[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 39 (Monday, October 2, 2006)]
[Pages 1664-1665]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

September 23, 2006

    Good morning. This week I traveled to New York City to address the 
United Nations General Assembly. In my speech to the leaders gathered 
there, I spoke about a more hopeful world that is within our reach--a 
world beyond terror, where ordinary men and women are free to determine 
their own destiny, where the voices of moderation are empowered, and 
where the extremists are marginalized by the peaceful majority.
    I said that every nation must make a choice: We can support the 
moderates and reformers working for change across the broader Middle 
East, or we can yield the future to the terrorists and extremists. 
America has made its choice: We're standing with the moderates and 
reformers.
    In New York, I met with two such leaders, President Talabani of Iraq 
and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. In my meeting with 
President Talabani, I told him that America will continue to support 
Iraq's democratic Government as it makes the tough decisions necessary 
to bring security and prosperity to the Iraqi people. I assured 
President Talabani that America will not abandon the Iraqi people in 
their struggle to defeat the terrorists and build a free society in the 
heart of the Middle East.
    In my meeting with President Abbas, I told him that America remains 
committed to the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, 
living side by side in peace and security. President Abbas shares this 
goal. He's working hard to oppose violent extremists and build a society 
in which the Palestinian people can raise their children in peace and 
hope. By supporting moderate leaders such as President Abbas, the United 
States can help Israelis and Palestinians build a more hopeful future 
and achieve the peace we all want in the Holy Land.
    Next week, I will host a meeting at the White House with two 
courageous leaders, President Karzai of Afghanistan and President 
Musharraf of Pakistan. These two leaders are working to defeat the 
forces of terrorism and extremism. Under President Musharraf, Pakistan 
is siding with the forces of freedom and moderation and helping to 
defend the civilized world. Many Pakistani forces have given their lives 
in the fight against terrorists. President Musharraf understands the 
stakes in the war on terror because the extremists have tried more than 
once to assassinate him. They know he's a threat to their aspirations 
because he's working to build modern democratic institutions that could 
provide an alternative to radicalism. And it is in America's interest to 
help him succeed.
    In Afghanistan, President Karzai continues the work of building a 
safer and brighter future for his nation. Today, forces from more than 
40 countries, including members of the NATO Alliance, are bravely 
serving side by side with Afghan forces. These forces are fighting the 
extremists who want to bring down the free Government that the people of 
Afghanistan have established. America and its allies will continue to 
stand with the people of Afghanistan as they defend their democratic 
gains. Working with President Karzai's Government, we will defeat the 
enemies of a free Afghanistan and help the Afghan people build a nation 
that will never again oppress them or be a safe haven for terrorists.
    In the broader Middle East, the world faces a straightforward 
choice: We can allow that region to continue on the course it was headed 
before September the 11th, and a generation from now, our children will 
face a region dominated by terrorist states and radical dictators armed 
with nuclear weapons; or we can stop that from happening by confronting 
the ideology of hate and helping the people of the Middle East build a 
future of hope. All civilized nations, especially those in the Muslim 
world, are bound together in

[[Page 1665]]

this struggle between moderation and extremism. By working together, we 
will roll back this grave threat to our way of life, we will help the 
people of the Middle East claim their freedom, and we will leave a safer 
and more hopeful world for our children and grandchildren.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on September 22 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on September 
23. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on September 22 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast. In his address, the President referred to President Jalal 
Talabani of Iraq; President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian 
Authority; President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; and President Pervez 
Musharraf of Pakistan. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a 
Spanish language transcript of this address.