[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 43 (Monday, October 28, 2002)]
[Pages 1815-1816]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Videotape Remarks to the People of Australia

 October 19, 2002

    This Sunday is a day of national mourning in Australia, a day in 
which our friends mourn the needless loss of life. You come together as 
a nation to grieve for the victims of those who were killed by the 
murderers in Indonesia. And our country grieves with you, and we suffer 
with you. And we send our prayers to the families who cry, and we send 
our prayers for a speedy recovery for the injured.
    Together we face an enemy which does not value innocent life, an 
enemy which tries to terrorize the free world into inaction. They will 
fail. Together we will hunt down the killers so that there's justice in 
the world. Together we will fight terror so as to keep the peace and to 
make the world more free.

[[Page 1816]]

    America and Australia are close friends. We value our friendship. We 
remember so well after September the 11th, 2001, your prayers, your 
sympathies, your strong support. And we will never forget it.
    On this sad day, on this day of mourning, America is with you in 
spirit. May God bless the victims and their families. May God heal the 
injured. And may God continue to bless Australia.

Note: The President's remarks were videotaped at approximately 1 p.m. on 
October 18 in Rochester, MN, for later broadcast, and the transcript was 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary on October 19.