[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 34 (Monday, August 28, 2006)]
[Pages 1479-1480]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 19, 2006

    Good morning. This week I met with my national security, 
counterterrorism, and economic teams. We've set clear goals: We will 
defeat the terrorists and expand freedom across the world; we'll protect 
the American homeland and work tirelessly to prevent attacks on our 
country; and we will continue to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of 
America and build a more prosperous future for all our citizens.
    On Monday, I visited the Pentagon and the State Department, where we 
discussed the war on terror, including the recent conflict in Lebanon, a 
conflict which began with an unprovoked attack by Hizballah on Israel. 
Thanks to the leadership of Secretary Rice and Ambassador Bolton at the 
United Nations, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that will 
help bring an end to the violence and create a foundation for a 
sustainable peace.
    The resolution calls for a robust international force to deploy to 
the southern part of Lebanon. This force will help Lebanon's legitimate 
armed forces restore the sovereignty of its democratic Government over 
all Lebanese territory and stop Hizballah from acting as a state within 
a state. The resolution will help make it possible for civilians in both 
Lebanon and Israel to return home in safety and begin rebuilding their 
lives without fear of renewed violence and terror.
    The United States is now working with our international partners to 
turn the words of this resolution into action. The conflict in Lebanon 
is part of a broader struggle between freedom and terror that is 
unfolding across the region. Terrorists and their sponsors recognize 
that the Middle East is at a pivotal moment in its history. Freedom has 
brought hope to millions, and it's helped foster the development of 
young democracies from Baghdad to Beirut.
    Yet these young democracies are still fragile, and the forces of 
terror are seeking to stop liberty's advance and steer newly free 
nations to the path of radicalism. The terrorists fear the rise of 
democracy because they know what it means for the future of their 
hateful ideology.
    It is no coincidence that two nations that are building free 
societies in the heart of the Middle East, Lebanon and Iraq, are also 
the scenes of the most violent terrorist activity. We will defeat the 
terrorists by strengthening young democracies across the broader Middle 
East.
    The way forward will be difficult, and it will require sacrifice and 
resolve. But America's security depends on liberty's advance in this 
troubled region, and we can be confident of the outcome because we know 
the unstoppable power of freedom.
    On Tuesday, I went to the National Counterterrorism Center, where I 
was briefed by the fine professionals who work day and night to protect 
our Nation from terrorist attacks. Their efforts are vital, as we saw 
with the recent terrorist plot to destroy airliners headed for America.
    I thanked the men and women of the intelligence community for all 
they did to help the British Government uncover and disrupt this vicious 
plot. This attempted attack is a reminder to us all: The terrorists 
remain determined to destroy innocent life on a massive scale, and we 
must be equally determined to stop them.
    On Friday, I met with my economic advisers at Camp David, where we 
discussed our efforts to keep our economy growing and creating jobs. Our 
economy has created more than 5.5 million new jobs since August of 2003, 
more jobs than Japan and the 25 nations of the European Union combined. 
The unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. The productivity of America's 
workers is rising, and our economy grew at a strong annual rate of 4 
percent during the first half of 2006.

[[Page 1480]]

    To keep this momentum going, we're pursuing a strategy to sustain 
our economic growth and keep our economy competitive for decades to 
come. We will keep taxes low, restrain Federal spending, open new 
markets for American products, invest in new energy technologies, and 
help American workers develop the skills they need to compete for high-
wage jobs.
    American workers also need affordable, high-quality health care, and 
more transparency in our health care system can help. Next week, I will 
travel to Minnesota to discuss ways to ensure patients have access to 
more information about their health care. When patients know the facts 
about the price and quality of their health care options, they can make 
decisions that are right for them.
    With all these steps, we're working to improve the health, security, 
and prosperity of the American people. Our Nation does not fear the 
future because we are determined to shape the future. We will build a 
more peaceful world and leave behind a stronger and better America for 
our children and grandchildren.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on August 18 at Camp David, 
MD, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 19. The transcript was made 
available by the Office of the Press Secretary on August 18 but was 
embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his address, the President 
referred to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. The Office 
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of 
this address.