[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 38 (Monday, September 20, 2004)]
[Pages 1987-1992]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the General Conference of the National Guard Association of 
the United States in Las Vegas, Nevada

September 14, 2004

    Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. I am glad to join you 
here in Nevada. I'm also honored to be up here with the Governor. He 
said to remind you of an important thing here. He said, ``What happens 
in Vegas''--[laughter]--``stays in Vegas.'' [Laughter] I hope you've 
enjoyed yourself in this fantastic part of our country. I'm honored to 
be invited to the 126th national conference. It's a pleasure to be with 
the brave men and women of the National Guard.
    As the General just said, you've had many famous Americans in your 
ranks, including men named Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, and Truman. 
Nineteen individuals have served both in the Guard and as President of 
the United States, and I am proud to be one of them.
    The men and women of the National Guard are deployed around the 
world today, fighting the forces of terror in Afghanistan and Iraq and 
helping Americans threatened with natural disasters, like hurricanes 
here

[[Page 1988]]

at home. I am proud to be their Commander in Chief, and I respect and 
honor all of those who serve in the United States Armed Forces, active, 
Guard, and Reserve.
    I want to thank General Hargett for his leadership. I appreciate you 
for your invitation. I want to thank the Governor. I want to thank the 
Lieutenant Governor. I want to thank the attorney general, Brian 
Sandoval. I want to thank the secretary of state, Dean Heller, for 
joining us today. It's a pretty important group when you get that many 
politicians here in one room. [Laughter] I thank General Blum, General 
Harrison. I thank my fellow Texan, Danny James--General James, General 
Schultz. I want to thank the leadership and convention delegates. Most 
of all, thank you for inviting me today.
    When I landed, by the way, at the airport, I had the honor of 
meeting Theresa Bunker. She is a volunteer with the Las Vegas National 
Guard Family Support Center. I met her brave son. He just came back from 
Iraq. I like to tell people the strength of this country is in the 
hearts and souls of our citizens, people like Theresa, who have taken 
time out of her life to volunteer, provide support for family members, 
to send care packages overseas. No, we're going to keep our military 
strong, but never forget, the strength of this country are the great 
citizens of America who serve this country one heart and one soul at a 
time.
    The Guard has been fighting for America since before America was a 
nation. From its birth in the 1630s, the Guard protected the early 
colonists and helped win the War for * Independence. Today, each of you 
carries on the great tradition of those early citizen-soldiers who 
picked up muskets to defend our freedom. Weapons have changed, and so 
have our enemies, but one thing remains the same: The men and women of 
the Guard stand ready to put on the uniform and fight for America. Our 
country is stronger, our freedom is more secure because each of you has 
volunteered to serve.
    * White House correction.
    You have taken an oath to stand by America in times of crisis, war, 
and emergency. You're fulfilling that oath in many ways. Across the 
State of Florida--I happen to know the Commander in Chief of the Guard 
there--[laughter]--thousands of Guard members have mobilized in response 
to Hurricanes Charley and Frances. They are helping to control traffic, 
provide security, conduct search and rescue operations, and distribute 
food and water. One resident of Punta Gorda, Florida, put it, ``I don't 
know what this town would have done without the National Guard.'' When 
tragedy strikes, Americans can always count on the Guard.
    When tragedy came on September the 11th, 2001, the response of the 
Guard was outstanding. A thousand Guard volunteers came forward to help 
that day, and by sunrise on September the 12th, more than 5,000 Guard 
volunteers were on the job.
    In the past 3 years, Guard units have defended the American homeland 
against further attack--you've taken the battle to our enemies abroad. 
The National Guard has played a critical role in every aspect of 
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than 
185,000 Guard members have been called up to serve on every front in the 
war on terror. You are a vital part of our strategy to defend America. 
You're fighting terrorist enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan and across the 
globe, so we do not have to face them here at home. America is safer 
because of your service, and we are grateful.
    And we are grateful for your families, who share in your sacrifice. 
There are few things more difficult in life than seeing a loved one go 
off to war. When the call to duty comes, your families miss you, and 
they worry about you. By standing behind you, they also serve our 
country. America is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our Guard 
families.
    Your service would not be possible without the understanding and 
support of your employers. In offices and schools and factories and 
hospitals across this country, businesses do without your talents so 
that you can serve our Nation. Employers across this country are 
supporting the Guard, because they know the stakes in this war are high. 
These companies are showing their patriotism, and they too have the 
gratitude of our country.
    I know this time of call-ups and alerts and mobilizations and 
deployments has been difficult for Guard members and their families

[[Page 1989]]

and employers. And when our Nation must call on you, we owe you some 
things in return. We're working to provide you at least 30 days' 
notification before you're mobilized, so you have time to make 
arrangements. We're working to give you as much certainty as possible 
about the length of your mobilization. You deserve to know when you can 
expect to resume civilian life. We're working to minimize the number of 
extensions and repeat mobilizations by moving forces out of low-demand 
specialties such as heavy artillery and increasing the number of 
available troops with skills that are in high demand, such as military 
police, civil affairs, and special operations.
    We're improving benefits and the quality of life for our Nation's 
citizen-soldiers. My administration has spent almost $14 billion for 
construction, maintenance, and support for Guard and Reserve facilities 
across the United States. We have expanded health care benefits for 
Guard and Reserve forces and their family members, giving them access to 
the military's TRICARE system for up to 90 days before they report and 
180 days after deactivation, and I will ask Congress to make that 
expansion permanent.
    I called upon Congress to increase the monthly educational benefit 
for Guard and Reserve forces mobilized for more than 90 days in the war 
on terror by 40 to 80 percent, depending on the length of their 
mobilization. Congress must pass this piece of legislation. This 
administration stands for the Guard and its family. And we do so because 
we need the service of guards men and women, because of the times we 
live in. These are dangerous times. My most solemn duty as the President 
is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and 
weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is 
not going to happen on my watch.
    Since that terrible morning 3 years ago, America has been at war. We 
fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power, 
but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is 
clear. We're defending the homeland. We're transforming our military. 
We're strengthening our intelligence services. We're staying on the 
offensive. We will strike the terrorists abroad so they can't come here 
and hurt us. We will advance liberty in the broader Middle East and 
around the world, because freedom will bring a future of hope and the 
peace we all long for, and we will prevail.
    Our strategy is succeeding. Four years ago, Afghanistan was the home 
base of Al Qaida; Pakistan was a transit point for terrorist groups; 
Saudi Arabia was fertile ground for terrorist fundraising; Libya was 
secretly pursuing nuclear weapons; Iraq was a gathering threat; and Al 
Qaida was largely unchallenged as it planned attacks. Because we acted, 
the Government of a free Afghanistan is fighting terror; Pakistan is 
capturing terrorist leaders; Saudi is making raids and arrests; Libya is 
dismantling its weapons programs; the army of a free Iraq is fighting 
for freedom; and more than three-quarters of Al Qaida's key members and 
associates have been detained or killed. We have led. Many have joined, 
and America and the world are safer.
    All this progress involved careful diplomacy, clear moral purpose, 
and some tough decisions. And the toughest came on Iraq. We knew Saddam 
Hussein's record of aggression and support for terror. Remember, he 
housed Abu Nidal--he's the guy that killed Leon Klinghoffer--housed him 
and his associates. Zarqawi was in and out of Baghdad. He's the fellow 
who cuts people's heads off and hopes we cringe and shirk our duty. 
Saddam paid the families of suicide bombers. We knew his long history of 
pursuing and even using weapons of mass destruction. And we know that 
after September the 11th, our country must think differently. We must 
take threats seriously, before they fully materialize.
    In Saddam Hussein, we saw a threat. So I went to the United States 
Congress. Members of both political parties, including my opponent and 
his runningmate, looked at the same intelligence, remembered the same 
history we remembered, and concluded that Saddam Hussein was a threat, 
and they authorized the use of force.
    Before the Commander in Chief commits troops into harm's way, we 
must try all avenues to deal with the threat. I was hopeful that 
diplomacy would work; that's why I went to the United Nations. The U.N. 
Security

[[Page 1990]]

Council looked at the same intelligence we looked at, remembered the 
same history we remembered, and came to this conclusion: They said to 
Saddam Hussein by a 15-to-nothing vote in the U.N. Security Council, 
``Disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences.''
    As he had for over a decade, Saddam Hussein ignored the demands of 
the free world. Matter of fact, when they sent inspectors into his 
country, he systematically deceived them. It was clear to me diplomacy 
wasn't working. So I had a choice to make: Do I forget the lessons of 
September the 11th and take the word of a madman, or take action 
necessary to defend America? Given that choice, I will defend America 
every time.
    Because we acted to defend our country, more than 50 million people 
in Afghanistan and Iraq are free. It wasn't all that long ago that many 
young girls weren't allowed to go to school in Afghanistan, because of 
the dark vision of the Taliban. Wasn't all that long ago that the moms 
were taken to a sports stadium and executed because they wouldn't toe 
the line of these barbaric people. And today, over 10 million Afghan 
citizens, 41 percent of whom are women, are registered to vote in the 
upcoming Presidential elections. Despite ongoing violence in Iraq, that 
country now has a strong Prime Minister, a National Council, and 
national elections are scheduled in January. The world is changing for 
the better. Our Nation is standing with the people of Afghanistan and 
Iraq, because when America gives its word, America must keep its word.
    We're also serving a vital and historic cause that'll make our 
country safer. Free societies in the Middle East will be hopeful 
societies which no longer feed resentments and breed violence for 
export. Free governments in the Middle East will fight terrorists 
instead of harboring them, and that helps keep the peace. So our mission 
in Afghanistan and Iraq is clear. We'll help new leaders to train their 
armies, move toward elections, and get on the path of stability and 
democracy as quickly as possible. And then our troops will return home 
with the honor they deserve.
    I have made a pledge to those who wear the uniform that they will 
have the resources and the tools they need to do their jobs. That's why 
I went to the United States Congress last September and requested $87 
billion for vital funding, funding for our troops in harm's way, funding 
for those who wear the uniform of America in Afghanistan and Iraq. I was 
pleased with the overwhelming bipartisan support for this important 
funding request. Matter of fact, the support was so strong that only 12 
Members of the United States Senate voted against it, 2 of whom are my 
opponent and his runningmate.
    They asked him why and he said, ``Well, I actually did vote for the 
$87 billion, before I voted against it.'' Then they said, well, they 
pressed him for it; he said he was proud of his vote. And finally he 
said, ``The whole thing was a complicated matter.'' There's nothing 
complicated about supporting our troops in combat.
    Last week my opponent questioned the cost of our operations in Iraq 
and said the money could have been better spent elsewhere. The problem 
is, just last summer he had a completely different view. Asked whether 
he believed we should reduce funding for operations in Iraq, my opponent 
at the time replied, ``No. I think we should increase it.'' Asked by how 
much, he said, ``By whatever number of billion dollars it takes to win. 
It is critical that the United States of America be successful in 
Iraq.''
    What's critical is that the President of the United States speak 
clearly and consistently at this time of great threat in our world and 
not change positions because of expediency or pressure. Our troops, our 
friends and allies, and our enemies must know where America stands and 
that America will stand firm. We cannot waver, because our enemies will 
not waver. As we saw with such horror on September the 11th, as the 
people of Russia saw in the terrible massacre of innocent children 
there, we are up against people who show no shame, no remorse, no hint 
of humanity, and we must confront them clearly and consistently, not 
just some of the time but all of the time.
    Our troops understand the importance of our mission. Sergeant Bob 
Kells returned from Iraq a few months ago, where he was deployed with 
the Rhode Island National Guard. ``We saw what Saddam Hussein did to 
these people,'' he says. ``We saw the

[[Page 1991]]

graves. The people would lead us to them. Now they're free. They never 
had that before. And we did it for them.'' He says of the insurgents and 
terrorists we are fighting in Iraq today, ``They want us out, but 
they're a minority. The Iraqi people want democracy. The insurgents are 
absolute cowards. They fight behind women and children, but better 
fighting them there than over here.''
    Sergeant Kells is correct. Our mission in Iraq is critical, and our 
men and women in uniform, active, Guard, and Reserve, are doing a superb 
job for America. Because of your service and sacrifice, we're defeating 
the terrorists where they live, and that makes us safer. Because of you, 
women in Afghanistan are no longer shot and whipped in public. Because 
of you, the people of Iraq no longer fear being executed and left in 
mass graves. Because of you, the world is more just and more peaceful.
    Others are helping us. We put together alliance to help us in the 
cause of freedom and peace. There's nearly 40 nations involved in 
Afghanistan and some 30 nations involved in Iraq. I'll continue to work 
with our allies and friends, but I will never turn over America's 
national security decisions to leaders of other countries.
    I believe in the transformational power of liberty. The wisest use 
of American strength is to advance freedom. One of the people with whom 
I've spent a lot of time is Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan. We're 
friends. We talk a lot. It's amazing, though, to be having these 
discussions with Prime Minister Koizumi, because it wasn't all that long 
ago in the march of history that we were at war with Japan. They were a 
sworn enemy. My dad, I suspect others' dads and granddads, fought 
against the Japanese.
    But because of people like Harry Truman and other Americans, after 
World War II, people who understood that liberty could transform an 
enemy into an ally, because they doubted--they overcame the doubters, 
because they worked to build a democracy in Japan, today I sit down at 
the table with Prime Minister Koizumi, talking about the peace. Liberty 
is powerful. Liberty can change nations. Someday, an American President 
will be sitting down with a duly elected leader of Iraq, talking about 
the peace, and our children and grandchildren will be better off for it.
    I believe that millions in the Middle East plead in silence for 
their liberty. I believe that if given the chance, they will embrace the 
most honorable form of government ever devised by man. I believe this 
because freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom is the 
Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world.
    For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand 
apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when little is 
expected of leaders. This isn't one of those times. This is a time when 
we need firm resolve, clear vision, and deep faith in the values that 
make us a great nation.
    None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another 
began. Three years ago today, September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the 
ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day I'll never forget. There were 
workers in hardhats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs, 
``Whatever it takes.'' I was trying to do my best to console and thank 
the rescuers. A guy grabs me by the arm, he looks me straight in the 
eye, and he says, ``Do not let me down.'' I wake up every morning 
thinking about how to better protect America. I will never relent in 
defending our country, whatever it takes.
    And I know that is your commitment as well. You've shown it by your 
commitment to service, your standards of honor, and your performance of 
duty. American citizen-soldiers reflect great credit on our military and 
on our country. And I am here to thank you for your service.
    May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States 
of America.

Note: The President spoke at 12:13 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention 
Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Kenny C. Guinn and Lt. Gov. 
Lorraine T. Hunt of Nevada; Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval; 
Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller; Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett, 
adjutant general of the Tennessee National Guard and chairman of the 
board, National Guard Association of the U.S.; Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, 
Chief, National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. Ronald O. Harrison, (Ret.), 
former adjutant general of the Florida National Guard and immediate past 
president, National Guard Association of the U.S.; Lt. Gen. Daniel James 
III, Director, Air National

[[Page 1992]]

Guard; Lt. Gen. Roger C. Schultz, Director, Army National Guard; Gov. 
Jeb Bush of Florida; senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi; 
Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of the Iraqi Interim Government; and Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan.