[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 12 (Monday, March 22, 2004)]
[Pages 425-428]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to Military Personnel at Fort Campbell, Kentucky

March 18, 2004

    I'm glad to be back. Thanks for having me. Thanks for inviting 
Laura. I am proud to be here once again with the Screaming Eagles of the 
101st, with the Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces Group, and with 
the Night Stalkers. Many of you have seen action in the global war on 
terror. Some of you have just returned to Fort Campbell from your 
deployments. Thank you for a job well done. Welcome home.
    Laura and I are honored to be with all the personnel at Fort 
Campbell and with all the family members who live here. Each one of you 
serves our Nation by giving your love and support to our soldiers. Here 
at one of America's vital military bases, you've built a strong 
community of people who care about each other and share the challenges 
and rewards of army life. America is grateful. America is proud of our 
military families.
    All who serve at Fort Campbell and all who wear the uniform of the 
United States are serving at a crucial hour in the history of freedom. 
In the first war of the 21st century, you're defending your fellow 
citizens against ruthless enemies, and by your sacrifice, you're making 
our country more secure. You have delivered justice to many terrorists, 
and you're keeping the rest of them on the run. You've helped to remove 
two of the most violent regimes on Earth. With daring and skill and 
honor, you've held true to the Special Forces motto, ``To liberate the 
oppressed.''
    America is indebted to you. And we're also indebted to the men and 
women of the National Guard and the Reserves who are serving abroad and 
those called up for homeland security assignments. Hundreds of Guard and 
Reserve units across America have been activated in this time of war. 
These fine citizens and their families and their employers have put duty 
first, and our Nation is grateful to them as well.
    We've got a lot of veterans with us today, veterans who have served 
our Armed Forces worldwide and who now live near Fort Campbell. Thank 
you for the great example you've set for today's soldiers. Thank you for 
your service to our Nation.
    I want to thank General Petraeus for being such a strong leader and 
a good man. I want to thank General Ellis for being with us today--oh, I 
forgot. I want to thank Holly Petraeus as well. She has done a--she 
deeply cares about the men and women from this base. It's clear when you 
talk to her, she's got a lot of love in her heart.
    General Ellis is with us, Commanding General of the U.S. Armed 
Forces Command. General Ellis, thank you for being here. Today I 
traveled down from Washington with two Members of the United States 
Congress who care a lot about the people stationed at Fort Campbell and 
who live around the Fort Campbell area. That would

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be Congressman Ed Whitfield from Kentucky and Congresswoman Marsha 
Blackburn from Tennessee. Thank you all for coming.
    Laura and I regret the fact we didn't get here in time for the 
entertainment. We want to thank Lane Brody and Mark Wills and Darryl 
Worley and Jaci Velasquez, for your work, your care, and your support of 
the United States military.
    I had the privilege of saying hello to a fellow named Billy Colwell. 
Billy has, by the way, served for 20 years in the 101st. He served our 
Nation, doing two tours of duty in Vietnam. You're probably wondering 
why I'm bringing up Billy. I'll tell you why. A lot of times, people 
say, ``Well, America is strong because of our military.'' And that's one 
reason we're strong, and by the way, we're going to keep our military 
strong. Or they say, ``Well, we're strong because we've got a great 
economy.'' And the economy is strong, and it's getting stronger. But the 
true reason we're strong is because of the hearts and souls of the 
American people. That's why we're strong. We're a compassionate, decent 
country, where neighbors care for neighbors.
    Billy volunteers at the Fort Campbell YMCA. He takes time out of his 
life to help junior enlisted officers or people who are getting 
deployed. Billy is there to help welcome people home and to wish people 
well as they leave. Billy takes time out of his life to love a neighbor 
just like you would like to be loved yourself. No, the strength of this 
country is the fact that we've got citizens from all walks of life who 
care deeply about our fellow citizens. Billy, thank you for your 
service. Thank you for what you do.
    Fort Campbell was the first Army post I visited in the weeks after 
our country was attacked. It was around Thanksgiving. I will never 
forget eating turkey with the Screaming Eagles. I remember telling you 
that the men and women of Fort Campbell--that you once again had a 
rendezvous with destiny. That's what I said when I was here last. And 
when the orders came, you carried out your missions. You made history 
once again.
    Since we last met, you deployed over 5,000 vehicles, 254 aircraft, 
and 18,000 soldiers in Kuwait, in the fastest deployment in the history 
of the 101st. Since we last met, the 101st liberated the cities of 
Najaf, Karbala, and Hilla. You secured southern Baghdad and sent 1,600 
soldiers by helicopter to Mosul in the longest air assault in military 
history. Since we last met, the sons of the dictator went into hiding, 
until they were found and dealt with by the 101st and Special 
Operations.
    Since we last met, soldiers from Fort Campbell have helped to 
organize the first truly free local election in Iraq in 30 years. Since 
we last met, you helped to build medical clinics and to rebuild schools. 
By your decency and compassion, you are helping the Iraqi people to 
reclaim their country. Because you care, you're helping the Iraqis live 
as free people.
    One year ago tomorrow, the Armed Forces of the United States entered 
Iraq to end the regime of Saddam Hussein. After his years of defiance, 
we gave the dictator one final chance. He refused. And so in one year's 
time, Saddam Hussein has gone from a palace to a bunker to a spider hole 
to jail.
    Because America and our allies acted, one of the most evil, brutal 
regimes in history is gone forever. The dictator of Iraq committed many 
atrocities, and he had many more in mind. This was a regime that 
tortured children in front of their parents. This was a regime that used 
chemical weapons against whole villages. This was a country in which 
millions of people lived in fear and many thousands disappeared into 
mass graves. That was the life in Iraq for more than a generation until 
the Americans arrived. Because America and our allies acted, a state 
sponsor of terror was put out of business. The Iraqi regime gave cash 
rewards to the families of suicide bombers and sheltered terrorist 
groups. But all that's over. When Saddam Hussein went down, the 
terrorists lost an ally forever. Because America and our allies acted, 
an aggressive threat to the security of the Middle East and to the peace 
of the world is now gone.
    September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson I will never forget. 
America must confront threats before they fully materialize. In Iraq, my 
administration looked at the intelligence information, and we saw a 
threat. Members of Congress looked at the intelligence, and

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they saw a threat. The United Nations Security Council looked at the 
intelligence, and it saw a threat. I had a choice to make, either take 
the word of a madman or take such threats seriously and defend America. 
Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time.
    Because America and our allies acted, it is clear to everyone, when 
America makes a pledge, we keep our word. By speaking clearly, by 
speaking consistently, and by meaning what we say, it is more likely the 
world will be more peaceful. Because America and our allies acted, all 
the world is now seeing democracy rising in the heart of the Middle 
East. A year ago, Iraq was ruled by the whims of one cruel man. Today, 
Iraq has a new interim law that guarantees basic rights for all, freedom 
of religion, the right to cast a secret ballot, and equality under the 
law. And these historic changes are sending a message across the region 
from Damascus to Tehran: Freedom is the future of every nation.
    The Iraqi people are achieving great things and serving and 
sacrificing for their own future. Today, more than 200,000 Iraqis, 
including 78,000 new police, are protecting their fellow citizens. 
They're building a country that is strong and free, and America is proud 
to stand with them. All over Iraq today, as that nation moves closer to 
self-government, Iraqis can be certain that in the United States of 
America, they have a faithful friend. And our military--and in our 
military, they're seeing the good heart of America.
    They see people like PFC Amanda Thompson Cummings, who volunteered 
to serve in Iraq. She's an Army cook who also works on security patrol. 
She said this to a reporter: ``They know I can shoot. I'm one of the 
best in my battalion. But hey, I'm a redneck, what do you expect?'' 
[Laughter] Those are her words, not mine. [Laughter]
    This soldier also describes how the children of Iraq look at her, 
especially the young girls. As Amanda puts it, ``When those girls look 
at a female soldier, they think, `Maybe I can be something, too.' '' PFC 
Cummings says, ``We made a difference in their lives. And their faces, 
when they looked at us, that made it all worthwhile right there.''
    Soldiers of Fort Campbell, every one of you is making a difference. 
You've seen hard duty, and the defense of freedom is always worth it. 
Because of your service, because of your bravery, because of your 
dedication, the world is better off, and the American people are more 
secure.
    You have done your duty. America owes those who do their duty--our 
military--our gratitude. We owe you more than gratitude. We also owe you 
the material support you need to do your job. As Commander in Chief, 
I've been proud to sign into law three pay increases for the military. 
You deserved every one. We've increased support for base housing and 
schools. We have a duty in Washington, DC, to make sure our families are 
taken care of.
    Our military has had strong supporters in the House and the Senate. 
I want to thank the Congress for standing up. I want to thank every 
Member of Congress who voted in favor of the $87 billion supplemental 
that is meeting the needs of our troops in the field right now. When 
your Government gives you a mission, we must accept serious 
responsibility of our own. And here's my pledge: I'll work to make sure 
you have every resource and every tool you need to fight and win the war 
on terror.
    The war continues. It's a different kind of war, but it goes on. As 
we saw again yesterday, the terrorists are fighting desperately to 
undermine Iraq's progress toward freedom. That attack showed once again 
the cruelty of our enemies. The terrorists and Ba'athist holdouts know 
that a free and stable Iraq will be a major defeat to the cause of 
hatred and terror. They can't stand the thought of a free society. They 
know that the rise of democracy and hope in the Middle East will mean 
the decline of their appeal and influence. So the terrorists understand 
that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. They're testing our 
will, and day by day they are learning, our will is firm. Their cause 
will fail. We will stay on the offensive. Whatever it takes, we will 
seek and find and destroy the terrorists so that we do not have to face 
them in our own country.
    Not long ago, we intercepted a planning document being sent to the 
leaders of Al Qaida by a terrorist named Zarqawi. He's in

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Iraq. Along with the usual threats, he had a complaint. ``Our enemy,'' 
said Zarqawi, ``is growing stronger, and his intelligence data are 
increasing day by day. This is suffocation.'' Zarqawi is getting the 
idea. For the terrorists in Iraq, we are making sure there is less 
oxygen every day.
    The terrorists hate and target a free Afghanistan and a free Iraq. 
They also hate and target every country that stands for democracy and 
tolerance and freedom in the world. The murders in Madrid have revealed 
once again the agenda and the nature of the terrorist enemy. They kill 
the innocent. They kill children and their mothers on a commuter train, 
without conscience, without mercy. They cause suffering and grief, and 
they rejoice in it. This terrorist enemy will never be appeased, because 
death is their banner and their cause.
    There is no safety for any nation in a world that lives at the mercy 
of gangsters and mass murderers. Eventually, there's no place to hide 
from the planted bombs or the far worse weapons that terrorists seek. 
For the civilized world, there's only one path to safety: We will stay 
united, and we will fight until this enemy is broken.
    The United States is committed to defeating terrorism around the 
world. It's a solemn commitment. We lead in this cause. We're fighting 
in this cause, and we are sacrificing in this cause. The 101st Airborne 
has known greater losses than any other division-sized unit. Each of 
these Americans brought pride to our country. We pray for their 
families. We will honor their names forever.
    The 101st Airborne Division has earned its place in the history of 
our country. Sixty years ago, on the night before D-day, General 
Eisenhower went down to the airfield where the 101st was loading into C-
47s for their flight to Normandy. Eisenhower told the men not to worry 
because they had the best leaders and equipment. One of them looked at 
him and said, ``Hell, General, we ain't worried. It's Hitler's turn to 
worry.'' That spirit carried the American soldier across Europe to help 
liberate a continent. It's the same spirit that carried you across Iraq 
to set a nation free.
    Like your fathers and grandfathers before you, you have liberated 
millions from oppression. You've added to the momentum of freedom across 
the world. You have helped keep America safe. You make us all proud to 
be Americans, and you have made me proud to be your Commander in Chief.
    May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States. 
Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:10 a.m. on the 101st Airborne Division 
Parade Field. In his remarks, he referred to Maj. Gen. David H. 
Petraeus, USA, Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division and Fort 
Campbell, and his wife, Holly; Gen. Larry R. Ellis, USA, Commanding 
General, U.S. Army Forces Command; and entertainers Lane Brody, Mark 
Wills, Darryl Worley, and Jaci Velasquez.