[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 30 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Pages 1002-1003]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

July 21, 2007

    Good morning. On Friday, I met with a group of veterans and military 
families who support our troops and our mission in Iraq. These men and 
women know the tremendous sacrifices that our troops and their families 
are making. And I appreciate the good work their organizations are doing 
to support our men and women in uniform in their important mission to 
protect the United States.
    This week, Americans saw more evidence of how difficult that mission 
is and how central it is to our security. The Director of National 
Intelligence released a summary of an important document called the 
National Intelligence Estimate on the ``Terrorist Threat to the US 
Homeland.'' This assessment brings together the analysis of our entire 
intelligence community and provides policymakers with an up-to-date 
picture of the threat we face.
    I know you are hearing a lot about this document. Some of its 
assessments are encouraging, and others are cause for concern. Most 
importantly, this document reminds us that America faces ``a persistent 
and evolving'' threat from Islamic terrorist groups and cells, 
especially Al Qaida.
    Since Al Qaida attacked us on 9/11, the United States has taken many 
steps to keep the American people safe. We've gone on the offense, 
taking the fight to the terrorists around the world. We've worked with 
partners overseas to monitor terrorist movements, disrupt their 
finances, and bring them to justice. Here at home, we've strengthened 
security at borders and vital infrastructure

[[Page 1003]]

like powerplants and airports and subways. We have given intelligence 
and law enforcement professionals new tools like the PATRIOT Act, and we 
continue to work with Congress to modernize the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act.
    The actions we and our partners around the world have taken have 
helped disrupt plots and save lives. Here's how the NIE report put it, 
quote: ``We assess that greatly increased worldwide counterterrorism 
efforts over the past 5 years have constrained the ability of Al Qaida 
to attack the U.S. homeland again and have led terrorist groups to 
perceive the homeland as a harder target to strike than on 9/11.''
    The NIE report also cites some setbacks. One of the most troubling 
is its assessment that Al Qaida has managed to establish a safe haven in 
the tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. Last September, 
President Musharraf of Pakistan reached an agreement that gave tribal 
leaders more responsibility for policing their own areas. Unfortunately, 
tribal leaders were unwilling and unable to go after Al Qaida or the 
Taliban.
    President Musharraf recognizes the agreement has not been successful 
or well-enforced and is taking active steps to correct it. Earlier this 
month, he sent in Pakistani forces to go after radicals who seized 
control of a mosque, and then he delivered a speech vowing to rid all of 
Pakistan of extremism. Pakistani forces are in the fight, and many have 
given their lives. The United States supports them in these efforts. And 
we will work with our partners to deny safe haven to the Taliban and Al 
Qaida in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world.
    Nearly 6 years have passed since 9/11. And as time goes by, it can 
be tempting to think that the threat of another attack on our homeland 
is behind us. The NIE report makes clear that the threat is not behind 
us. It states that Al Qaida will continue to, and I quote, ``focus on 
prominent political, economic, and infrastructure targets with the goal 
of producing mass casualties, visually dramatic destruction, significant 
economic aftershocks, and/or fear among the U.S. population.'' It goes 
on to say that Al Qaida will continue to seek chemical, biological, 
radiological, or nuclear material to use in these attacks.
    The men who run Al Qaida are determined, capable, and ruthless. They 
would be in a far stronger position to attack our people if America's 
military, law enforcement, intelligence services, and other elements of 
our Government were not engaged in a worldwide effort to stop them. We 
will meet the responsibility that history has given us; we will adapt to 
changing conditions; and we will not let up until our enemies are 
defeated and our people are secure.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on July 20 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on July 21. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
July 20 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.