[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 14 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Pages 404-407]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the Community at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

April 3, 2003

    The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all so very much 
for that warm welcome. It's such an honor to be here--especially pleased 
to be traveling today with a great First Lady, Laura Bush. We really 
appreciate your welcome, and we're proud to be with the marines and 
sailors and families of Camp Lejeune. There's no finer sight--no finer 
sight--than to see 12,000

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United States marines and corpsmen, unless you happen to be a member of 
the Iraqi Republican Guard.
    For more than 60 years, marines have gone forth from Camp Lejeune to 
fight our country's battles. Now America has entered a fierce struggle 
to protect the world from a grave danger and to bring freedom to an 
oppressed people. As the forces of our coalition advance, we learn more 
about the atrocities of the Iraqi regime and the deep fear that Saddam 
Hussein has instilled in the Iraqi people. Yet, no scheme of this enemy, 
no crime of a dying regime, will divert us from our mission. We will not 
stop until Iraq is free.
    Audience member. We love you, President Bush!
    The President. When freedom needs defending, America turns to our 
military. And as they do their job, our men and women in uniform count 
on their families, like you all here today. This is a time of hardship 
for many military families. Some of you have been separated from your 
loved ones for quite a while because of long deployments. All of America 
is grateful for your sacrifice, and Laura and I are here to thank each 
one of you.
    We're here to thank the Marines. I also want to thank the men and 
women of the Marine Forces Reserve who are serving here and abroad. 
Hundreds of reserve units across America have been activated in this 
time of war, and our country thanks these fine citizens and their 
employers for putting duty first.
    I want to thank Major General David Mize for his hospitality and his 
leadership. I want to thank Major General John Castellaw, commanding 
general of the 2d Marine Expeditionary Force, for his leadership and 
strength.
    I appreciate so very much Members of the North Carolina 
congressional delegation who traveled with Laura and me today. Senators 
Edwards and Dole, from the great State of North Carolina, thank you for 
coming. I appreciate Members of the United States House of 
Representatives, Congressmen Ballance, Jones, and McIntyre, for 
traveling with us. These five are five Members of the Congress are 
strong supporters of the marines and the United States military.
    I met the mayor, and I want to thank Madam Mayor and members of the 
county commission for being so supportive of the families and the 
personnel here at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I want to thank very 
much those veterans who are here, and retired military members. I want 
to thank Lone Star. We kind of like that name. [Laughter]
    I very much want to say a little something about a person that Laura 
and I met at Marine One when it landed, Laura Kay Brett.
    Audience member. Yeah!
    The President. You may know Laura--somebody knows Laura Kay out 
there. [Laughter] But you need to know her story. You see, Laura Kay is 
director of Volunteer Services at the YMCA Camp Lejeune. She represents 
hundreds, thousands of people who volunteer to make somebody's life 
better. She runs a mom-to-mom program to help people who may need help. 
Laura Kay represents the best of America, somebody who is willing to 
love a neighbor just like she'd like to be loved herself.
    I want to thank Laura Kay. I want to thank the thousands of you who 
are here who understand we can save somebody's life by showing them 
love. We can help somebody who hurts by hugging a neighbor in need.
    All around Camp Lejeune are monuments to the heroic achievements of 
the United States Marines. In the 14 days since the major ground war 
began, the Marine Corps has added new achievements to its great story.
    On the first day of the campaign, marine units were ordered to 
secure 600 Iraqi oil wells and prevent environmental disaster. And that 
mission was accomplished. U.S. marines and our Royal Marine allies were 
sent in to take the Al Faw Peninsula and clear a path for humanitarian 
aid, and that job was done. In the tough fighting at Al Nasiriyah, 
marines continue to push back the enemy and are showing the unrelenting 
courage worthy of the name Task Force Tarawa. Two nights ago, marines 
and special operations forces set out on a daring rescue mission, and 
thanks to their skill and courage, a brave young soldier is now free.

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    These missions are difficult and they are dangerous, but no one 
becomes a marine because it's easy. Now our coalition moves forward. 
Marines are in the thick of the battle. And what we have begun, we will 
finish.
    The United States and our allies pledged to act if the dictator did 
not disarm. The regime in Iraq is now learning that we keep our word. By 
our actions, we serve a great and just cause: We will remove weapons of 
mass destruction from the hands of mass murderers. Free nations will not 
sit and wait, leaving enemies free to plot another September the 11th, 
this time perhaps with chemical or biological or nuclear terror. And by 
defending our own security, we are freeing the people of Iraq from one 
of the cruelest regimes on Earth.
    At this hour, coalition forces are clearing southern cities and 
towns of the dictator's death squads and enforcers. Our special forces 
and Army paratroopers, working with Kurdish militia, have opened a 
northern front against the enemy. Army and Marine divisions are engaging 
the enemy and advancing to the outskirts of Baghdad.
    From the skies above, coalition aircraft and cruise missiles are 
removing hundreds of military targets from Iraq. A vise is closing, and 
the days of a brutal regime are coming to an end.
    Some servants of the regime have chosen to fill their final days 
with acts of cowardice and murder. In combat, Saddam's thugs shield 
themselves with women and children. They have killed Iraqi citizens who 
welcome coalition troops. They force other Iraqis into battle by 
threatening to torture or kill their families. They've executed 
prisoners of war. They've waged attacks under the white flag of truce. 
They concealed combat forces in civilian neighborhoods and schools and 
hospitals and mosques.
    In this war, the Iraqi regime is doing--is terrorizing its own 
citizens, doing everything possible to maximize Iraqi civilian 
casualties, and then to exploit the deaths they've caused for 
propaganda. These are war criminals, and they will be treated like war 
criminals.
    In stark contrast, the citizens of Iraq are coming to know what kind 
of people we have sent to liberate them. American forces and our allies 
are treating innocent civilians with kindness and showing proper respect 
to soldiers who surrender. Many Americans have seen the picture of 
Marine Lance Corporal Marcco Ware carrying a wounded Iraqi soldier on 
his shoulders to safety for medical treatment. That's the picture of the 
strength and goodness of the U.S. Marines. That is a picture of America. 
People in the United States are proud of the honorable conduct of our 
military, and I'm proud to lead such brave and decent Americans.
    I'm also proud that coalition victories are bringing food and water 
and medicine to the Iraqi people. Our coalition partners have 
constructed a pipeline to bring clean water to Umm Qasr. We're 
delivering emergency rations to the hungry. Right now, ships carrying 
enough American grain to feed millions are bound for Iraq. We're 
bringing aid, and we're bringing something more. We're bringing hope.
    A man in one Iraqi village said this to one of our soldiers: ``I 
want my freedom. I don't want food or water. I just want my freedom.'' 
America hears that man. We hear all Iraqis who yearn for liberty. And 
the people of Iraq have my pledge: Our fighting forces will press on 
until your entire country is free.
    The Iraqi people deserve to live in peace under leaders they have 
chosen. They deserve a government that respects the rights of every 
citizen and ethnic group. They deserve a country that is united, that's 
independent, and that is released from years of sanctions and sorrow. 
Our coalition has one goal for the future of Iraq, to return that great 
country to its own people.
    Building a free and prosperous Iraq after the regime is gone will 
require--will be the work of the Iraqi people for years to come. And 
they will have our help. Today the goal is to remove the Iraqi regime 
and to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, and that is the task of 
the United States military and our coalition.
    All who serve in this mission can know this: Your fellow citizens 
are behind you, and our Government will give you every tool you need for 
victory.
    People of this country take pride in your victories, and we share in 
your losses. Camp Lejeune has lost some good marines. Every

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person who dies in the line of duty leaves a family that lives in grief. 
Every marine who dies in the line of duty leaves comrades who mourn 
their loss.
    There is a tradition in the corps that no one who falls will be left 
behind on the battlefield. Our country has a tradition as well. No one 
who falls will be forgotten by this grateful Nation. We honor their 
service to America, and we pray their families will receive God's 
comfort and God's grace.
    These are sacrifices in a high calling, the defense of our Nation 
and the peace of the world. Overcoming evil is the noblest cause and the 
hardest work. And the liberation of millions is the fulfillment of 
America's founding promise. The objectives we've set in this war are 
worthy of America, worthy of all the acts of heroism and generosity that 
have come before.
    Once again, we are applying the power of our country to ensure our 
security and to serve the cause of justice. And we will prevail.
    Our armed services have performed brilliantly in Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. Moving a massive force over 200 miles of enemy territory in a 
matter of days is a superb achievement. Yet there is work ahead for our 
coalition, for the American Armed Forces, and for the United States 
Marines. Having traveled hundreds of miles, we will now go the last 200 
yards. The course is set. We're on the advance. Our destination is 
Baghdad, and we will accept nothing less than complete and final 
victory.
    May God bless our country and all who defend her. Semper fi.

Note: The President spoke at 10:40 a.m. at W.P.T. Hill Field. In his 
remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. David Mize, USMC, commanding general, 
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune; Maj. Gen. John Castellaw, USMC, 
commanding general, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing; Mayor Elsie P. Smith of 
Jacksonville, NC; and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these 
remarks.