a better place to raise a family.
    One American bringing hope to Afghanistan is Sergeant First Class 
Victor Anderson. Victor is with us today. Sergeant Anderson spent 7 
months traveling in Afghanistan. He visited hospitals and clinics, 
provided medical care from his car. He never turned down anybody who 
asked for help. He treated broken

[[Page 1744]]

bones. He treated gunshot wounds. He treated cuts and diseases. He 
treated a small child who was bitten by a donkey. [Laughter] Sergeant 
Anderson, your service brings great credit to the Army and to America, 
and the Nation is really grateful for your work.
    A year ago, the children of Afghanistan were suffering greatly in a 
nation beset by war. It's not hard to imagine children suffering in a 
nation beset by war, and it's really sad. The children of America 
responded with great compassion. America's Fund for Afghan Children has 
collected more than $10\1/2\ million. That's a dime at a time or a 
dollar at a time. That's a lot of kids working hard to collect money. It 
has allowed the Red Cross to deliver emergency medical supplies to help 
serve 60,000 people. This fund has helped provide winter clothes to 
8,000 children, to help rehabilitate hospitals in Kabul.
    Today we've got representatives of the fund, twins, Sarah and 
Alexander Ahmad. Together, they've raised $12,000--$12,000. That's a lot 
of money. Nearly 25 years ago, Sarah and Alexander's dad came to America 
from Afghanistan, from war-torn Afghanistan. Today, the family is 
helping to give peace a chance in their ancestral home and, as 
importantly, showing the world the generous heart, the great heart, of 
the American people. I really appreciate the example you're setting, and 
thank you for joining us today.
    And by the way, the fund still exists. And I hope the American 
children understand there are still people in Afghanistan who hurt a 
lot. And if you've given once, it's okay to give again to make sure we 
continue to help the people in Afghanistan.
    America will continue to provide that country with essential short-
term relief. We also understand that Afghanistan needs long-term 
economic reconstruction help. And we will meet this commitment as well.
    Starting with the Tokyo Conference last January, the United States 
and 60 other countries have pledged $4.5 billion over 5 years to work on 
reconstruction projects. America is delivering on our pledge. We're 
writing our checks. We're currently implementing more than $300 million 
worth of reconstruction and recovery projects. The nations who have made 
pledges, the other nations, they need to be good on their pledges. If 
you say you're going to help the Afghan people, do it. If you've made a 
pledge, write your check. It's important.
    America and our partners are helping rebuild roads and bridges and 
waterways and buildings. Last month, the United States and Japan and 
Saudi Arabia committed $180 million to rebuild the highway connecting 
Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat. It's an important project.
    President Karzai spoke to me about it in the Oval Office. He said, 
``It's important that we show the people that we're--that we can work 
together to restore the historic link, to make sure that commerce and 
trade flow more freely and that people are able to find work.'' I want 
to thank the Saudi Arabians, the Japanese for joining us in this highly 
visible and highly important project.
    We're also helping to rebuild schools and hospitals and clinics. 
Some of the first rebuilding is being done by the U.S. Army Civil 
Affairs soldiers, who are working with relief agencies to rebuild dozens 
of schools. With us today is Captain Britton London, who enlisted 
friends, family members, church groups to supply Afghan students with 
thousands of pens and pencils and notebooks. Captain London is a man 
after my own heart. He started a--he got the equipment necessary to 
start the first post-Taliban baseball league. [Laughter] He brought me a 
ball--two balls signed by the Eagles--the Eagles, the Eagles, the mighty 
Eagles of Afghan baseball. [Laughter] And they practice--they're 
practicing now, and the games are held once a week.
    Our soldiers wear the uniforms of warriors, but they are also 
compassionate people. And the Afghan people are really beginning to see 
the true strength of our country. I mean, routing out the Taliban was 
important, but building a school is equally important.
    Across Afghanistan, U.S. aid will help build and refurbish several 
hundred more schools over the next 2 years. We're also in the process of 
training hundreds of teachers. In March, many girls walked into a 
classroom for the first time. And our country has provided them as well 
as the boys with millions of new textbooks.

[[Page 1745]]

    It's hard to believe--I know it's hard for some in America to 
believe that the Afghan people were living under a government that would 
not let girls go to school. It's just hard to imagine in America. But 
it's reality. And now we've got a lot of work to do to make up for lost 
time. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth. Everybody matters. 
Spearheading our back-to-school efforts are Lisa Hartenberger and Nitin 
Madhav. They work for USAID. They're a part of the--they're a part of 
the new army in Afghanistan. These are army of compassionate souls who 
are on the frontlines of making sure that the Afghan people understand 
our commitment is real, that when we talk about freedom, we understand 
that freedom is more than just a word. Freedom is a chance for people to 
get a good education. Freedom is chance for people to get good health 
care. Freedom is a chance for people to realize their dreams.
    And I want to thank--I want to thank these two fine public servants 
that work for--with Andy, for your service to the country in service of 
Afghanistan. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, buddy.
    Last year, when the Taliban fell--I know I remember it, and I'm sure 
a lot of our fellow Americans remember--the images of celebration that 
took place in the streets. People came out to celebrate freedom. It 
reminded us that the whole world--in the whole world there is a huge 
appetite for freedom. People love to be free. And it's important--as we 
stay in Afghanistan, it will be important for other brave people, 
whether they live in Muslim countries or in the Middle East, people who 
stand for tolerance and the rule of law and equal rights and freedom of 
expression, to see our commitment to freedom; that our commitment for 
freedom is complete, and it's real, and it's sincere.
    It's also important for people to know we never seek to impose our 
culture or our form of government. We just want to live under those 
universal values, God-given values. We believe in the demands of human 
dignity that apply in every culture, in every nation. Human beings 
should have the right to free speech. Women deserve respect and 
opportunity. All people deserve equal justice, religious tolerance. This 
is true in America. This is true in Afghanistan. These rights are true 
everywhere.
    We've seen in Afghanistan that the road to freedom can be hard; it's 
a hard struggle. We've also seen in Afghanistan that the road to freedom 
is the only one worth traveling. Any nation that sacrifices to build a 
future of liberty will have the respect, the support, and the friendship 
of the United States of America.
    May God bless the people of Afghanistan and of America. Thank you 
all for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 10:34 a.m. in Presidential Hall in the 
Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he 
referred to Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; Zalmay 
Khalilzad, Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan; Elliott Abrams, 
Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Democracy, 
Human Rights, and International Operations; Ishaq Shahryar, Afghan 
Ambassador to the United States; Minister of Higher Education Mohammad 
Sharif Faez and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; and Lisa 
Hartenberger, education adviser for Afghanistan, and Nitin Madhav, 
program development adviser for Afghanistan, USAID.