[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 9 (Monday, March 6, 2006)]
[Pages 373-374]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to United States and Coalition Troops at Bagram Air Base, 
Afghanistan

March 1, 2006

    Thanks for having us. Laura and I are honored to be here in 
Afghanistan with you. It's a real pleasure to be with our country's 
finest citizens. I want to thank General Eikenberry and General Freakley 
and all those who are taking responsibility to make sure we complete our 
mission.
    I particularly want to thank the members of the United States Army 
and Marines and Air Force and Navy who are here. Laura and I thank the 
civilian contractors who are here. I--really pleased to be with the 10th 
Mountain Division--``Climb to Glory.''
    I know it's not easy to be away from home, but I want you to 
understand that you're on the frontier of freedom, that you're involved 
with doing two important things: One is finding an enemy and bringing 
them to justice so they don't hurt our fellow citizens again. That 
mission requires steadfast determination. The enemy cannot defeat us 
militarily. The only thing they can do is to kill innocent lives and try 
to shake our will. But they don't understand the United States of 
America. We will never be intimidated by thugs and

[[Page 374]]

assassins. We will defeat the enemy and win the war on terror.
    And the other thing you're doing is to help this new democracy not 
only survive but to flourish. Laura and myself and Secretary Condi Rice 
who is with us here--step on over here. We just met with President 
Karzai. And my message to the people of Afghanistan is--was the 
following: One, it takes courage to get rid of a tyrant or tyrannical 
governments and to recognize that the future belongs to democracy. 
That's not easy work. It's hard to recognize that people ought to be 
allowed to worship freely and speak their minds freely after living 
under the grips of a tyrant.
    Our other message was, is that the United States doesn't cut and 
run. When we make a commitment, we keep our commitments. It's in our 
national interest that the work you're doing here, the work of helping 
the Afghans develop a democracy--it's in the interests of your children 
and your grandchildren. Because, you see, democracies yield the peace we 
all want. History has taught us democracies don't war. You don't run for 
office in a democracy and say, ``Please vote for me; I promise you 
war.'' [Laughter] You run for office in democracies, and say, ``Vote for 
me; I'll represent your interests. Vote for me; I'll help your young 
girls go to school or the health care you get improved.''
    Democracies yield peace, and that's what we want. What's going to 
happen in Afghanistan is, a neighborhood that has been desperate for 
light instead of darkness is going to see what's possible when freedom 
arrives. What's going to happen in Afghanistan, it's going to send a 
signal not only in the neighborhood but around the world, that freedom 
is the potential. The United States of America believes that freedom is 
universal. Freedom is not our gift to the world; freedom is the gift 
from an Almighty to every single person in this world.
    I'm proud of our United States military. Many of you volunteered for 
service after September the 11th, 2001. You saw that our Nation was 
attacked, and when the country called upon you, you said, let me serve, 
let me join in the fight to defeat the terrorists so attacks like that 
will never occur on our soil again. And that's what you're doing here in 
Afghanistan. You're helping to change this part of the world--and change 
the world with your courage and your sacrifice. I assure you that this 
Government of yours will not blink; we will not yield. We're on the 
right course, and the world is going to be a better place because of 
your service.
    So we're here to thank you. I want you to e-mail and call your 
friends, and more important, your families, and tell them the old 
Commander in Chief showed up for a little bit--with a message of 
appreciation not only for you but for your loved ones as well. I ask for 
God's blessings on you and your mission, God's blessings on our country. 
Thank you for letting us come by.

Note: The President spoke at 4:37 p.m. in the Clam Shell. In his 
remarks, he referred to Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry, USA, commander, 
Combined Forces Command Afghanistan; Maj. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley, 
USA, commander, 10th Mountain Division and Combined Joint Task Force 76; 
and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.